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Lexus ES

Generation Five: 2018 Lexus LS

July 13, 2018 by admin 3 Comments

Flagship LS sedan begins its fifth generation.

2018 Lexus LS 500
The all-new Lexus LS delivers a forceful presentation.

When Lexus launched in 1990, the automaker brought to the market two sedans targeting America’s luxury makes — the full-size LS and the midsize ES. The LS served as the flagship model, bringing its own V8 power and rear-wheel drive to the segment, much in the same way as the Lincoln Town Car and the Cadillac DeVille had done.

Meanwhile, the ES took aim at the big Buick, Oldsmobile and Mercury models of the day. Although it probably can’t take full credit with contributing to the end of the second and third brands, its presence in the market didn’t help.

As the market turned, the big Lincoln and Cadillac models went away, giving Lexus a clear shot at the American consumer. But even the LS has to change with the times. This year, Lexus replaced the sedan’s V8 with a twin-turbo V6 engine. For 2018, the Lexus LS is an all-new sedan, launching the fifth generation of this venerable nameplate.

2018 Lexus LS 500

2018 Lexus LS Overview

For 2018, the big Lexus is officially known as the LS 500, replacing the previous LS 460. Until now, the numerical designation in the model name represented the engine size, as in 4.6 liters for the 460. Today, the 500 doesn’t correspond to the engine size, rather it signifies a more powerful, yet smaller engine.

Lexus offers the 2018 LS 500 in four arrangements or two trims: LS 500 RWD ($76,025), LS 500 AWD ($79,245), LS 500 F Sport RWD ($82,085) and LS 500 F Sport AWD ($83,775). These prices include a $1,025 destination charge.

The difference between the two is that the F Sport offers certain embellishments, such as a mesh grille. The suspension system is specially tuned and works with large 20-inch wheels riding on run-flat tires. It is also a better steering and handling model, although it doesn’t rise to the enhanced performance level of Lexus’ “F” line.

And lest you forget, Lexus is big on hybrids. This means the 500h is another choice, starting at $80,535 for rear-wheel drive and $83,755 for all-wheel drive. It comes with a naturally aspirated V6 engine, an electronically controlled variable transmission and electric motors. As for our review, this one covers the 2018 Lexus LS 500 F Sport, the model supplied to Auto Trends Magazine for a week of driving.

2018 Lexus LS 500

Exterior Highlights

In recent years, Lexus’ design language has taken on a more evocative (some say provocative) look, as the brand moves away from any semblance of blandness. The changes have raised the brand’s visibility in perhaps ways it could have never reached before. Loyalists may decry the new look, but then Lexus is also trying to reach a new breed of customer, including Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz owners.

Front to back, the LS’ expressive lines are marked by an abundance of sculpting. The front fascia features the brand’s recognizable spindle (hourglass) grille flanked by zig-zag headlamps and honed in by deep embrasures housing the fog lamps. It follows with a long hood and an extended beltline that rises at the rear pillar. The raised rear deck sits short and wide, and offers its own expressive design featuring twin bisecting boomerang lights.

Size matters and the LS certainly is big. The previous model had standard and stretched wheelbases on tap, but the new one has 123 inches between the wheels and is just over an inch longer overall.

Among the standard items you’ll find LED headlamps with cornering lights, LED tail lamps and turn signals, power-folding and heated side mirrors with puddle lamps, a power moonroof, and 19-inch alloy wheels. The list of options include adaptive front lights and 20-inch wheels.

The F Sport Package delivers its own look, including a special grille, a rear diffuser, a unique wheel design and large brake calipers.

2018 Lexus LS 500

Interior Highlights

Sumptuous doesn’t accurately define the LS’ interior. Palatial, lavish and opulent are a few other adjectives that come to mind.

Slip behind the wheel of the LS and immediately your senses are elevated. The look, feel, smell and sound are intensified.

You can almost taste the luxury, although I don’t recommend licking anything. The cabin is quiet, even serene with strategically placed controls, quilted leather touchpoints, wood trim, and ambient lighting setting the mood. Even a section of etched glass is present, placed on the dashboard facing the front passengers. Is this merely eye-catching decor or does it hint at some future screen? Time will most certainly tell.

Five fit in full comfort in the Lexus LS with the available Executive Package making this a four-seat sedan. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an LS in livery service, but the capability is there. Consider it the ultimate executive car for the presidential suite, a fitting way to impress clients when family members aren’t the ones enjoying it.

The list of standard features is lengthy and goes well beyond the expected full power accessories, leather interior, automatic climate control and power tilt-and-telescopic steering column. The steering wheel is wrapped in thick leather and heated, the front seats are heated and cooled, the driver’s seat is power operated and supplies lumbar support, even the front headrests are power controlled. All models come with a power rear sunshade.

Upgrades include a leather-wrapped wood steering wheel, various wood trim choices, more exquisite leather, four-zone climate control, and power side-window sunshades. Additional upgrades are included in the Executive and Luxury packages.

2018 Lexus LS 500

Technology & Safety

Lexus equips the 2018 LS with a 12-speaker audio system, Bluetooth connectivity and USB ports. A 12.3-inch color navigation display is also standard. Upgrades include a 23-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, which delivers concert-hall quality sound throughout the cabin.

Standard safety technologies include Lexus Safety System, which represents a pre-collision system. This system includes pedestrian detection, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert, lane keep assist and automatic high beam control.

Other features include a now mandatory rearview camera, a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, pre-collision braking and intuitive parking assist with automatic stop. There are two individual options available as well — a 24-inch heads-up display and a panoramic view monitor.

2018 Lexus LS 500

Performance Matters

A 3.5-liter V6 engine powers the 2018 Lexus LS, but it isn’t what you might expect. This one is completely different from the 3.5-liter engine you find in other Toyota and Lexus products. Indeed, it measures 3444cc to the 3456cc of the traditional engine. Some sources (such as the EPA) call it a 3.4-liter engine, but we’ll use the sizing identification shared by Lexus.

The new engine has an aluminum head and blocks along with a pair of turbos consolidated into the exhaust manifolds. With its unusually long stroke — 100.0 inches to 85.5 inches bore, Lexus claims the turbo achieves high levels of thermal efficiency. Importantly, it has an output of 416 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. Lexus pairs this engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Fully loaded, the LS weighs about 5,000 pounds. The new engine, however, is up to the task of moving this large sedan. Step on the accelerator and the LS begins to move forward confidently. Floor the pedal and the turbos spool up after a momentary hesitation, rocketing this big sedan forward.

The steering wheel is nicely weighted with small inputs moving this sedan with ease. Take the LS on twisty roads and it stays poised, hanging the lines quite well. On corners, the sedan leans ever so slightly. With all-wheel drive you can expect an extra measure of control as you pull out of corners or when navigating wet roads.

2018 Lexus LS 500

Cost Factor

At $75,000, this is a reasonable starting point for the 2018 LS. But most shoppers won’t stop there, with a significant number opting for all-wheel, the F Sport trim or both. Our model was so new that it didn’t come with a Monroney (sticker price and details), but we could deduce a few things and peg the price around $87,000 as equipped.

An Interior Upgrade Package ($3,730) kicks things off, adding a 28-way power driver’s seat with multi-function massage, semi-aniline perforated leather-trimmed seats, an ultra suede headliner and heated rear seats. Opting for this package required upgrading to the art wood organic, herringbone or laser special premium wood trims ($800). You also have to upgrade to the heated wood and leather steering wheel ($410), the 20-inch split-10-spoke wheels ($1,200) and choose one of four no extra charge interior colors.

Choose the Lexus Safety System+ A Package ($3,000) and this brings in Lexus CoDrive with all-speed dynamic cruise control and lane trace assist, automatic emergency braking, a head-up display, intuitive pedestrian detection alert, front cross-traffic alert and road sign assist. Opt for this package and you must also choose an adaptive variable air suspension system with rapid height function ($1,500) and three additional options: a 24-inch heads-up display ($1,220), premium LED headlamps with adaptive front lighting ($300) and a panoramic view monitor ($800).

The Top Three Packages

There are three additional packages, which build on the base and subsequent packages, including a Luxury Package ($12,290), Executive Package ($17,100) and an Executive Package with Kiriko Glass ($23,100). Without going into full detail, these packages bring in such items as driver and front passenger massage, a right-rear power recliner, wood and leather trim, a rear center console touch-screen display and four-zone concierge climate control. A Cold Weather Package ($220) adds such items as a windshield wiper deicer, headlamp washer and an enhanced interior heater for faster heat output in cold weather. Individual options include a panorama glass roof ($1,000).

Thus, the standard model with all-wheel drive can easily top $115,000. You can’t dress the F Sport as handsomely as the standard model with those prices maxing around $98,000, which was about $11,000 more than our test model.

Parting Thoughts

The 2018 LS is new, exciting and delivers a performance improvement over the previous model. That Lexus remains committed to sedans demonstrates that this automaker intends to keep the segment fully covered. As the car pie shrinks, Lexus intends to have new models in place, in an effort to secure a larger piece of said pie. That strategy may work and could position Lexus to gain marketshare as competitors leave cars behind or if the market suddenly shifts away from crossovers and back to cars.

All in all, the 2018 Lexus LS has what shoppers in this segment want — a big, cushy sedan with the performance and luxury credentials to match. Lexus met the challenge and it shows.


2018 Lexus LS 500


2018 Lexus LS Specifications

Lexus 2018 LS
Segment Full-size luxury sedan
Base Sticker Price $75,000 (plus a $1,025 destination charge)
Price as tested $87,500 (estimated)
Standard Engine 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V6
Horsepower 416 @ 6,000 RPMs
Torque (lb.-ft.) 442 @ 1,600 to 4,800 RPMs
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Seating 2+3
Curb Weight (pounds) 4,707 (RWD) to 5,093 (AWD with Executive Package)
Wheelbase (inches) 123.0
Length (inches) 206.1
Width (inches) 74.8
Height (inches) 57.1 to 57.9
Head room (f,r — inches) 37.3, 37.3
Leg room (f,r — inches) 41.0, 38.9
Shoulder room (f,r — inches) 58.8, 56.4
Hip room (f,r — inches) 55.5, 55.1
Storage (cubic feet) 16.95
Gross vehicle weight (pounds) 5,920 (RWD); 6,095 (AWD)
Towing (pounds) NR
Payload (pounds) NR
Fuel premium
Fuel Tank (gallons) 21.7
EPA Fuel MPG (city/highway) 19/30 (RWD), 18/27 (AWD)
Manufacturing Plant Georgetown, Kentucky

See Also — First Look: 2019 Lexus ES

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

Filed Under: New Car Reviews Tagged With: 10-speed transmission, 2018 cars, all-wheel drive, F SPORT, Lexus ES, LEXUS LS, LS Hybrid, rear-wheel drive, TWIN TURBO, V6 engine

Luxury Pioneer: 2017 Lexus ES

November 28, 2016 by admin 5 Comments

2017 Lexus ES 350.
2017 Lexus ES 350.

The Lexus ES is a luxury sedan requiring no introduction. Now in its sixth generation, the ES line is one of two models that launched the Lexus brand in 1989 (the flagship LS is the other one) and remains Lexus’ top-selling model behind the RX SUV.

The ES line has always represented a front-wheel drive model powered by a V6 engine. Only since 2013 has a hybrid 300h variant been offered, a surprising fact to some given that nearly every other Lexus line has offered a gas-electric hybrid.

Model Year Changes

A 2017 Lexus ES 350 sedan was a recent weekly driver and there are several changes of note over last year. The standard equipment list now includes rain-sensing wipers and the Lexus Safety System+ package. The LSS+ features a pre-collision system, lane departure alert with steering assist, intelligent high beams, and radar cruise control.

Also new for 2017 is the Scout GPS Link to its standard display audio system. Lexus says that with the app on the driver’s smartphone, navigation maps, and turn-by-turn directions appear on the car’s central display screen.

2017 Lexus ES 350.

Made in the USA

As has been the case with previous ES models, this sedan typically garners attention from people familiar with the brand. Indeed, I’ve had friends, neighbors, and strangers ask me about the model and more than once they’ve said the ES is or would be their Lexus model of choice. That appeal meshes well with Lexus marketing as the ES remains one of the entry-point models for the brand.

The ES 350 has the distinction of being the only Lexus model built in the US (the RX and RX Hybrid are built in Cambridge, Ontario). In 2015, Lexus shifted ES 350 production from Japan to its Erlanger, Kentucky, manufacturing plant. However, the hybrid variant is still built in Japan.

Exterior Features and Options

Coinciding with the release of the current-generation model in 2013 is when the ES assumed its current design language. A refresh in 2016 only sharpened that look with a more distinctive spindle grille, new headlamps, and more pronounced embrasures for the fog lamps added.

Standard equipment includes LED daytime running lights, halogen headlamps, LED low beam headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and dual exhaust tips. All models also come with a power tilt and slide moonroof.

Factory options include 18-inch alloy wheels, Bi-LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights, fog lamps, automatic high beams, and a one-touch power trunk.

2017 Lexus ES 350.

Interior Features and Options

The Lexus ES is classified as a midsize luxury sedan, but it seems larger than that. This model seats five in comfort with generous amounts of head, shoulder, hip, and leg room all around. This is where the sedan’s front-wheel drive layout works to the advantage of the ES — no big drivetrain hump interferes with leg space.

Plush and supportive bucket seats with 10-way power support are found up front. A three-place bench seat is in the second row with a pass-through to the trunk. By the way, the trunk measures 15.2 cubic feet or about average for this segment.

Standard equipment includes full power accessories; leather or imitation leather (NuLuxe) seats; wood, imitation leather, and piano black trim; an analog clock; personal lamps, puddle lights; and zoned climate control. This model also comes with a remote touch controller, a mouse-like device for controlling audio and navigation.

Tech & Safety

All models are outfitted with an eight-inch touchscreen display and are compatible with Siri Eyes Free. A rearview monitor, an eight-speaker audio system, CD player, HD Radio, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and USB and auxiliary ports are included. Lexus Enform is included with the available navigation system and brings in apps, safety features including automatic collision notification, and remote access via your smartphone.

Crash test results are pending for the 2017 model. The 2016 edition was an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ recipient. With the Lexus Safety System+ package now standard, we expect the 2017 ES will retain its top safety billing once again.

2017 Lexus ES 350.

On the Road

Lexus doesn’t mess with success when it comes to the ES powertrain. A 3.5-liter V6 engine making 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. No forced induction. No eight-speed transmission. And no optional all-wheel drive.

But with a curb weight of just 3,571 pounds, the ES is surprisingly lightweight and certainly well-suited to move the sedan. Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 mph time of just 5.8 seconds for the 2015 model, a number that comes in much lower than the 7.1 seconds time offered by Lexus. Figure your numbers will fall somewhere in the middle.

Stomp on the accelerator and the ES quickly comes to life. You’ll feel a slight tug of the steering wheel, but torque steer isn’t a significant issue. This sedan zips down the freeway entrance ramp with authority. When passing on the highway you’ll have just the right amount of power to squeeze past that semi. The transmission shifts seamlessly between gears and that’s everything you should expect in the ES.

The Lexus ES is tuned for the road, offering a quiet interior and a soft ride. The drive mode select feature can be dialed to the level of comfort that suits you best — eco, normal or sport. You’ll want to choose the latter for at least some level of driving feedback, otherwise don’t expect much engagement.

2017 Lexus ES 350.

ES Model Considerations

The 2017 ES 350 starts at $38,900; the 300h is priced from $41,820. The hybrid averages 40 mpg, an outstanding number for a vehicle of this size. Choose the ES and you’ll get 24 mpg. That 16 mpg difference is attained in part by the 2.5-liter four cylinder engine found in the hybrid along with the hybrid drivetrain.

If you are seriously considering the 300h, you need to determine whether the reduced level of power in the hybrid is fine for you — there is no escaping the fact that a performance difference is present — 200 hp v. 268 hp. On the other hand, the high mpg potential with the 300h is certainly attractive.

Both models are mono-spec — one trim level. However, package upgrades allow for further customization. Our test model came with two, including luxury ($1,670) — composed of heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, power rear sunshade — and a navigation system with the Mark Levinson audio package ($2,590).

Individual options include such amenities as a heated wood and leather steering wheel ($450), panorama glass roof with power moonroof ($500), upgraded 18-inch wheels ($880), blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert ($500), and LED headlamps ($515). Quite easily, you can add upwards of $10,000 to your final price by claiming every package and choosing most options.

2017 Lexus ES 350.

Parting Thoughts

If you’re looking for the performance side of the Lexus sedan range, check out the compact IS and the slightly larger GS lines. Both models offer standard rear-wheel drive, available all-wheel drive and turbo options. Of course, if it is simply a matter of getting your first Lexus, the CT200h (hybrid), NX200 (SUV), and the IS lines are other places to start.

In all, the Lexus ES provides what the vast majority of luxury shoppers want — a comfortable, well-equipped sedan with high-quality materials, superior fit and finish, and a reliability record second to none. You get all this in more in the Lexus ES — your only dilemma is whether to go with the gas or hybrid model.

See Also — Experienced: 2016 Lexus LX 570

Filed Under: New Car Reviews Tagged With: Car and Driver, front-wheel drive, IIHS, leather, Lexus Enform, Lexus ES, Lexus ES 300h, Lexus ES 350, luxury sedan, navigation, NuLuxe, Siri Eyes Free

Driven: 2016 Lexus ES 300h

June 5, 2016 by admin 2 Comments

Pillow-soft comfort meets hybrid efficiency.

Lexus ES 300h
2016 Lexus ES 300h.

Hybrid electric vehicles are a tough sell. But especially so when gasoline prices are low.

Manufacturers such as Toyota have invested billions of dollars in the technology and aren’t about to walk away. At some point fuel prices are likely to rebound, raising demand with it.

Lexus is Toyota’s luxury marque and has almost as many hybrid models (six) as does the eponymous Toyota brand (seven). Only one model, the CT, is a dedicated hybrid. The other five are based on standard gasoline-powered versions.

Under optimum conditions, all six deliver outstanding fuel economy, typically bettering diesels which Lexus does not offer. At least not in North America. Under less than optimum conditions (i.e., cold weather, icy roads, or using four-wheel drive), your fuel economy can drop by 31 to 34 percent, according to the EPA.

Driven: 2016 Lexus ES 300h

A 2016 Lexus ES 300h was a recent weekly driver, the hybrid version of the Lexus ES 350, a front-wheel drive midsize luxury sedan. Whereas the ES 350 is powered by a 3.5-liter, V-6 making 268 horsepower and a combined 24 mpg, the 300h has a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine, and an electric-drive motor. Fuel efficiency is this model’s strong suit, coming in at an EPA-rated 40 mpg.

The Lexus ES 350 and ES 300h have a solid pedigree, underpinned by a modified version of the platform powering the Toyota Camry as well as the similar Toyota Avalon. There is no front-wheel drive variant and that means torque steer is evident at times, but it is hardly an issue. That fact should be much comfort for people who want a roomy luxury car, but don’t want the disappointment of a handling issue.

And if handling is your be all and end all, then the slightly smaller rear-wheel drive IS line should be your choice. Alas, there is no IS hybrid for your consideration — you’ll need to step up to the rear-wheel drive GS Hybrid sedan to enjoy that advantage instead.

Mid Product Cycle Refresh

The ES line is one of two models which helped Toyota launch the Lexus brand in 1990. Six generations of this sedan have been built, but it was only with the 2013 launch of the current-generation model a hybrid variant has been offered.

For 2016, both versions are refreshed with plentiful updates accomplished in and out. Rolled out are four new colors and expanded standard features in an effort to keep Lexus’ best selling sedan relevant. And despite sedan sales falling as much as 20 percent this year as consumers continue to pursue SUVs in greater numbers, ES sales are down by only 6 percent.

The most significant changes for the 300h this year include the addition of standard LED headlamps with daytime running lights. The spindle (hourglass) grille is back and now features a one-piece design. Even the 17-inch wheels were reworked to showcase an all-new look.

Cabin Updates and Safety Considerations

Inside, the cabin remains as quiet, elegant, and well-fitted as before. The instrument panel now offers a standard 4.2-inch color multi-information display, utilizing a thin-film-transistor (TFT) liquid-crystal design for optimum clarity and contrast. Cabin finishes include flaxen, dark mocha wood, piano black wood, and bamboo with a matte finish.

The test model (base $40,920 sticker price) came with the ultra luxury package wood trim interior ($3,000 upgrade) delivering a wood and leather-trimmed tilt and telescopic steering wheel/column; heated and ventilated front seats; power memory seats up front; power rear and manual back side window screens; a driver seat cushion extender (a must have for long trips); and ambient lighting. This package lifts the ES to another level, bringing top-end Lexus comfort to this mid-range offering.

Another change made in 2016 involves the availability of the latest Lexus Safety System+ ($1,015 upgrade) combining a pre-collision system, high-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert and assist, and intelligent high beam control. If you want a taste of semi-autonomous driving and an improved level of safety, then add this package.

The 2016 Lexus ES also secured the highest test rating (Top Safety Pick+) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It also secured a “superior” score for an available crash avoidance & mitigation system — Lexus Safety System+.

Other luxury touches include puddle lamps, available illuminated door sills ($379), a power tilt and slide moonroof, Siri Eyes Free, navigation (or enhanced navigation with a Mark Levison sound system ($2,650), and an assortment of tech features, including Bluetooth connectivity.

My test model added these features as well as a blind spot monitor ($500), intuitive parking assist ($500), a one-touch power trunk ($400), rain-sensing wipers ($135), as well as the wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel ($450). The final price for my weekly driver came in at $51,164.

Four Plus Hybrid

Manufacturers continue to equip larger vehicles with smaller engines. It is a trend that began after the last recession and gained traction as gas prices pushed ever higher. And with a federal 54.5 mpg fleet average fuel mandate for 2025 fast approaching, smaller engines are here like them or not.

The ES 300h is powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine making just 156 horsepower and is paired with an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. When combined with the electric motor, there’s 200 horsepower at the ready. That’s still a far cry from the 268-hp rating for the V-6 engine, but the combination is an effective one when maximum power is required.

More than once I set the tires spinning as I sought to get the upper hand while switching lanes or when picking up speed on a highway entrance ramp. These incidences weren’t planned and the sedan’s response was a pleasant surprise. Hybrids are still widely misunderstood — such models are efficiency kings, but they’re certainly no laggards. Also working to the ES 300h’s advantage is its 3,660-pound efficiency — that’s just 89 pounds heavier than the standard model and several pounds lighter than competing models.

Lexus vehicles do not offer uniform steering and handling across the product line. Some models such as the IS, RC and the GS are engineered with handling in mind. Many others, including the ES, place an emphasis on comfort and safety. Let’s just say Lexus has carefully surveyed the market to understand what consumers want. As one of the best selling luxury brands in the US, Lexus reads consumer sentiment remarkably well.

The IS, RC, GS, and LS offer standard rear-wheel drive and come in closer to an ideal 50-50 front-to-rear weight distribution, what usually ensures a much more balanced drive. On the other hand, front-wheel drive models such as the ES have more weight sitting over the front wheels, in this case a 59-41 ratio found in the ES. That difference becomes more noticeable when tackling twisty roads or when pressing the pedal to the metal.

Steering and Handling

Steering is uninvolved and some might say it is vague. Remove all expectations of a fun-to-drive experience here as everything about this sedan is built around a plush cabin, a soft ride, and fuel economy optimization. Otherwise the IS sedan or better yet the RC coupe will satiate your need for handling optimization.

The hybrid’s back seat is roomy and seats three comfortably. The ES is a true, no comprises five-passenger model.

One big difference between the gas and hybrid versions is in trunk space. The hybrid’s battery is found under the rear seat back and intrudes into the trunk. That means the 15.2 cubic-foot trunk in the ES 350 shrinks to just 12.1 cubic-feet in the hybrid. Keep this in mind if you need maximum packing space.

Lexus ES 300h Concluding Thoughts

It is hard to make a case for a hybrid when fuel prices are so low. The ES hybrid carries a $2,920 price premium over the standard model, a cost premium not easily recouped these days.

Unlike some luxury brands, Lexus typically doesn’t run nationwide sales events — discounting can vary, depending on where you live. A lease deal and low-rate financing are usually offered, but the cash difference remains. What you want to do is close the price gap between standard and hybrid models to make the latter a value proposition you can live with.


 

 2016 Lexus ES 300h

 

  • Sticker price from $40,920
  • Price as tested: $51,164
  • Seats 5 occupants
  • 2.5-liter 16-valve four-cylinder gasoline engine
  • 156 horsepower @ 5,700 RPM
  • Net 200 horsepower
  • 156 foot-pounds of torque @ 4,500 RPM
  • 3.54 inches bore by 3.86 inches stroke
  • Engine compression ratio: 12.5-to-1
  • Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission
  • Wheelbase: 111 inches
  • Length: 192.7 inches
  • Width: 71.7 inches
  • Height: 57.1 inches
  • Passenger volume: 100.1 cubic feet
  • Storage volume: 12.1 cubic feet
  • Towing capacity: NR
  • EPA: 40 mpg city, 39 mpg highway
  • Regular grade gasoline required
  • Fuel tank: 17.2 gallons
  • Curb weight: From 3,660 pounds
  • IIHS safety rating: Good: moderate overlap front, side, and roof strength
  • Limited vehicle warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
  • Powertrain warranty: 6 years/70,000 miles
  • Corrosion warranty: 5 years/unlimited miles
  • Hybrid warranty: 8 years/100,000 miles
  • Vehicle assembly: Kyushu, Japan

See Also — The Full-Bodied 2016 Toyota Tundra Pickup Truck


2016 Lexus ES 300h photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.


Filed Under: New Car Reviews Tagged With: 2016 cars, front-wheel drive, hybrid, Lexus ES, Lexus ES 300h, luxury, sedan

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