Test drive 2024 Lexus ES300h: Exactly as it should be

There are many Toyotas on Dutch roads. In fact, it is currently the best-selling car brand in the world. But we see little of the luxury brand Lexus. Now the new Lexus LBX is coming, which could change that. It’s about time, because if it’s half as good as the Lexus ES300h then it’s going to be awesome.

What is the Lexus ES300h?

The Lexus ES300h is currently the brand’s smallest sedan. It is based on the Toyota Camry and therefore has the same power as most of its cousins. Consider the aforementioned Camry, but also the RAV4 and Highlander. The Lexus ES300h competes with the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, for example.

The look is very different, Japanese and modern. So the classic Lexus. The large and striking grille is decorated on both sides with headlights and beautiful creases and lines. At the back, the lines are special, the taillights create a beautiful and elegant conclusion to the car.

We drove the Lexus ES300h F-Sport Line. This is the sports version of this luxury yacht. We don’t think that’s the version you should choose. He is not wrong, on the contrary. But you should take the very elegant President Line, with dark chrome rims and beautiful wood. Okay, go ahead. The Lexus ES300h always comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline and hybrid technology with a total power of 218 hp. You also always get a CVT gearbox.

How does he drive?

In one word: great. But in more words I will say the following: The experience of using the Lexus ES300h is one of ultimate luxury and comfort without exaggeration. The doors open and close manually and there are no automatic seat belts or seats made of beet leather and stitched with angel hair. Nope. Just old fashioned luxuries.

The seats are very comfortable and the leather is as soft and supple as a Barry White song. It’s delicious. Acceleration, braking, steering and overall ride are very good. It drives as it should and exactly as I imagine a more expensive car should. If the 7 Series drove alongside the Lexus ES300h, BMW would be in luck.

The combination of 218 hp and the CVT does not make this a fast car. 0-100 kilometers per hour takes 8.9 seconds. But it’s all soft and comfortable! The engine needs work, but it’s a lovely hard-working sound that fills your ears. Some kind of luxury motorcycle, if there is such a thing. The gearbox is smooth and the switch from electric to oil and vice versa is seamless. The Lexus ES300h drives brilliantly, we can drive it to the end of the world without any problems.

Strong

No engine oil flows through the veins of the Lexus ES300h, but pure comfort. I drive a lot, for example, during the Lexus test week I drove 1800km. I usually have problems with my back, but not in this case. The seats offer great support and an unprecedented level of comfort. The rest of the car too, by the way. It is quiet and smooth all around. Heating works quickly, the sound is clear and everything is easy. An amazingly comfortable car.

The driving style of the Lexus ES300h is very good. We don’t get the feeling of luxury when we hear that it’s the same powertrain in the RAV4 and Highlander. But, we are very surprised. Lexus always refreshes the things obtained from Toyota to make them work better and more refined. You see that a lot. It is soft, smooth and quiet. There is a hint of hum, but we find that nice and reassuring. In addition, it is also very economical. 1 in 20 is not a problem. That’s not surprising for a car that isn’t a PHEV.

The last thing we found special about driving the Lexus ES300h is the high level of refinement. Nothing feels loose or light or cheap. Everything is secure, there is no clunk, all the buttons feel solid, heavy and luxurious and the materials chosen are of exceptional quality. No crazy seams or stubborn buttons. Unfortunately we didn’t have wood, although the brushed aluminum was also very high quality. Even the plastic of the Isofix connectors matched the red color and the leather of the seats.

Weak points

In a week of heavy use, we couldn’t think of a single negative point. The issues that were mentioned in the previous test drive have all been resolved. We also understand that this sounds like bad journalism or a paid article, but it is not. Personally, I’ve never had a test car that I wanted as much as the Lexus ES300h and I’ve test driven a few late cars.

The only negative about them is that no one buys them. Only 550 have been purchased since 2018, of which at least one is owned by Lexus itself. We don’t understand the sauce. The BMW 5-Series was sold almost 3,200 times in 2018 alone. The gap between Lexus and the competition is therefore very large. How did that happen? This brand has a senior citizen image and we also understand that the single engine option may not suit all needs. But if you have any doubts, we can tell you this: it is good and we would know.

Equipment

Our test model is one of the second highest level of equipment. The F-Sport line, that is. Only one above is Rais Line. Standard equipment specific to this version includes black rims, F-Sport exterior details in dark chrome and a Mark Levinson sound system. It also includes the Lexus adjustable suspension system.

Our test model also has several options. The pearl white color costs an additional 1295 euros. The cool red leather interior, on the other hand, is ‘free’ on this version. A 12.3-inch touchscreen and head-up display are also included in this version, along with integrated navigation of course. There really aren’t more options to choose from than we have. The only thing missing from the F-Sport version is heated seats in the back, which you have to buy in the President Line.

Lexus ES300h test drive conclusion

The Lexus ES300h is an impossibly luxurious sedan that is incredibly comfortable and smooth to drive. Everything goes easily and almost normally well. The interior is beautifully finished and the seats are very supportive. The drivetrain is also buttery smooth but powerful enough. In addition, it is also economical. The only shame is that no one buys it, even though it is as clean and elegant as it can be. We don’t understand.

The Lexus ES300h is available in the basic version from 61,895 euros in the Netherlands. In Belgium it is available from €55,700. Our test model is the second most expensive version in the range, the F-Sport Line. With all options included, we arrive at approximately EUR 78,000.

All photos in this article were taken by Without Berger .