For the latest Lexus ES pricing and information:
https://www.kbb.com/lexus/es/

It’s been a few years since we’ve reviewed a Lexus ES.
But it remains one of the best-selling luxury cars you can buy. And we did commission this graphic. So let’s talk about it.


The 7th generation Lexus ES was introduced for the 2019 model year. When it launched, we at the Blue Book lauded its muted cabin and graceful road manners.

I can confirm that all of that praise still applies.

Oh, and the seats are still the gold standard for supportive, pressure-point free sitting. In the rear, legroom is ample, and, despite a sleek roofline, headroom is plentiful. The trunk provides 16.7 cu-ft of space; a workable figure though it’d be more workable if the rear seatbacks folded. With luck you’ll never haul anything larger than this passthrough allows. As for material quality, the interior feels soft in all the right places.

I really like the tasteful stitching, this cushy shin pad, and these squishy arm rests for my impossibly delicate elbows.


Yes, you’ll find hard plastic if you look for it but overall, premium vibes dominate. Other niceties include a two-way opening center console cover, a dual-height cup holder, and this little guy for those who associate analogue clocks with luxury.

For its mid-cycle update, the ES benefited from a range of minor styling tweaks inside and out. For comparison here’s the OG 7th gen ES (2019) alongside the refreshed standard ES (2022). Heads up, we’re driving the F Sport. More on that shortly.

Following its mid-cycle refresh, Lexus also opted to revise the infotainment system.

I’d previously complained that the ES’s screen was not a touch screen. Well, Lexus heard my lamentations and made it a touchscreen. They also moved it 4.3-inches closer to the driver. Yeah, you can still control it with Lexus’s haptic feedback Remote Touch Interface…but now you don’t have to.

As for screen sizes there’s a standard 8-inch unit and an optional 12.3-inch unit, each offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity.


Hitting on powertrains there’s a standard 3.5L V6 (ES 350: 302 hp, 267 lb-ft) teamed with an 8-speed automatic transmission and there’s an optional hybrid (ES 300h: 215 Total System Horsepower). And here are the fuel economy figures. (ES 350: 22city/32hwy) (ES 300h: 43city/44hwy) Holy cow that hybrid has great fuel economy.


Hybrid brakes comment

VO: And now something weird. For the same price you’d pay for a front-wheel drive V6 ES 350 you can also get a less-powerful ES 250 with a 2.5L 4-cylinder (203hp, 184 lb-ft) and all-wheel drive.

If you’re willing to trade power for traction, you now have that choice.


Filling out the price picture, for a little less than $41,000, not including destination charges, you can snag a base Lexus ES 350 or ES 250 all-wheel drive featuring LED head and taillights, a moonroof, smart entry with push button start, and 10-way power front seats. Tack on an extra $1,100 if you’d rather drive the ES 300h hybrid. And, of course, you can ascend the Lexus ES trim ladder to unlock features like leather heated and ventilated seats, a power rear sunshade, a panoramic moonroof, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, a 360-degree camera system, and wireless phone charging. Choose the priciest ES 300h Ultra Luxury trim, and you’ll spend more than $51-grand to start.


For folks who’d like a veneer of sportiness, the F Sport trim, like we’re driving, adds sporty details inside and out and is offered with all three powertrains. For perspective here’s a side-by-side (Standard ES 350 vs ES 350 F Sport). F Sport-ified ES’s used to automatically include an adaptive suspension along with Sport+ and Custom drive modes. But now those features are bundled in a separate “Dynamic Handling Package”.

So, if you want to look sporty without actually driving sportily, you can save a few bucks.


One last bit of praise. The ES includes a standard suite of safety and driver assist tech including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, 10 airbags, blind spot monitoring, Intersection Turning Assist that can help keep you from turning in the path of oncoming traffic, and lane departure warning with steering assist.

Let’s see if I can stupidly vacate my lane. (LKA demo) The Lexus says no.

VO: If you’re curious about ES alternatives, consider the less expensive Acura TLX and Cadillac CT5. You might also ponder the notably pricier Genesis G80 with its evocative style and a performance-focused rear-wheel drive platform. But among comparable luxury sedans, the Lexus ES has an advantage.


It’s a Lexus, offering the reliability and strong residual values that come with a Lexus badge. It’s also comfortable, stylish, and reasonably priced. If you want to know why Lexus sells so many ES’s, there’s your answer.

00:00 2022 Lexus ES
0:30 Interior
1:29 Exterior
2:20 Engine
2:40 Driving Impressions
4:49 Competitors