Just like James said. I'd highly recommend either a '22 or '23 if you find the infamous touchpad to be an issue, since both have the vastly more usable touchscreen. The '23 differs from the '22 in having a whole new, faster processor and new operating system & interface like other new Lexuses, ditching the touchpad entirely and losing the CD player. The '23 is unquestionably more modern and has several advantages, but I personally don't mind having a '22 because I use CDs.

 

I think the 2023 still comes with the CD Player.

 

The best initial advice I believe you could receive is to test drive each first and then come back with questions. Your primary concerns will be answered with the test drives alone. IMO Before test-driving a 300 myself, I had many questions about the hybrid. Had I test-driven it first, all of those questions would have been moot as I immediately determined that the 22 ES 350 Ultra Lux I had already chosen was the best choice for me. Test-driving the 300 just confirmed that for me. To give some foundation to my answer, fuel economy was not a determining factor; the higher performance the V6 offered was.

 

The DVD player was removed for the 23 MY.

 

I have a 20 ESh and love it. It is great in snow, as long as it's less than 6". More than that the car bottoms out, but that's for both gas and hybrid.

I find the drive on snow much better than a gas Camry I had since the battery weight is on rear axle making the car much more stable on ice and snow here in sometime white North.

As others said, 22 was a refresh and 23 will finally get the new Infotainment system with wireless CarPlay and Android auto. As well as the updated safety sense 2.5. and finally no CD/DVD player.

i like it as much that I ordered a 23 ESh with same trim that I'm still waiting for after 4 months.

I Hope this helps.

 

I currently have the 2022 300h as a loaner while my 2019 350 is in and I honestly think the 300h offers a much nicer driving experience in that it doesn’t have that odd delay in switching in and out of ECO mode in the 8spd. The hybrid is also more quiet. The difference in power is marginal. If I had the choice between the 2, the 300h takes it IMO.

 

I'll state my bias as an ES 350 owner, and I haven't driven the ES300h (which I know is an excellent car with a terrific powertrain for what it is). But the difference in power between the two is considerable. The V6 car has 40% more horsepower, and it's nearly 25% faster from 0 to 60. That's more than just "marginal," by any measurement.

 

And neither is a sports car. So zero to sixty is marginal by need. "40% more" BHP is inaccurate? Have you taken into consideration the electric motor output?

 

Sure, I understand your response and horsepower determines your top speed. However, in usable driving for what the ES is, it definitely doesn’t feel 25% faster. I can chirp the tires with the V6, sure. Off the line to the stop light, not really. Getting up to speed, merging into the interstate, marginal by my seat of the pants feel. Overtaking a 65mph car in the middle lane with traffic moving at 70, marginal. At no point in the 200ish miles I’ve had it did I feel the V6 had 25% more power. So, yeah, definitely for a large luxury sedan, the power difference felt marginal to me.YMMV. Drive one for yourself!

 

 

I believe the 40% number is correct. According to Car and Driver the 300h is rated at 215hp including the electric motors and the ES350 is 300hp.

 

I can tell you that by having owned both very similar engines, I really don't feel that big of a difference (40%). And my butt dyno was recently calibrated. haha

 

My take on it is hybrids will be here 20 years from now, while V6s most likely won’t. I’d get the V6 while I can. You can always get a hybrid later.

 

I believe there is a misunderstanding on HP.

HP is useful for driving faster.
Torque is used for acceleration. An electric motor can provide more torque immediately which can translate to actual useful use of power in everyday driving and not racing or driving at 120 MPH on the highway.

To me the ESh feels pretty good off the line and when torque is needed to merge on highway or making a quick turn at lights.

 

I agree with the take-off and rolling acceleration in the Hybrid.
And you are correct; torque gets you moving, and horsepower is for top speed (hence the higher top speed with the V-6).