A Closer Look at the 2021 Lexus ES300h Hybrid
Fuel economy with class.
CAR FRONT VIEW
The ES sedan is one of the better vehicles in the Lexus lineup. In fact many are of the opinion it is one of the better luxury rides on the market. There are three versions to choose from.
Text and photos by Chad Haire
ENGINES
The standard ES350 comes with a smooth 3.5 liter V-6 rated at 302 horsepower, and hooked to an 8-speed automatic transmission. There is a new less expensive version just introduced called the ES250. It has an economical 2.5 liter motor with 203 horsepower. Out test vehicle is the third option, this ES300h. It's is a hybrid with claimed fuel economy of 43/44 mpg. We racked up 500 miles on the clock to see what the real world numbers are.
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EMBLEM
The ES300h has hybrid emblems posted on the outside bodywork so onlookers will know you care about the environment, and spent the extra coin.
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DRIVE MODE
With only 215 horsepower under the hood, this drive mode control offers a sport mode for snappy acceleration.
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SHIFTERS
Paddle shifters allow quicker gear selection, although this CVT gearbox has simulated gears.
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TOUCH PAD
The older Lexus control stick has been replaced with this finger touch pad. It takes some practice to operate properly.
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INFO SCREEN
The infotainment screen is huge. The image quality of the camera system is excellent. Climate controls are simple and easy to use. The optional navigation/audio package shown here is $1,080 extra. It includes a Mark Levinson stereo with 17 speakers and 1,800 watts of output. This is one option certainly worth the money.
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HEADLIGHTS
. The triple beam headlights crank out a lot of juice, but cost an extra $1,515!
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GAUGE
The gauge cluster is well designed and provides plenty of useful information.
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WHEELS
This ES was an upgraded Ultra Luxury model, which comes with these sharp looking 18-inch split 5-spoke alloy "noise reduction" wheels.
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POV
In daily commuting, the ES300h is pleasant to drive. The amount of torque generated by the hybrid electric motors provides lots of bottom end pull from a stoplight. Real world fuel economy was 34 mpg in city commuting, but on long highway trips, we observed an impressive 42 mpg. Outside temperatures were warm, ranging 95-114 degrees. By comparison the non-hybrid ES350 we drove last year with 3.5 V-6 got 20/29 overall.
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PRICE
The base ES250 starts about $40K. Our ES300h is loaded up with all the goodies, so hit a healthy $55,535.
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REAR VIEW
The Lexus ES is a fantastic car. It offers excellent build quality, luxury, comfort, smooth ride, reliability, great resale value, and overall good value. This hybrid version is a great pick for drivers who rack up a lot of miles, and want to cut fuel cost.
>>Join the conversation about the 2021 ES 300h right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Check out the how-to sections of ClubLexus.com for help keeping your car in great shape.