By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(January 12, 2023) The 2023 Lexus ES is a front-wheel drive mid-size luxury sedan that competes against the likes BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class — tough competition to be sure. Unlike those mentioned, the ES 350 h hybrid F Sport is biased towards economy rather than performance which only designates adaptive damping suspension improvements rather than under-the-hood performance tuning.

After receiving a significant updating last year for 2022 little has changed for 2023 other than a few interior enhancements namely a new center console that thankfully eliminates the fussy touchpad controller and replaces it with a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen or the optional 12.3-inch unit.  ES also adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as a standard feature.

The ES which shares the same underpinnings with the Toyota Camry and the now departed Toyota Avalon sports a sharply chiseled exterior design that’s decidedly aggressive yet polarizing mainly thanks to its massive “spindle” grille and quickly sloping roofline that steals headroom for taller drivers up front and adult passengers in the rear seat.

Where the ES really shines is the tranquil, quiet and cosseting comfortable cabin thanks in part via aero and noise blocking technology and sound deadening materials. Even some of the alloy wheels have road drone-absorbing hollow rims. Materials are premium quality with impeccable craftsmanship and build quality. The dash is a two-tier execution with plenty of soft-touch leather surfaces (synthetic leather is standard) with accents of open-pore wood and aluminum trim pieces about the doors, center console and dash. Still, it falls a bit short of more expensive competitors like the E-Class and BMW sedans.  

Other luxury renderings include heated and cooled front seats with contrasting stitching and two-tone interior color choices. Our tester was upholstered with red/black NuLuxe  and Hadori aluminum trim. It looked great with the Iridium silver exterior paint color, a $500 option.



Our test ES was the hybrid 300h F Sport powered by a 2.5-L 4-cylinder gas powered engine plus Lexus Atkinson cycle hybrid drive for a total of 215 horsepower delivered through an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. While a hybrid, don’t expect to get anywhere near the distance of any plug-in rival since the ES is not a plug-in variant. Delivered power was smooth and linear and while the engine was on the noisy side it felt more powerful than the indicated 215 horsepower and was actually quite responsive.

The suspension easily handles just about any type of road imperfection, potholes, bumps and uneven pavement while maintaining controlled and predictable handling. Brakes are excellent, steering on center, but the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist that Lexus calls “Lane Tracing” did a poor job of keeping the car centered in the lane and didn’t always work on curves.

Overall, the ES 300h is best summed up as a car for those who don’t place a premium on driving for enjoyment, but enjoy a smooth, comfortable touring sedan that averages 40 plus mpg, an excellent sound system, advanced technology and an interesting looking design. If you favor a cushy cruiser over a luxury SUV or large luxury sedan that’s twice the price, you’ll find the Lexus ES 300h F Sport an absolute winner in almost every way.

But if sporty performance driving, handling and acceleration is your preference the ES 300h isn’t the luxury sedan isn’t part of the offering.

Vital Stats

Base Price: $48,835
Price as Tested: $53,880
Engine/Transmission: Front-wheel drive, 2.5-Liter 5-cylinder gasoline powered engine plus an Atkinson cycle hybrid drive that combines for 215 horsepower and paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission.
Fuel Economy: 43/44/44 - mpg City/Highway/Combined
Seating: 5

Crash Test Safety Ratings: Overall highest possible 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Where Built: Georgetown, Kentucky

Competes With:
Mercedes E-Class mild hybrid
BMW 530e Sedan
Volvo S60 Recharge

Likes:
Large, comfortable, luxurious
Excellent fuel-efficiency
No more touchpad

Dislikes:
Fussy operating infotainment interface
No fold-down rear seatbacks
Minimal rear-seat headroom