2017 Lexus ES300h First Drive Review

Talking about the dynamics, the steering feels very light even at slightly higher speeds and the feedback offered is also not the best. However, it makes the ES really easy to drive unless you really want to push the car hard. In Sport mode, the steering and dampers stiffen up a bit, lending the sedan a sportier feel. The ride quality is absolutely brilliant and in Sport mode it doesn’t really feel uncomfortable. The ES300h comes shod with 17-inch 215/55 tyres and we found the grip to be very good.

The 2017 Lexus ES300h is a great cruiser and is meant to be driven comfortably

The suspension consists of MacPherson struts with stabiliser bar both at the front and rear. You also get 16-inch disc brakes all around. The braking pedal doesn’t have any feel and the initial response is poor while later on it brakes with much more effort, which requires getting used to. Overall, the ES300h isn’t a car meant to be pushed around the twisties, but it makes for an excellent cruiser.

In terms of safety, you get best-in-class 10 airbags along with ABS, VSC, Hill Start Assist and ISOFIX mounts. The Lexus ES300h is priced at Rs. 67.18 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai) and it is a CBU. What it offers is excellent space and comfort, good efficiency and of course the famed reliability that Lexus offers. It is loaded with a lot of gadgets and will offer a hassle-free ownership experience compared to the Europeans. However, at that price point, there are a lot of rivals it has to compete with. Lexus will find a lot of buyers who want a luxury car but can’t deal with high maintenance and reliability issues. Also, if you really want to contribute your bit to the environment, the ES300h is for you.