2018 Lexus ES 300h Review
Car Tested: 2018 Lexus ES 300h; Road Test No. 992; Test Location: Greater Noida
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 74.34 lakhs
The new Lexus ES 300h is spectacular in terms of design, comfort and technology
In the ever rising luxury car market in India, there are certain products that stand out for various reasons like pricing, features, power, etc. One thing to note is that most of the luxury cars in India are Germans but there’s another major player bringing out extremely good products priced at par with the Germans and offering better peace of mind with reliability and relatively lower running costs. Yes, I’m taking about Lexus, and the car we’re driving is the ES which is in its seventh generation now.
Motor Quest: The first generation Lexus ES came out in 1989, based on the Toyota Camry. The ES has always been a very popular car in most markets and has been a successful model for the Japanese automaker. Lexus officially entered India in 2017 and they launched the sixth generation ES here, and now shortly after its global debut, the new ES has been launched in India.
Hard to find a fault with the ES’ design
Exteriors – The 2018 Lexus ES 300h looks gorgeous and the styling oozes class. Lots of sharp elements find their way to the body line and the ES looks very proportionate and grand, reeking the kind of presence a luxo barge should generally have. The spindle grille up front is prominent and I know everyone isn’t a fan of that design but you just can’t ignore it. The headlamps are crafted with a lot of detailing and so is the case with the rest of the car. The alloy wheels have a stylish design and the hollow structure makes them absorb most of the tyre noise so that it doesn’t filter inside the cabin. The rear continues with the car’s bold theme and all in all, the new ES definitely looks like a mixture of modern art and luxury.
The interior is high quality and feels special
Interiors – Just like the exterior, even the cabin of the 2018 Lexus ES 300h is well-finished and comes with exquisite materials used almost everywhere. However, certain bits like the power window switches are low-cost which is a downer. Fit and finish is excellent throughout, all controls are laid out in a very user-friendly manner and the ergonomics are just spot on. Attention to detail is in abundance and there are many small things which are intended to impress the customers and make them feel that they’re indeed travelling in a luxury car. When you sit inside the car, the steering tilts up and the driver’s seat goes backwards so that you get enough space to get in and then they go back to the last saved settings and the same thing happens when you switch off the engine and get out of the car.
The seats are very comfy and there’s no dearth of space
The upholstery is designed to make your skin feel comfy and prevents stickiness
Both the front and rear seats offer tremendous comfort. The seats are well-shaped and kind of hug you from the sides. The centre arm rest in the rear seat gets audio controls too. The boot is large enough and the best part is that the spare tyre is a full sized alloy wheel. Upholstery is top-notch and there’s a general feel-good factor in this cabin. The instrument cluster is digital and above that panel, there are 2 stalks, one on either side that are used for toggling the Sport/Eco drive modes and turning the traction control on and off.
Most users will take time to get familiar with the infotainment system
The ES 300h comes with many features on offer and a buyer will never feel wanting for more equipment. The front seats have a ventilated as well as heating function but funnily the rear seat (where most of the customers of this car will be seated) gets only heating. The 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system sounds very good to the ears but the infotainment system itself isn’t very intuitive to use. It gets a track pad and the layout of the menus and other features takes time getting used to. It also misses out on Android Auto and Apple CarPlay which is surprising because it’s available in the US market.
The ES is driven by a petrol engine with an electric motor
Performance – Powering the 2018 Lexus ES 300h is a 2.5-litre petrol engine which is married to an electric motor. In total, the powertrain produces 215 HP which is more than enough for sedate as well as spirited driving. The ES also gets a pure EV mode but that can be used for a short range with the hybrid powertrain kicking in soon after. The changeover from electric to petrol mode is also very smooth. The engine and motor are super refined & quiet and NVH levels are also simply amazing with the cabin feeling very silent for most part.
The ES returns good fuel efficiency leading to low running costs
The different driving modes alter the way all the power is dished out by the ES
The ES 300h offers easy driveability with power being delivered linearly all the way to the redline. There is a good amount of punch and 0-100 km/hr comes up in 8.9 seconds. The ES gets a 7-step eCVT transmission with paddle-shifters and even though the rubber band effect is felt, the engine doesn’t get too noisy and carries speed well. The transmission gets an S mode while you also get Eco, Normal and Sport modes which alter engine responsiveness. In Eco mode, the car feels laid back in power delivery and some lag is felt especially when you pin the throttle and in Sport mode it feels so much more responsive. The ES 300h is quite fuel efficient and for a car of this size, a figure of 14-15 km/l is very good. Top speed on the ES is just 180 km/hr.
The ES 300h will be better suited for comfort seekers
Driving Dynamics – The ride quality on the ES is very plush and it doesn’t feel unsettled while gliding over craters on our roads. The sedans maintains its composure over bad roads leaving passengers very comfortable. The steering is light enough for city driving and weighs up as the speeds increase but it lacks feedback. There’s also a lot of body roll. The ES won’t disappoint you while cornering but it won’t excite you either. It is more of a comfortable cruiser and less of a corner craver. The brakes have decent stopping power but the pedal felt soft and not very sharp with its bite.
Reliability and low cost of ownership will draw a lot of customers
Safety and After Sales Service – Japanese cars are known for their reliability and long-lasting nature and the Lexus ES 300h will be no different. In fact, this can be a major USP for Lexus to score over its European rivals. Safety kit on this car includes 10 airbags (driver, passenger, driver knee, passenger knee, front side, rear side and curtain shield), ABS with EBD, VSC, Hill Start Assist, Active Cornering Assist and TPMS.
You just can’t go wrong with a Lexus
Verdict – The Lexus ES 300h is a well-built car that drives well and is extremely comfortable. This sedan comes loaded with lots of technology and honestly there’s hardly anything to dislike in this car. It is also a CBU, unlike its rivals which are CKD and despite that it is priced quite competitively. The ES 300h is offered in only 1 variant and I feel this is a great alternative to the Germans and Brits if you’re looking for a luxury sedan because it ticks almost all the boxes right. What I don’t like is that most customers in this segment don’t perceive Lexus with high snob value as much as they do for other brands.
A lot of attention-to-detail has been put in making the ES
What’s Cool
* Looks classy with exquisite details
* Cabin is well-equipped and feels special
* Performance is quite good with good fuel economy too
* Suspension set-up is quite nice for our roads
What’s Not So Cool
* Not fun on the corners, this one likes taking it easy
* Infotainment system not the easiest one to use
* Brake pedal could’ve had better feel
Alternatives: Mercedes E-Class, Audi A6, Jaguar XF, BMW 5-Series, Volvo S90
The Lexus ES 300h is available in only 1 variant
2018 Lexus ES 300h Specifications
* Engine: 2487cc, 4-Cyl, Petrol | Permanent Magnet Motor & Nickel-Hydride Battery
* Power: 215 HP (Petrol Engine + Electric Motor)
* Torque: 221 Nm @ 3600-5200 RPM
* Transmission: 7-Step eCVT
* 0-100 km/hr: 8.9 seconds (claimed)
* Top Speed: 180 km/hr
* Suspension: MacPherson Strut (Front), Double Wishbone (Rear)
* Tyre Size: 235/45/18
* Brakes: Discs (Front), Discs (Rear), ABS
* Safety: 10 airbags, ABS, EBD, VSC, Hill Start Assist, TPMS
2018 Lexus ES 300h Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4975 mm X 1865 mm X 1445 mm
* Wheelbase: 2870 mm
* Boot Space: 454-litres
* Turning Radius: 5.9-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 68-litres
Would you buy a Lexus over its German rivals?
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