Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
The current sixth-generation ES series was introduced in 2012 for the 2013 model year, and is based on the full-size Toyota Avalon, which is itself based on the mid-size Toyota Camry. This sensible family heritage gives the ES a big head start in the frugality department, leaving the designers at Lexus with the comparatively simple task of imbuing the car with appropriate levels of Lexus luxury. With that mission suitably accomplished, all the engineers needed to do to create the ES 300h was replace the ES 350’s V6 engine with a hybrid gas-electric powertrain based
Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
For 2014, only a few minor changes have been made to the ES 300h: it gets standard Xenon headlights, the Display Audio package has new Siri Eyes Free compatibility, and ventilated front seats are now available even if you opt for the base NuLuxe leatherette upholstery.
Stylistically, the ES 300h is differentiated from the ES 350 by its blue-tinged hybrid badging, unique 17-inch alloy wheels, and a discrete trunk lip spoiler. It’s a quiet and reserved approach to the car’s hybrid identity, and as such will likely suit most potential owners perfectly. Given its size, the ES is a sleek and well-proportioned car, even if the outwardly flared front spoiler gives it a vaguely chubby-cheeked appearance from certain angles.
Inside,
Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
In other regards, the ES 300h is the same inside as the ES 350, with the same impressive list of equipment. Standard kit includes such features as automatic dual-zone climate control, premium AM/FM/XM/CD audio with USB input and Bluetooth compatibility, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, power locks and windows, the smart key system with pushbutton start, cruise control, and much more. Available packages for the 300h include a Navigation Package, which doesn’t just add a navigation system with an eight-inch display, but also includes a heated woodgrain steering wheel and rain-sensing wipers; a Leather Package,
Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
All in all it makes the cabin of the ES a thoroughly pleasant and comfortable place to spend time, with the ES 300h actually improving matters over the ES 350 due to its serenely quiet hybrid drivetrain. At five feet eleven inches tall I found all the seats exceptionally spacious, and the trunk in the ES 300h is a reasonably commodious 342 litres. This is down from the 433 litres of trunk space in the ES 350
Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
Mechanically, the ES 300h delivers a net 200 horsepower (compared to 268 horsepower for the V6 in the ES 350) by using a combination of a 156-horsepower 2.5-litre gasoline motor and a pair of electric motors, one of which is mostly used for regenerative braking and the other of which is primarily a traction (drive) motor. Lexus doesn’t specify the traction motor’s power output, but it’s certain to be as much or more than the 141 horsepower delivered by the Camry Hybrid’s electric traction motor, and like all electric motors it delivers impressive thrust at low speeds. The ES 300h’s power is delivered to the road via a CVT automatic, and there are three selectable driving modes: Normal, Eco, and Sport.
Mostly
Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
Rated city/highway fuel economy is 4.7 / 5.1 L/100km (this is using the over-optimistic Transport Canada testing system which will change next year), and I was impressed with the car’s real-world results in mixed driving, which showed
Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
As noted previously, the interior is plenty spacious, and I found the driver’s seat remained comfortable even on longer drives. In terms of materials, rigid plastics are restricted to the lower door panels and lower sides of the console, with soft-touch materials used everywhere else, and a stitched leather-look dash to help create an opulent ambience. I did note that the heated wood-trimmed steering wheel only heated the leather sections at three and nine o’clock on the wheel, and while I remain impressed with the haptic feedback of the Lexus Display
Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
With a starting price of $46,095 including the $1,995 destination fee, the Lexus ES 300h is an impressive offering in the entry-level luxury hybrid niche. It’s not the value leader – Lincoln’s mid-size MKZ Hybrid likely takes that honour with its starting price of $40,125 destination in, and you could argue that the Camry Hybrid XLE or a loaded Ford Fusion also compete at the "almost luxury" value end. On the other hand the ES 300h is a whole lot cheaper than contenders like BMW’s ActiveHybrid 3 (a smaller car, but Lexus puts the BMW on its website’s Compare function), and certainly it offers a commendable amount of space and luxury for the money. If you like the idea of combining the comforts of a largish mid-size entry-level luxury car with the frugal fuel economy of a hybrid, the ES 300h might be just the ticket.
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