LIKES
- Beautiful interior
- Decent value
- Frugal hybrid
- Serene demeanor
DISLIKES
- Annoying touchpad
- No fold-down rear seatbacks
- Small trunk
- AWD model is slow
BUYING TIP
- Lexus asks a mere $1,200 more for the hybrid, which may pay for itself quickly.
With its modern take on luxury, the 2023 Lexus ES blends eco-friendly frugality, sporty touches, and traditional luxury.
What kind of vehicle is the 2023 Lexus ES? What does it compare to?
The 2023 Lexus ES is a mid-size luxury sedan with a big, well-outfitted cabin. It can be shopped against the Cadillac CT5 and the Acura TLX.
Is the 2023 Lexus ES a good car?
If you can resist the SUV allure, the Lexus ES stands out as a highly rational choice. It’s a 7.0 out of 10 on the TCC scale thanks to its admirable blend of refinement, features, and even fuel economy in hybrid form.
What's new for the 2023 Lexus ES?
After a big update last year, the ES coasts into 2023 with no major tweaks.
With its taut lines, the ES has an almost sporty bent to its styling. It’s more soothing inside, with sleek shapes and minimal fussy details. Decked out in a lighter hue with soft leather and real wood trim, the ES can be downright luxurious.
No matter the powertrain, all ES versions have a cosseting ride that emphasizes control and impact absorption over sporty moves. Base models come in either 302-hp V-6-powered ES 350 models with front-wheel drive or 203-hp 4-cylinder ES 250 all-wheel-drive cars. The choice that works best here is the ES 300h hybrid, which zips out 214 hp and 44 mpg combined, meaning it can go upward of 15 more miles on a single gallon of fuel than its siblings.
Inside, the ES has plenty of space for four adults, or five in a pinch. One curious oversight is the lack of a folding rear seatback, which may help sell RX crossovers. The 8.0-inch touchscreen can grow to 12.3 inches, though all models have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Safety-wise, the ES nails it with top crash-test scores and a spectacular array of crash-avoidance tech including automatic emergency braking, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, and adaptive cruise control.
How much does the 2023 Lexus ES cost?
This year, the 2023 Lexus ES begins at $42,490 in either ES 250 AWD or ES 350 forms. Hybrids cost $1,200 more.
We’d spend up for the hybrid and probably for the Luxury trim, which adds leather seats and a few other niceties. Add an option or two and you’ll be at $50,000.
Where is the 2023 Lexus ES made?
In Kentucky and Japan.
Styling
The well-tailored Lexus ES strikes a dashing pose.
Is the Lexus ES a good-looking car?
The 2023 Lexus ES is as dazzling outside as it is calming inside. We nudge a point in its direction for both its exterior and its cabin, bringing it to a 7 on the TCC scale.
The low front end wears one of the cleanest interpretations yet of Lexus’ now-signature “spindle” grille, though it’s surrounded by a pair of chrome whiskers that seem out of place. The less-is-more theme continues along the side, where the ES has a low, sinewy stance and a minimum of fussiness. It’s comparatively brash from the rear thanks to a wide light bar capped by a strip of brightwork.
Skip standard black for available warmer hues and wood trim for a proper luxury experience.
Performance
Multiple powertrain options enhance the 2023 Lexus ES, which prioritizes comfort above all else.
Is the Lexus ES 4WD?
It can be. All-wheel drive is standard on the ES 250, but not available on the ES 350 or ES 300h.
How fast is the Lexus ES?
The ES 250 has the lowest number on its trunk, and it makes use of a 203-hp 2.5-liter inline-4 teamed to an 8-speed automatic transmission. We’ve not driven this model, though on paper it’s light on power for a 3,800-lb luxury sedan with all-wheel drive.
The next-up ES 300h turns things around with a hybrid system consisting of a single electric motor and a nickel-metal-hydride battery teamed to the 2.5-liter inline-4 for a total output of 215 hp. This combination means a broader torque curve, too, which helps endow the ES 300h with decent power. It can grumble on occasion, and we’re not huge fans of the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) for the way it tends to keep the engine working hard at higher revs for passing power. Still, for most users, this is the best overall powertrain here—mostly for its fuel economy.
Topping the line, at least in terms of power, is the ES 350. Its 302-hp V-6 provides conventional grunt, accompanied by a mild snarl. It’s the most refined engine here, and it works brilliantly with its 8-speed automatic companion.
Comfort & Quality
The 2023 Lexus ES is a well-wrought luxury sedan with a capacious cabin.
Calm, composed, and gorgeous, the Lexus ES has a fine cabin for the money. It’s an 8 on our scale thanks to its good ability to haul four passengers, its plush front thrones, and its beautiful trim.
The ES stretches a hefty 196 inches long, which endows it with good interior room. Front seats with power adjustment accommodate a wide range of bodies, with little pretense of sporty bolstering. Five adults can slide inside, though the third row is a bit narrow for three big people abreast. Oddly, row two’s backrest doesn’t fold down, so you’ll need to pay extra for large-item delivery when out shopping.
Synthetic leather comes standard, while a soft grade of real stuff is on the options list. Other luxury bits include open-pore wood, heated and cooled front seats, and contrasting stitching. Two-tone cabins can be a bit jarring at first, but close attention to detail makes them a delightful place to whittle away miles.
Safety
The 2023 Lexus ES is a safety standard.
How safe is the Lexus ES?
It’s a top choice, with excellent scores from the NHTSA and the IIHS augmented by great crash-avoidance tech and outward vision. The 2023 Lexus ES rates a 9 on the TCC scale.
The NHTSA rates it at five stars overall, while the IIHS says it’s a Top Safety Pick+ when fitted with available LED headlights.
Features
The 2023 Lexus ES is a decent value, though its infotainment interface could be better.
Lexus offers a huge array of 2023 Lexus ES configurations. Even base models are well outfitted at $42,490 to start—money that buys either an ES 350 or an ES 250. A similarly optioned ES 300h costs about $1,200 more, regardless of trim.
Good standard features, a big display, and an impressive warranty add up to an 8 out of 10.
Base models wear synthetic leather inside, an 8.0-inch display, power-adjustable front seats, and 18-inch alloy wheels. A $2,430 Premium Package seems like a gimme for its heated and cooled front seats with memory for the driver, wireless charging pad, wood trim, and rear cross-traffic alerts, plus a few other small items.
If we have any complaint, it’s that the ES’ infotainment system requires use of a frustrating touchpad mounted on the center console. A pure touchscreen or knob interface would be preferable. The latest revamp brought the touchscreen a bit closer to the driver, though, which alleviates some of our concerns.
Which Lexus ES should I buy?
For $47,660 to start, the ES in Luxury trim tosses in most of the Premium Package features plus real leather trim. Factor in another $1,030 for the bigger 12.3-inch touchscreen and you’ll still be looking at a final bill under $50,000.
Bypass the curious F Sport Design trim for Ultra Luxury trim and Lexus will want the better part of $52,000, though these well-equipped models rival full-size sedans for their features.
Fuel Economy
The 2023 Lexus ES hybrid is about as guilt-free as a luxury car gets.
Is the Lexus ES good on gas?
That depends on what’s underhood.
The ES 350 is the most popular model, and it’s rated at 22 mpg city, 32 highway, 26 combined. That’s not bad given its power output, but the hybrid is way thriftier.
The hybrid rates 43/44/44 mpg in EPA testing, which would be good for a 6 on our scale.
Meanwhile, the 4-cylinder ES 250h rates 25/34/28 mpg.
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