2023 Lexus ES delivers a silent, comfortable form of luxury that appeals to many as the word luxury means different things to different people. Although on paper, it gives tough competition to premium sports sedans such as the Audi A6 and the Mercedes-Benz E-class. The ES forgoes the athleticism of its rivals and focuses to become an effortless cruiser with a pleasant, well-designed interior.
The base model is equipped with a four-pot engine and all-wheel drive, but a more powerful V6 is optional, as is a fuel-efficient hybrid setup. The powertrains don’t matter, as the ES is a smooth operator. Its interior is plastered with premium materials, and its seats are supportive and comfortable. Also, there’s plenty of tech for both driver assistance and infotainment purposes. It might not have the reflexes of its sportier rivals, but it delivers just as much luxury and costs less as well.
Contents
What’s New?
The Jap has given the ES a slight revamp for 2023, which includes tweaked headlamps, grille, and wheel designs. Inside, the 8.0- and 12.3-inch infotainment screens have been replaced with touchscreens of the same size that are now closer to the driver for easy access. The F Sport can now be ordered on the hybrid ES300h and includes a new Dynamic Handling package when ordered on the V6–powered ES350. The host of driver-assistance features; is called Lexus Safety System+ 2.5. Now includes pedestrian and cyclist detection, and tweaks to the adaptive cruise control system.
Engine & Performance
The ES has a choice of equipping three powertrains. The ES250 is powered by a 203-hp 2.5-Liter four-pot engine and comes with all-wheel drive as standard. All ES350 trims house a 3.5-Liter V6 that pumps out 302-hp and are mated by an eight-speed automatic transmission. But, here the power is transferred to the front wheels. With all ES350h trims, the power comes from a hybrid powertrain which throws a net output of 215-hp. Here, a CVT and front-wheel drive are standard.
While testing, the gas-only ES350 bolted from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The all-wheel drive ES250 and the hybrid ES350h both made the run in a more calmingly 8.1 and 8.3 seconds, subsequently. This Jap sedan has composed handling and enjoyable ride quality which is loved by many luxury-car shoppers. For those seeking engaging drive, the F Sport trim adds larger wheels and suspension tuning which is more performance-oriented.
Fuel Economy
| 2023 Lexus ES Mileage | City | Highway |
| ES350 | 22 mpg | 32 mpg |
| ES350h | 43 mpg | 44 mpg |
| ES250 | 25 mpg | 34 mpg |
As per the EPA, the Lexus ES350 has an estimate of 22/32 mpg city/highway. As a no-brainer, the ES350h hybrid is even more efficient, achieving a mileage of 43/44 mpg. While the estimates for the new ES250 are 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.
Dimensions & Airbags
| 2023 Lexus ES Dimensions | |
| Length | 195.9 in |
| Width | 73.4 in |
| Height | 57.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 113.0 in |
| Cargo volume | 14 ft3 |
| Airbags | 10 Airbags |
All luxury-car buyers seek vehicles with the latest and greatest tech features, and the 2023 Lexus ES has a lot on its sleeves. It comes with a touchscreen infotainment system with a standard 8.0-inch central display, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are onboard. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen is optional. All models come with a 10-speaker sound system equipped with a SiriusXM satellite radio.
Pricing
| 2023 Lexus ES Trims | Price (USD) |
| ES250 | $42,100 |
| ES350 | $42,100 |
| ES300h | $43,300 |
| F Sport | $46,750 |
| Luxury | $47,500 |
| Ultra Luxury | $51,280 |
We would recommend upgrading to the ES350 with the Ultra Luxury package even if it increases the price significantly over the base model. The Ultra Luxury package adds special 18-inch wheels, semi-aniline leather upholstery, a hands-free power trunk lid, a power rear sunshade, a wood-and-leather steering wheel, and an adaptive suspension.
Specifications & Top-Speed
| 2023 Lexus ES Specifications | Specs |
| Engine | DOHC inline-4 |
| Drivetrain | AWD |
| Horsepower | 203 hp |
| Torque | 184 lb-ft |
| 0-60 MPH | 8.1 sec |
| 0-100 MPH | 21.5 sec |
| 1/4 Mile | 16.2 sec |
| Top Speed | 130 mph |