It’s very easy to assume that if you want a 4-door, premium badge saloon, then you head for the local BMW, Audi or Mercedes dealership. This is one of the problems faced by Lexus with their ES 300h as people don’t include it in their searches because they’re unaware of it. Shame really, because they don’t know what they’re missing.

The ES is just as good in terms of build quality, better in terms of interior space than most and just as good to drive over a long distance. Yes, it looks different, though but with a starting price of £40,000, it also represents decent value.

Remember to compare like for like if you’re in the market for this sort of car because the Lexus ES 300h (the ‘h’ is a clue) is a hybrid. It’s loaded with kit as standard and has a mass of safety gadgets. It also comes with the Lexus reputation of burst-proof build quality and reliability. The company wins reliability and customer satisfaction awards on what has become boring regularity however, it is totally justified.

So, what’s the Lexus ES 300h like to drive and live with?

In terms of which version you go for, it all comes down to trim level because there’s only one power option. Bearing in mind that Lexus is owned by Toyota, the hybrid system obviously works well and is mated to a 2.5-litre 176bhp petrol engine. This allows you to trundle along in town traffic on battery power alone and when you need a burst of power, the electric motors join the party to provide an energy boost. It’s a bit like reaching for the Red Bull when you’re flagging a bit at work on a Friday afternoon.

If you floor the throttle when doing something like overtaking, the CVT gearbox means you get the inevitable sound of the engine revving while the car builds up speed, though it is a pity there’s no manual ‘box option. However, if you are just accelerating gently, you can hardly hear the engine bursting into life. Consequently, for the majority of the time, you ride along in a really quiet cabin that’s well insulated from road and wind noise.

And, as you’d expect from a hybrid, the economy is decent. Lexus reckons you’ll get around 51.3mpg. It’s good on emissions too with a rating of 124g/km, pretty handy for company car drivers who are looking to swap from a petrol or diesel car.

As for performance, Lexus has plainly aimed this 2.5-litre hybrid at owners who want economy and a relaxing drive because 0-60mph takes 8.9 seconds. Okay, it’s no slouch but it’s no flying machine either. Having said that, on a journey from Oxford to Newcastle which I did in the car, the Lexus ES will probably cover the same distance in the same length of time as a quicker car for the simple reason that motorway cruising is an area in which it excels. It’s also incredibly comfortable. The front seats are some of the best I’ve ever tried and there’s plenty of room for three adults in the back.  

In terms of handling, the ES is utterly predictable and provides plenty of grip if you travel quickly through a corner. If you go for F Sport trim, you get adaptive suspension as standard. It’s difficult to judge whether it affects the handling, but if you leave it in Comfort mode, it makes the suspension evening more adept at soaking up lumps and bumps in the road.

In terms of trim, you can choose from Premium, Premium Pack, F Sport and Takumi. The latter bumps the purchase price up to £56,365 which is starting to get expensive. I would recommend Premium Pack though even if it was only for the matrix LED headlights which are brilliant in every sense of the word. You can leave them on full beam but they are adaptive in a way which means they don’t dazzle oncoming drivers or those cars which you’re following. It’s fascinating to see how the beam moves across the road so that, for example, on a dark road when you’re following a single car, the headlights illuminate either side of the road and the patch of tarmac immediately ahead, but leave the car in front of you in the dark. Clever eh?

Also as standard are heated and powered front seats, heated steering wheel, twin zone climate control, keyless entry, sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, DAB radio and a 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia display which controls just about everything and at times can be infuriating to use. Perhaps familiarity will help but I spent ages trying to turn off the air con and let’s just say it wasn’t the most intuitive system I’ve ever tried.

Overall though, the Lexus ES 300h is a really good alternative to the mainstream German stuff. If you are looking for an involving car that is a thrill-a-minute to drive, then you may be a tad disappointed. But if you want something that is comfortable, provides effortless long-distance cruising, is economical, offers silent motoring around town, oozes style and quality throughout, and should be utterly reliable, then the Lexus ES 300h could be the answer to your search for a top-end saloon.

Words: Graham Courtney
Pictures: Lexus