Used 2018 Lexus ES 300h Ultra Luxury for sale 

The 2018 Lexus ES 300h is a standalone trim, which costs a moderately high amount of $41,820. For that money, you get a good amount of bells and whistles, along with the impressively well-finished cabin. Space inside is quite generous, which is usually expected from a car in this price range.

Other than the features mentioned above, you get a lot of other standard features. Optional features include a Navigation system, an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, a Mark Levinson premium audio system, heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a power-operated trunk, leather upholstery, and ambient lighting. Lexus also offers some packages to add to the vehicle’s features list such as a Premium Package, Luxury Package, and Ultra Luxury Package, to name a few.

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There is only one variant available as the ES300h is a standalone trim, and it is a good one too. There are various options though, which increase the price steeply. Choose only the options you might need or the ones that don't dent your budget. If would like to add some luxurious amenities to your ES300h, you can opt for the Ultra Luxury Package that adds a wide array of features such as heated & ventilated front seats, Memory setting for the steering wheel, electric tilt and telescopic steering wheel, wood trim inserts, ambient illumination door trim, and ambient lighting, to name some of them.

The Lexus ES 300h is powered by two power plants, namely a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The gasoline engine is a 2.5 liter inline-four-cylinder gasoline-powered engine, with intelligent variable valve timing to improve efficiency. The other is a high output permanent magnet electric motor that can operate independently from the gasoline engine.

The combined output is about 200 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque, which isn’t earth shattering figures. Even with the low output, the instant torque from the electric motor delivers great relief, along with a wave of torque. The gasoline engine delivers power to the front wheels via an electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission, which is efficient even though it isn't sporty.

The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is slightly less powerful than the Lexus ES 300h, while the Toyota Avalon Hybrid makes the same power and torque figures as the Lexus ES 300h. The Infiniti Q50 Hybrid is the most powerful car in this comparison and by quite a margin with 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque power output.

How quick is the 2018 Lexus ES 300h?

The only problem with a heavy luxury car is poor performance, and that is compounded by the fact the Lexus ES 300h has a very modest amount of power. It takes a lethargic 8.1 seconds to go from 0 to 60 MPH, and a quarter-mile mark in 15.8 seconds. It also has various driving modes to select for different types of driving. Being a hybrid vehicle, power and performance is not exactly the ES 300h’s forte. The ES 300h might not be fast but sure is comfortable at cruising speeds.

The Lincoln is a whole second quicker than the Lexus ES 300h to the 60 mph mark, which isn't impressive either. The Toyota Avalon Hybrid is just a tad faster than the Lexus ES 300h , which although still not quick, isn't too bad either. The Infiniti Q50 Hybrid is the fastest among the competition which brings it closer to acceptable levels of performance.

How does the 2018 Lexus ES 300h handle?

The ES 300h is focused more on comfort than handling, and as such is not the most entertaining car to drive. The brakes take but a mere touch to engage, as the braking regenerative system lies waiting for an opportunity. Although, the spongy pedal feel robs the system of any proper feedback. Even the steering is devoid of any feedback, which makes the driving experience less than enjoyable.

How good are the brakes on the 2018 Lexus ES 300h?

Braking duties on the Lexus are handled by both traditional and modern means. There are 11.6-inch ventilated discs in the front, 11.0-inch solid discs in the rear, and regenerative braking all around.

Combined with a curb weight of over three and a half thousand pounds, the car takes a moderate 126 feet to come to a stop from 60 MPH. The regenerative braking will take some time to get used to if you are new to hybrid vehicles. The regenerative braking system also limits you from spirited driving.

The competition is better in braking performance than the Lexus ES 300h, although just by a hair's breadth. None of the cars here have great handling being hybrid vehicles but does offer a decent overall driving dynamics. The Infiniti Q50 is the heaviest car here, and although the weight doesn't affect the performance, it does affect the handling quite a lot.

The primary job of every hybrid car is to be the most fuel-efficient automobile ever designed. The Lexus works great in that regard, achieving 40 miles per gallon in the city and 39 on the highway with overall fuel economy figure reaching the 40 miles per gallon mark.

The Lincoln is slightly more efficient than the Lexus in the city, and a little less on the highway, which brings the overall efficiency level up to the same 40 miles per gallon mark. The Toyota posts the exact same figures as the Lexus, while the heaviest and the most powerful Infinity is the least efficient car here.

The ES 300h has a very plush and comfy interior. It seats five people in extreme comfort, with lots of space both in the front and back. There is plenty of legroom especially in the back, which is great for the people who like being chauffeured around. The seats are very comfortable, even over large distances, and the climate control system helps control the atmosphere inside the cabin.

The front seats are 10-way power adjustable with power fore/aft slide, recline, front and rear vertical cushion height and lumbar adjustments. The seats have Perforated NuLuxe Seat upholstery with leatherette wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter. The fit and finish might not be up to the mark but is good enough. But for a $40,000+ price tag, the ES 300h does disappoint. Overall, the ES 300h is a decent performer in the comfort aspect.

All the vehicles seat five people quite comfortably,, but only the Toyota Avalon has the same rear-seat space as the Lexus which is understandable considering they are corporate cousins. The front seat space, however, is quite generous in all these cars and even the interiors are well put-together. But it is worth noting that the ES 300h offers almost the same amount of space in both the rows making it one of the most spacious in this segment.

How intuitive is the 2018 Lexus ES 300h’s infotainment unit?

The ES 300h comes standard with an 8.0-inch infotainment screen while an optional 12.3 inch touchscreen is also available. The infotainment aspect offered in the ES 300h is by far one of the most frustrating systems offered in the automotive market. This is primarily because of the over-sensitive touch pad controller that has to be used to control the screen and the complicated system that makes it a nightmare to use The ES 300h is equipped with some noteworthy features such as auxiliary and USB/iPod audio input plugs, HD Radio w/iTunes tagging, integrated SiriusXM satellite radio receiver, and Bluetooth Connectivity, to just name some. There are also plenty of other features on offer, some of which are listed below:

• DVD/CD player
• AM/FM Stereo
• Scout GPS link
• auxiliary and USB/iPod audio input plugs
• Bluetooth hands free phone and automatic phonebook download capabilities
• Bluetooth streaming audio
• 8 Pioneer speakers
• HD Radio w/iTunes tagging
• integrated SiriusXM satellite radio receiver (complimentary 90-day trial subscription)
• remote touch controller w/back button
• Siri Eyes Free mode (iPhone 4S and newer)
• Speed Compensated Volume Control
• Steering Wheel Controls
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio
• Lexus Enform connected services
• 15-speaker, 835-watt Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound Audio System
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
• 1 12V DC Power Outlet

How much cargo space does the 2018 Lexus ES 300h offer?

The battery pack of a hybrid car takes up a lot of space in the trunk, which is a problem that plagues every hybrid car in the market and the same goes for the Lexus ES300h as well. The trunk has a disappointingly low 12.1 cubic feet of cargo space, which is barely enough for two weeks' worth of groceries. Coming to the interior storage compartments, The Lexus ES 300h offers a couple of door bins, a small storage space under the armrest, and two seatback storage pockets.

All the cars here have small trunks, with the Infiniti G50 hybrid deserving a special mention. Its lack of space is downright hurtful, and if you plan to ever have luggage in the back, then this is the one car you should steer clear of. The Toyota Avalon Hybrid takes the top spot with a cargo space of 14 cubic feet which is the highest in the segment, followed by the Lexus ES 300h that has a cargo space of 12.1 cubic feet.

The Lexus belongs to the midsize luxury sedan segment and has moderate dimensions and is surprisingly lightweight for a hybrid car. The length is a little more than 190 inches, and more than 70 inches wide.

Negotiating traffic could be a little difficult during rush hour, but not much. Ground clearance is nearly six inches which is not enough to go on rough patches but is surely enough to take you over some undulations,tackle high speed bumps and loitering rocks on the road. The wheelbase is long that falls within the industry standards which frees up as much space in the cabin as possible.

The competition has nearly the same dimensions and weight as the Lexus, except for the Infiniti Q50 hybrid, which is quite a bit smaller yet a lot heavier. All the cars have a large wheelbase to free up the rear legroom space. Even though the ground clearance of the ES 300h might not sound much, it is the highest among the segment.

The exterior of the Lexus also has a few features to boast and are as follows:

• Spindle grille
• 17-inch 5-Spoke Aluminum alloy wheels
• Lip Spoiler
• Fully Automatic Projector Beam LED Low Beam Daytime Running Lights
• Auto High-Beam Headlamps
• Light Tinted Glass
• Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers
• 215/55R17 AS Tires

The 2018 Lexus ES 300h has been crash-tested by the NHTSA and has received a 5-star overall rating. However, the ES 300h has not been crash-tested by the IIHS yet. Lexus is a powerhouse when it comes to safety and reliability and is known for offering some of the most comprehensive list of safety features for their vehicles. The 2018 Lexus ES 300h comes fitted with a lot of safety equipment to keep its passengers safe. The standard safety features are as follows:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS and Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver and Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Lexus Enform w/Safety Connect Emergency SOS
• Lexus Safety System+ Forward Collision
• Lane Departure Alert (LDA) w/Steering Assist Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Departure Alert (LDA) w/Steering Assist Lane Departure Warning
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver and Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Driver and Passenger Knee Airbag and Rear Side-Impact Airbag
• Rear Child Safety Locks
• First Aid Kit
• Outboard Front Lap and Shoulder Safety Belts with Rear Center 3-Point, Height Adjusters and Pretensioners

Lexus ES 300h vs. Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Premiere

The Lincoln MKZ hybrid Premiere is a great car at a great price and is most comfortable for a family of four (or five). The fuel savings are exceptional, especially in the urban crawl, and although it isn't the best car in this segment, Lincoln manages to hold its own.

The mild-mannered dynamics, along with the lack of rear-seat space and trunk space push the Lincoln towards the back of the segment. Even though it is a great car for the price, we expected a little more from it.

Lexus ES 300h vs. Toyota Avalon Hybrid XLE Plus

The Toyota Avalon Hybrid is the closest to the Lexus ES 300h in terms of every aspect and is slightly better in performance. What's more, the Toyota is cheaper too, which makes it a much more lucrative buy.

The Lexus however, has more cabin creature comforts, more space, and better interiors. If you are looking for the best luxury experience while also saving the polar bears, then the Lexus makes more sense.

Lexus ES 300h vs. Infiniti Q50 Hybrid LUXE

The Infiniti G50 Hybrid is the heaviest, most powerful, and consequently the least efficient hybrid system here. The benefits of the hybrid system are negated in this car, as both the performance and the efficiency suffer.

The Lexus hybrid is a great car, let alone a great hybrid car, and it comfortably outperforms the Infiniti in the important aspects.

Lexus has a winner in its hand with the ES 300h and is sure to become popular soon. If only it was a little quicker and had a more friendly infotainment system, it would have been the perfect car, although the backseat passengers wouldn't care much for the pace. Overall, it's a luxurious car with oodles of space and lots of gadgets on board. The fit and finish might not meet the consumer expectations but sure does make a good argument in the hybrid market.