Used 2020 Lexus ES 300h Base for sale 

The ES series of Lexus oozes of luxury. The main criteria of this car is to cocoon its occupants in the comfiest possible way. All three trims available of the ES 300h cater to this exact cause. The base trim is just the tip of the iceberg. The Luxury and Ultra Luxury trims up the game by adding in exquisite features like leather and wood trimming, heated seats and a very silent cabin. It likes to chauffer its occupants with the highest level of luxury.

Lexus doesn’t stop there but spoils its customers with numerous add on feature packages which has its perks. All these packages are focused on creature comfort and entertainment. The Navigation Premium Audio Package is a must for music fanatics who want to make their Lexus into an opera house! 

Which Trim should you opt for?

We would recommend you to go for the Luxury trim as it has a blend of all the luxury offerings along with the much-needed safety features as well. Blind-spot monitoring system along with an auto brake assist takes care of the vehicle during uninterpreted scenarios. The Navigation package is a very incremental add on as it brings in a host of other value-added features.

The ES 300h is powered by a 2.5L inline-four engine along with a nickel-metal hydride battery which gives a combined output of 215 horses. Lexus has been smart in the battery placement as its position under the rear seats does not hinder the space management. The power output is moderate but the instant torque from the hybrid battery setup makes you think otherwise.

What's under the hood of Lexus ES 300h?

The powerhouse on Lexus ES 300h is a humble setup which is a 2.5L inline-four gasoline engine. A standalone battery coupled together to produce a generous 215 horses and 163 lb-ft of torque. The battery is responsible for instantaneous torque between gears which masks the mediocre performance. The CVT transmission does a decent job of transferring the power to wheels.

*2019 figures used for reference purpose

Lexus is the most powerful of the lot with a slight degradation in torque figures. This lag is taken care of by the battery which provides an extra kick in between gears to mask the low torque. This improves the driving dynamics by a huge margin thus giving it an edge over the competition. Toyota Camry follows closely with 208 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. The Lincoln MKZ is the least powerful of the lot.

How quick is the Lexus 300h?

The acceleration of ES 300h is very sluggish at 8.1 seconds. It is no surprise as it isn’t a performance sedan but a very luxurious one. So for a luxury-oriented sedan, the figures are not half bad. The hybrid setup helps in cutting emissions and making the car more environmentally friendly.

The low power output doesn't stop lincoln from being the quickest of the lot. With 7.1 seconds it is the quickest to 60 MPH closely followed by the Camry with 7.5 seconds.

How well does the Lexus ES 300h ride?

This is the trump card with which Lexus shines in this segment. It is by no means a sharp turner, but it isn’t sluggish. It turns quickly and the steering has good feedback for a car of this size. The suspension is epic on this car, with absolutely no vibrations or tremors creeping in. It feels too good to be true. 

it’sThe battery placement helps lower the center of gravity which translates to better cornering and handling. It feels nimble in spite of the added weight of the batteries.

How well does the Lexus ES 300h stop?

The braking is comparatively better on the Lexus as it has a much more abrasive material than the rest of its competition. Regenerative braking also helps in improving braking performance as it uses friction to harvest energy. The braking would feel awkward for first-time hybrid users as regenerative brakes react differently than conventional brakes. It takes just a few minutes to get adapted to the new setup. Lexus has done a pretty good job of trying to keep the brakes as linear as possible. Many of the prominent players aren't even half as good as Lexus in this.

Lexus has all-around disc brakes which stops linearly and efficiently. The dimensions of rotors are within the segment standards. 

The hybrid setup helps Lexus achieve an impressive fuel economy of a combined 44 miles to the gallon. This is the case with most of the hybrids in this segment but Lexus has achieved this feat while chucking out enough power. The economy figures remain mostly unchanged in cities and highways which helps it achieve greater value.

Toyota Camry is the longest hauler as it gives a combined 46 miles to a gallon. This is mostly because of the less powerful engine which helps increase the numbers. Lincoln MKZ comes next with 41 MPG and the LaCrosse at last with 29 MPG.

Leather and wooden trimming engross the interior of this luxury sedan. It's airy and has a horizontal dashboard that goes on seamlessly with the A-pillars. The infotainment system has been tucked deep to avoid getting glare by sunlight. That’s pretty good attention to functionality.

How comfortable is it on the inside?

The bar is set high on this one. It has comfortable leather laden seats with ample leg and headroom. A comparatively quiet cabin with top of the line creature comfort puts it on top of the league.

The driver and front passenger seats have 10-way power functions with an extra under-thigh support for long drivers.

The increased width makes the rear compatible for 3 occupants. A small downside is the lack of a pass-through to the trunk due to the battery pack under the seats. This also brings in a faint tremor to the cabin during travel. 

Luxury sedans are known for creature comfort and cabin space. This lot doesn’t disappoint as well. But in this tight competition, Toyota Camry is spacious with an abundance of room both at the front and back.

How interactive is the infotainment system?

The infotainment is the letdown feature of this sedan. It’s finicky and complicated to control. Lexus has finally Introduced Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

Infotainment Features

• 8-Inch Color Display Multimedia System
• 10-Speaker Sound System
• Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa Integration
• WiFi Enabled
• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• Bluetooth and USB Smartphone Connectivity

Interior Features

• Push-button START/STOP
• Paddle Shifters
• Drive Mode Selector
• Power Moonroof
• Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Filter and Smog Sensor
• Perforated NULUXE Interior Trim
• 10-Way Power Adjustable Front Seats

Is the Lexus ES 300h a good getaway car?

The battery pack under the rear seats doesn’t meddle with the huge cargo space of 16.7 cubic feet. Lexus has the largest boot in the segment.

The Lincoln has the least cargo volume of 11.1 cubic feet. Toyota Camry comes close to the Lexus with 15.1 cubic feet. The Buick LaCrosse has a generous 14.3 cubic feet.

The last aesthetic upgrade done on the Lexus family was in 2016. It added a chrome grille, a redesigned and aggressive front fascia, and the LED headlamps. It surely looks fresh but there is a detachment in the whole look. The design doesn’t flow in unison. This is observed in the front fascia which has a bit too much of chrome. 

Is the Lexus ES 300h worth a second look?

The design of ES 300h is majestic, to say the least. It has long lines and a little too generous treatment of chrome over the rather eye-catchy spindle grille. The dimensions are not over the top for a luxury sedan. It stays within the limit of practicality and extravaganza.

The ES 300h weighs a generous 3704 pounds which is not light by any means. But it carries the weight with charisma. With a wheelbase of 113 inches, it chauffeurs people with comfort and leaves enough cargo volume for weekend getaways. 

Buick LaCrosse is the longest of the lot which translates to more internal storage. Toyota Camry is the shortest with 192.2 inches. All of these luxury sedans have more or less the same dimensions with slight variations. But that alone is enough to bring about a large variation in vehicle dynamics. 

Exterior Features

• BI-LED Headlamps
• LED taillamps
• Daytime Running Lights
• Signature Spindle Grille
• The ES 300h weighs a generous 3704 pounds which is not light by any means. But it carries the weight with charisma. With a wheelbase of 113 inches, it chauffeurs people with comfort and leaves enough cargo volume for weekend getaways. 
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Rear Spoiler

Lexus has not nitpicked on the safety front. It has all the life-saving features as standard from the base up. Certain passive safety features don't make the cut and come in with an add on package.

Safety Features

• 10-standard Airbag System
• Backup Camera
• Vehicle Stability Control
• Lexus Enform Safety connect
• Lexus Safety System+ 2.0

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Reserve

The MKZ is a very decent luxury offering from the American automaker. But it doesn’t have the tools to stay in this fight. It has an underpowered engine that gives sluggish performance. The interior space is also not bright enough to do the talking. We expect a luxurious interior with top-notch quality which the MKZ fails to provide. The Lexus is the better choice of the two by a huge margin.

Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE

The Camry is a worthy competitor for the ES 300h with its luxurious interior and similar powertrains. The suspension is a bit too soft and the regenerative braking is not well optimized like the Lexus. Apart from these both of them stand on the same level. The Camry is priced lower at $32550. If you want luxury badging with great driving dynamics and a well-concealed cabin, Lexus is the way to go. 

Buick LaCrosse Premium

The Buick is powerful enough to lock horns with the Lexus. But it is a very poor handler and requires a paid add on package to improve it. The cabin space and comfort are compromised with a low seating position. The small cargo space doesn't help as well. The Lexus is a far superior choice with importance given to comfort and vehicle dynamics while costing almost the same. It is the better choice of the two.

Lexus has built the ES 300h with luxury and comfort in mind. They have managed to achieve it without costing a bomb. The potent powerhouse which can propel the caravan with ease. The interior is rich in features and is a place where you would relax after a tough day. It cocoons the occupants in luxury without compromising on the performance or utility. 

If you are in the market looking for a ride to be chauffeured in luxury and comfort, the Lexus ES 300h is the one for you. The exceptional fuel economy comes as an added benefit!