2023 Lexus ES Review

The ES has been Lexus’s answer to the premium midsize sedan segment for more than three decades now.

It has been a popular choice for buyers as it offers all the luxury that its rivals do while also being functional and reliable.

Now, the 2023 Lexus ES250 and ES350 are available for sale. The following takes a look at their highlights:

Features

The Lexus ES is currently in its eighth generation, which was introduced in 2018. It allows you to choose from five trim levels, with two sport-oriented F Sport models included.

There’s also a pair of engines to choose from, with the 2023 Lexus ES Hybrid being sold separately.

This year’s ES sees several changes in the form of the new F Sport Handling package and countless new features – including a new infotainment system.

Powertrain and Numbers

The primary engine on the 2023 ES is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that produces 203 horsepower and 184 torque, available on the ES250.

There’s also a larger 3.5-liter V6 good for 302 horses and 267 torques on the 2023 ES350.

Regardless of the engine, the power is sent to an all-wheel drive system via an 8-speed auto.

Both these setups are powerful for their size and due to AWD, they’re quick as well. The ES350 and ES250 are able to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 6 and 8 seconds respectively.

The icing on the cake is that these vehicles are quite fuel efficient for the oomph that they bring.

Naturally, the 2023 ES250 is thriftier, being able to do up to 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. Its more powerful sibling is also great at 22 mpg city; 32 mpg highway.

Opt for the 2023 Lexus ES Hybrid and you can get a whopping 43 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway.

The 2023 Lexus ES’s aesthetic cabin has been showered with praise from all its testers. They’re loving how high-end it looks and feels.

For example, US News described it as an “impressive, upscale interior built with high-quality materials”. Consumer Reports says that the “attractive interior design touches add warmth.”

It is also a functional and user-friendly cabin that’s spacious in every regard. Motor Trend says that the “2023 ES offers advantages in both legroom and trunk space” over a German rival.

The cargo area measures about 13.9 cubes, pretty decent for the class. Car and Driver states that the 2023 Lexus ES has “more cargo space than rivals,”

It is also easily accessible, with Consumer Reports saying that the trunk’s “opening is conveniently wide,”.

2023 ES250 and ES350
These two variants come with perforated NuLuxe seats, with the front ones being 10-way power-adjustable.

You get technology such as dual-zone climate control, push-button ignition, several power outlets, and a powered moonroof.

There’s an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen that’s mated to a 10-speaker stereo – it is compatible with Apple and Android devices. You also get Bluetooth and wifi hotspot capabilities.

There’s a lot of safety technology as well, starting with a rearview camera and adaptive cruise control.

Also included is automated emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts.

2023 ES250 and ES350 F Sport Design
This is the first of the two F Sport trims and it gets you wooden trim pieces, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, and wireless smartphone charging.

The front seats are now heated and ventilated, and you get Lexus’s memory seat system as well. There are some changes to the exterior as well.

2023 ES250 and ES350 Luxury
This one gets you even more sophistication in the form of a quilted and perforated semi-aniline leather-trimmed interior, and a wooden steering wheel.

There are other pieces of wood used across the cabin, which are complemented perfectly by ambient mood lighting.

You also get 14-way power-adjustable front seats, while the driver also gets a power cushion extender.

The safety department gains additional parking assistance.

2023 ES350 F Sport Handling
The ES350 F Sport Handling is the sportiest model here and it comes with several custom F Sport components.

It also sports a unique Hadori aluminum trim, while also losing some features to save weight.

2023 ES250 and ES350 Ultra Luxury
The top trim adds goodies such as a 10.2-inch head-up display to tell you about the vehicle’s info while driving. You also get more sophistication in the form of a powered trunk.

The suite of safety features gains a panoramic view monitor for better visibility, and automated emergency braking with parking assists.

2023 ES250 and ES350

 

 

2023 ES250 and ES350 Luxury

 

 

2023 ES350 F Sport Handling

 

 

Exterior and Driving

The 2023 Lexus ES is certainly an eye-catching vehicle with its aggressive stylings. Its rim sizes vary in the range of 17 to 19 inches with differing stylings and finishes.

The F Sport models come with a custom frontal area, a rear spoiler, and 19-inch wheels.

The color options on the 2023 ES are Caviar, Cloudburst Gray, Eminent White Pearl, Iridium, Matador Red Mica, Moonbeam Beige Metallic, Nightfall Mica, Obsidian, and Sunlit Green.

The ES handles beautifully and with confidence on the corners.

Car and Driver describes it as follows: “This Lexus sedan exhibits the composed handling and forgiving ride quality that’s cherished by many luxury-car shoppers.”

Consumer Reports states that it has “responsive steering and restrained body lean.”

It also had praise for the astounding ride quality: “The cabin remains hushed and the suspension steadily smooths out rough roads.”

Reliability and Warranty

Unlike many luxury cars, the Lexus ES is a dependable machine. It gets a score of 87 out of 100 from JD Power, who’s also ranked it #1 in the class.

Consumer Reports says that it will be “more reliable than the average new car.”

Lexus is very generous when it comes to warranties. It gives out a limited warranty of 4 years or 50k miles and a powertrain warranty of 6 years or 70k miles.

Along with this, the brand offers complimentary maintenance for 1 year or 10k miles.

Verdict

It can be said that the 2023 Lexus ES is the right choice if you’re looking for a car that’s ultra-luxurious, amazing to drive and to be driven in, and will give you peace of mind.

It pulls out all the stops and offers something for everyone. You also get the best aftersales – a prime example of Lexus offering more for less.

To get the 2023 Lexus ES in Mason OH, Morrow OH, and Loveland OH, check out Performance Lexus here.