Premium Hybrid Sedan of the Year
Lexus ES 300h Hybrid
For those prioritising comfort, the ES's appeal has always been clear. New headlights, a tweaked grille and extra safety features arrived post-facelift, but the car's dominating presence and faultlessly crafted interior remain. While performance is agreeable, not neck-snapping (214bhp and 221Nm of torque to the front wheels), it is superlative refinement and fuel efficiency that the Lexus hybrid system rewards you with. With the latter, no rival comes close.
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**Lexus ES300h: A Classy Blend of Luxury and Efficiency**The Lexus ES300h represents a harmonious blend of opulence and eco-friendliness in the world of luxury sedans. As a hybrid offering from Lexus, it embodies the brand's commitment to delivering exceptional comfort and performance while maintaining a conscientious approach towards environmental sustainability. Let's delve into what makes the ES300h a standout choice in its segment.**Design and Comfort:**From the moment you lay eyes on the Lexus ES300h, its elegant design captivates. The exterior exhibits refined lines and a sleek profile, exuding sophistication without being overly ostentatious. Inside, the cabin is a haven of luxury, meticulously crafted with high-quality materials and exquisite attention to detail. Plush seating, ample legroom, and advanced noise insulation ensure a serene and comfortable ride, whether navigating city streets or cruising on the highway.**Performance and Efficiency:**The ES300h's hybrid powertrain seamlessly integrates a potent yet efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, delivering a combined output that impresses both in terms of power and fuel economy. The transition between electric and gasoline propulsion is imperceptible, providing smooth acceleration and a whisper-quiet driving experience. With its hybrid technology, the ES300h achieves remarkable fuel efficiency, making it an attractive option for those seeking to minimize their carbon footprint without compromising on performance.**Technology and Features:**Lexus leaves no stone unturned when it comes to equipping the ES300h with cutting-edge technology and features. The infotainment system boasts a responsive touchscreen interface, intuitive controls, and support for smartphone integration, ensuring connectivity and entertainment are always at your fingertips. Safety is paramount, with a suite of advanced driver assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking, providing peace of mind on every journey.**Driving Experience:**Behind the wheel, the ES300h delivers a poised and composed driving experience. The suspension glides over imperfections in the road, soaking up bumps with grace, while precise steering and responsive handling inspire confidence, even on winding roads. Whether you're commuting through the city
 
I have been driving the ES 300h for about 2 months now. I had thoroughly enjoyed owning and driving a 6th generation Camry for the past 6 years. In my first drive of the ES, it only felt marginally quieter than the 15yo Camry. But over time, I find myself more relaxed when driving in the ES. The cabin can feel dead silent when vehicle is at a stop.Sunroof let in some noise when liner is slide back. Tyre/road noise on grittier highway roads sounds similar to my older Camry, wished it is more muted. I have to go over humps at slower speed as well. All these, I attributed to its 18" Rims, and I would go for a smaller rim if given the choice. When the engine is working in conjunction with the hybrid system, it feels as perfect as it can be. Handling is responsive and pleasant. Steering is lightly weighted. I'm not particular about power, and ES has more than adequate for my needs. Overall fuel economy is 16.5km/L, with daily city driving and minimal highway. The front/rear bumpers clearance is low. It stresses me out as I had already popped out my rear bumper once when I parked at a lot with what seemed like a normal kerb height. Active cruise control is helpful but not intelligent. Tech features in the car are adequate and not intrusive. Infotainment screen is tilted towards the driver at a good angle. Analogue clock adds class but legibility is compromised during the day with illuminated indices.The included BlackVue DR590W-2CH dashcam is not sharp.The leather is nice to the touch, feels high quality, seats have a good range controls for driver and passenger. Keyless entry on all doors, kick to open trunk. Interior lights have the right colour temperature to be comfortable, lights are not too bright not intrusive, tastefully done. Touch points around the interior are high quality.There trunk is deep but uses a flimsy floor board. Tasteful colour combination and material choice in its interior, aesthetically pleasing through and through. Some room for improvement, like the leather in the previous generation ES with dynamic lines imprinted looks even better. I appreciate Toyota and Lexus approach to engineering reliable cars. It helps with sustainability when products have longer useable life. Ownership and maintenance becomes more fuss free too, saving time and stress for the driver.
 
It is the most practical and comfortable car to own in Singapore. Best for a family's car as the cabin is more roomy as compared to the brands in the same segment. Hybrid gives a very practical and economical fuel consumption of 17.5km/L. Very very quiet cabin and wide comfortable seats for all passengers. The Mark Levinson sound system works perfectly and can be calibrated to individual liking. Overall a very stylish car with a lot of road presence and at a much cheaper price compared to its rivals
 
The ES300h comes across as a premium executive conveyance, designed to get you from one place to another in absolute comfort and safety. It's suspension smooths out most bumps and undulations and it hardly gets a step wrong or of balance. Power combined from the petrol unit and electric motor will easily bring you to cruising speed without breaking a sweat. Don't let its usually pleasant demenor fool you though.. When required you can kick it down to Sport mode, and boy does it take off. Acceleration is scary fast between 60 - 100 kmh when you need it. Using the same Frankenstien knob and switching down to Eco mode gives you another pleasant surprise. Usually for most cars, Eco modes dumb downs the car so much it becomes un-drivable but for the most ardent of tree huggers. Not so for the ES300h - the drive seems to smoothen out a little and become a bit more relaxed (if that is even possible..?) but without any noticeable loss of forward urge from the powertrain. Fuel consumption improves slightly as the main bonus.The main attraction is the looks IMO. The lines are sharp and its low stance communicates power and sophistication. Interior surfaces are soft touch and logically laid out. Early models didn't come with Apply CarPlay which is a pity for a car in this class. Overall though, its cabin is a great place to be. The sound system produces sufficiently rich and textured sound even in the Executive trim. It really checks all the boxes for a buyer looking for a competent luxury sedan.
Verdict
Looking for a luxurious sedan that comes with hybrid capabilities? Based on how many of these we see on our roads, it is safe to say that the Lexus ES is one of the most popular choices we have here. Refreshed in 2021, the ES 300h features a newer daytime running light design, new wheels, some design changes in the grille and additional safety features.

The ES has never been about driving dynamics and like before, it just wants to distinguish itself as a comfortable cruiser with a cabin that is nothing short of opulent. Out on the road, the Lexus irons out undulations and broken surfaces in a calm and composed manner like no other competitor.

With combined power figures of 214bhp and 221Nm of torque sent to the front wheels, the luxury sedan will execute overtaking manoeuvres with ease and confidence.

Obviously at town speeds, the Lexus ES300h is also responsive and light on its feet, thanks to the electric motor supplying you with the push from standstill before letting the combustion engine come into play.

The Lexus ES now comes with additional features such as Emergency Steering Assist and an improved lane recognition performance, Lane Tracing Assist and Warning Brake Assist, amongst others.

Inside, fit and finish is great with all three occupants at the back treated with ample head, leg, and shoulder room, with the addition of electric controls to recline the seats, activate sunshades and adjust the air-con and audio system.

With all said and done, it is not that hard to fathom why it is one of the best-selling luxury sedans around with a hybrid powertrain.