Used 2013 Lexus ES 300h Sedan Consumer Reviews
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First time hybrid owner
johnnyrainbow, 07/04/2013
updated 07/12/2018
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
43 of 43 people found this review helpful
Up until now, hybrids looked like, well.....hybrids. Little bug like vehicles that got great mileage but that's where it stopped. This thing, this 300h, has the looks, reliability, fuel efficiency, comfort and luxury we've been waiting for. Being only $2,500.00 more than it's gas only brother, the ES350, Lexus did us a great favor. The extra dollars spent up front really gets made up in the great fuel economy in just a few years, versus 10-12 years with a lot of hybrids. As of today, 1/10/17, I have to say my ratings all hold true. Still a very reliable, enjoyable car to have. No issues whatsoever. As of today, 7/11/17, we still own the Lexus 300h and it has been trouble free and we have put very little into the car except to keep up with the maintenance schedule. If I were looking for a used car in the luxury category, I would really consider this car. 1/9/18: Still very satisfied with this car. No issues at all. The most trouble free car we have owned over the last 38 years. As far as buying a used 2013 Lexus 300h, I would do it in a heartbeat.
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About what I expected
socal21st, 11/27/2013
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
37 of 37 people found this review helpful
I've been driving this car for about three months now and I finally feel as if I'm qualified to write a review. I'm coming from a BMW 525i 2005 model. Overall it compares favorably. It's not as sporty as a BMW. Signature Lexus features such as mushy steering, floaty suspension and certain accents you know they got from a Toyota. I paid $47k out the door for the luxury option model with heated/cooled seats, parking assist, side sensors, smart cruise control, voice command, GPS, etc. About the mileage. I'm getting 37 on the city and 42 on the highway for about 39-40 combined. You need to learn how to drive this car for efficiency if you want the full hybrid mileage advantages.
Unique model with some minor shortcomings
jpallen01, 10/12/2012
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
54 of 55 people found this review helpful
My wife and I purchased this car 2 weeks ago and we have nearly 1000 miles on it already. We are generally very pleased with it. It has a ton of room in the front and rear seats. It is very quiet, the ride is excellent and the handling is capable. We anticipate the fuel mileage will be in the 40 range when we stop playing with it. Currently we are getting 36MPH in mixed driving. The controls are well thought out but the Lexus Enform and Navigation Tech is taking a little getting use to. I hope they will update the software with some better navigation of the menus. But the Tech is still very cool. The Hybrid system rocks! Changes from motor to battery with hardly a notice! Its a keeper.
An Almost Great Car
bobblock1, 12/08/2016
updated 12/11/2017
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
26 of 27 people found this review helpful
This is the best car I have owned; it is a delight to drive. I also tried the ES350, and although faster, the shifting annoyed me; I prefer the ES300h CVT transmission. The ES300h has 3 driving modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport, easily selected with a rotating dial on the center console. I usually drive in Normal mode. Eco mode has a bit less acceleration, but is fine to drive in. It supposedly gets better mileage, but I haven’t done a reasonable test to verify this. In Normal mode, my mileage varies with driving. Around town I’m getting about 34 mpg. On the freeway, I get 38. Sport mode makes a significant difference in handling. The car takes corners with much more confidence, and can be pushed into tight turns. It is not a sports car, but for a big sedan it corners very well. In Sport mode, the accelerator is much more responsive, quicker to react, with higher gearing. Still, maximum acceleration is limited to what the power plant can provide – 0-60 in under 8 seconds. The interior is luxurious, with all kinds of goodies to pamper you and keep you safe (I like the Blind Spot Monitor and Cross Traffic warning while backing up). Very satisfying to sit in. Now to my complaint, and it is a big one. A few years back, Lexus decided to go to a mouse-based interface to the Navigation screen instead of a touch screen. The interface is used for navigation, the radio and other media players, and the phone. I also own a 2008 RX400h, with the touch-screen interface. It works fine, and is easy to use. The mouse-based interface makes use of navigation, the radio, and the phone significantly more difficult. It requires you to look at the screen longer, and takes more concentration to position the mouse. During my first month or two driving this car, I found it very distracting to use, resulting in less attention paid to driving the car – dangerous. I’ve now figured out a safer way to use it, but the interface still takes more effort and clicks. Someone in Lexus user interface design is brain-dead. Phone Use: To make a call on my RX, I push a button on the steering wheel, speed dials appear on the screen, I touch the one I want, and the call goes through. On this car, it takes the steering wheel button, and then 2 carefully placed mouse clicks to place the call. Too risky while driving, so I use the voice recognition system. Voice recognition will dial anyone in my contacts list, but needs to understand me. It puts the entry on the screen and says the name. Then I say: “dial” to place the call. Workable if I know the correct names in my contact list. Radio: There are no longer physical push button presets – just the on/off-volume knob and the tuner knob. All presets are electronic on a Radio screen. The easiest way to reach the Radio screens is by pushing a physical Radio button on the dashboard just above the gear shift lever. Then you get 6 screens, 6 presets per screen, with a physical scroll button behind the shift lever or mouse clicked arrows on the screen to move between preset screens. You can scroll through the presets with a lever on the steering wheel or mouse-click them . Again, using the mouse while driving is tricky, but the scroll button works reasonably well, except that you must replace the Nav map with the Radio screen while doing this. If you want the map to stay on the screen, you need to stay with the Map screen and remember the order of your presets while using the lever. Navigation: You can set a destination while driving using voice recognition. The only one I’ve tried is Go Home. This works. You can also speak an address into the system with voice commands – not while driving: City, Street, then Number (speaking single digits). This is easier than mouse-clicking the address into the keyboard. My RX has 6 preset destinations I can get to with 2 touches while driving, and allows me to touch type an address onto the keyboard. The ES system is not as easy. Oddly, and annoyingly, there are no “Pause Guidance” and “Resume Guidance” voice commands. I use these or the touch equivalent on my other cars to get my Nav system to shut up when I don’t want to hear it during the journey (like when stopping for gas or lunch). I’m still learning, so there may be shortcuts I can use to simplify this interface, but it is inferior to what Lexus used to use and what Toyota still uses. I can’t explain why they have done this.
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First time Lexus and Hybrid Owner - former "German-Only" car buyer
g007, 09/30/2012
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
79 of 87 people found this review helpful
I was in the market for a vehicle that had a roomy back seat and good fuel economy and AWD or front-wheel drive for driving in snow. I had a VW CC and looked at the Passat Diesel and Audi A8L. I've owned only German vehicles because I like how they drive (Mercedes GL320, Porsche Boxter, VW Touareg, CC, and GTI). The new 2013 Lexus ES300 caught my eye because of the 40 inch rear leg room, and 40 mpg in city and highway. Plus, it uses regular fuel. My German cars required premium fuel and diesel is not always convenient. I never cared for the Lexus styling as I thought it was rather bland. However, the new horizontal dash resembles the BMW styling and is much more stylish than the VW.
Baby on board
einstone, 11/16/2013
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
Excellent car, i upgraded from BMW. My wife has to ride with our baby in the back, and the leg space is really incredible i trade with her some times too and love it but roof could be a bit higher for long torso man that i am. we also had an 08 Xterra SUV and ES has way more leg space in the back! MPG 32 city (we live in a up and down area) combined is 35.5 and on a freeway close to 40 that is with all 5 seats occupied and trunk full of Costco goods, 15 gal fuel (91 premium).
You won't go wrong with this one!
Vomoh, 02/18/2021
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
It's everything I hoped for in the brand and more! When I drive sensibly I can get up to 800 miles per tank!!! Yes, I said 800 miles! I am a speeder so I mostly get 600 miles per tank and filling up for less than $30 in Atlanta, it's a win-win! The power is great (unlike some reviews said that I read)! Mine is a 2013 that I bought in 2019 with 103k miles. It has 133k now in 2021 (yeah, I drive a lot!) and I have no issues or complaints to report. I have always driven the Lexus brand since realizing many years ago that they NEVER have maintenance issues (well none of the 4 I've owned), not even my very first ES that had 331k miles on it when I purchased it. I drove it for 3 years and gave it to my high schooler who drove it another 2 years with NO ISSUES. It's the Lexus brand, and the hybrid is EVERYTHING! You won't go wrong with it!
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Love Everything, EXCEPT...
murphy50, 12/16/2013
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
17 of 19 people found this review helpful
Ok, everything is great, except the darn front seats. The front seat cushion side bolsters dig into my hips and thighs. It gets annoying and makes me want to dump the car. Last years model had fantastic seats for the butt. I am not fat - in fact I am skinny and tall, and in my early 40's. If you have a slightly larger than average butt, you better sit in this awhile. I do not like it and mad that I have to "get used to it" I want everyone to know that this is something to look at, and what I consider a design mistake
Honestly love this car
E.L., 10/24/2015
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Have had my ES300h for a little over a year and 20K miles. Even though it is not the strongest performance sedan, I knew this before buying it. I use this car to drive back and forth to work in traffic, occasionally take a weekend trip in it with my family. It's never let me down. It has great room for everyone, quiet (though not as quiet as my dad's LS), and very comfortable. Bonus is the great gas mileage in a luxury car (avg 38 in the spring, summer, fall and 34-35 in the winter). My only complaint is the slightly narrow seats as mentioned by some other reviewers. Like the mouse-like nav entertainment interface (though, did take some getting used to), and the dealership service is INCREDIBLE.
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Not as quiet as ES model
fsb123, 01/09/2014
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
21 of 26 people found this review helpful
Bought my car in September 2013,traded in my 2007 ES350. First thing I noticed is a strong thumping noise when you start the car and put it in reverse when backing out of the driveway. The same thumping noise is repeated when the car is in idle like when waiting for the traffic light to change like the battery is switching to gas. I usually drive the car on ECO mode but I have never reached the 39 to 40 mpg advertised, my car is only averaging 30 mpg and on a average speed of only 29mph. I have the parchment interior which get dirty in no time. Interior amenities not as generous as the older ES350. Overall the car is satisfactory but not worth the premium price over the ES350.
Lexus ES300h
Michael, 10/04/2017
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Car drive smoothly & not much road noise ( quiet cabin). Headlight is very bright. Best of all it take less gas to go places ( average 36miles/Gallon). Love it so far
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Happy Owner
Mark Norman, 08/13/2018
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I have owned the 300H now for two years. Gas mileage is excellent and have been very reliable. Love the fact I can use regualar gas. Front seats not as comfortable as I had hoped. When closing doors they dont have the nice sound of closing as earlier ES models. Overall though very pleased
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Great Car with Disappointing MPG
max55fisher, 05/14/2013
updated 05/15/2016
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
My wife and I find the car a joy to ride in and drive. The seats are especially supportive and comfortable and long road trips are a pleasure. The ride is smooth, the acceleration is powerful and makes merging with traffic, under any condition, a breeze. The cabin is very quite and there's plenty of room both front and rear. We are a bit disappointed with the mileage we've been getting, though. The car computer calculation differs by about 7-10% from what I calculate. We've been averaging 37-38 mpg for mixed city/highway driving. We were expecting better! Overall we thing it's a great car and we'd buy it again.
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My wife's luxury ride is better than expected!
Peter, 06/18/2016
updated 12/27/2017
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
This 2013 300h is a great luxury car. My other car is a Porsche Twin Turbo, and yes the 300 h is only a 8 second car to 60 and the Twin Turbo is a 4sec car, but the 300h really handled well in sport mode on a trip up the Pacific Coast Highway. It is a great highway cruiser, has averaged 37 plus mpg over the 25000 miles we have driven it and does everything you could ask of a great family sedan! Service and maintenance have been very low, virtually nothing. Knowing both what I have learned about Lexus and Toyota, I would have bought the Toyota Avalon hybrid, as the 300h and the Avalon were jointly developed and the drive trains are identical! The Avalon is slightly less expensive and more importantly, the service on the Avalon is free, whereas ou pay for the Lexus service after the first free service!!! Our 300h now has 33,600 miles and is still averaging 37 mpg! We cannot find anything wrong with the car other than the fact that the rear seat back doesn’t fold down so that more luggage or longer items might be carried in the trunk! We do take the vehicle to the local Toyota dealer for oil changes only because the same service at the Lexus dealership costs more and the dealership is 50 miles away. Other than the aforementioned oil changes and checks,we haven’t spent a penny on the vehicle! Will put a new set of “low rolling resistance” tires in roughly another 5000 miles. Simply a great family sedan!!!
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Lexus ES300h
Steve Milender, 12/12/2016
updated 06/13/2017
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
We had never considered the purchase of a ES300h, and had planned to purchase a ES350 which we owned previously. Due to the price and value of the ES30h, we purchased the Hybrid and have been pleased with the excellent gas mileage and smooth and quiet ride. An EXCELLENT automobile!!
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Lexus surprises me again
jay24, 06/11/2013
updated 06/12/2016
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
13 of 17 people found this review helpful
I took delivery of this car recently for my wife. This is the third Lexus I have owned in the last 20 years. The car has attributes that aren't discussed in reviews. Example it emits an purposeful sound when driving slowly in EV mode to alert pedestrians to your presence. The stereo without the Mark Levinson upgrade is impressive especially with a whisper quiet interior. As to noise levels, Lexus has not insulated us from outside sounds but dialed them down somehow. I like the ratcheted head rests but the front drivers seat is the worst on trips I have ever had. I see no need for a gear shift yet one is there. Interior lighting is dynamic in that evidently it changes depending on what you are doing. I traded the car in early, the only time in my life I have done so because the front seats were miserable for my average build. I have never gotten such a terrible back ache from a drivers seat like this before. I do not know if it is because it is a hybrid that they reduced support in seats to save weight or not. Good news is when I traded it in it got top dollar.
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Front driver seat is bad
russell42, 09/01/2013
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
13 of 17 people found this review helpful
The front drivers seat hurts my leg and is uncondortable
236,000 miles nothing breaks, no squeaks
PF, 10/24/2020
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I managed dealership luxury sales departments so I have a great store of knowledge of high maintenance and low maintenance vehicles, I bought my 2013 ES300h in early 2017 with 89K. It now has 236,000K. Nothing has broken, failed, or torn. The leather on the seats is in great shape. The CV joints have never been replaced, The car is still operating on the original brake pads and 12v battery. This is an unbelievable luxury car if you define luxury beyond heated and cooled seats and to as close to reliable and enjoyable perfection. My only complaint - ride quality is not as good as the previous body style.
Two Lexus ES300h Great gas mileage
steising, 10/20/2013
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
I bought 2 ES300h hybrids in December 2012. My wife and I drive them to work every day. I keep meticulous records and since the first day I bought the cars I get an actual 40.1 mpg and my wife gets 36 mpg. I get better gas mileage in the city than on the highway. The last two months I have been getting about 45.5 mpg and my has been getting 38.5. We love this car. We traded in 2011 ES350 and 2011 RX450's. We went from 25 mpg in the ES and 17 mpg with premium gas in the RX. I read a review for the ES300h 2014 where the person said they were getting 25 mpg. They must drive poorly as I drive 5 miles over the speed limit everywhere I go and I get the mpg on the sticker.
Honest car owner feedback
hp51200372, 11/26/2013
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
9 of 13 people found this review helpful
Excellent car with quiet, comfortable ride. Great fuel mpg at the cost of sacrificing performance with 4 cylinder 156 HP engine. Loud engine noise accelerating even in sport mode. Expensive 46k car for 4 cylinder CVT hybrid engine. Not worth the money. Lexus ES350 v6/268 HP is highly recommended which cost 3k less then ES300H.
All I expected but . . .
selkirk2, 08/06/2013
updated 02/20/2024
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
7 of 10 people found this review helpful
Owned my ES300h for 11 year and have enjoyed almost everything about the car. It is perfect, for me, except that I am getting too old for getting into what is a low car so it will have to go in the next year. Batteries have lost some power but still original. Terrible GPS, poor auto lights Probably biggest irritation is the GPS - only one voice available and that not to my liking; and it seldom understands my (English) accent! The auto lights-on takes too long to be used safely - I am told that is the way it is with Toyota - Bad - not safe IMHO. Find the radio a challenge and the CD player (still have them) not great. Otherwise, nice car. Happy camper I am. Would I buy Hybrid again? Probably not because I do not do enough mileage. Doubt I would purchase another Lexus; would certainly look at the alternatives Would I buy electric. NO, understand battery replacement will be expensive
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After 4 years, finally found the car we wanted...
mdsofky, 11/27/2012
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
47 of 83 people found this review helpful
My wife and I had been looking for four years to replace our 12 year old Honda Accord EX (which we loved and still runs well). We started casually looking on our anniversary weekend four years ago, but wanted lots of tech, and options that wouldn't be outdated soon. Wanted Bluetooth (phone and audio), blind-side detection, apps (Pandora, etc.), hybrid technology for good gas mileage (that didn't "feel" or look like traditional hybrid), nice quality, etc. We had looked at a Ford Fusion, Honda Accord (although I know there is not a hybrid yet), Buick Regal, Buick Verano (like our Buick Enclave a lot so were considering other Buicks). Ended up test driving ES300h and knew this was the one.
Amazed at how quickly I’ve forgotten about my BWM.
Doobster6, 12/25/2019
updated 01/03/2023
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
6 of 10 people found this review helpful
Maybe it’s because Lexus redesigned the 2013 ES to handle better, and they pretty much nailed it. I had convinced myself that only my pristine 2006 BMW 5-Series had the ideal combination of competent handling and ride quality and up through 2010 that probably was true. But other cars have caught up, this Lexus among them. Even pushed well past the limits at which I normally drive a car the 2013 ES has proven the equal of the legendary Bimmer. Only it also rides much better too, and is quieter too. I am enjoying every minute behind the wheel of this car, and it is the only car from among many others I tried, including Infiniti and Mercedes that could have pried me out of the Bimmer. I never thought any Japanese car could ever do that. Bimmer;...what Bimmer? And since my driving style has long since moved past the excesses of my youth the ES hybrid provides all the power I need, yet provides the potential to get over 40 mpg in non-highway driving, something no gas-fired BMW could ever do. The interior is absolutely gorgeous and a feast for the eyes, and even the exterior styling is contemporary; better than on their newer versions, IMHO. The heated and cooled seats are supportive and comfortable, and even the ‘base’ radio blows most others away. And of course, the biggest bonus, and a prime determinant in me switching brands, is getting legendary reliability and low operating costs that Toyota is known for, something that BMW will NEVER be able to claim. I was lucky enough to find a seven year old Lexus certified used car with only 19k miles that almost can’t be told from new, so I’m finally feeling really good about my ride, not having to worry about what the next expensive thing will be to fail on my used BMW. Some have complained about the mouse-pad-like controller for the NAV/Audio system and initially I thought they had a point. But now I’m over it; it’s a simple learning curve folks, and not that hard to learn. It’s just different, but not worse than anything else. I like that I don’t have to reach up to touch a screen or buttons that my eyes will have to search for, and then still have to also look at the screen. This is a car that handles and rides great and can be driven like a ‘normal’ car but get 50% better mpg. According to the car’s calculations I’ve already gotten over 42 mpg in mixed driving, although I don’t know yet how accurate that is. And no, it won’t equal the fossil fuel frugality of a pure electric, but it also never needs to be charged for hours either; just gas it up like you would any other car, only get up to 40 mpg. Its only blemish might be that it has less trunk space than its gas-engine twin because of the hybrid battery pack, but Other than that, it might be the ideal mid-sized luxury car. It’s that whole cake-and-eating-it-too thing, and this car let’s you do both. I’ll update this later with accurate mpg figures and more real-world driving experience. Update on 6/25/2020. Non-highway mpg is around 34, almost twice what the Bimmer got. It would improve if I drove in ‘ECO’ mode but I like the response better in ‘normal’. The response in ‘Sport’ is significantly better still, but also achieves significantly less mpg (like 26). Other than that I remain completely satisfied with this car and am still excited about owning it and driving it. I might not have felt this way with an earlier (than 2013) Lexus model but this one has converted this former BMW driver. I will note that one must be careful leaving intersections when it’s raining; the immediate torque from the electric motor assist will spin the tires easily from a stop. That’s where AWD would make this the perfect car! UPDATE 12/29/2020 I replaced the Lexus in late August with a newer 2017 Infiniti QX50 compact SUV. We got rid of our third car which was a Mercury Mountaineer with AWD and after twenty years of enjoying the confidence of us each having an AWD car during winter, I didn’t want to now find myself trying to make it through the ocassional snow covered road in a hybrid car with a torquey electric motor spinning its tires. The Infiniti’ mpg is mediocre at best but it is otherwise a stellar ‘all around’ great car which I will review separately. Had we kept a third AWD vehicle, or if the Lexus been AWD, I most certainly would have kept it for another ten to fifteen years!!! The Infiniti should be decent regarding operating costs; WAY better than any BMW, but I don’t think it will match a Toyota product. And just this model year Lexus has finally introduced an AWD ES350 sedan (but not yet the hybrid sedan). That might be enough to entice me to switch back in a couple more years when I can look for a certified used one! 12/29/2021 While I love the performance, utility and handling of my Infiniti, my planet-conscience is bothering me and I wish I had kept the Lexus hybrid!! The Infiniti non-highway mpg is about exactly half of what the Lexus got!! That said, the utility is way better than the Lexus which didn’t even have fold-down rear seats. And of course, there is no contest regarding performance; the Infiniti can probably tow the Lexus down the road faster than it could go on its own power. Given the eco-unfriendly near-term costs of manufacturing the LiO2 batteries (and really, an entire new car) it probably doesn’t help the planet for me to switch back. Still, the Lexus was a GREAT car, and I miss seeing 52 mpg on its computer, which I saw frequently on the highway. Update 7-29-22 Still have the Infiniti, still love its utility and performance, still getting the same (only mediocre) mpg, and still regret having sold the Lexus…..especially where gasoline prices have gone!! Am looking for a hybrid SUV, but supplies are limited and prices are high. Since I’m retired and drive less, I’ll probably stay in the Infiniti, especially since my car is a rare ‘fully loaded’ model with lots of high-tech features. 12/31/2022 Still in the Infiniti, and with gas prices having returned to normal am less motivated to replace it with any sort of hybrid. It’s still the best all-around vehicle I’ve ever owned, able to scratch my occasional ‘enthusiast-motoring’ itch with sharp handling and hair-raising acceleration while also comporting itself comfortably and with luxury-brand dignity under all other conditions. Having said that, Dodge will be interesting a high-performing ‘Hornet’ hybrid this coming year in a hatchback format with foldable seats and AWD that has caught my attention. It will lack the luxury trimmings of the Infiniti and maybe also some safety features (unless I buy the highest trim level), so it might not be the totally compelling package I seek……we’ll see! But clearly, manufacturers are addressing buyers like me as more electric and hybrid models are being developed, so it is inevitable that my current Infiniti’s days are numbered, and I have the Lexus ES300h to thank for starting me along this pathway!
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Wife loves it, but I think it's over rated....
chad_shephard, 02/04/2013
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
15 of 30 people found this review helpful
first, want to thank all the reviews. My wife has waited for the updated ES350h for a while now. Overall, a good car, but I don't think the value is there. Hopefully with the yen dropping so much lately, the future buyer will reap the benefit. We wanted base model but went with premium pkg. Very difficult to get with with base model. On quick note: We have 2 major dealers in Atlanta area. The dealers were very cocky. Not very customer focus.
Great reliable commute car
David, 03/10/2016
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have enjoyed this vehicle on my 2 hours daily commutes.
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MARK LEVINSON IS WORST EVER!
mnissan, 01/09/2013
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
17 of 46 people found this review helpful
I know this maybe hard to believe but the Lexus USA customer service is the WORST. I had to do all the follow up! The car itself is fine but the optional Mark Levinson sound system is horrible. Do NOT purchase this option!!! Please understand I have been very reasonalble with the cusotmer care reps and they dont even care. This will be the last Lexus I purchase if something is not done about the sound system.
Energizer Car
Chaser, 04/19/2024
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The reliability hype of Toyota/Lexus is not unfounded. After 180K miles, the only non oil change and tires replacement has been a new sunroof gasket ($100 easy DIY fix). I'm still on the original set of brakes due to regen and only just recently replaced the spark plugs because felt like it was due, but the original ones still looked great - much better than the ones in our CX-9 that was replaced at 40K miles. Traction battery is still running strong and consistently get 38 MPG (mostly highway). One thing to note is that tire type does play a pretty large role in MPGs. I anticipate my MPGs to go back to over 40 when I replace them with Michelin Energy Savers. Car has remained quite and comfortable over the years other than a small center center console rattle that I may look into when adding beatsonics apple carplay. I was thinking about replacing it due to age, but may just drive it till it dies - which could be another 5-10 years at the rate it is going. Really can't believe how good and reliable this car has been considering it is a first year redesign car.
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You wont be sorry
Amanda, 12/10/2020
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Hands down the best car I have ever owned. I was a very loyal Nissan customer. Love the cars. I had 4 Altima's and 2 Maxima's super reliable safe cars. I was ready for a change in the form of a Lexus. I purchased my 2013 es300h in 2014 fresh off a lease. It had 24mi on it. As of today 12/10/2020 I am just breaching 80 mi. I have done nothing but routine maintenance and new tires. I couldn't be happier with this car. I would buy another Lexus in a heart beat.
best car
John Bosch , 02/14/2023
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
drives flawless economical, spacious interior, top quality and wood trim with real leather
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Went From a G37 Coupe to This
Janboblarry, 08/22/2020
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
2 of 10 people found this review helpful
1st off, overall the car is a nice car. The interior is the sole reason i bought the car. Nice wooden trim with black leather ac and heated seats with sunroof. I hate that i cant cover up the navi but it has a analogue clock as well. And bluetooth. It looks nice on the outside. But Doesnt have the beautiful curves of the g coupe. The reason why i gave it a 3* rating though It's a heavy car. Its' handling is beyond garbage. Hands down one of the worst handling cars iver ever owned. It' FWD.. i was expecting a RWD or AWD if i was lucky. I thought i could get used to having a heavy FWD automatic car and i cant. I curb it all the time, burns rubber consistantly if you have to accelerate. It shouldnt be burning rubber like thatbecause the car is a slow commuter car. With. 0-60 in the around 8 secondz I'm also in ECO mode when this happens. It shouldnt have a sport mode but it does. So if you wanna fell like your going fast when you arent it's a good go to. If you have a family it's a great car. I do not and am 27 so this is a terrible car for me. If it wasnt fwd all of the cars issues would be solved. Idk what genius decided to make a heavy car fwd.
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2013 300h
N. Oman, 05/10/2017
updated 11/16/2018
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
1 of 5 people found this review helpful
N/A
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Why would I own anything else? Well now I do...
Doobster6, 06/09/2020
updated 12/09/2022
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
1 of 5 people found this review helpful
This pristine, one-owner, ultra-low miles (19k in 2020) car replaced a wonderful BMW 5-Series that ran perfectly but cost an arm and leg to maintain and repair. The Lexus handles as well for everyday driving (but probably has lower absolute performance/speed limits) and rides better. The interior is much nicer, and it is roomier in the back seat. Acceleration up to 60 mph matches the Bimmer and I get 30 mpg ‘around town’ and 45+ mpg on the highway; numbers that the Bimmer could never have achieved. The ‘cherry on top’ is the proven reliability of the Toyota brand and the hybrid drivetrain. I now drive feeling a sense of peace, serenity and calm, instead of a perpetual dread worrying about what might go wrong next or when the next expensive service is due. It used to be that only BMW could build a car that could blend competent handling and ride quality but lots of other manufacturers have finally caught up. 2013 was the first year for the Lexus ES300h hybrid and also Lexus’ new chassis competence that sacrificed very little in ride quality while vastly improving vehicle dynamics. Seriously, it compares well to the E60 5-series which, IMHO, is the best 5-series BMW ever made. So far my only regret is that I didn’t come to my senses sooner. I do wish it had AWD like my Bimmer had.though. The electric motor that kicks in from a dead stop is so torquey that I easily spin the front tires, even in dry conditions; it can almost be dangerous when roads are wet. I might consider trading it for their AWD Lexus hybrid SUV, which gets about the same mpg, although I still Ike sedans more. 12 MONTH UPDATE I sold it and bought the AWD car I hinted at wanting. The high-torque electric motor in the Lexus hybrid often spun my wheels in the rain and was worse in the snow. I wound up leaving it home on snow days and drove our Mountaineer SUV instead. But then we shrunk our fleet down to two vehicles and I wanted something I could feel secure driving anytime under any conditions, i.e.; AWD. I would have bought a used Lexus SUV if I could have found one under my self-imposed budget of $25k but found a 2017 Infiniti QX50 instead and I am the happiest camper in the world!! It is based on a RWD chassis and has handling dynamics that compare very favorably with my 2008 BMW 335xi I once had, excellent ride quality that matches the 2006 BMW 530xi, and with 325 HP can also almost match that 3-series for acceleration. Better seating position, better egress, bigger trunk and overall more cargo capacity, more room for rear seat passengers, excellent technology (mine is fully loaded) are among its virtues. Mediocre mpg (18/27 real-world experience) is its only demerit. And now I can drive anywhere, anytime I want. If the Lexus had been an AWD sedan that got 40 mpg I would have kept it forever; it was that good. But I’m actually more satisfied now with this Infiniti, although the mpg is obviously disappointing compared to the Lexus. UPDATE JUNE 9, 2022 I wish I had kept the Lexus hybrid! Soon after getting my 2017 Infiniti QX50 my wife decided to retire (I already had), and so we only needed one AWD vehicle, and her 2019 Infiniti QX50 fills that bill. The Infiniti has its own virtues, chief among them the utilitarian advantages of a SUV dealing with fold-down rear seats, better riding position, and better dynamic performance. But in an era of ever-rising gasoline prices, the Lexus’ much better mpg would be so welcome! And the Lexus truly was a great car, and as I mentioned, Toyota reliability is second to none. Infiniti isn’t bad, certainly better than many, especially BMWs (they are the worst). And my specific example was a super-low-miles needle from a stack of needles that I’ve not ever seen again. That said, the only demerit for my ‘17 QX50 is gas mileage, which isn’t always that horrible. Despite its awesome 325 HP engine, I see 29+ mpg on the highway when I set its adaptive cruise to 75 mph. While it’s not the 54 mpg the Lexus’ computer once reported over a 20 mile interval driving to NJ, it’s acceptable. But I’m reaching here; 90% of my driving now is non-highway circuits where the Lexus used to return 39 mpg while the Infiniti struggles to sustain 18 mpg, and that’s using a ‘sedate’ driving style. If it too were a hybrid, it would probably be the perfect vehicle for me. Thankfully, I’m only now averaging 5,800 miles per year in retirement, and the $71 monthly ‘penalty’ in gas expenses between the two cars doesn’t justify the expense of switching. But the Lexus will always remain one of my more memorable cars and one among the many that ‘got away’. Don’t hesitate to get a good one of you can find it!
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Great ride with fantastic fuel economy
Bruce Roush, 02/21/2017
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased as daily commuter for work and weekends. What a great purchase.
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Value, Value, Value. Comfort, Comfort, Comfort.
Colonel Drapes, Clifton, VA., 10/19/2023
updated 04/22/2024
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought the 2013 model in 2015 with only 9,000 miles on it. It was $49K new and I purchased it for $35K. It is 2023 and I now have 70K on it. I was a real estate agent and this was a perfect customer car. Nice comfortable ride with lots of legroom, both front and rear. I was able to get my listing signs, my home repair kit, and my golf bag in the trunk easily. I have averaged. 39-40 MPG over the last 8 years. The Mark Levinson System is terrific. I have 8K tunes on my iPhone and the Bluetooth system plays them distinctly. I still have not located all 15 of the speakers. Love the fact it uses Regular fuel. One does not buy a Lexus for road racing and "handling," but for COMFORT! My Lexus LS was a tad quieter, but the only time I can tell is when I ride in my brother's LS. I sold my LS at 220,000 miles. This one will last a long time too, I'll bet. Still working well. Glad it is not an EV.
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Love my car
Brian S, 02/24/2024
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Luxurious with great mileage and a solid product!
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LOVE IT!
LexiJen, 03/03/2024
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have wanted this particular car for a few years and it has exceeded my expectations in every way. I love it. Lexus quality.
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Lexus ES300h
Anne Brown, 10/30/2016
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
Great car
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Pleased but--
lou roy, 10/28/2016
updated 11/28/2017
2013 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Front seats not as comfortable as expected. Gas mileage a few miles less than advertised. Otherwise, a very good looking car that I am happy to own.
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