Used 2018 Lexus ES 300h Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 ES 300h, so we've included reviews for other years of the ES 300h since its last redesign.
Three years later
David, 05/08/2019
updated 05/20/2024
2018 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
My first review was after ten months of ownership. This update is after three years. All the comments made at ten months still apply; mileage per gallon is 33 around town and 40 on the open freeway. The navigation system is ridiculous however, if you give it the address it is perfect. The ride is smooth and quiet, the seats are comfortable: I love the car and take care of it “by the book.” It looks brand new with 23,615 miles. Bought the Lexus 300h ten months ago. This is my first Lexus, my first "luxury" car, my first hybrid. My reason for selecting this model after many months of searching, test driving, knuckle cracking over a large expense as this was Lexus reliability and the advertised hybrid miles per gallon. Every objective resource of auto efficiency and reliability concluded, if you want a hybrid system that will provide years of reliable, cost efficient service, you purchase a Lexus. So I did. Ten months later I have two complaints, criticisms: a.) the navigation software/operation system is THE dumbest, unfriendly, stupid system I have ever seen or used. It is absolutely useless unless you have the address. It is impossible to ask for and have navigation based upon: Navigate To, or Go To...Home Depot. The system will respond, "Italian Restaurants. Is this correct?" or similar. If I could change one aspect of this car it would be the entire radio/navigation operational system. It is THE stupidest. My second issue is a complaint..., a real frustration: it does not get 40 miles per gallon around town. On the open freeway for hours/miles, yes. Easily. But around town this car was advertised as achieving 40 miles per gallon. If I get 35 it was a good tank. Typically, I obtain 32 mph. I have taken it to my dealer who suggested I drive it easier, buy a better brand (not octane, Brand) of gas as independent operators buy cheap gas, and over inflate the tires by two pounds. None of those suggestions has changed performance. My Lexus dealer tested the gas in the tank and determined that tank had a good rating of gas. As for my driving, in ten months I have driven this car as if I am 85 years old, driven it as if I were setting land speed records..., it does not matter. Drive hard, drive soft..., it does not achieve better than 32 mph. I bought the car because of the hybrid efficiency and miles per gallon and I am disappointed. Now, for the positive...those are the only two issues in ten months; the car is spectacular to drive, quiet, comfortable, handles beautifully, has more than enough power for the hilly topography of southern California. I have made a number of trips to the Bay Area, into Arizona, and achieved a full 40 mph on the long open road. I love the car in every other way. Now, should the Lexus designers read this review I have one suggestion: how about sporting up the exterior looks! The design is tired, needs a real sport face lift, add some detail lines across the expansive side panels. Otherwise, this is a terrific car.
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High end hybrid
J, 01/25/2018
2018 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Excellent car. Very comfortable, smooth and quiet. Not quite getting the advertised 40mpg... closer to 35 combined.
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2018 Lexus ES 300h for sale near you
3 of 11 listings
- Base Hybrid SedanMSRP: $20,995372 mi away
- Base Hybrid SedanMSRP: $19,611443 mi away
- Base Hybrid SedanMSRP: $25,998In-stock online
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Great Car, Great Mileage
Jerry Sanders, 02/14/2016
2016 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
19 of 22 people found this review helpful
This is my second ES300h, and it's even better than the first. The additional sound proofing and quietness are immediately noticeable. I have the Blind Side Monitoring and the Lexus Safety System Plus packages and they significantly improve the driving experience. When I got the car, it had 10 miles on the odometer and a full tank of gas. I drove it 18 miles to get it home and the instrument panel MPG readout was 24.7. That was NOT acceptable so I implemented my 2013 ES300h technique for mileage improvement. I put in 1.5 to 2.0 gallons of PREMIUM grade gas at every fill-up and increased, and rigorously maintain, 35 psi tire pressure. I measure the pressure alt least once a month, first thing in the morning, when the tires are cold. I took those actions with the new car. As expected, my mileage went from 24.7 to between 39.8 to 43.2 mpg in mixed city/highway driving!! I am very pleased, There is only downside I've encountered and change I wish they would have made -- there isn't enough storage space readily accessible to the driver. There isn't tray in which to put miscellaneous things I don't want to keep in my pockets when sitting in the car. The result is that I have to use the cup holders for my wallet, keys, sun glasses, coins and flip cell phone.
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Leg room kinda tight
nOrakat, 07/19/2016
2016 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I think one problem that stood out for me was that my left leg hit the door moldings. I like to open my legs a little when I drive and not have them straight in front of me (which if I did may not have been a problem). Another thing I noticed, that others have pointed out is that the braking was not too great. The brakes on my current car are pretty sensitive and responsive, but braking with the same pressure on this car felt like the car was sliding forward and actually alarmed me. It was sort of scary but did not have enough time with the car to see if I would get used to that. The ceiling on the car was sort of low so w me at 5'9" I had only a half an inch above my head; same with the back seats, but the leg room is very good. Three large adults in the back would be very tight. What stood out as exceptional for the car was the suspension. Absorbed the bumps very well, even in the horrible streets of NYC. Another thing that stood out was the engine noise. This car revs very high when accelerating from 0-50/60mph and even with the sound deadening, engine is still loud due to the RPM. The sound system only sounded OK in the Premium version.
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Comfortable Car - Promised Mileage NOT Obtained
Craig Zalk, Fairfax VA, 12/25/2016
2016 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
10 of 14 people found this review helpful
The reason I leased this car was because I wanted a car that delivered a fine ride with terrific gas mileage (claimed at about 40 MPG). What I ended up getting is a car that delivered a fine ride, but the gas mileage was off by about 25% - and that is driving the car as gently as possible while in the most fuel efficient mode – ECO Drive. Don’t get me wrong, this is a nice car, well appointed and delivering a great ride. It is just that the mileage is far, far off from what was promised. I asked the salesman if I could take a car home overnight, and was told “no.” (now I know why he said no). Had I spent more time test driving the car, the MPG truth would have become obvious. Oh well. Next time I will be more vigilant.
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