The Lexus ES 300h is one of just a few luxury midsize hybrid sedans. Fuel economy is excellent, and the 300h handles surprisingly well and retains the Lexus hallmark focus on comfort and serenity. European plug-in hybrids are typically sportier, but the ES remains one of today's best all-around performers.
2021 Lexus ES 300h Nebula Gray Pearl eCVT2.5L I4 DOHC 16V, Black w/Linear Espresso Wood Trim w/Perforated NuLuxe Seat Trim (LD).CARFAX One-Owner. Pric...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
44 Combined MPG (43 City/44 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 58ADA1C14MU003642 Stock: P1P0372 Certified Pre-Owned: No Listed since: 11-06-2024
Certified. L/CERTIFIED, PREMIUM PKG, 12.3 TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY, NAVIGATION, MARK LEVINSON AUDIO, APPLE CAR PLAY/ANDROID AUTO, HEATED AND VENTILATED SEA...
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AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: Yes
Features and Specs:
44 Combined MPG (43 City/44 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 58AFA1C17MU005507 Stock: 26424497 Certified Pre-Owned: No
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.
Pros
Excellent ride quality and a quiet cabin
Good fuel economy for the size and power
Comfortable and mostly upscale interior
Cons
Cumbersome infotainment interface
Disappointing quality of some interior materials
Rear seats don't fold down
Acceleration is slow by luxury sedan standards
What's new
The Lexus ES 300h carries over essentially unchanged
Part of the seventh Lexus ES generation introduced for 2019
Overview
While there are quite a few luxury hybrid vehicles available for 2021, most of them are plug-in hybrids. So what if you just want a regular hybrid to help keep cost and complexity in check? One option could be the Lexus ES 300h. This luxury sedan is comfortable and quiet and offers seriously impressive fuel economy. The EPA estimates that the 300h will get 44 mpg combined, which is excellent for any sedan, let alone a luxury ride.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
The 300h has some drawbacks, such as poor acceleration for its class and an infotainment system with a steep learning curve. But overall this is a pretty appealing sedan. For all the details on the ES 300h and how it performs in the real world, read our Expert Rating below.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our VerdictThe Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Good
7.9
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The Lexus ES 300h is one of just a few luxury midsize hybrid sedans. Fuel economy is excellent, and the 300h handles surprisingly well and retains the Lexus hallmark focus on comfort and serenity. European plug-in hybrids are typically sportier, but the ES remains one of today's best all-around performers.
How does the ES 300h drive? You don't expect much vigor or verve from a luxury hybrid, but the ES 300h handles surprisingly well. It stays composed in corners, with better body control than you'd expect from a luxury sedan. The ES 300h isn't made for stoplight sprints, but acceleration is decent for a hybrid. In Edmunds testing it achieved a 0-60 mph time of 8.3 seconds.
The 300h's steering has the same numb, light effort that plagues many hybrids, although Sport mode gives it a livelier feel. Braking is unfortunately clunky, with a harsh sensation when the ES switches between its regenerative and friction brake modes. Otherwise, the engine and CVT automatic's smooth acceleration makes the ES a pleasure to drive, even in city traffic, where it feels like it's gliding.
Comfort
8.5/10
How comfortable is the ES 300h? Comfort and a sense of isolation remain ES hallmarks. The front seats are firm and supportive, without excessive side bolsters to impede entry and exit. The rear seats are just as comfortable, if a bit wide and flat. You can sit up front or in back for long stretches without fatigue.
This latest 300h hasn't lost its ability to absorb bumps and road rash either. There's a bit of intrusive wind noise at highway speeds — more than we'd expect of a Lexus — but maybe it's just more noticeable since the car tames road and tire noise so well. Engine noise is almost imperceptible. More warmth from the seat heaters on cold days would be nice.
Interior
8.5/10
How’s the interior? Getting in and out of the ES is no trouble thanks to the low seat cushions and wide door openings. There's also a good-size gap between front passengers and door panels that creates a feeling of space. There's loads of room in the back seat, especially between the seatbacks and knees, even for 6-foot-tall passengers.
Drivers of most heights and body types should find a comfortable driving position given the ES' power-adjustable seat and mostly clear views all around the car. Only the ES' incoherent array of buttons and switchgear is inexplicably inelegant in an otherwise elegant cabin. (The volume knob is great, though, and feels like an old-school stereo receiver.)
Technology
6.5/10
How’s the tech? Our test car came with the spectacular-looking 12-inch infotainment display. The widescreen navigation maps look great thanks to excellent color contrast and indicators. But using the touchpad controller while in motion is onerous; a dial-and-button controller would be preferable. Fortunately, you can control many nav, phone, audio and even climate control functions through voice commands.
The ES also includes several standard driver safety features, such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, which help minimize lane wandering. This isn't semi-automated driving, and the degree of steering correction is limited, but it's useful for occasional lapses of attention.
Storage
8.5/10
How’s the storage? You get a big trunk with the ES 300h. The battery pack resides beneath the rear seats, so cargo space is 13.9 cubic feet, the same as in the non-hybrid ES. Unfortunately, you can't fold the rear seats to increase space; there's only a pass-through slot for long items.
Storage for small items inside the cabin is abundant. There's also plenty of space for child safety seats, and they're easy to install. Just detach the plastic tabs over the car seat anchors in the seat cushions. Generous rear-seat room means most seats will fit without a need for sliding up the front seats.
Fuel Economy
9/10
How’s the fuel economy? With an EPA rating of 44 mpg combined, the ES 300h is one of the more efficient sedans you can buy. We observed 46.2 mpg on our evaluation route, which indicates that the EPA ratings are attainable.
Value
8.5/10
Is the ES 300h a good value? For a relatively affordable sum, the redesigned ES 300h delivers a substantial luxury experience. The upholstery feels supple and substantial, and the cabin shows typical Lexus attention to detail: tight panel gaps, high-quality controls and detailed stitching. Warranty coverage is on par for the segment.
It doesn't cost much more than a top-of-the-line Toyota Avalon Hybrid. Why not splurge a bit and get the Lexus?
Wildcard
7.5/10
The ES 300h isn't as fun to drive as more expensive European plug-in hybrids. But it excels in other ways. It's comfortable without being floaty, large without feeling ponderous, and serene without being detached. Sublime suspension tuning, a wonderful audio system, and a welcoming and roomy interior are other advantages.
Which ES 300h does Edmunds recommend?
The base trim on the Lexus ES 300h comes relatively well equipped, but we recommend upgrading to the midlevel Luxury trim. On top of the standard equipment, the Luxury trim adds heated and ventilated front seats, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and upgraded interior materials including leather upholstery.
2021 Lexus ES 300h models
The 2021 Lexus ES 300h is a midsize luxury sedan available in three trims: the base ES 300h, Luxury and Ultra Luxury. All trims are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired to an electric motor (215 total system horsepower) and a continuously variable automatic transmission. Only front-wheel drive is available.
Base
The base 300h gets an impressive number of standard features including:
LED headlights
Sunroof
Simulated-leather upholstery
Power-adjustable front seats
8-inch central infotainment display
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
Wi-Fi hotspot
10-speaker sound system
Standard safety tech for the base 300h includes:
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane keeping assist (steers the ES back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
A Premium package adds:
Heated and ventilated front seats
Driver-seat memory settings
Power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
Power-folding mirrors
Luxury
The Luxury trim has the features of the Premium package plus:
Leather upholstery and wood trim
Additional front seat adjustments
Power rear sunshade
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
Ultra Luxury
The Ultra Luxury adds to the Luxury equipment with:
Heated steering wheel
Manual rear door sunshades
Upgraded suspension
Hands-free trunk release
Rear automatic braking with pedestrian detection (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
Other options include:
Navigation system with a 12.3-inch display
17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system
Wireless charging pad
Head-up display
See Edmunds pricing data
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RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Lexus ES 300h from 2008-2022.
$339/yr
vs. $607/yr for Average Luxury Midsize Car
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).
0.47x/yr
vs. 1.36x/yr for Average Luxury Midsize Car
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).
5.6%
vs. 10.5% for Average Luxury Midsize Car
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Lexus ES 300h.
2021 Lexus ES 300h Luxury 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
My wife and I love to travel and have gone through three ES models before this purchase. Just love the ride and luxury interior. Decided on the 300h this time and are very pleased. Still a smooth ride with plenty of pickup for the interstate on ramps. But now we add the 40+ mpg for both in town and long trips. It’s a beautiful ride.
5 out of 5 stars
ES300h Ultra Luxury
Richard from Myrtle Beach, 12/29/2019
2020 Lexus ES 300h Ultra Luxury 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
This model has all of the bells and whistles that I wanted. Plus some new features I didn't know it had. For example, a forward camera that also provides a visual image when pulling up to a curb so you don't hit the front grille area.
After driving the car for six months I still love it but with two noticeable issues.
1) I received a Recall Notice that certain engine blocks were … defective so the entire engine must be replaced to avoid a possible fire. A defective engine will be replaced free of charge.
2) The steering column and seat height requires constant adjustment to avoid having my knee hit the steering column when braking. Evidently the steering column is slightly lower than previous models. Being tall I didn’t have this issue with my 2005 Lexus ES 330.
5 out of 5 stars
Love! Love! My Lexus !
Patricia, 05/21/2021
2021 Lexus ES 300h Luxury 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
First of all I’m such a lexus fan once I had my first Lexus never looked back! My current hybrid is so smooth and I can’t remember the last time I had to put gas in it! I’m loving the smooth drive, beautiful interior and exterior, luxurious car and the fact that I can enjoy it without putting gas for over a month is a dream😄
5 out of 5 stars
Nicely Appointed Mid-Size Hybrid
Richard, 11/28/2020
2021 Lexus ES 300h 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
Full set of modern safety features. Roomy trunk. Great deal on lease. Very comfortable. Hybrid drive very smooth and efficient. Able to connect Android cell phone to screen; can use Google Maps. Poor choice of exterior colors, but they had one my wife liked. Dealer sent out person to do orientation for all the features; he stayed 2.5 hours till we knew all the features and … "buttonology."
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Lexus ES 300h, so we've included reviews for other years of the ES 300h since its last redesign.
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