Online Shopping: 2021 Lexus ES Review

2021 Lexus ES

Overview

Even though the 2021 Lexus ES is a sedate offering in a segment dominated by legitimate sports sedans, it delivers what a certain group of luxury car buyers are looking for in terms of comfort, ride quality, and effortless cruising capability.

Three power-trains are offered: A V-6 engine with 302-hp, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with all-wheel drive, or a hybrid setup that delivers fantastic fuel economy.

2021 Lexus ES

As for luxury, the ES's cabin is a lovely space that's lined with fine materials, supportive seats, and plenty of technology features and connectivity options.

What's the downside? The Lexus doesn't deliver the same level of driving satisfaction as the sportier luxury cars it competes against.

But, for the price of an entry-level 2021 Audi A6 or 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-class you can have a well-loaded ES—which makes it an unbeatable value in this highly competitive segment.

2021 Lexus ES

What's New for 2021?

Lexus is adding the ES250 to the ES lineup this year, which is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and comes standard with all-wheel drive.

Like Lexus' RX SUV, the ES sedan also receives a Black Line Special Edition package for 2021.

2021 Lexus ES

Based on the F Sport model, the Black Line package adds black exterior trim, a black lip spoiler, a white interior, and a two-piece matching luggage set from Zero Halliburton.

Elsewhere, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is now standard on Ultra Luxury and F Sport models, a new Rich Cream interior color is available, and Lexus's Enform Safety Connect suite of connectivity features—including onboard Wi-Fi—is now standard across the entire range.

2021 Lexus ES

Pricing and Which One to Buy

I think upgrading to the ES350 Ultra Luxury trim is worth it even though it increases the price significantly over the base model.

Including all of the standard features from the mid-range Luxury trim, the Ultra Luxury model adds special 18-inch wheels, semi-aniline leather upholstery, a hands-free power trunk lid, a power rear sunshade, a wood-and-leather steering wheel, and an adaptive suspension.

To that, I'd add the Navigation package, which upgrades the infotainment display to the larger 12.3-inch setup and adds in-dash navigation and voice recognition.

2021 Lexus ES

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The 2021 Lexus ES gives buyers a choice of three power-trains. The ES250 is powered by a 203-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and comes standard with all-wheel drive.

2021 Lexus ES

All ES350 trims come with a 3.5-liter V-6 that generates 302 horsepower and is governed by an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels.

2021 Lexus ES

With all ES350h trims, motivation comes from a hybrid power-train that provides a net output of 215 horsepower

A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive are standard.

The gas-only ES350 goes from a standstill to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The hybrid variant does the dash in a more leisurely 8.3 seconds.

2021 Lexus ES

This Lexus sedan exhibits the composed handling and forgiving ride quality that's cherished by many luxury-car shoppers.

For those seeking keener handling, the F Sport trim adds larger wheels and suspension tuning that's more performance oriented.

Even with this upgrade, though, the ES is less athletic than competing models such as the BMW M5-series.

2021 Lexus ES

Fuel Economy

According to the EPA, mileage for the Lexus ES350 tops out at 22/32 mpg city/highway. As you'd expect, the ES350h hybrid is even more frugal, achieving mileage of 43/44 mpg.

The EPA hasn't released fuel economy estimates for the new ES250 yet at the time of writing this post, but Lexus claims it's capable of a 28 mpg combined city/highway rating.

2021 Lexus ES

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

With its stylish, asymmetrical dash and high-quality materials, the ES's cabin creates a plush environment for passengers. Both rows offer enough legroom for the long-legged, and the seats provide comfortable support.

2021 Lexus ES

Notably, the cabin is unfailingly peaceful, even when the ES is being driven at highway speeds.

2021 Lexus ES

Both gas-only and hybrid models provide 17.0 cubic feet of room in the trunk, and this gives the ES more cargo space than rivals such as the Volvo S90 (14.0 cubic feet) and Acura TLX (14.0 cubic feet).

2021 Lexus ES

Unfortunately, the ES isn't available with a folding rear seat. This makes it difficult for this Lexus to accommodate outsize cargo.

2021 Lexus ES

Infotainment and Connectivity

Luxury-car buyers look for vehicles offering the latest and greatest tech features, and the 2021 Lexus ES doesn't disappoint.

It comes standard with an infotainment system governed by an 8.0-inch central display, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are onboard to provide hassle-free device integration.

2021 Lexus ES

All models come with a 10-speaker sound system equipped with SiriusXM satellite radio.

The list of standard tech amenities also includes Amazon Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth phone and music streaming, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Scout GPS Link navigation.