The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Top-notch cabin
- 44-mpg hybrid…
- … or 302-hp V-6
- Good ride quality
- Quiet demeanor
Dislikes
- Touchscreen’s a big reach
- Small trunk
- Non-folding rear seatbacks
- AWD model is too slow
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2025 Lexus ES won’t raise your pulse, but it’s a fantastic value for the way most people will really use their luxury sedans.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Lexus ES? What does it compare to?
The 2025 Lexus ES is a midsize luxury sedan available with all-wheel drive, a V-6 engine, or a hybrid powertrain—but not all three. Shop it against the Acura TLX and Cadillac CT5, as well as high-end versions of the all-hybrid Toyota Camry.
Is the 2025 Lexus ES a good car?
It’s quite good at its intended mission. F Sport versions aside, the ES makes little effort to be sporty. It’s comfortable, stylish, and exceptionally well-equipped. It’s not even a bad value, and hybrid versions are dowrnright thrifty. The ES scores a 7.0 out of 10 overall. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Lexus ES?
The ES 350 F Sport trim level adds a newly available Black Line Special Edition package with, you guessed it, blacked-out exterior trim. Otherwise, the ES stands pat for 2025.
These are traditional sedans, at least in concept. In execution, they’re rather stylish with what’s arguably Lexus’ best-ever integration of its spindle grille and a long, sloping roofline that arches its way back toward pert taillights. They’re even nicer inside thanks to a well-organized two-tier dash that cants slightly toward the driver.
Lexus offers some wonderful interior hues, too. Pick one based on the wood trim selection; these are luxury cars, after all.
The ES shares some of its bits with the Toyota Camry, including the previous version of that sedan’s powertrain lineup. You have three choices here. The all-wheel-drive, rather tepid ES 250 has just 203 hp from its 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Consider it only if you must have power go to all four corners. Otherwise, budget for some winter tires and go for the 302-hp ES 350 that’s downright quick or the exceptionally frugal ES 300h hybrid that gets 44 mpg combined in EPA testing.
All ES models have a composed, quality ride and steering with just the right amount of heft. Opt for top-end models and you’ll find adaptive dampers, which do make a noticeable difference in ride quality. The F Sport versions seem more like a styling exercise, though. There’s nothing particularly sporty about these cars. And they don’t need to be sporty. They’re quiet, serene, and plenty comfortable.
Inside, they have beautiful interiors, especially when draped in widely available soft leather trim and open-pore wood paneling. The standard 8.0-inch touchscreen gets the job done, though the bigger 12.3-inch unit makes good use of its available space. Lexus’ menu system isn’t tops in our eyes, though, and the screens are a long stretch from the driver’s seat.
Good crash-test ratings are augmented by top crash-avoidance tech and driver-assitance features standard across the line. While there’s no hands-off tech here, you’ll find adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitors on the cheapest models, which stands in marked contrast to most rivals.
How much does the 2025 Lexus ES cost?
Lexus charges $44,340 for the base ES 350 or ES 250. The hybrid runs $1,400 more. That trim level has synthetic leather upholstery, power front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen.
We’d budget another $6,000 or so for a well-equipped Luxury version with its leather seats that are cooled and heated up front, and we’d spend up for the bigger touchscreen that looks better on the ES’ dash.
Where is the 2025 Lexus ES made?
In Georgetown, Kentucky, or Japan, depending on the configuration.
2025 Lexus ES Styling
The 2025 Lexus ES wears the brand’s signature spindle grille quite nicely.
Is the Lexus ES a good-looking car?
It’s been around for quite some time now, but the Lexus ES remains a stylish choice. It has a pretty exterior and a relaxing cabin, each of which earns a point. The 2025 Lexus ES rates a 7 for styling.
The ES is long and low-slung, the way luxury cars used to be. Its version of Lexus’ spindle grille looks great up front, and an unfussy appearance continues along the sides and to the rear with its wide light bar and delicate brightwork. F Sport versions have different wheels and some darker touches, but they’re not all that different than the rest of the ES range. These are stylish cars with arguably the best interpretation of the spindle grille.
The ES is even better inside with a two-tier dash design housing either an 8.0- or a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Well-organized buttons below are easy enough to sort out. The ES is fine in base form, but it’s at its best in a lighter or warmer hue with one of several available wood trim options.
2025 Lexus ES Performance
The 2025 Lexus ES is as traditional a luxury car as you’ll find today, though F Sports have some added zest.
The Lexus ES is far from a sports sedan, which is just fine by us. It has a soft, comfortable ride in all forms, and its engines generally provide refined operation. It’s a 7 here thanks to those assets.
Is the Lexus ES 4WD?
ES 250 models are all-wheel drive, while the ES 350 and ES 300h powertrains are front-wheel drive.
How fast is the Lexus ES?
That depends. The ES 250 is the pokiest of the bunch with its 203-hp 2.5-liter inline-4, which pokes its way to 60 mph in about 8.6 seconds. That’s far from rapid, though this engine works well enough with the 8-speed automatic. It’s not really a luxury-grade setup, though.
Far more impressive is the ES 350’s 302-hp V-6, which is smooth and slick. It shaves a full two seconds off of the run to 60 mph, and it makes a lovely muted snarl.
The ES 300h, meanwhile, takes the base car’s 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and adds a nickel-metal-hybrid battery and an electric motor to add power and reduce fuel consumption. It’s paired with a CVT that can force the engine into the upper reaches of the tachometer during passing but otherwise behaves with admirable docility.
No ES is a featherweight, though these cars have a comfy ride and steering with good weight that makes them terrific daily drivers or mile eaters. Adaptive dampers come with the available F Sport Handling Package and on the top-end Ultra Luxury trim. They make enough difference in small-bump absorption that it’s worth seeking them out if you live where roads are rough.
All models except the ES 300h have terrific braking. Hybrid models have regenerative braking that can leave the wide pedal feeling a little too wooden. You’ll get used to it, but then other cars will feel weird.
2025 Lexus ES Comfort & Quality
The 2025 Lexus ES has a high-end cabin.
Spacious and stylish, the 2025 Lexus ES has a terrific interior. It’s an easy 8 on our scale thanks to good room for four adults or five in a pinch, terrific front seats, and luxurious materials throughout.
The ES is a reasonably long sedan that will fill around 196 inches of your garage. That length endows it with a fairly roomy cabin. There’s plenty of space for adults up front and at the outboard rear seats. The middle rear seat is best for kids, though. The power-adjustable front seats have all-day comfort, and most ES sedans will have heating and cooling, too.
Convincing synthetic leather comes standard, but the real stuff Lexus offered is soft and fragrant. Add in the available open-pore wood trim and contrasting stitching across multiple surfaces and the Lexus ES can feel like a true luxury sedan.
Lexus packs in a ton of sound deadening, too, which helps make the ES feel like a dressy cocoon.
Unfortunately, the ES has a small trunk. It’s about 13 cubic feet and, strangely, the rear seatbacks are fixed in place.
2025 Lexus ES Safety
The 2025 Lexus ES is a very safe luxury sedan.
How safe is the Lexus ES?
The 2025 Lexus ES comes loaded with crash-avoidance and driver-assistance tech. It gets points for top crash-test scores, lots of driver-assistance tech, and even a rare point for good outward vision. It’s a 9 here. We reserve a 10 for cars with hands-free driver assistance, which the ES lacks.
The ES scored a five-star rating from the NHTSA in 2024, and it was a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. A close examination of its scores from the feds and the independents reveals a few minor blemishes like a “Marginal” score in the updated moderate overlap front test, which aren’t a huge surprise since this sedan has been around since the 2019 model year.
All ES sedans have features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitors, and active lane control. A surround-view camera system and parking sensors are available.
2025 Lexus ES Features
The 2025 Lexus ES can be a solid value, though its infotainment system isn’t great.
The 2025 Lexus ES comes in a massive lineup starting at $44,340 for either the front-drive, V-6-powered ES 350 or the all-wheel-drive, 4-cylinder ES 250. The choice is yours. Both models are outfitted about the same with synthetic leather trim, power-adjustable seats up front, 18-inch alloy wheels, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. All ES models also come with a full complement of crash-avoidance features.
They’re an 8 here thanks to good standard and optional fare plus a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty that includes the first two trips to the dealer for scheduled maintenance.
The ES’ touchscreens benefit from smartphone mirroring, but their basic menuing structure can be a chore. They’re also somewhat hard to reach given how far away they are from the driver’s seat.
Which Lexus ES should I buy?
We like either the ES 350 or the ES 300h since you probably don’t need all-wheel drive. (Good winter tires will do just fine.)
From there, we’d step up to the Luxury trim level that includes such niceties as driver’s seat memory, real leather upholstery, cooled and heated front seats, rear cross-traffic alerts, a wireless charging pad, and real wood trim. Figure around $50,000 for an ES 350 Luxury or $51,000 for an ES 300h Luxury, which will probably pay back that extra cost in fuel savings soon enough, anyway.
Another $1,700 or so buys the 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, a head-up display, and a key card you can leave in your pocket. Lexus will also sell you a downright divine $1,100 Mark Levinson audio system or a $500 glass roof.
They’re more compelling than the F Sport models, which seem to miss the point. These aren’t sporty cars, so why Lexus wants them to masquerade as such leaves us scratching our heads.
How much is a fully loaded Lexus ES?
The ES lineup tops out in Ultra Luxury trim, which can tickle $55,000 in hybrid form. These models have a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a head-up display, and a power trunk, among other features.
Add Mark Levinson audio, LED headlights, and a key card and you can nudge the price to around $57,000, which isn’t a bad buy.
2025 Lexus ES Fuel Economy
The 2025 Lexus ES is a low-guilt high-end sedan in hybrid form, though it’s just average otherwise.
Is the Lexus ES good on gas?
That depends on what’s under the hood. The hybrid would score a 6 on the TCC scale since it’s estimated at an impressive 43 mpg city, 44 highway, 44 combined.
But we base our score on the better-selling ES 350 ith the V-6, which is unfortunately the thirstiest model in the lineup. At 22/32/26 mpg, though, it’s not terrible for a 302-hp sedan.
The F Sport package dents those estimates to 22/31/25 mpg.
The ES 250 is estimated at a decent 25/34/28 mpg.
All ES models can run on regular unleaded fuel.
Note that our estimates are based on the 2024 model year. We'll update these figures when the EPA updates its published ratings.
