CARGAZING Lexus Tweaks ES Formula Mid-Size Luxury Car Adds Four-Cylinder, All-Wheel-Drive Variant By Derek Price WHAT WAS TESTED? CARGAZING.COM he mid-size ES sedan 2021 Lexus ES 250 AWD has long been the but- Ultra Luxury ($48,900) tery smooth heart of TLexus, even as crossovers Wheelbase: 113 in. have stolen the brand’s sales Length: 195.9 in. crown. Width: 74.4 in. The ES represents every- Height: 57.1 in. thing Lexus fans love: a silky Engine: 2.5-liter four and silent ride, styling that cylinder (203 hp, looks handsome without 184 lbs.-ft.) being too ostentatious, and Transmission: Eight- a sense of high quality that speed automatic you can feel in your hands EPA fuel economy: and wallet. It’s historically 25 city, 34 highway been one of the most val- ue-conscious, reliable luxury Why buy it? cars you can buy. It’s silky, serene and It’s making an interesting known for delivering an twist, though, for 2021 with outstanding value. A new the introduction of a new four-cylinder model. all-wheel-drive model On its own, the 2.5-liter gets both improved engine in the new ES 250 gas mileage and better model would seem like a traction on slippery move downmarket. And yes, surfaces. it feels like it when you mash the gas pedal and sense nei- A four-cylinder engine sends power to all four wheels in the new-for-2021 Lexus ES 250 AWD. ther the grunt of a V6 nor the a serene, truly luxurious driv- whoosh of speed from a tur- ing experience without bocharger that most com- option for a front-wheel- in combined city and high- Roman emperor jealous, but I recommend you spend a breaking the bank. The AWD petitors employ in their drive version, which logic way driving. it’s laid out in such a way lot of time playing with the base model adds to its appeal smallest engines. dictates would be cheaper If you want better perfor- that drivers feel perfectly at trackpad controller before for drivers who want that The new entry-level and more fuel efficient if mance, the tried-and-true home from the moment committing to buy this car, serenity on slippery roads. engine makes up for the Lexus ever made it available. 3.5-liter V6 in the ES 350 they step inside. Seating including while you’re The starting price is the lower, 203-horsepower out- The federal government makes 300 horsepower while positions are easily adjust- test-driving it on bumpy same, $39,900, whether you put by being coupled to rates its fuel economy at 25 still delivering 32 mpg on able, and the digital gauge roads and highways. It frus- pick the ES 250 AWD with its something unusual and very mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. cluster is simple and fun to trates some drivers; others four-cylinder engine or the valuable in some locales: an the highway, which is down- Every ES shares one main customize. don’t have any trouble. more powerful ES 350 with all-wheel-drive system that right impressive for a car selling point. It has a logical, Cabin controls are intui- Fortunately, all ES models a V6. helps it tackle wet and slip- that feels so substantial, comfortable, sumptuously tive. Nothing is fussy or come standard with Apple The hybrid ES 300h starts pery roads with aplomb. AWD or not. trouble-free cabin. superfluous with one glaring CarPlay and Android Auto, at $41,810. Each model can Priced under $40,000, the If you want better gas Not only does it have exception: the trackpad con- so interacting with smart- be equipped with the ES 250 comes with four- mileage, Lexus still offers the impressively solid build troller for its digital interface phones is a breeze. Luxury, Ultra Luxury or wheel traction as standard ES 300h hybrid, which quality and materials luxuri- that Lexus stubbornly Overall, the ES is the per- more sprightly F Sport equipment. There’s no claims an average of 44 mpg ous enough to make a clings to. fect car for people who want package. CARGAZING A four-cylinder engine sends power to all four wheels in the new-for-2021 Lexus ES 250 AWD. Lexus Tweaks ES Formula Mid-Size Luxury Car Adds Four-Cylinder, All-Wheel-Drive Variant By Derek Price drivers feel perfectly at home from CARGAZING.COM the moment they step inside. he mid-size ES sedan has Seating positions are easily adjust- long been the buttery able, and the digital gauge cluster smooth heart of Lexus, even is simple and fun to customize. Tas crossovers have stolen the Cabin controls are intuitive. brand’s sales crown. Nothing is fussy or superfluous with The ES represents everything one glaring exception: the trackpad Lexus fans love: a silky and silent controller for its digital interface ride, styling that looks handsome that Lexus stubbornly clings to. without being too ostentatious, I recommend you spend a lot of and a sense of high quality that time playing with the trackpad you can feel in your hands and controller before committing to wallet. It’s historically been one of buy this car, including while the most value-conscious, reliable you’re test-driving it on bumpy luxury cars you can buy. roads and highways. It frustrates It’s making an interesting twist, some drivers; others don’t have though, for 2021 with the intro- any trouble. duction of a new four-cylinder Fortunately, all ES models come model. standard with Apple CarPlay and On its own, the 2.5-liter engine Android Auto, so interacting with in the new ES 250 model would smartphones is a breeze. seem like a move downmarket. Overall, the ES is the perfect car And yes, it feels like it when you for people who want a serene, truly mash the gas pedal and sense nei- luxurious driving experience with- ther the grunt of a V6 nor the Priced from less than $40,000, the Lexus ES offers a spacious cabin, serene driving experience and reputation out breaking the bank. The AWD whoosh of speed from a turbo- for durability. base model adds to its appeal for charger that most competitors drivers who want that serenity on employ in their smallest engines. slippery roads. The new entry-level engine tion as standard equipment. feels so substantial, AWD or not. the highway. The starting price is the same, makes up for the lower, 203-horse- There’s no option for a front- If you want better gas mileage, Every ES shares one main sell- $39,900, whether you pick the ES power output by being coupled to wheel-drive version, which logic Lexus still offers the ES 300h ing point. It has a logical, comfort- 250 AWD with its four-cylinder something unusual and very valu- dictates would be cheaper and hybrid, which claims an average able, sumptuously trouble-free engine or the more powerful ES able in some locales: an all-wheel- more fuel efficient if Lexus ever of 44 mpg in combined city and cabin. 350 with a V6. drive system that helps it tackle made it available. highway driving. Not only does it have impres- The hybrid ES 300h starts at wet and slippery roads with The federal government rates its If you want better performance, sively solid build quality and $41,810. Each model can be aplomb. fuel economy at 25 mpg in the city the tried-and-true 3.5-liter V6 in materials luxurious enough to equipped with the Luxury, Ultra Priced under $40,000, the ES and 34 on the highway, which is the ES 350 makes 300 horsepower make a Roman emperor jealous, Luxury or more sprightly F Sport 250 comes with four-wheel trac- downright impressive for a car that while still delivering 32 mpg on but it’s laid out in such a way that package. A CLOSER LOOK AT A GLANCE FACTS, FIGURES AND RATINGS What was tested? 2021 Lexus ES 250 AWD Ultra Luxury Wheelbase: 113 in. Ratings Why buy it? ($48,900). Options: Wireless charger ($75), 10.2-inch head Length: 195.9 in. Style: 8 It’s silky, serene and known up display ($500), triple-beam LED headlights ($1,515), Width: 74.4 in. Performance: 4 for delivering an outstanding navigation system with Mark Levinson audio system Height: 57.1 in. Price: 9 value. A new all-wheel-drive ($1,080), premium paint ($425), rear spoiler ($200), illu- Engine: 2.5-liter four cylinder (203 hp, 184 lbs.-ft.) Handling: 7 model gets both improved gas minated door sill ($400), carpet trunk mat ($120), wheel Transmission: Eight-speed automatic Ride: 9 mileage and better traction on locks ($85). Price as tested (including $1,020 destination EPA fuel economy: 25 city, 34 highway Comfort: 10 slippery surfaces. charge): $54,325 Quality: 10 Overall: 8.