Review: 2020 Lexus ES 300h is Visually Striking and Enjoyable to Drive

The all-new ES300h Ultra Luxury redefines its status among entry-level executive sedans with new dynamic exterior design. The first generation Lexus ES debuted at the North American Auto Show in Detroit January 1989. The role out of the ES coincided with the launch of the Lexus division. There have been seven generations of ES sedans produced since 1989 with the first five built on the Camry platform and the last two on the Avalon platform.

Lexus has been very successful in positioning the ES in the comfort luxury segment with an emphasis on interior amenities, quietness, and ride quality. For that reason, the ES was considered an entry level luxury car for Lexus in North America until the debut of the IS in 1999. Now the ES has developed its own identity and is no longer considered just a comfort luxury sedan. When you look up the ES online, you will find three distinct trim levels. There is the traditional base 3.5-liter trim package, the hybrid trim, and finally the F Sport trim to attract a younger crowd.

Redesigned New Platform

To achieve the new dynamic exterior design the engineers wanted, the ES was redesigned on the all-new Global Architecture K (GA-K) platform. This is a platform the ES will again share with the Camry and the Avalon. This platform update gives the designers the ability to create an ES that is not only visibly appealing, but really fun to drive. This new platform will stretch the ES 2.6 inches longer, lower it .2 inches and make it wider by 1.8 inches. The important numbers to notice here is almost 2 more inches of width and almost 3 inches of length. Aesthetically the increase in the overall foot print of the ES will produce the kind of eye-catching appeal someone wants in a luxury sedan. Project Chief Designer, Yasuo Kajino, describes the look of the ES as provocative elegance.

Quieter Cabin Experience

Utilizing the new Global Architecture-K (GA-K) platform offers more than just a dynamic exterior design. The strategic increase of the platform will also allow the 4-door luxury sedan to be more responsive in corning while providing a smoother quieter ride. The reason the GA-K chassis is able to provide a better overall ride is experience is it's an exceptionally rigid front-wheel drive chassis made from several grades of high-strength steel. The chassis also uses 785 inches of adhesive throughout the structure which is more than twice the amount (324 in.) used on previous chassis. The ES also utilizes laser screw welding on 120 different locations on the GA-K chassis to further solidify the already robust structure. This construction method is shared with the flagship LS 500 sedan. By building a brand new structure it gave the engineers an opportunity to address noise and vibrations at their source. The engineers were also able to add almost another 30% of sound deadening insulation to the floor pan of the ES. There was also performance dampeners installed to reduce vibrations on the Ultra Luxury and F SPORT models. All these additions and new construction methods will allow for a quieter cabin experience which is important for the commute home after a long day of work.

Refined Sense of Sportiness

When you discuss the history of the ES its easy to see it always has been an elegant luxurious sedan. Project Chief Designer, Yasuo Kajino agrees, but he believes that must change to stay relevant and states, The ES has always been an elegant luxury sedan. For this generation, we have added daring design elements that challenge the traditional expectations of buyers. The daring design element starts with the latest iteration of the brand's signature grille. It follows the design set forth by the LC coupe and the flagship LS 500 while adding a hint of its own personality that is unique to the ES. To complete the changeover of the front grille area the ES has been given slim headlamps with distinctive L-shaped marker lights. Let's now discuss the overall profile of the ES that the new GA-K platform produces. The hood line and the roof line are somewhat lower which gives the ES a smooth flow to the eye. Like the LS 500 the ES will also have a six window profile that allows for a long interrupted view of the ES's profile. All these flowing lines now give the new 2020 ES a refined sense of sportiness.

Hybrid Drive System

The new, fourth-generation Hybrid Drive System introduced in the ES 300h for 2019 returns again for 2020. In addition to delivering stronger performance and exemplary fuel economy, the latest Hybrid Drive System has been designed to help eliminate the rubber band feeling associated with some hybrid systems. The ES 300h's 2.5-liter, four-cylinder gas engine (A25A-FXS) running on the Atkinson cycle is coupled with a smaller, more power dense electric motor and an all-new hybrid transaxle. The preliminary internal results are a combined 215 total system horsepower and a manufacturer estimated 44 combined mpg. The new transaxle was introduced last year and is over an inch (1.2) shorter than its predecessor thanks to a new arrangement of the electric motors that places them in a multi-axle configuration instead of the previous coaxial setup.

The week I had the ES 300h, I spent the Sunday driving almost two hours to a lake to drive by 20 different properties that were for sale. When the round trip was over, we had spent almost 6.5 hours in the ES. We put it through its paces from interstate and highway driving to utilizing the navigation system around a lake that always had satellite service even though I didn't always have cell service. I was very impressed with the new transaxel Hybrid System Lexus is rolling out. It is also in the new UX 300h. It looks like they have found a way to make the hybrid experience even more seamless. If you are looking for a new family sedan or need something to drive clients around in, you should probably head over to a local dealer and ask to drive the Lexus ES 300h. MSRP for vehicle pictured is $55,485.

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