High Fuel Economy Premium Sedan
The remarkably fuel-efficient 2020 Lexus ES 300h transports you in quiet, premium style with a base price of $41,810. For this price, the ES 300h comes equipped with a long list of features and safety equipment, making it a strong choice for those looking for a great looking sedan that can get in excess of 50 miles per gallon.
Hitting the Open Road
Fifty mpg! Really? That is the beauty of hybrid technology. The ES 300h is powered by the Lexus Hybrid Drive system–a 2.5-liter, 16-valve double overhead cam gasoline-powered four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor and the hybrid transaxle. There are 215 total system horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The front wheels are propelled through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which has paddle shifters. The versatile ES 300h has four driver-selectable drive modes of Eco, Normal, Sport and EV. The EV mode allows driving for short distances and low speeds, such as in a parking structure purely on electricity.
The hybrid system automatically switches between the electric drive mode, combined electric motor and gasoline engine, and gasoline-only engine power. The imperceptible transitions can be monitored by viewing the dash gauges. Fuel economy for the 2020 Lexus ES 300h is rated at 43 mpg city/44 highway/44 combined. Running on regular unleaded, our Southern California road trip covered 360 miles, with the majority being on highways and traveling no faster than 70 mph. The average fuel economy for the complete trip was 46.3 mpg.
On two separate occasions we got a true sense of the hybrid system’s efficiency.
- 70-mile run at 45 mph: 58.6 mpg average (Rush hour, on-and-off the brakes)
- 90-mile run at 65 mph: 48.7 mpg average (Using the dynamic radar cruise control)
The soul of this efficiency is the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery, which is charged when applying the brakes or coasting. The regenerative charging system converts kinetic energy into electric energy and stores it in the battery. This process is also viewed on a dash gauge where you can watch the power flow into and out of the battery and engine and to the wheels.
The Lexus ES 300h is a true pleasure to drive, where its smooth and cushy ride was unaffected by road imperfections. Sound deadening insulation covers 93 percent of the floor pan, while underbody covers and front fender liners further reduce road noise. Even the chassis-mounted dampers have been designed to keep them from generating any resonances that might generate interior cabin noise.
Acceleration was more than adequate, with 0-to-60 times around 8.1 seconds. Opting for the Sport mode improves acceleration. The ES 300h is not a sport sedan, and Lexus does not market it as such. The driver-selectable drive modes of Normal and Eco are where most of your time will be spent as you eke out as many miles as possible from the fuel-efficient hybrid system.
If you are seeking a sportier ES 300h, you can opt for the F Sport model, which comes with different exterior and interior treatments. But more importantly for the performance-minded, it has adaptive variable suspension that is capable of 650 levels of sensor-measured adjustments. Adjustments are made instantly based on g-force, vehicle speed and steering angle, yaw rate and master cylinder pressure. The F Sport ES 300h also comes with an additional driver-selectable drive mode of Sport+ that delivers more aggressive driving as it adjusts the throttle, transmission and steering parameters, along with the adaptive dampers.
The Lexus ES 300h came with 18-inch silver machine-finished alloy wheels. These attractive wheels were mounted with 235/45 Michelin X-Green Energy all-season tires. There was good traction with limited tire slippage, even when under hard cornering stress. Redesigned for 2019, the Lexus ES 300h batteries have been placed under the seats, making for flat, low-lean cornering and limited understeer.
The continuous variable transmission (CVT) did not produce the common droning when launching or under hard accretion. When placed in Sport mode, there were convincing gear-like upshifts to satisfy those that don’t like a CVT because they are too smooth. Never understood this complaint, but Lexus added them.
Stopping comes from an electronically controlled brake system that incorporates regenerative control and power-assisted, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution. The stops were straight and consistent, producing a satisfying regenerative whirring when stopping.
When driving a hybrid I like the option to select the EV mode, especially around town, forcing the car to run solely on electric power. The Lexus ES 300h has this option, but the driving range in pure electric mode is short. Plus, when in EV mode, only the slightest accelerator pedal pressure kicked in the gasoline engine.
Exterior Sleek
The 2020 Lexus ES 300h carries-over the all-new design of the 2019 model, which was the dawning of the seventh generation ES. Lexus says the ES “redefines status among entry-level executive sedans.” What we saw is a sleek design with a low center of gravity, enhanced by a wide stance. Our Lexus ES 300h, in Nightfall Mica, with black B pillars and front grille, had body color-keyed bumpers, door handles, shark fin antenna and exterior power folding mirrors. In this deep blue color with the black pillars, the very tasteful use of chrome on the front grille, framing the windows, and thin strips on the rear, was perfect. Elegant and classy.
The triple beam LED headlights wrap gently into the fenders, leading to a lightly sculpted hood and a near-flat roofline with a tilt-and-slide moonroof. The hands-free power trunk lid has a small spoiler, which is set off by the L-shaped LED taillights. Dual chrome exhaust tips are on the outside edges of the lower fascia. It is obvious how the designers achieved the low 0.26 coefficient of drag.
Lexus has subtle reminders this car has been electrified. The blue “L” emblem on the front grille and the word “hybrid” on the fenders and lower right trunk lid are the only tip-offs this stylish car can get in excess of 50 mpg.
Welcoming Interior
Clean Fleet Report was driving a Lexus ES 300h that was nicely equipped with standard equipment. When a few packages and options were added–totaling $10,655–it was as fully featured as any car can be. This brings up a good point. It is important to order your ES Hybrid exactly as you want it to be. This is your car, so personalizing and outfitting it to your specifications will make ownership an enjoyable experience.
The cockpit design is driver-friendly with the gauges, including the hybrid management system, all in easy sight and the controls in easy reach. A much appreciated feature was the 10.2-inch color head-up display (HUD). The customizable settings to select the speedometer, navigation, shift position, compass, audio, phone, outside temperature, Hybrid System Indicator and adjustable brightness made for a safer and more convenient driving experience. Another indicator on the HUD is for the Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, showing the driver assist technologies of pre-collision, pedestrian detection, lane departure alert and the adaptive cruise control are all illuminated on the HUD. Again, eyes on the road, safety first.
Additional interior convenience features included the dual-zone automatic climate control, the integrated backup camera with dynamic gridlines, power rear window shade, electrochromatic heated and power-folding outside mirrors, map and reading lights, and a wireless phone charger.
The first thing you will notice when sliding into the Lexus ES 300h is how spacious and well laid out everything is. The 10-way power, heated and ventilated leather front seats were supportive and comfortable. The rear seats are up to the Lexus standard–sumptuous in their feel and comfort. The wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel with controls for audio, hands-free telephone operation and cruise control, was centered by the power tilt and telescopic steering column. While the rear seat does not fold flat, it does have a pass-through for long items, and the trunk is massive, so carrying capacity for luggage on those long trips is never a concern.
Next was becoming familiar with the 1,800-watt, 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio package that came with the Lexus Enform system. Enform includes navigation, Wi-Fi (with a 4GB 90-day trial) and a smartphone or smartwatch remote feature. The 12.3-inch color multimedia display housed SiriusXM/FM/CD/HDAM with an auxiliary audio jack, USB ports and music streaming via Bluetooth wireless technology. Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto complete the audio options. This system has to be heard to be believed. Go check it out.
Lexus gets high points for having both a volume and channel knob for the radio, but we can’t give them too many props for the touchpad controller. Even with the ability to set the sensitivity, the touchpad was twitchy and required looking away from the road to see what the cursor was doing on the display screen.
Safety
The Lexus ES 300h is equipped with a full suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including active and passive safety features of 10 air bags, a tire pressure monitoring system, collapsible steering column, anti-theft alarm and engine immobilizer. The centerpiece is the Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 with a pre-collision system, lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control with lane tracing assist and several other warning features.
The rear view camera and the blind spot monitor work in conjunction with the rear cross traffic alert and intuitive braking. When backing from a blind parking spot and a car, bicycle or pedestrian suddenly appears behind the ES 300h, the brakes are applied instantly. This valuable safety feature comes on fast and, if not prepared, it can be a bit of a shocker the first time it is experienced.
In testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the 2020 Lexus ES 300h received five stars, its highest rating, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2020 ES 300h its top safety pick for overall crash protection.
Pricing and Warranties
The 2020 Lexus ES 300h has a base MSRP of $41,810. Clean Fleet Report’s test car had a total price, including $10,655 in options and the $1,025 delivery, processing and handling fee, of $53,440.
The 2020 Lexus ES 300h comes with these warranties.
- Hybrid Components – Eight years/100,000 miles
- Powertrain – Six years/70,000 miles
- Basic – Four years/50,000 miles
- Maintenance Plan – Two years/25,000 miles
- Anti-perforation – Five years/Unlimited miles
- Roadside Assistance – 24/7 during Basic Warranty
- Emergency Lodging – If disabled 100 miles from home
- Maintenance – First and second scheduled services
Observations: 2020 Lexus ES 300h
Car buyers are really short-changing themselves if they do not include sedans on their shopping list. Clean Fleet Report has driven and reviewed many sedans from several different manufacturers and can report their quality and value have never been better. If you are looking for a premium sedan that oozes class and gets fantastic fuel economy, then get over to your Lexus dealer and drive the 2020 ES 300h.
Built in Georgetown, Kentucky, the Lexus ES 300h has EPA class-leading fuel economy for a five passenger, luxury midsize sedan. This extremely economical vehicle should cover all your driving needs, whether it’s commuting, in-town errands or long road trips.
The redesign that took place in 2019 (and carries-over to 2020) raised the bar for competitor hybrid premium sedans. The comfortable and welcoming interior make any length trip a pleasurable experience. This serene and comfortable car is quiet inside, has a firm and stable ride, and is a place in which you want to spend time. Treat yourself to a long test drive at your Lexus dealership, and see for yourself.
And a bit about that Lexus dealer. If you have never shopped for a premium or luxury car, it is different. Lexus will tell you it is the owner experience that begins at the dealership and continues through your many years of driving one of its cars. Speak to a Lexus owner, they will tell you all about how they are treated.
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Whatever you end up buying, Happy Driving!
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Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class. We also feature those that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
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