Lexus ES 250 is a dream ride
ROAD TEST/ This saloon is comfy and has a deep boot but is by no means a torpedo, writes Phuti Mpyane
The Lexus brand hasn’t what you’d describe as a big following here in SA, where it exchanges punches in the sales charts with offerings from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.
In an effort to enhance its fortunes, Lexus SA has culled the GS from its local line-up and has given the baton to the latest ES range to cover the needs of enduring sedan lovers.
In this latest iteration the new ES has been treated to a somewhat more agreeable aesthetic redesign than the last car but the formula of a spacious sedan remains. The car is available in ES300h hybrid guise or in this naturallyaspirated ES 250 flavour. Crucially, the ES250 is R250,500 cheaper than the flagship ES 300h hybrid.
Thanks to a front-wheel drive chassis instead of RWD, the lack of a diff has yielded generous room at the rear. Despite a sportback-esque silhouette, it’s actually a sedan in the traditional sense that it has a conventional bootlid rather than an upswinging rear hatch.
However, based on the shape, length and price bracket it has to slug it out with some pretty talented Germans in the form of BMW’s 4 Series Gran Coupe and Audi’s A5 Sportback. But I liken it more as a rival of VW’s drop-dead gorgeous Arteon, an alternative that offers virtually equal dimensions and inside room but much more in terms of modern drivetrain options like diesels, petrols and AWD underpinnings.
Where the ES 250 thumps not only the VW but the entire village of peers is the legendary Lexus smoothness. Thanks to a double-wishbone front suspension setup and new swing valve shock absorber technology, the damping is superb. The last time I drove a car that wafted this supremely was the BMW M760Li with its air-suspension dialled all the way up to Comfort Plus.
This new shock absorber innovation is claimed to give maximum damping should you drive on even the tiniest of stones. The ES250 also steers decently around corners for its length. Combined with eerily good sound-deadening and robust build quality, you’d be hard pressed to hear the crunch of gravel under its wheels
While the Lexus ES 250’s front-engine and front-wheel drive formula is fairly effective, it’s let down by its normallyaspirated 2.5l four-cylinder engine. Outputs are 152kW and 243Nm but these translate to relatively lethargic performance. Attached to an eight-speed automatic transmission, it’s claimed to get to 100km/h from standstill in 9.1 seconds and reach a top speed of only 210km/h.
It possesses a “sport” button but this tester was at odds to find reasons for such an unnecessary addition to a car with not much of a dynamic envelope to speak of.
Utilising the old recipe of stuffing loads of standard specification into a car rather than going the expensive options list route, this ES 250 arrives at your door with ample luxury amenities such as bumwarmers, leather trim, reverse camera, keyless start, cruise control, a comprehensive infotainment system operated by mouse, Bluetooth connectivity, a moonroof and a remote boot opener.
The boot is also a reasonable 420l and has a fullsized spare wheel.
There is virtually nothing on the subject of trendy novelties like autonomous driving capability, gesture controls or artificial intelligence. It’s down to basic cruise control for any self-regulation and the pushing of buttons or fiddling with its touchpad mouse for navigating around its mono screen.
Beyond the dramatic spindle grille, which is truly dazzling to onlookers, it isn’t as bewitchingly pampering as the retired GS nor does it offer the spiciness of the compact IS. This somewhat coupe-shaped saloon masks an undeniably stylish and professional-looking digital dash.
At 4.9m nose to tail it’s larger than its price competitors and is in the general area of the BMW 5, Mercedes-Benz E and Audi A6. This makes it a good valuefor-money proposition along with its reasonable 8.7l/100km fuel consumption. Value for money
Overall
BMW 420i Gran Coupe, 135kW/290Nm R628,500 Audi A5 Sportback 2.0TFSI, 140kW/320Nm
R640,500 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0TDI Elegance, 130kW/350Nm R599,900