The 2020 Lexus ES 300h Hybrid Drive FWD Sedan
You Are What You Drive — A Bottom Line Review
The Bottom Line: Who is Lexus? Well, Toyota Motor Corp owns Lexus. Yes, it’s the same company that produces Toyota Corollas, Highlanders, and RAV4’s. The Toyota Motor Corporation created the Lexus brand as their luxury vehicle segment in 1989. Lexus launched its first two sedans as the LS 400 and the ES 250 models.
Why is this important? When Lexus started selling the LS 400 and ES 250 sedans they were an instant sales success. Lexus is the luxury car division of Toyota, and after 31 years, they are at the top of the luxury car lines sold in America. They now sell cars, crossovers and SUVs. The RX mid size crossover is Lexus’s best selling model in the US, and the midsized ES sedan is the most popular car.
The base ES starts at only $39,900, next up is the ES Hybrid at $41,760, and then the ES F Sport at $44,635. Each model brings more luxury, technology and power, with the 300h Hybrid getting the best fuel economy, all wrapped up in a luxury midsize 4 door sedan.
This week Lexus sent me a 2020 Lexus ES 300h Hybrid Drive FWD Sedan to test drive and review. The window sticker base price starts at $41,760 and the option list on this car is $10,745. The total MSRP manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including the $1,025 delivery charge came to: $53,530.
OK, so how did we get from $41K to $53K so fast? Let me count the ways for you. This ES 300h Hybrid is loaded with every available option. The list starts with:
Blind Spot Monitor with rear cross traffic alert, parking assist and auto braking - $1,065
The Wireless Charging Pad - $75 18” Split 10 Spoke Alloy Wheels - $770
10.2” HUD Head Up Display - $500 Triple Beam LED light emitting diode Headlights - $1,515
Power Rear SunShade - $210 Dynamic Navigation System with 12.3” Color Multimedia Display and a Mark Levinson Pure Play 17 speaker 1800 Watt Premium Surround Sound Audio System - $2,900
Hands Free Power Open and Close Trunk Lid - $550
Lexus Premium Memory Package for Drivers Seat, Outside Mirrors and Steering Wheel, Power Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel, Power Folding Outside Mirrors, Rain Sensing Wipers and Heated and Ventilated front seats - $1,375
Heated Wood and Leather Trimmed Steering Wheel with Fast Response Heater - $480
Interior Wood Trim with Ambient Lighting - $540 Illuminated Door Sills - $400 Trunk Mat, Cargo Net, Wheel Locks, Rear Bumper Appearance Glove
- $365
The options cost $10,745, and not only make this car look sexy in Jet Black, it makes the car feel and drive sexy, inside and out. The car has that luxury look with multiple sculptured body lines and curves, set off by the 18” machined alloy wheels, and a black leather interior with linear espresso wood trim. Just looking at the car,
standing still, and you know it’s a special ride.
The ES 300h Hybrid starts with a 2.5L liter 4 cylinder engine with 215 total system horsepower, connected to an electronically controlled CVT constant velocity transmission, with FWD front wheel drive. The transmission has 3 driver mode selections: Eco, Normal, Sport, and has steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.
With the hybrid drivetrain the car gets 44 MPG on the highway, 43 MPG in city driving, and 44 MPG combined fuel economy. That’s fantastic gas mileage from a midsize sedan in the luxury class. The Greenhouse Gas Rating is a 9, and the Smog Rating is a 7, both out of 10. Again, amazing test numbers for a hybrid with near perfect scores. To top it off the ES 300h has a 5 Star Safety Rating, the best crash and collision survival rating a car can get, from the NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
To sum it up, the 2020 Lexus ES 300h Hybrid Edition sedan is as luxurious a vehicle you can buy from any manufacturer, for only $53,530. While costing just over $53 Grand might sound like a lot of cash for a car, this Lexus 300h Hybrid is priced thousands of $$$$$ less than all of it’s German competitors. Plus it gets 44 MPG miles per gallon of fuel, and the annual cost for gas is estimated at only $900, or less, for a year!
Think about it, while the luxury car class starts at $50,000, and goes up from there, you can buy, or lease, a loaded 2020 Lexus ES 300h Hybrid Edition sedan for just a few bucks more. And if you take a few options less, you can get a fantastic running and driving luxury sedan, with this same sexy body, for less than $50K out the door, including sales tax, registration fees and dealer prep charges. So what are you waiting for? Call, click or visit your local Lexus dealer for a comparison test drive today.
A word to the wise is sufficient. Be Smart, Stay Safe, and Just Breathe. Remember “You Are What You Drive ©” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©” .