2015 Lexus ES 300h - $40,580 to start + $925 D&H offers owners a 40/39/40 mpgUS city/highway/combined rating.
On the eve of the next generation Lexus ES being revealed in Shanghai just hours from now, I have to admit upfront some bias. Despite Lexus now offering 6 full hybrids across its lineup including the CT, ES, GS, LS, NX and RX, the ES 300h is by far my favorite Lexus. From our first drive of the 2013 Lexus ES 300h at the short lead in Newberg, OR four years ago, through to the various MAMA Rally's, the World Hybrid Experience in Ypsilanti a few years ago and even a stint in a 14 last year.
I stopped at a Shell on IL Rt. 173 and Greenbay Rd. in Beach Park, IL to write about this week’s ride courtesy of Lexus.
For the 2015 model year, the ES 300h arrives with a much updated infotainment system, a new high end package, the latest safety equipment and loads of room – 100.1 cu. ft passenger and 12.1 cu. ft. cargo - thanks to the Avalon platform vs the Camry's.
2015 Lexus ES 300h Drivetrain
One of my favorite features about the ES 300h is not just its 40/39 mpg city/highway rating is the 200 total system hp full hybrid drivetrain from the Camry Hybrid. It is powerful enough to drive the 3,660 lb. midsize luxury sedan from 0 to 60 in just 8.1 sec. with a top speed limited to 112 mph.
This is due in part to the Atkinsonized 2.5L I4 engine with 156 hp and 156 lb.-ft. of torque and the 199 lb.-ft. of torque from 0 RPM MG2 traction motor.
The power comes from within
Proximity key w/ PB start, 10-way power driver/passenger seats, power moon roof, dual auto climate, and one-touch power windows all around are std.
This ES 300h arrived with the optional BSM with RCTA ($500), HIDs w/ LED DRLs ($565), Power rear sunshade ($200), Luxury Pkg. incl. new perforated leather heated and cooled front seats and a power tilt and telescopic wheel with 3 memory settings ($1,370).
It also has the HDD voice controlled Navi with backup camera, 8" central display, Enform Remote - new this year incl. remote start and preconditioning, remote monitor and find location features ($1,795) and an Intuitive parking assist system ($500).
2015 Lexus ES 300h Exterior Design Tidbits
Outside, the Lexus "Black Widow" Spindle grille and check mark DRL LEDs define the ES. Unlike the latest Lexus offerings, the more sedate front end is modern but not "out there" like the NX we drove a few weeks back. The hood does not have a well-defined feature lines but instead a lightly sculpted bulge from the right and left side center grille back toward the A-pillars where they disappear. Projector HIDs w/ halogen brights reside within a basic wraparound housing. Lower front corners include round chrome trimmed fogs.
Moving to the profile, a non-distinct cab rearward coupe profile with chrome trimmed day light opening (DLO) and a minor horizontal character line running from above the front lenses and back over the handles, and rear lenses. Low RRc Bridge stone Turanzas on nice looking bright 17" alloys and a minor chrome hybrid badge complete the profile. Probably drives Audi designer’s nuts in its simplicity and lack of pizzazz but in the case of the ES, the lack of angles works for the mid-level luxury cruiser.
Out back is a shark fin antennae, trunk lid lip spoiler large central chrome Lexus badge, a thinner horizontal chrome trim strip, large chrome ES300h badge along the right and lower rear corner parking lamps. The trunk open/close is of the powered variety ($400).
Again, nothing that screams look at me but simple luxury without the drama with a very low 0.27 Cd. And it works too!
2015 Lexus ES 300h Interior Design Detail
Moving inside is where the ES begins to show off its high end design.
A very tightly woven headliner, A, B and C-pillars and sun visor coverings looks nice to the eyes and feels good to the touch. Std. power moon roof, auto dimming rear view with garage remotes complete the top side. The soft touch IP has a nicely shaped curve and a contrasting single white stitch over the instrument hood and under the central display. The central dash includes a small analog clock that does not have as nice a look as the rest of the interior. The optional Luxury pkg. ($1,370) includes a very tasteful horizontal bamboo dash and door inlays with a pewter color thin trim just below. It results in an attractive interior and only wish Lexus had added a band of the same next to the windscreen/dash junction.
All in, this 2015 Lexus ES 300h rolled into my drive for $46,995 and there are few vehicles that offer this level of luxury with this level of efficiency.
That single contrast white stitching also resides along the side of the front and rear leather seats, front and rear door arm rests, RTI hand rest and the very soft center console cover. Good stuff here.
Leather wrapped thicker gripped wheel with bamboo inserts ($300) plus leather and chrome trimmed shifter look and feel good to the touch.
Power Meter to Tach in the blink of an eye with the rotation of the mode knob from ECO to Power.
The radio sounds good and is cache capable meaning you could pause live AM/FM radio and HD Radio for up to 15 minutes while receiving a phone call and revert right back to the audio program you left off at.
Fortunately the 15 Lexus ES' 2nd gen Remote Touch Interface (RTI) carries on. It is Lexus' best mouse based infotainment control solution and buries the third gen pad interface disaster the brand is pawning off to new customers on other newer models. I hope they do not change it with tomorrow's next gen release.
The RTI system works as good as most and I pray Lexus does not bring that 3rd gen monstrosity to the next gen for the 2016 MY.
New for 2015 is the three way divided display with 3D maps and bird’s eye view mode including 3D buildings and landmarks.
From a 2014 Lexus ES 300h drive last year.
A small amount of piano black surrounds the shifter and lower cup holder. Not a fan of piano black in luxury cars as it looks cheap to me.
A comfortable rear seat would make the rest of the family very comfortable.
Unlike the NX, the ES seats are far more comfortable despite still having to short lower cushions for talker drivers. The high end pkg. includes a lower cushion extender and is worth every penny just for that one feature. Soft leather and a more relaxed ergonomic position make for a very relaxed long distance driver. The power window motors are some of the quietest available
Not a ton of cargo volume but enough for most.
2015 Lexus ES 300h Safety
On the active safety front, the new backup camera, BSM, and RCTA are nice if not expensive upgrades. VSC, TC, ABS, BA, and EBFD will help keep you out of trouble.
The IIHS has not tested the ES on the Small Overlap so it has not yet earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating. It has the top rating of Good on the 4 other tests so it will be interesting to see. Toyota/Lexus have fixed the collapsing A-Pillar problem on the rest of their lineup during that particular crash test and I suspect the ES has been fixed as well.
2015 Lexus ES 300h IIHS Top Safety Pick
Passively the std. 10 airbags incl. Front, side, side curtains, driver and passenger knee and outboard rear seat passenger sides is noteworthy. Even today, GM is the only OEM protecting the back seat occupants to this level with Toyota/Lexus coming on fast.
On the NHTSA crash test regimen, the ES 300h is perfect other than the static dimensional rollover calc. 5-stars is 5-stars.
2015 Lexus ES 300h NHTSA 5-Star Crash test Rating
2015 Lexus ES 300h Ride and Handling
It does not have a typical sport sedan ride and handling feel. Although the steering is vague and disconnected, the suspension is independent struts front and rear are tuned for impact absorption and there are few vehicles that can isolate the driver from road imperfections as well. A little body roll during hard cornering is the tradeoff but Lexus struck a decent balance here too.
Braking is solid from the 11.6 and 11.0 in. front and rear discs albeit with little feedback and some non-linearity due to the hybrid drivetrain.
2015 Lexus ES 300h Efficiency
The 43+ mpg displayed for driving 2 short 5 mile RT stints from cold is pretty decent. Efficiency history shows most are receiving 30 to 35 over the past two months which is not bad for the lead foot Chicago area journalists that think both pedals should be used at the same time as they race to the non-existent trophy at the stop light ahead.
The 2015 Lexus ES 300hs efficiency history.
Now time for a calibration drive to Milwaukee and back to see what she can do and how close that aFCD (fuel consumption display) is to actual. The ES 300h could use a Trip A/B aFCD vs. the single dash aFCD it is equipped with.
I stopped at a Shell on Rt. 41 and Rt. 173 in Wadsworth, IL to complete the calibration drive of the 2015 Lexus ES 300h. And it performed admirably.
Topped off with the Trip A/B and aFCD reset.
The Google Map indicates 63.1 miles traveled vs 61.5 miles displayed.
The average Fuel Consumption Display (aFCD) indicates 62.7 mpg. From top off to top off, she took 1.004 gal. for a 62.8 mpg result. Finally Toyota/Lexus got off the 5 to 9% optimistic aFCD display nonsense. Yahoo!!!
It was great to receive the kind of efficiency this large luxury driver can deliver. All the while surrounded by the latest amenities too!
There are two or three items I would like to see changed however. Voice NAVI is still FUBAR with some destinations whereas the smartphone through Google nails it each time without a miss.
I would like to see the LED touch lights for map and central interior lighting. It worked exceptional in the NX last week.
Finally the ES 300h needs a sunglass holder in the worst way.
If only I could get this car with NAVI for closer to $30k than $40k, Marian would probably be driving it now. Great efficiency, comfortable, quiet, reliable and beautiful surrounds. What more could you ask for?
2015 Lexus ES 300h Review
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