LIKES
- Sinewy shape
- Sharp responses in F Sport form
- Eco-friendly hybrid
- ES 350’s power
DISLIKES
- AWD would be nice
- Infotainment a letdown
- Still so much grille
- Having to look past Lexus SUVs to buy one
BUYING TIP
- A base Lexus ES 300h represents the best value of the entire lineup, but we'd pay extra for the pricey sound system, one of our favorites.
The 2020 Lexus ES charts a sportier, sharper course than before, and it succeeds.
As buyers flock toward SUVs, sedans are left out in the cold. The 2020 Lexus ES relishes in its sedanness, with sharper moves than we have come to expect from this model and excellent fuel economy, with no dilution of its core Lexus virtues.
If you can resist the SUV lure, the 2020 ES is a standout large sedan. We rate it at 7.8 out of 10, with the hybrid as our pick of the lineup.
The ES shares some of its architecture with the Toyota Camry as well as the Toyota Avalon, but it has more styling cohesion than either of those plus far fancier digs inside. Available in ES 350, F Sport, and ES 300h guises, each version of the Lexus has its own personality. ES 350s and F Sports make use of a 302-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 that hurtles power forward with authority through an 8-speed automatic transmission. F Sports feature adaptive dampers and taller wheels wrapped in sportier rubber plus a special Sport+ mode with more steering heft and sharper throttle response.
The gem of the lineup is the ES 300h with its hybrid 2.5-liter inline-4 and nickel-metal hydride battery. The combo is good for just 215 hp, but 44 mpg combined is the bigger draw here.
Stretching nearly 196 inches between its bumpers, the 2020 ES is spacious and comfortable for passengers, and its trunk is big, too. A modern interior design puts the standard 8.0-inch or optional 12.3-inch display up high, and while standard Apple CarPlay compatibility is welcome, the controller and menu-intensive software are letdowns. We forgive the system somewhat when the optional Mark Levinson audio system is cranked up, though.
What the ES lacks in infotainment it more than makes up for in active safety gear. Adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive lane control are all included, and the ES has done well in crash-testing.
Styling
The 2020 Lexus ES may be the best interpretation of the brand’s complex design language.
Lexus doesn’t do subtle anymore. The 2020 Lexus ES blends its spindle grille and asymmetric dash particularly well, though. We toss two points toward the 2020 ES, bringing it to 7 out of 10 points overall.
The ES channels its bigger LS brother more than it does anything else in the Lexus lineup, and it looks more balanced in the process. The big grille dives back toward the hood and is flanked by sharp lines and brash headlights that wind their way into a sinewy body with little of the bloat we’ve come to expect from big Lexus cars.
F Sport versions have their own detailing and larger wheels, plus different exterior trim.
Inside, the cars have an asymmetrical dash design that puts the standard 8.0-inch or optional 12.3-inch screen up high, with climate controls clustered below. A sharp line divides the surfaces, and careful attention to materials and finishes gives the car an elegance in line with pricing. F Sports have darker hues inside that we don’t think works as well as the lighter woods available in standard ES models.
Performance
Though not a sports sedan, the 2020 Lexus ES makes all the right moves.
The 2020 Lexus ES splits the difference between sporty sedan and plush cruiser unusually well. The F Sport has a personality of its own, which is a pleasant surprise.
A comfortable, composed ride and healthy V-6 power help elevate the 2020 ES family to 7 out of 10—and we extend that score to our pick, the slightly slower but high-economy ES 300h hybrid.
ES 350s—F Sport and base—use a 302-hp 3.5-liter V-6 with 267 pound-feet of torque, shared with a number of other Toyota and Lexus products. With about 3,700 pounds to move, the V-6 feels more than up to the task. The standard 8-speed automatic transmission fires off quick shifts, too, and the manual shift mode is a delight on a winding road.
ES 300h hybrids swap in a 2.5-liter inline-4 teamed with a nickel-metal hydride battery and an electric motor for effortless low-speed, low-emissions cruising. With 215 hp on tap, the hybrid won’t win a drag race, but it merges onto highways well enough, and it can handle the 0-60 mph sprint in 8.1 seconds. For the way most drivers will enjoy their ES sedans, the hybrid is probably the way to go.
All versions have confident handling with good steering effort and a ride that’s just the right side of plush. Opt for the F Sport and the adaptive dampers firm up at the tap of a button for more spirited driving. A Sport+ drive mode holds shifts longer and tightens up steering heft, too. Lexus makes sportier sedans, but the ES F Sport is a nice balance between day-to-day usability and winding road fun.
Comfort & Quality
A spacious, well-wrought interior makes the 2020 Lexus ES feel worth its weight—and its price.
The 2020 Lexus ES is a big car at nearly 196 inches long, and it’s a nice place to spend some time. We toss it extra points for its comfy front and rear seats, its luxurious trim, and its cargo space. Those assets bring it to a 9 out of 10 in our eyes.
Front-seat riders have excellent seats at their disposal, wrapped in either synthetic or real leather, and with the option of heating and cooling. The ES offers an impressive 39 inches of rear-seat leg room, which should be enough for tall passengers to fill up the entire cabin.
Additionally, both large- and small-item storage is above average in the cabin. Trunk space is just shy of 17 cubic feet, accessed through a wide opening. Hybrids have the same trunk room as non-hybrids, still a relative rarity since batteries can take up lots of space.
Interior trim is luxurious, though some controls can be a chore to sort out. Wood and aluminum trim, soft leather, and convincing synthetics elevate the ambience. Lexus offers a number of interior hues, so spend some time picking your favorite before buying one.
Safety
The 2020 Lexus ES is an exceptionally safe choice.
The 2020 Lexus ES studied up for crash-testing and it shows. This big sedan comes with a full complement of collision-avoidance gear, has good outward vision, and it nearly aced both federal and independent testing.
We rate the 2020 ES at 9 out of 10 for its safety.
All sedans come with a slew of airbags, automatic emergency braking, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, and more. The ES doesn’t offer the same degree of hands-off driving that some costlier luxury sedans do, but it’s more than in line with our expectations.
The IIHS rates the car a Top Safety Pick+ when fitted with the costliest LED headlights in the lineup. Those triple-beam LEDs earn a “Good” score, while the standard LEDs earn a still-decent “Acceptable.”
Federal testers rate the ES at five stars overall, albeit with four stars for front and rollover crash protection.
Features
A good feature set is offset slightly by a frustrating infotainment interface in the 2020 Lexus ES.
You’ll spend nearly $41,00 to buy the least expensive 2020 Lexus ES, but at least it feels worth the money. We rate the lineup at 7 out of 10 for its good standard and optional equipment and the automaker’s sterling warranty and dealer experience, though the kludgy control interface forces us to retract a point.
Base ES 350s include synthetic leather on the seats, power adjustment up front, a power moonroof, an 8.0-inch screen, Apple CarPlay compatibility, a trio of USB ports, and streaming Bluetooth. Add in the collision-avoidance tech and we’re happy with its standard features.
Hybrids cost about $1,800 more and come with about the same equipment, though they don’t offer the F Sport package. For about $4,500 on top of the ES 350, it adds adaptive dampers, 19-inch wheels, and a host of styling changes.
We think the $42,785 ES 300h hybrid is the best bet, with features like those in the base ES 300 and the super fuel-economy advantage of its hybrid system.
Options are grouped into packages and some are available as stand-alone items. Those worth noting include a 12.3-inch screen that includes navigation, a heated steering wheel, adaptive headlights, and Mark Levinson audio. An ES with that gear would be our choice, though upsized wheels and a panoramic roof are also available.
We don’t like the ES’ control interface, which features a laptop-like touchpad that is a challenge to use at a stoplight, let alone while on the go. Additionally, don’t look for Android Auto compatibility, though Amazon Alexa stands by ready to play Jeopardy!
Every Lexus comes with a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty—which extends to 6 years and 72,000 miles for the powertrain.
Fuel Economy
V-6-powered Lexus ES sedans are just average, but the ES 300h hybrid is unusually green.
One version of the 2020 Lexus ES will use about half as much fuel as the other, so consider your commute before buying.
We rate the lineup at 8 out of 10 based on the 2020 ES 300h, which nets an impressive 43 mpg city, 44 highway, 44 combined from the EPA.
The ES 350 is rated at a so-so 22/32/26 mpg, while larger wheels on the ES 350 F Sport drop its figures to 22/31/25 mpg.
Lexus is OK with regular fuel, too, which helps lessen the burden at the pump.
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