2021 Lexus ES
- Lexus ES sedan repeats as winner
- Comfort and luxury in a roomy 5-seat cabin
- Solid handling complemented by standard driver assists
- AWD ES 250 added to the lineup
- Hybrid and F Sport trims return
- Pricing starts at $39,990 (plus $1,025 destination charge) | Price yours
- On sale now | See Autotrader listings right here on KBB.com
Returning as the winner in the luxury car category, the 2021 Lexus ES continues to offer a blend of elegant styling, a high-quality interior, refined road manners, and pricing that makes it a value in a segment where the competition is only getting stiffer. There are plenty of choices among luxury 4-door models, even as the mass market midsize sedan competitive set continues to shrink. Lexus manages to stay ahead by continually improving its products and finding new niches to serve.
A case in point is the addition of a base model that boasts all-wheel drive (AWD). The 2021 Lexus ES 250 AWD features a 203-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. While the performance isn’t as snappy as the standard 302-hp 3.5-liter V6 ES 350, this latest addition to the lineup has decent power with the added confidence that an on-demand AWD system brings. The neat trick here is that you can opt for the ES 250 AWD or a front-drive ES 350 V6 model for the same entry-level price point of $39,990 plus delivery. This price point underscores Lexus’ commitment to delivering luxury with value.
Timeless design
The Lexus ES look continues to wear well, becoming a classic in its own right. While the large spindle shape grille initially seems slightly over the top, it has held up well among luxury brands obsessed with putting even larger and flashier grilles on their entries. In comparison, the ES face now seems understated in its own way.
The rest of the exterior retains its trim, tailored lines. The roomy cabin is just the right proportion to the overall length of the car. The ES looks composed and confident with enough brightwork to add an air of elegance.
That well-executed exterior design carries over into the cabin, which looks hand-crafted with plenty of soft-touch materials. Standard upholstery is a NuLuxe synthetic, though leather is available on upper trims. We appreciate the straightforward presentation of the instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment display, along with redundant controls that allow you to adjust radio volume to cabin temperature with minimal distraction. The larger center screen is also easily controlled via a console-mounted touch surface.
There’s plenty of room for five, and the front passengers benefit from standard heated/ventilated seats with a 10-way power adjustment. The rear seat still boasts class-leading legroom and amenities such as dedicated HVAC vents, two USB ports, and a 12-volt powerpoint. That rear-seat roominess doesn’t end there as the split fold-down rear bench gives way to a large trunk with plenty of cargo space and a wide decklid opening.
Agile performance
The 2021 Lexus ES prioritizes a quiet cabin and compliant ride. One of the brand’s hallmarks is its attention to minimizing noise, vibration and harshness, and it’s evident in the interior’s serene environment. But that’s not to say that the driver feels disconnected from the road – the steering firm, precise and well-weighted. The V6 models have ample power delivered to the front wheels via the smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. Body motions are well controlled, and overall handling is enhanced by the throttle and brake pedals’ linear feel.
Even in the tauter F Sport trim, the ES is not as stiff as a European sport sedan, but it gives nothing away in road feel, inspiring driver confidence. In short, the ES is quite pleasant to drive.
While we’ve touched on the base 4-cylinder AWD model and the V6 F Sport, there’s another powertrain offering: the ES 300h. This front-drive hybrid variant mates the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine to an electric motor to produce a total output of 215 hp. The EPA fuel economy rating is an amazing 44 mpg combined on 43 mpg city/44 mpg highway. Remarkably, a 4-door luxury sedan can return the same kind of numbers delivered not that long ago by the much smaller Toyota Prius.
The makings of a Best Buy
There are many facets to the Lexus ES, from its new AWD setup to its luxuriously quiet cabin, that set it apart from comparable luxury cars. And Lexus can do all that at prices below similarly sized and equipped models. We mentioned the under-$40,000 sticker of the entry-level models, but even in the higher-trim V6 and hybrid models, it’s difficult to break the $50,000 barrier. Luxury trim for the ES 250 and ES 350 starts at $46,125 including $1,025 destination and tops out at $49,925 for Ultra Luxury. The F Sport variant costs $46,725, while the ES 300h Hybrid comes in at $42,835 for the entry-level model. The only above-$50K version is the Ultra Luxury 300h at $51,835.
However, what seals the deal here are those other factors – tangible and intangible – that speak to the value of the ES. First off, the Lexus brand is strong and carries with it a sterling reputation for quality. Added to that is its track record for low operating costs and high resale value. However, many of those benefits come after years of ownership but are still important to determine overall value and Best Buy status. As a leader in both cost-to-own and resale and offering competitive pricing with a high level of standard equipment, the 2021 Lexus ES is again the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy in the luxury car category.
Photo Tour: 2021 Lexus ES
More 2021 Lexus ES
Build and price your own 2021 Lexus ES to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or see Autotrader listings right here on KBB.com.
