2023 Lexus ES 250

The 2023 Lexus ES 250 comes in three trim levels namely ES 250, ES 250 F Sport, ES 250 Luxury, and ES 250 Ultra Luxury. The price for the base trim starts at an MSRP of $43,090. It comes with a long list of standard features even with the base trim. All the trims of the ES 250 come standard with AWD which is the sole drivetrain on offer. It gets all the creature comforts and a long list of technology features including driver assistance features as a part of the standard trim. The F Sport trim comes with a sportier appeal living to its name. But you can consider upgrading to the Luxury or Ultra Luxury trims to get more luxurious features. 

Packages:

Premium package (ES 250)

• Wood interior trim
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• Driver's seat memory settings
• Power-adjustable, heated steering wheel
• Wireless charging pad
• Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking

We recommend

We recommend going for the Luxury trim of the 2023 Luxury ES 250. It offers all the luxurious features as a part of the standard package. Features like heated and ventilated front seats and all the other features of the Premium package as standard. It does not only add opulence to the cabin but also makes your life comfortable while driving daily. You can also get the optional 12.3-inch infotainment display which seems like a worthy option. 

You have multiple engine options to choose from if you decide to get a Lexus ES sedan. But when you are talking about the Lexus ES 250, it comes with a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated engine under its hood. The engine comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission which sends power to all four wheels. You can only get the ES 250 in the all-wheel drive variant. The engine produces 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Since it comes with a naturally-aspirated engine under its hood, you should not expect the most exciting performance. It takes 8.1 seconds to reach from 0 to 60 mph while the quarter-mile run takes 16.2 seconds. The acceleration figures might not excite you if you like a sudden surge of power. The power builds up in a more linear manner. The top speed in the Lexus ES 250 is limited to 130 miles per hour.

If you want the quickest acceleration in the segment, it is surprisingly the Mercedes-Benz C-Class that takes the lead. The Merc takes only 5.2 seconds to reach from 0 to 60 mph. But it is still hard to beat the BMW 3-Series when you consider the overall driving package that it offers. The Bimmer is also the second quickest car in the competition taking 5.6 seconds to complete the 0 to 60 mph sprint. The Audi A4 comes next 6.3 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. But when you compare them with the Lexus ES 250, it feels quite slow taking more than 8 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill. 

2023 Lexus ES 250 Ride and Handling

The 2023 Lexus ES 250 is a true luxury sedan that focuses only on the luxury part. It is not meant for driving pleasure and that is evident even when you look at its performance figure. The Lexus ES 250 does not come with athletic handling and all three German rivals offer better driving dynamics than the ES 250. Lexus has focused more on offering an effortless driving experience instead of an engaging driver. But you will have to consider the fact that it is not the most spacious sedan you will like to spend most of your time in the rear seats.

The steering wheel of the Lexus ES 250 lacks the feel and feedback and you can not call it enjoyable by any means but it is comfortable and does not require much effort. There is no body roll in the corners but it does not feel confident in such driving situations. However, one area where the Lexus ES 250 truly signs is the comfort inside the cabin. The suspension is tuned towards comfort and it absorbs the road undulations very well. You do not feel uncomfortable even on the rough patches of the road and the cabin also feels very quiet from the inside. 

2023 Lexus ES 250 Braking Performance

The 2023 Lexus ES 250 comes with a decent braking performance for its class. You are not going to drive it in an aggressive manner anyway. However, on the braking performance front, it is not far behind its rivals. Lexus uses 12 inches of brake rotors in the front wheels while 11.1 inches of brake rotors in the rear wheels. You get a nice progressive feel from the brake pedals. The brakes are not going to give you a sudden bite but manage to stop the car at a respectable distance. However, the official stopping distance is not available for the ES 250 as of now.

If you want the best braking performance in the segment, it goes to the BMW 3-Series. The BMW 3-Series is known for its excellent driving dynamics and performance, and the braking performance makes things even better. The 3-Series takes 107 feet to come to a complete halt from 60 mph. The Audi A4 comes next taking 111 feet to stop from the same speed. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is not far behind either and it just takes a foot extra to stop from the same speed. The braking distance is not available for the Lexus ES 250 but you can expect a decent performance for its class. 

The fuel efficiency department remains a close call in the segment. When you make compromises with performance, you get it in the form of better fuel economy in most cases. The same applies to the Lexus ES 250 as it manages to return decent numbers in the fuel economy department. You can expect a fuel economy of 25 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg of combined fuel economy. The good part is since you are going to drive it in a relaxed manner mostly, it remains close to that estimate most of the time. The Lexus ES 250 comes with a maximum fuel tank capacity of 15.9 gallons which is good for a maximum highway driving range of 

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class comes with the best fuel economy figures in the competition. You get the added advantage of the largest fuel tank capacity compared to its rivals too. That means you can drive the C-Class continuously for 626 miles without a stop at the fuel station. You get a similar fuel economy from the BMW 3-Series and the Lexus ES 250 but the Lexus offers a better driving range as it comes with a large fuel tank. However, the 3-Series gives you excellent fuel economy along with quick acceleration. The Audi A4 returns a slightly less fuel economy and it also delivers the lower driving range in the competition. 

The interior of the Lexus ES 250 feels quite luxurious from the inside. As soon as you get inside the cabin, you will appreciate the quality of the materials used inside the cabin. You will notice the soft-touch materials that are used on the door and on the dashboard of the car. One thing that makes the interior stand out from the crowd is its bright red color. It depends on your personal preference if you like the color or not but it looks beautifully done. The leather of the seat feels premium and above the base trim, all trims come with heated and ventilated seats as standard. The space is quite decent for the class and it gets the best legroom for the rear seat passengers. The cargo area is also above average for its class. 

The Lexus ES 250 and all the other cars in the competition are entry-level cars in the luxury car market. But you do not have to compromise with the luxury in the cabin of any of these cars. The Lexus ES 250 offers the best space in its cabin and if you want a car to travel in the rear seats, it is the one to go for. However, you can consider upgrading if the rear seats are your priority. On the other hand, the space remains pretty close to all the other cars. The BMW 3-Series offers the best cargo area in the competition. The C-Class also gets a cargo capacity of 12.6 cubic feet. The Audi A4 has the least space in the cargo area but you will not notice a big difference compared to the Merc.

Standout interior features:

• 10-way power-adjustable driver seats
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Auto tilt-away steering wheel
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Remote keyless entry
• Cruise control

2023 Lexus ES 250 Infotainment

Lexus offers you a cabin that is loaded with technology and features even with its base trim. The Lexus ES 250 comes with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard. But you can upgrade to the optional 12.3-inch infotainment system which becomes standard with the Ultra Luxury trim. The infotainment system feels quite easy to operate in daily operations and the menu presents you with all the features right within your reach. The infotainment system comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The ES 250 also gets SiriusXM satellite radio and you get a 10-speaker audio system as a part of the standard package with all trims. However, you can upgrade to an optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. 

Standout infotainment features:

• 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display
• Bluetooth and USB connectivity
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 10-speaker audio system

The 2023 Lexus ES 250 comes with a modern look that is your looks in the middle of the aggressive and laid-back design. When you look at the front, you will instantly recognize it from the signature front grille that is inspired by the bigger LS 500. This grille has become a part of the brand’s identity and you will not confuse it with any other brand even from a distance. The LED headlights with LED daytime running lights also look quite sleek in overall appearance. When you move to the side, it looks more like a laid-back sedan with a sober look. The size and design of the wheels depend on the trim you choose and range between 17 inches to 19 inches. The rear gets LED taillights and the ES 250 badging along with the badge for AWD. The F-Sport variant also gets a spoiler at the rear of the car. 

The Lexus ES 250 is the best choice if you are looking for a car with a bigger footprint. It comes with larger dimensions than its rivals in terms of length, width, and height. You get good stability and interior space in the Lexus ES 250 but rivals do not lack stability either. The difference between the dimensions is not of night and day. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is going to offer you similar space in its cabin as it gets a wheelbase that is close to the Lexus ES 250. The BMW 3-Series should also offer you similar space in its cabin as it also gets a wheelbase of over 112 feet. The Audi A4 comes with the shortest wheelbase in the competition.

Standout exterior features:

• 17/18/19-inch wheels
• LED headlights with LED daytime running lights
• Sunroof
• Black grille
• Windshield deicer
• LED Brakelights

Lexus is one of the brands that keep the safety aspect on priority for their passengers. It is also one of the few brands in the luxury sedan market that offers you a ton of advanced driver assistance as standard. You can rely on the multiple driver assistance features that ES 250 offers with its Lexus's Safety System+ 2.5 which is standard even with its base trim. It includes some of the features like adaptive cruise control as standard which is not a usual thing in the segment. That’s one of the reasons, it manages to score an impressive score of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA’s crash test rating. You can comfortably do a long drive with your family in the ES 250 as it gets all the modern safety tech. However, you need to pay attention to the road anyway as no car is 100% crash-proof.

Safety features include:

• Lane departure mitigation
• Lane-keeping system
• Automatic high-beam assist
• Road sign assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection

2023 Lexus ES 250 vs. 2023 Audi A4

The Audi A4 comes out as a good choice if you want a luxury sedan from a more renowned brand. The Audi A4 does not come with exciting performance under its hood but you will like its overall performance compared to the ES 250. It is significantly quicker than the ES 250 in the 0 to 60 mph sprint. The Audi A4 also focuses on offering you a comfortable and effortless driving experience like the Lexus ES 250. But if you do not want the extra performance and quicker acceleration, the Lexus ES 250 may look like a better option in most aspects. 

2023 Lexus ES 250 vs. 2023 BMW 3-Series

If you are an enthusiast and you love to drive, you can not ignore the BMW 3-Series. It remains unbeatable in its segment in terms of driving dynamics. The focus of the Lexus ES 250 and the BMW 3-Series are completely different. The Lexus focuses more on comfort while the Bimmer focuses more on driver engagement. The BMW 3-Series will not disappoint you in the comfort department either. But the ES 250 will disappoint you in the performance department for sure. If you want a more exciting package of the two, it has to be the BMW 3-Series.

2023 Lexus ES 250 vs. 2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is not known for its excellent driver engagement like the Bimmer. But it is hard to beat the package that it offers in the segment. You will love driving the C-Class as it gets the quickest acceleration in the segment. The driving dynamics do not feel bad by any means. And you get all of that without making any compromises with the comfort of the passengers. Lexus ES 250 is a good car but it can not match the overall value of the C-Class. However, you need to consider that you will be paying a significant premium price for the C-Cass. 

The 2023 Lexus ES 250 is not the easiest recommendation for its class and there are various reasons behind that. The first reason is obviously the performance. If you enjoy driving then you should simply avoid the Lexus ES 250 as there are better options in the market. You will get an underpowered engine combined with a lacking driving dynamics that no enthusiast will love. However, if you want a comfortable family car, the Lexus ES 250 starts to make more sense. The interior of the Lexus ES 250 gives you a premium feel and you will like the overall fit and finish of the car. The space inside the cabin is also premium for its class. The ride quality is easily among the best in the class and your parents or kids will love this. The 2023 Lexus ES 250 is a good choice if you do not care more about driving pleasure and you want a comfortable family car.