LexBob2

6-7 months? What's causing the indecision? Make, model, engine type, etc.?

chromedome

Welcome aboard! You'll definitely enjoy the fuel savings with the ESh, with a light foot and good traffic awareness you can easily get 40+ mpg. I've even seen 60 mpg on a trip through slow country roads. I also love trundling through town in golf cart mode.

If you get tired of saving fuel, just turn the mode selector to Sport mode With charged batteries, the car has a big torque hit from standstill and sounds like a baby Tesla when the electric motor dumps its power on the road. The car is a bit Jekyll-and-Hyde like most sporty hybrids - there's a big torque surge from down low to midrange if the batteries are above a certain level, even in Normal mode, but if the batteries are low the car feels a bit weedy.

wowzer

I was just dead honest with them. I told them that I had to test drive the other luxury cars out there. When I made it down to the final 2-3, I told the salesman that I am back for a second look and that their car was on the short list. I did a second test drive to see if there was anything else that I should think about...the other 2 contenders were the Audi A6 4cylinder and the Acura TLX (both 4 cylinder and V6). My main criteria was getting more than 440 miles (as then I wouldn't have to stop for gas more than once every 2 weeks).

The Acura's didn't drive as well as I remembered on the first time (as the transmissions were a little jerky on the 4 cylinder and the V6 downshifted harshly....and both were a little clunky in the frigid cold before warming up). The Audi A6 drove really well...but at over $10k more, it didn't have ventilated seats (which is something I was looking forward to)...voila! The Lexus ES300h had it all.

TechNut

I agree with Canesguy. It is plenty peppy for my needs, and the power delivery is remarkably smooth. It also has a smooth quiet ride (compared to either my RX or the former Prius). It is just a really nice car, but I would not call it sporty. I do think a lot of people would be surprised at just how well it does around town though if they have never owned a hybrid. That electric motor has a lot of torque.

wowzer

I also have a Prius...and the ES300h has more battery torque than the prius. I think on pure electrical drive, the ES is faster. I think the prius is more fuel efficient as a result of this and the smaller engine.

PirelliRC

Just got back from a 98.3 mile trip to Hermosa beach, and averaged 38.5 mpg. With moderate to heavy traffic on the highway. And to be honest, this is exactly what i was looking for. The take off and torque delivery is superb, yes it gets a bit sluggish after that to 60 or 70 but once i got up to speed and released the throttle so the rpm dropped and stabilized, i then was again able to access the electric boost to over take a vehicle or go up hills. This was my biggest fear, that it would be kinda like a camry or accord on the highway, however the engine is not killing itself when you want to pass someone. Im really amazed. Couples time it threw me back in my seat when i floored it off the line, even my fiance was shocked because shes been in my other cars a lot obviously. Its definitely quicker to 30 mph than the rear wheel drive GS, even faster to 30 mph than my other cars. Fully loaded up the ying yang really with the ES is the way to go if your buying. The BSM, Park Assist, Navigation and infotainment system are wonderful, but my favorite feature is the bamboo steering wheel. Oh soooo smooth. I can hang on to that sucker all day

Can you guys tell me a bit more about the EV mode please. I heard you can drive up to 2 miles with highway speeds, but when i get up to about 25 mph or so the engine kicks in, is there a finesse to it ?

PirelliRC

lol... on Sport mode if you mash the pedal on take off it will send you back in your seat.

PirelliRC

So you never driven the hybrid ? No wonder you do not believe it. Say no to drugs man.

chromedome

Glad you're having hybrid fun. It's easier to stay in electric mode below 40 mph with Eco mode because the throttle modulation is gentler. I usually use Eco in congested city traffic and Normal everywhere else. Sport mode is only for solo traffic light sprints

At highway speeds, the engine is rarely off except when coasting. There's a slight lag when accelerating and the engine isn't on; it takes a while for the motor-generator to spin up the engine to speed.

EV mode only works below 25 mph and with 3 bars or more in the central energy display. If you go faster or push hard on the throttle, the car switches out of EV mode. My car has no audible warning tone so it's totally silent when creeping around like a giant golf cart.

jollick

I agree with PirelliGS.

Canesguy

I think the prius is more fuel efficient as a result of this and the smaller engine.

The Prius is more fuel efficient because it is smaller and lighter without all the "power this, power that", sound deadening and luxury of the ES300h.

(I owned a 2010 Prius for 3 years....great car for what it is.)

PirelliRC

the prius is definitely a huge success for Toyota, however comparing it to the ES H is not only apples and oranges but grapes and watermelons.

gs400998

It is kinda like a Camry Hybrid with the same engine The 2015 Camry Hybrid is also almost 200 lbs lighter than ES300H:

http://www.thecarconnection.com/car-...ry-hybrid_2015

Arty101

Good analogy .

PirelliRC

It definetly feels like it in L.A, yesterday was 87, today was 83. Sorry east coast folks, i know the weather is brutal out there. Global warming my foot huh lol

thanks, doesn't mean the Prius is bad, just not a good comparison.

The camry hybrid is a good car, the regular 4 cyclinder not so much. I was refering to the petrol version

My ES H and your Camry H have the same engine