Lex6

Hello everyone!

Looking to buy an 2013 ES 'technology package' , debating which one to buy ES350 or ES300h

Currently I'm with es 2011 ultra package, I was thinking it is time to upgrade, just not sure which one to buy yet.

I have tested ES350 already, felt a bit slower than 2011 ES, felt way bigger, longer, wider...interior is more modern, the ride felt similar.

I haven't tested ES300h yet, I'm planning in keeping the car for at least 5 years or so, I thought ES300h would be a better choice because, better fuel economy, I'm assuming cheaper service? (smaller engine)

Dear owners of ES300h and ES350,

Please share your thoughts is it worth to to upgrade from 2011 to 2013.

Is there any real difference between ES300H and ES350 apart the hybrid engine?

What is the life interval of the electrical engine/batteries? How much would they cost?

P.S. I notice that, the rear end of the car looks differently. Hybrid looks nicer to me.

Thank you,

jollick

I have both and I like driving my 2013 ES300h more as it is quieter when driving and sitting in traffic yet still has enough power for everyday use. Oh, and the fuel economy is fantastic for a car this size.

Lex6

Thanks for reply!
Any difference in maintenance costs?
Ride quality is pretty much the same?
Thanks

jollick

No difference yet in maintenance. Ride other than quiet is not different.

lesz

I believe that a major factor in deciding whether an ES350 or an ES300h is a better choice for a particular buyer should be what kind of driving that person primarily does.

I had a 2013 ES350, and I currently own a 2017 ES350. Before I bought the 2013 ES, I thoroughly test drove both the ES350 and the ES300h. While I found that the power in the hybrid was satisfactory, it lacked the wider torque/power range that the V6 in the ES350 has. That V6 is a fantastic engine that reminds me of the small block V8s that were featured in GM cars back in the 1960s. They just provide confidence-inspiring power in situations when it is necessary to accelerate quickly, such as when passing a car on a winding 2-lane road. The ES300 just didn't give me that same feeling.

However, it is important to note that I need to do very little driving in stop-and-go situations. With the kind of driving that I do, I can easily and consistently average over 30 mpg with my ES350. If I lived in an urban environment and if my driving was mostly in stop-and-go conditions, I might well have been willing to live with the "satisfactory" power of the ES300h, and I might have considered it to be a worthwhile trade off for the better city fuel economy of the hybrid.

TechNut

I enjoy the quiet ride of the hybrid and it has plenty of power for our needs, but there is no doubt the 350 has more power. If you are thinking the hybrid is cheaper, you must consider the cost of the battery replacement and the length of time you plan to own the car. My sister-in-law replaced her battery at the dealership last year. She was driving a Camry hybrid that used the same drivetrain as the ES hybrid. The battery was $4600. The car was 10 years old and had about 110 thousand miles on it. That battery replacement negated any gas savings over the years she had owned the car. The hybrid drivetrain has an 8 year warrantee on the electrical parts (10 years in CARB states).

Bottom line, there are many aspects of a hybrid that my wife and I enjoy, just don't expect the total cost of ownership to be lower if you plan to keep it through the first battery replacement. With that said, my wife and I still prefer the hybrid drivetrain due to its smooth quiet ride and great fuel economy.

Freds430

My vote goes to the ES300h. We bought a 2013 ES300h two years ago. With gas at $2.25 a gallon than, it was a great time to buy a hybrid. The 300h was the same price as the 350's. Three months later we were so impressed with the hybrid drive we sold our RX350 and bought a 2015 RX450h. It was about $1,500 more than the RX350's on the lot. We have both said will never own anything from now on except a hybrid or electric. There is something about getting 38 mpg in town with a car the size of the ES. You don't go in and bargain on a hybrid when gas is $4.00 a gallon.

chromedome

I'm an outlier but it's possible to get 45-50 mpg in town driving with some tricks. That's crazy mileage for a car of this size and weight. The 350 is smoother when accelerating and it has a lot more power but the hybrid has plenty of low-down torque. If you do a lot of highway miles, the 350 would be better, whereas the hybrid works better in urban traffic.

htd4555

We have ES350 and ES300h both in UL trim. The ES350 looks more luxurious (panoramic roof) and drives firmer (18" vs 17" wheels) than the ES300h. The ES300h looks more sporty (spoiler) and is preferred in everyday stop and go traffic.

zes

I have a 300h. It is fine on city streets but struggles if sudden acceleration is demanded at highway speed. I live in Colorado now and going up the mountains (I-70) at 75-80mph rapidly depletes the traction battery to 1 bar and the engine has to hover at 4,000rpm. The poor girl tries really hard to hustle up the hills but it does not have much of a reserve!