A Visit With the 2018 Lexus ES 300h Hybrid

Lexus ES 300h

The Lexus ES 350 has a reputation for being one of the more comfortable luxury sedans. Its 268 horsepower V-6 provides plenty of passing power, but for those who prefer maximum fuel economy, there is a hybrid version of this fine sedan called the 300h.

2.5 Liter Engine

The 300h is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine hooked to the usual hybrid electric motor & battery system designed to provide good acceleration with great fuel economy. The transmission is a CVT automatic. EPA fuel economy is listed at 40 mpg city and 39 highway. This is an improvement over the ES 350 V-6 with 21/30 mpg.

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Various Driving Modes

A performance knob offers Eco, Normal, and Sport mode of operation. The gauge cluster changes color and format depending on the menu selected, which is neat. 

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Infotainment System is Easily Accessible

The infotainment system has an operator stick located by the transmission shifter. It is easy to operate and control items like navigation, radio, phone, and other vital outputs.

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Quality of the Cabin is First Rate

The rest of the cabin is top-notch, with excellent quality of materials and workmanship. The glove box has plenty of room, if you remove the super thick owners’ books that take up most of the space. I placed mine in the trunk. The auto-dimming mirror has a disconnect button to keep the glass from blacking out in city traffic at night. The trunk is very spacious and houses a spare tire.

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This is a Nice Car for Long Trips

The ES 300h is very comfortable in daily commuting. The noise level is low on the freeway, so this is a good choice for long trips. Even though there is only 200 horsepower pulling a lot of mass, the electric motors generate plenty of torque at low speed, and passing ability was very good in traffic.

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LED Headlights Give Excellent Performance

The bright LED headlights are a $515 option. Given the excellent illumination, I would say it’s money well spent, especially for those who do lots of driving when the sun is down.

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Hybrid Option is Available for a Nominal Fee

The base price of a Lexus 300h starts about $41K. A loaded example can cost you closer to $51K. The list of additional fees includes a $3K fee for the hybrid system, which will pay for itself in fuel savings in the long run.

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