Lexus ES 300h F Sport 2021 Review

The 2021 Lexus ES (designated MY22) opens with a more affordable petrol-powered ES 250 model for the first time since the seventh-generation mid-size luxury sedan arrived three years ago as a hybrid-only range.

Priced from $61,620 plus on-road costs for the Luxury opener, the ES 250 is also available with an Enhancement Pack (+$1500) as well as the F Sport model grade (from $70,860).

Meanwhile, the ES 300h hybrid continues, now with Luxury (from $63,550) and F Sport (from $72,930) grades – both also with an Enhancement Pack option – and a flagship Sports Luxury model at $78,180 plus ORCs.

Several ‘ES firsts’ now feature across the range, including Intersection Turn Assist, Emergency Steering Assist and Lexus Connected Services which brings an SOS call feature, automatic collision notification and stolen vehicle tracking.

For the MY22 ES sedan, Lexus Australia says it focused on three key areas for its updates: cabin, technology and chassis.

As such, the updated sedan’s exterior only brings mild styling tweaks to the seventh-gen model launched in September 2018, including a new grille shutter and radiator air guide for the ES 300h, revised grille/headlight designs and new alloy wheels across the range.

Priced from $76,530 plus on-road costs, the ES 300h F Sport (with Enhancement Pack) – the model we spent the most time in – is fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic view monitor, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, a powered rear sunshade, F Sport body kit, adaptive variable suspension and drive mode select with Eco, Normal, Sport S, Sport S+ and Custom modes.

The F Sport’s interior also features ‘Hadori Aluminium’ inlays amongst the door trims and dash, while top-spec Sports Luxury grades come with woodgrain-like Bamboo panels instead. Both are equally gorgeous.

Trips to the workshop are due every 12 months or 15,000km, with the first three visits capped at $1485 in total via Lexus’ Encore Benefits program, which also offers a five-cents-per-litre discount on fuel at Ampol/Caltex, among other perks.

Meanwhile, Lexus continues to cover its ES range with a four-year/100,000km warranty.

A comprehensive array of driver assist safety tech comes standard across the 2021 Lexus ES line-up, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian (day/night) and cyclist (daytime only) detection, blind spot monitoring, auto high beam, adaptive cruise control, lane trace assist, traffic sign recognition and tyre pressure monitoring.

Elsewhere, a new 12.3-inch infotainment unit across the range now offers touch-screen control, so you don’t have to rely solely on the often-fiddly touch pad.

It also brings Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, digital radio and navigation.

Lexus ES 300h F Sport and Sports Luxury models fitted with the Enhancement Pack feature a more impressive 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system with a subwoofer and amplifier, instead of the standard 10-speaker system. It’s beautifully crisp and clear, even nearing max volume.

Variant-specific tech enhancements also feature in the updated ES, including tri-beam LED headlights with adaptive BladeScan high beams in F Sport models for the first time. It’s a feature borrowed from the LS sedan, though unfortunately we couldn’t test it during our short daytime drive.

Elsewhere, F Sport grades bring a larger 8.0-inch driver’s instrument cluster – with some really cool display options that enable the analogue gauge to be shifted from the centre of the screen to the side.

One area that’s gone all but untouched on the updated 2021 Lexus ES is the hybrid powertrain.

There is, of course, the new ES 250 that’s powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (152kW/243Nm), bringing a more affordable option and broader appeal at a time when the Lexus IS is leaving showrooms due to its noncompliance with a new Australian pole side-impact design rule known as ADR 85.

However, Lexus refrained from making any changes to the hybrid ES 300h with this mid-life overhaul.

That keeps in place the same combination of a 131kW/221Nm 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine and 88kW/202Nm permanent magnet synchronous electric motor paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), delivering a combined max power output of 160kW.

It’s certainly not the quickest or most exciting premium mid-size sedan getting around, with Lexus claiming it’ll cover the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.9 seconds (ES 250 is 0.2sec slower).

But the hybrid system is smooth, with seamless transitions between the two power sources and a decent shove off the line thanks to the electric assistance.

While still relatively nippy, the ES 300h is frugal too, sipping 5.5L/100km on average during our mostly-highway test loop, compared to Lexus’ claim of 4.8L/100km on the official combined (city/highway) cycle.

As mentioned earlier, one of Lexus’ main focus points for the ES’s mid-life update was its GA-K underpinnings.

The Japanese car-maker says it made a host of chassis tweaks to the carryover platform in a bid to improve torsional and lateral rigidity, enhance steering feel, reduce cabin noise and vibration, and bring a more balanced ride.

That’s thanks to stronger bracing for the rear multi-link suspension as well as retuned adaptive variable suspension in ES 300h F Sport.

On road, the F Sport hybrid feels tightly wound and sits flat when you hook it around a corner, the Dunlop Sport Maxx rubber providing plenty of grip underneath.

Brake pedal feel in hybrid ES models has also been improved for MY22, with a revised brake master cylinder designed to reduce free-play in the pedal.

However, for all the fun you can have zipping down a mountain pass, the shift paddles behind the steering wheel don’t always want to come to the party, often overriding driver inputs in favour of its own selections.

The 2021 Lexus ES 300h F Sport is hardly the kind of car that needs to prove its dynamic prowess, because few people will buy it based purely on performance.

But it’s good to know it’ll perform well if needed.

Those buying an ES will be more concerned about how it makes them feel behind the wheel, and it’s inside the cabin that the Japanese four-door – particularly in top-spec grades – is most impressive.

With high-quality and soft-touch materials throughout, the ES 300h F Sport brings sporty yet plush figure-hugging seats, along with a chunky leather steering wheel that feels much better under hand (at least to this tester) than the Sports Luxury’s slimmer wheel.

Vision for the driver is good out every direction and a low-slung seating position makes you feel cocooned within the elegant interior.

With the new touch-screen brought forward closer to the driver, it’s easier to navigate functions within the interior, although the infotainment layout can still be a little clumsy.

The hybrid powertrain is quiet, adding to the high refinement levels overall, with only small amounts of road and tyre noise filtering into the cabin on coarse-chip roads.

The ES 300h F Sport’s ride is pretty supple too, until you hit the rougher stuff and the stiff rear suspension sends small tremors through the cabin.

Speed humps and road imperfections also tend to jolt slightly through the interior, but it’s a small price to pay for sharper handling on twisty roads, if that’s your forte.

Overall, it’s a comfortable place to spend time, even for rear seat passengers who get pretty good treatment, too.

Taller humans might struggle a little with the ES’s swooping roofline that cuts into head space, but heated outboard seats with plenty of under-thigh support and a generous centre arm rest tend to make up for it.

The updates wrought on the 2021 Lexus ES have undoubtedly made what was already a lovely mid-size sedan just that little bit better.

The Lexus ES 300h doesn’t have the same street cred as rivals like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or BMW 3 Series, nor does the ‘F Sport’ badge denote this as a high-performance sports-luxury car.

But buyers of the Lexus ES hybrid will know exactly what they’re getting: a sumptuous interior, frugal petrol-electric powertrain and decent performance.

Add into the mix plenty of room for four adults and the latest in safety and driver assistance aids, and it’s a combination that shouldn’t disappoint.

How much does the 2021 Lexus ES 300h F Sport cost?
Price: $72,930 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid
Output: 131kW/221Nm (engine), 88kW/202Nm (motor), 160kW (combined)
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 4.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 109g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2018)