Starts at $42,040
Rank
What's New for 2025?
The ES is unchanged this year aside from the introduction of a Black Line appearance package offered only on the ES 350 F Sport.
2025 ES Selector
2025 Lexus ES
FAST FACTS
"The ES departs from the norm with its front-wheel-drive platform, which is something you're much more likely to see in a non-luxury family sedan. But its popularity proves that luxury-sedan fans can be persuaded by simple virtues like a quiet, smooth ride and a spacious cabin at a decent price. There's also the traditional Lexus edge in reliability and resale value, of course. Objectively speaking, the ES clearly trails the competition in acceleration and handling, although the available hybrid model compensates with superior fuel economy."—Ranked #6 out of 9 Midsize Luxury Sedans
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Lexus ES that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
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The ES 250 AWD borrows its four-cylinder engine and all-wheel-drive system from the Toyota Camry. Unfortunately, that means you get mainstream family-sedan acceleration at a luxury price — it's quite rare to see a luxury car needing more than 8 seconds to get to 60 mph. Note that the V6-powered ES 350 starts at the same price as the IS 250 AWD; you just can't get AWD with the V6.
The ES 350 is the Lexus ES in its classic form: V6 engine and front-wheel drive. There's no single category in which this ES objectively beats rival luxury sedans, but taken as whole, it's a powerful, comfortable and ultra-refined cruiser with great resale value. We get the appeal.
Although the ES 300h ties the ES 250 AWD with its lackluster 8.1-second sprint to 60 mph, we're more inclined to forgive the hybrid. The main point of this car is to get great fuel economy, and it certainly delivers there. The acceleration is actually pretty good in the real world, by the way, if you can get past the droning engine note produced by the CVT.
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008, personally driving most new cars on the market every year since. He also served as the project manager for Edmunds' expert vehicle rankings from their inception in 2018, building the product out from the back end to the front end. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has tested, compared and critiqued a ridiculous number of cars in his career.
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