2021 Lexus ES 250 Review

　　

2021 Lexus ES 250 Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The seventh-generation Lexus ES debuted a few years ago, and for 2021 the four-cylinder-powered ES 250 joins the V6-powered ES 350 and ES 300h hybrid models. It's not as powerful as the V6-equipped ES 350 — 203 horsepower compared to 302 hp — but it comes with just as many features and has a lower price. Plus, it has something no other ES model can claim: standard all-wheel drive.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Lexus ES 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$131/mo  for ES 250 Base

　　ES 250 Base

　　4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $40,000 MSRPLuxury 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $45,200 MSRPF SPORT 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $45,800 MSRPUltra Luxury 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $49,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　Aside from the engine, the ES 250 is generally the same as the ES 350 and 300h. This is a comfortable and well-appointed midsize luxury sedan. But how much does having a modestly powered four-cylinder engine dampen the luxury car experience, especially compared to rivals such as the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class? Or should you get an ES 350 instead? Check out the categories of our Expert Rating below for our full in-depth evaluation.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the ES 250 drive? The ES 250 isn't sporty and fun-to-drive like a 3 Series, but it's competent and stable when going around turns. The steering is a little light and uncommunicative, but it's nonetheless accurate. A smooth-shifting transmission and easy-to-control brakes are among the other highlights.

　　But these attributes are also generally applicable to the ES 350 as well — a vehicle that doesn't share the ES 250's albatross: the non-turbocharged four-cylinder. Borrowed from the more pedestrian Toyota Camry, it produces nowhere near the power expected of the class. A 0-60 mph time of 8.8 seconds is embarrassing for a luxury car. Unless you absolutely need all-wheel-drive traction, the V6-driven ES 350 is a better buy.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the ES 250? Comfort and a sense of isolation remain ES hallmarks. The front seats are firm and supportive and are easy to get in and out of. The rear seats are just as comfortable, if a bit wide and flat. You can sit up front or in back for long stretches without fatigue.

　　The ES platform is more comfortable cruiser than sport sedan, and it absorbs bumps and road rash without transmitting harshness to the cabin. There's a bit of intrusive wind noise at highway speeds — more than we'd expect of a Lexus — but maybe it's just more noticeable since the car tames road and tire noise so well. Engine noise is palpable, however. The four-cylinder makes such a racket during acceleration you'll ponder why Lexus greenlit this Toyota engine for use in its luxury sedan.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Getting in and out of the ES is no trouble thanks to the low seat cushions and wide door openings. There's also a good-size gap between front passengers and door panels that creates a feeling of space. There's loads of room in the back seat, especially between the seatbacks and knees, even for 6-foot-tall passengers. That said, a standard sunroof and sloping roofline create headroom issues for tall folks.

　　Drivers of most heights and body types should find a comfortable position given the power-adjustable seat and mostly clear views all around the car. Most controls are within reach. It's odd that Lexus didn't put the seat heating and cooling controls near the climate controls, but at least they are physical buttons and not virtual ones buried in a display screen menu. The ES' volume knob is great and feels like one from an old-school stereo receiver.

　　

Technology

7.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Our test car came with the spectacular-looking 12.3-inch infotainment display. The widescreen navigation maps look great thanks to the excellent color contrast and indicators. But using the touchpad controller while in motion is onerous — a dial-and-button controller would be preferable. Fortunately, you can control many nav, phone, audio and even climate control functions through voice commands. The optional Mark Levinson sound system is well worth its modest cost.

　　The ES also includes several standard driver safety features, such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, which help minimize lane wandering. This isn't semi-automated driving and the degree of steering correction is limited, but it's useful for occasional lapses of attention.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? You get a big trunk with the ES 250. Cargo space stands at 13.9 cubic feet, slightly more than most competitors. Unfortunately, you can't fold the rear seats to increase space; there's only a pass-through slot for long items.

　　Storage for small items inside the cabin is abundant. There's also plenty of space for child safety seats, and they're easy to install. Just detach the plastic tabs over the car seat anchors in the seat cushions. Generous rear seat room means most seats will fit without needing to slide up the front seats.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The ES 250 is estimated to achieve 28 mpg combined (25 city/34 highway). This is a few mpg better than most other four-cylinder-powered midsize luxury sedans with all-wheel drive, such as a BMW 530i xDrive. However, those rival sedans are considerably more powerful.

　　

Value

8.5/10

　　Is the ES 250 a good value? For a relatively affordable sum, the ES 250 delivers a compelling luxury experience. The upholstery feels supple and substantial, and the cabin shows typical Lexus attention to detail in the tight panel gaps, high-quality controls and detailed stitching. Only the coarse and underpowered engine takes away from the typically excellent Lexus experience. Warranty coverage is on par for the segment.

　　

Wildcard

6.5/10

　　The Lexus ES 250 does not deliver the driving dynamics afforded by any of its rivals, or even the V6-powered ES 350. The four-cylinder/AWD combo makes this ES feel more ponderous than anything else in the class. Even when you look past the powertrain, there's not much else going on here to stir excitement.

　　The distinctive design affords the ES 250 some personality, and the interior is larger and more lovingly crafted than the price tag suggests. It's a definite step up from the Toyota Avalon, on which it is based, but it's a shame that the four-cylinder is so groany and loud.

　　

Which ES 250 does zzdcar recommend?

Go for the ES 250 Luxury. This midlevel trim has many appealing extras over the base trim while keeping the price reasonable. Get the optional Mark Levinson audio system too; you'll definitely enjoy its superb sound quality. Don't bother with the F Sport, though — if you want a sporty Lexus, the IS 300 and 350 are better choices.

　　

2021 Lexus ES 250 models

The ES 250 is available in four trim levels: Base, F Sport, Luxury and Ultra Luxury. All ES 250s are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (203 horsepower, 184 lb-ft) paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Unlike the other two models, all ES 250s come standard with all-wheel drive. Feature highlights include:

　　Base

　　Comes reasonably well equipped with:

　　17-inch wheels LED headlights Sunroof Simulated leather upholstery Power-adjustable front seats Automatic climate control 8-inch touchscreen display Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa integration 10-speaker Pioneer audio system Lexus Enform connected servicesEvery ES 250 also comes with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which includes:

　　Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)Optional for the base ES 250 is the Premium package. It adds:

　　Heated and ventilated front seats Rain-sensing wipers Memory settings Power-adjustable steering wheelF Sport

　　As the name implies, the F Sport is the sportiest ES 250 trim available. Upgrades and features include:

　　Standard Premium package 19-inch wheels Sport suspension Sportier exterior trim Thicker front seat bolsteringLuxury

　　The Luxury trim builds off the base ES 250 and serves as a more comfortable counterpart to the F Sport trim. Features on the ES 250 Luxury include:

　　Standard Premium package 18-inch wheels Wood interior trim Ambient interior lighting Perforated leather upholstery Additional driver's seat adjustments Power rear sunshade Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Rear parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking Ultra Luxury

　　The top-level Ultra Luxury trim includes features, adding:

　　Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the ES 250 and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Heated wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel Upgraded leather upholstery Rear door sunshades Upgraded suspension Navigation systemMany of the extra features on the upper trims can be added to the lower trims as options. Other notable stand-alone options include:

　　Upgraded headlights Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system (typically bundled with the navigation system) Wireless phone charger

　　

2021 ES 250 Highlights

Trim: BaseLuxuryF SPORTUltra LuxuryBase

　　

Base MSRP	$40,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$131/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles