The 2022 Lexus ES has arrived in Australia, complete with a new engine option.
Along with the hybrid offered from launch, the 2022 ES will be available with a four-cylinder petrol engine.
The arrival of the ES250 drops the price of entry by around $1000 compared to the 2021 model. Lexus says the lighter, simpler petrol engine will appeal to keen drivers rather than hire car operators.
Although its touchpad remains, the ES has gained a new, larger infotainment screen for 2022 with touch capability, which promises to make it friendlier when Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are hooked up.
Also new for 2022? A longer list of standard safety features, new interior options, an updated suspension setup for F Sport models, clever new BladeScan headlights on some models, and Lexus Connected Services.
Prices
- 2022 Lexus ES250 Luxury: $61,620 (new)
- 2022 Lexus ES250 Luxury + Enhancement Pack: $63,120 (new)
- 2022 Lexus ES300h Luxury: $63,550 (+$1025)
- 2022 Lexus ES250 F Sport: $70,860 (new)
- 2022 Lexus ES300h Luxury + Enhancement Pack: $71,810 (+$2935)
- 2022 Lexus ES300h F Sport: $72,930 (+$1430)
- 2022 Lexus ES300h F Sport + Enhancement Pack: $76,530 (+$1030)
- 2022 Lexus ES300h Sports Luxury: $78,180 (+$1180)
All prices exclude on-road costs.
Engines
The Lexus ES300h is powered by a 2.5-litre hybrid system, with a combined power output of 160kW.
It blends power from a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 221Nm of torque and an electric motor with 202Nm of torque, but Lexus doesn’t quote a combined torque figure.
Drive is sent to the front wheels through an e-CVT automatic transmission.
The Lexus ES250 draws is powered by a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine shared with the Toyota RAV4.
It develops 152kW of power and 243Nm of torque, sent to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Fuel Economy
Lexus Australia claims the ES300h uses 4.8L/100km on the combined cycle.
Combined fuel economy for the ES250 is 6.6L/100km.
Dimensions
The Lexus ES measures 4975mm long, 1865mm wide and 1445mm tall, with a 2870mm wheelbase.
The ES250 Luxury tips the scales at 1680kg, while the ES300h Luxury weighs in at 1740kg.
Total luggage space is 473L.
Safety
The Lexus ES wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing carried out in 2018.
It scored 91 per cent for adult occupant protection, 86 per cent for child occupants, an impressive 90 per cent for vulnerable road users and 76 per cent for safety assist.
Dual frontal airbags, driver and passenger knee airbags, front and rear chest-protecting side airbags and head-protecting side airbags (curtains) are standard equipment.
The 2022 ES debuts a new turning assist system, which will apply the brakes if you’re about to cause an accident by turning across traffic, and a steering assist system.
Standard safety equipment also includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking (City, Interurban and Vulnerable Road User)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep assist
- Lane-departure warning
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Adaptive cruise control
- Traffic sign recognition
Servicing
Lexus offers a four-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. That puts it a year behind Volvo, Jaguar Land Rover, and Mercedes-Benz in the warranty race, although Audi and BMW still lag behind with three years of coverage.
In terms of pricing, the ES will set you back $495 for each of those first three visits, equating to $1485 in total.
Standard Equipment
Standard equipment in the ES250 Luxury includes:
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- 10-speaker audio
- DAB+ radio, USB & AUX input
- Satellite navigation
- Selectable drive modes
- Active Cornering Assist (ACA)
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights with auto high-beam
- LED tail lights
- Keyless entry and start
- Tilt/slide moonroof
- Lexus Connected Services
- Alarm system
- Tyre pressure warning system
- Choice of Hazel or Black interior trim
- Dual-zone climate control
- 10-way power-adjustable front seats
- Heated front seats
- Self-dimming interior mirror
The ES250 Luxury with Enhancement Pack gains:
- Wireless phone charger
- Head-up display
- Smart Key Card
- Rear privacy glass
- Type-C USB chargers (2x rear)
The ES300h Luxury features:
- Rear spoiler
- Power-adjustable steering column
ES300h Luxury with Enhancement Pack adds:
- Choice of Hazel, Mauve, Black, Rich Cream interior trim
- Choice of Sumi Black Walnut, Brown Walnut ornamentation
- Hands-free power boot lid
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Ventilated front seats
- 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory
- Surround-view camera
- Sunshade on rear window (power) and rear doors (manual)
The ES250 F Sport features (in addition to ES250 Luxury):
- F Sport suspension (new to ES)
- LED headlights with BladeScan adaptive high-beam
- 19-inch F Sport alloy wheels
- F Sport Performance Dampers (bracing) front and rear
- F Sport grille and rear spoiler
- F Sport seats in F Sport White, F Sport Black or Flare Red
- Hands-free power boot lid
- Power sunshade on rear window
- Hadori Aluminium Ornamentation
- 8.0-inch driver display
- Surround-view camera
- Ventilated front seats
- 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory
The ES300h F Sport gains:
- F Sport Adaptive Variable Suspension
- Selectable drive modes
The ES300h F Sport with Enhancement Pack gets:
- Heated steering wheel
- Mark Levinson 17-speaker audio including subwoofer + amplifier
The ES300h Sports Luxury features (in addition to ES300h Luxury with Enhancement Pack):
- LED headlights with BladeScan adaptive high-beam
- Semi-aniline leather-accented interior trim
- Choice of Mauve, Hazel, Black, Rich Cream interior trim
- Choice of Brown Walnut, Sumi Black Walnut, Bamboo ornamentation
- Heated steering wheel
- Mark Levinson 17-speaker audio including subwoofer and amplifier
- Tri-zone climate control with humidity sensor
- Power-adjustable reclining/heated outer rear seats
- Rear armrest with air-conditioning, audio, rear heater, rear reclining and sunshade controls
MORE: Everything Lexus ES
