The New York Times Reviews the 2013 Lexus ES 300h

Posted by Kevin on June 21st, 2012

The New York Times has published a review of the 2013 Lexus ES 300h, praising it for “its thoughtful and surprisingly stylish execution”.

The review also includes a minor hint at potential pricing:

…Brian A. Smith, vice president of marketing for Lexus, said the premium that would be levied on the buyers of the hybrid, versus the nonhybrid ES 350, would be “the lowest in our lineup.”

Currently, the RX hybrid is the smallest price difference between the hybrid & standard gas models, with $6,600 separating the two — apply that to ES, and my earlier pricing speculation might not be far off.

The other point I wanted to highlight:

…the hybrid system adds only 130 pounds to the ES’s curb weight.

After driving the ES 350 & ES 300h myself, I thought the difference in weight was negligible, but forgot to ask the specifics — turns out it’s less weight than the average passenger.

Read the full NY Times ES 300h Review

Lexus ES: Fifth GenerationReviewsUSA
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    BlackDynamiteNY
  • June 21, 2012
I'm smellin' $36,995 for the ES350 and $39,995 for the ES350h...... BD
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    blkpantha
  • June 22, 2012
this car is racking up great reviews from left to right it seems like only the haters (fanboys **car and driver **) can hate the car
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    DuDE
  • June 22, 2012
^^^ best looking angle of the car!
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    BlackDynamiteNY
  • June 22, 2012
Anybody else find it strange that the smaller badge number (350 vs 300h) would cost the most? BD
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      Bob Cartman
    • June 22, 2012
    ^^^ definitely agree.   If we look at the Camry Hybrid XLE and the V6 XLE (same power and setup as the ES 300h and ES350 respectively) the cost of the V6 XLE is higher then the hybrid.    Pricing doesn't make sense if the hybrid cost more on the ES and lower on the Camry.
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      blkpantha
    • June 22, 2012
    how wouldn't it not make sense when its a completely different car its not just the set up that the price effects
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      CheekyTenshi
    • June 23, 2012
    I think he is talking about Camry Hybrid XLE (USA $27 5k; 2.5L 4-Cyl - 200 hp net; 40 mpg) versus Camry 3.5L V6 XLE (USA $30.1k; 3.5L V6 - 268 hp; 25 mpg).  The hybrid here is $2.5k cheaper then the 3.5L V6. Both are essentially an apples to apples comparison, including majority of the equipment. The ES 300h and ES 350 are similar, if not identical power train to the Camry.  Going by that logic, the ES pricing should follow the Camry, where the 300h should be a lower price point then the 350.  (Factoring all other standard equipment are similar and is a direct price comparison between ES 300h and ES 350.)

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