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Lexus ES250 vs Lexus IS300

What's the difference?

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Lexus ES250
Lexus ES250

2022 price

Lexus IS300
Lexus IS300

$41,990 - $55,990

2021 price

Summary

2022 Lexus ES250
2021 Lexus IS300
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Inline 4, 2.5L

Turbo 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
6.6L/100km (combined)

8.2L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Modest steering feel
  • No folding rear seat
  • Warranty's off the pace

  • Still the same engines
  • Largely the same interior
  • Feeling a little old
2022 Lexus ES250 Summary

It may be shrinking but sizable fish still swim in the mid-size luxury sedan pool, with the German ‘Big Three’ (Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class) joined by the likes of Alfa's Giulia, the Jaguar XE, Volvo S60, and... the Lexus ES.

Once the brand's low-key, relatively conservative option, in its seventh-generation the ES blossomed into a full-blown design showpiece. And now it's received a mid-life update with an additional engine choice, upgraded tech, and a refreshed look inside and out.

Has Lexus done enough to bump the ES up the premium sedan ladder? We joined the local launch drive to find out.

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2021 Lexus IS300 Summary

No it isn’t an all-new car. It might look like it, but the 2021 Lexus IS is actually a heavy facelift of the existing model, which originally went on sale way back in 2013.

There have been significant changes to the look of the new Lexus IS, including a revised front and rear end, and the company has widened the track and made “substantial chassis changes” to make it handle more adeptly, too. Plus there is a whole raft of newly added safety features and in-car technology, despite the cabin being, largely, a carryover affair.

Suffice to say that the new Lexus IS 2021 model - which the brand describes as having been “reimagined” - carries over a few strengths and weaknesses of its predecessor. But does this Japanese luxury sedan still have enough quality traits to compete with the likes of its main rivals - the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Genesis G70 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Let’s find out.

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Deep dive comparison

2022 Lexus ES250 2021 Lexus IS300

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