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Lexus ES350 vs Mercedes-Benz E300

What's the difference?

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Lexus ES350
Lexus ES350

2019 price

Mercedes-Benz E300
Mercedes-Benz E300

$118,191 - $135,612

2024 price

Summary

2019 Lexus ES350
2024 Mercedes-Benz E300
Safety Rating

Engine Type
V6, 3.5L

Turbo 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

-
Fuel Efficiency
9.5L/100km (combined)

2.2L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes

  • Only one variant
  • Could do with more power
  • Price once optioned-up
2019 Lexus ES350 Summary

CT, IS, GS, LS, RC, LC. Yes, that list of letters looks like something you’d read when getting your eyes tested at an optometrist, but they are actually all Lexus models.

Ok, you may have known that already, but did you know that those are just their initials? They actually have full names, too; Compact Touring, Intelligent Sport, Grand Sport, Luxury Saloon, Racing Coupe, Luxury Coupe.

And so this review isn’t just on the new-generation ES, but on the Elegant Sedan, which made it to Australia in 2018. And, as if hinting at things to come, it’s available in ES300h petrol-electric hybrid guise only.

This is the seventh-generation of a model that has been part of the Lexus line-up since the very beginning, way back when the luxury arm of Toyota first stepped onto the world stage in 1989.

So, does the ES300h live up to its Elegant Sedan name? Does being hybrid-only in Australia mean it loses its powerful presence? And is there any reason why you’d get one over a Mercedes-Benz E-Class or BMW 5 Series?

So many questions, but after living with the ES300h in top-of-the-range Sports Luxury guise for a week, we now have all the answers.

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2024 Mercedes-Benz E300 Summary

It might not be as tribal as Ford vs Holden, but there’s a rivalry between BMW and Mercedes-Benz that occasionally becomes more obvious - the launch of the new Mercedes E-Class only months after the BMW 5 Series being one of those times.

But Mercedes has done something different. Instead of multiple variants and electric cars under the E-Class banner, Australia gets just one, the E300.

Is it enough to tackle the big Bavarian sedan in the sales race? We attended the Australian launch just north of Melbourne to find out.

 

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Deep dive comparison

2019 Lexus ES350 2024 Mercedes-Benz E300

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