Overview & Reviews

Although unremarkable in styling and personality, the Lexus ES 300 occupied an important place in the Lexus lineup during its 12-year run from 1992-2003. While the company's high-tech LS flagship enjoyed greater fame, the relatively affordable ES sedan was the car most consumers test-drove when they arrived at Lexus dealerships. It was the epitome of the entry-level luxury sedan -- and the sustained success of the Lexus brand likely has much to do with all the good first impressions the ES 300 made.

While Lexus sold three generations of the ES 300, those initial impressions remained remarkably consistent: Pick any year and you'd find a roomy, well-built midsize sedan that felt uncommonly luxurious for its price point. A quick drive would have revealed an astonishingly serene cabin, a supple ride quality and a refined, if uninspiring drivetrain. As such, the Lexus ES was close to the ideal car for harried commuters pulling down a comfortable salary. When it turned out to be extremely reliable as well, the ES 300's reputation as a low-maintenance entry-luxury sedan was assured.

Most Recent Lexus ES 300

The third and final generation of the Lexus ES 300 lasted only two years, 2002 and '03, as a midcycle refresh brought a larger V6 engine, necessitating a name change to ES 330. Like the ES 300s before it, this one was a midsize, front-wheel-drive sedan, heavily based on the Toyota Camry.

The two shared most basic components, but the Lexus had a more potent version of the 3.0-liter V6 with 210 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque (compared to 192 hp and 209 lb-ft in the Toyota), as well as a five-speed automatic transmission instead of a four-speed. Suspension tuning was also a bit different, and only the Lexus could be fitted with optional adaptive shock absorbers. More obvious to most buyers were the ES 300's unique styling cues, higher-grade interior materials and longer list of amenities.

Major standard equipment on the Lexus ES 300 included 16-inch alloy wheels, a moonroof, power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a seven-speaker CD/cassette audio system, faux walnut cabin accents and a full set of auto-dimming mirrors and one-touch up/down windows. Also standard were front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags, but you had to pay extra to get stability control.

Leather upholstery was technically optional, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a used Lexus ES 300 with cloth. Among the other available extras were HID headlights, a premium-grade Mark Levinson audio system, a DVD-based navigation system, heated front seats and a wood/leather steering wheel. A CD changer was also available and could be located in the dash or the center console, depending on whether it was ordered with the nav system. The only equipment difference between the 2002 and '03 models was the possibility of ordering adjustable pedals on the latter.

In road tests of the ES 300, editors noted that it was a refined and elegant car well suited for those who wanted a focused luxury sedan, rather than a sport sedan. "There is tremendous value to be had in the Lexus ES 300," we wrote. "The interior makes the owner feel like he spent $70,000 rather than $35,000. It's roomy enough, powerful enough and comfortable enough with a suspension that can tame a winding road as easily as it can a potholed parkway. No, this is not a direct competitor to the BMW 3 Series. But the ES sure makes for a convincing argument to pass over a Mercedes-Benz C-Class."

The only significant complaint you'll hear from our editors and Lexus ES 300 owners involves transmission performance. The five-speed automatic shifted smoothly in normal traffic situations, but when the car was driven more aggressively, it responded with harsh upshifts and delayed downshifts.

Past Lexus ES 300 models

Consumers shopping for a used ES 300 will find plenty of examples from the previous generation, sold from 1997-2001. This was the first ES sedan to distinguish itself from its workaday Camry sibling, and it did this with an extra dose of horsepower, sleeker styling and additional luxury content.

Initially, the ES 300's all-aluminum 3.0-liter V6 offered 200 hp; however, in 1999, Lexus installed a heavily revised version of this engine equipped with variable valve timing. In addition to 10 more hp, the new V6 delivered more torque and lower emissions. A four-speed automatic was standard throughout the run, but Lexus changed the gearing in '99 to take advantage of the engine's broader power band.

Judged by today's standards, this Lexus ES 300 will undoubtedly seem light on amenities, though all models came with alloy wheels, power front seats, automatic climate control and full power accessories. Leather upholstery was optional, as was a CD player. Safety-minded buyers will probably want to skip right to the 1998 model year, as this was when the ES received side airbags and reduced-force front airbags. A premium Nakamichi audio system joined the options list that year, followed by stability control in 1999 and HID headlights in 2000.

Like its successor, the 1997-2001 ES 300 was a comfortable, capable entry-level luxury car with no sport-sedan pretensions. "If your daily commute is primarily straight-line freeway travel, and you're looking for the most luxury for the least money, the Lexus ES 300 scores top marks," we wrote at the time. "But if you're the type of driver who not only uses curvy roads, but also seeks them out, the Lexus will leave you unimpressed. It's not that the car can't go around corners. It actually does quite well when pushed. But nothing about the car, with the possible exception of its killer brakes, inspires performance driving."

The original Lexus ES 300 was sold from 1992-'96. It was a more obvious Camry clone than subsequent ES 300s but was quite popular with consumers nonetheless. Early models had a 3.0-liter V6 rated at 185 hp. In '94, Lexus fitted the car with a new aluminum-block, 3.0-liter engine good for 188 hp and a significant bump in torque. Although a five-speed manual was standard on 1992 and '93 models, the vast majority of ES 300s from this generation were sold with a four-speed automatic.

Standard equipment included antilock brakes, automatic climate control, an eight-speaker cassette stereo, full power accessories and walnut interior trim. A passenger-side front airbag was added for '94. Leather upholstery, a moonroof and a CD changer were optional throughout the run.

If you encounter an ES sedan built before 1992, it's the ES 250, sold in 1990 and '91 only. A hasty rebadging of the Camry from that era, this car didn't really live up to its luxury billing.

User Reviews:

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  My Second Car - 1996 Lexus ES 300
  By Drew P. - March 16 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for a little over a year now, and havent had any major problems, but being a college student its starting to become hard to keep up with the $100 repairs. I had to change the cv boots, o2 sensors, rear shocks, and the CD changer quit working. It is a great car though, but Im going to try another Lexus model after this.

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  Noisy start and rattles - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By BIGGUY - March 13 - 2:00 am

  Not many people can say they ve owned 2 2003 ES300s.. I bought one in Oct/2002 a 2003 model.. Brought it back to the dealer 3 times for an engine noise on starting the car.. They attempted to fix it numerous times and I finally said. I don t want it.. Enough is enough.. Well I traded it in last week for another one with Nav system and ML stereo pkg which I m very happy to have done the second time around.. The car itself is nice to drive, luxurious and quiet well except for a rattle in the front dash or upper window.. Still needs to be determined where.. The Nav system screen is also loose..

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  The Lexus Myth - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By phil - January 13 - 2:10 pm

  The impulse acquisition of this Lexus from a good TV ad on the GPS (the Lexus came with it) was a poor decision on my part. I stepped down from Mecedes Benz and/ Seville quality. My "Lexus owning business associates" encouraged me to switch brands. "There dependable and never in the shop!" In the first year they replaced the front brake rotors two times. I kept remarking about the engine/transmission match up and the "hesitation on acceleration/pausing, but was assured that I had a great imagination. It was recalled by a Lexus letter at a later date. The backs of the leather front seats would depart when the electric seat adjustment were initiated.I am happy back in a Mercedes Benz.

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  Best Car Ever! - 1997 Lexus ES 300
  By packagemaster - November 27 - 6:12 am

  I bought a 97 in spring of 06, with 150k miles already on it. I travel 110 miles per day, and I wanted a reliable comfortable, but cheap ride. Because of the miles, I got mine cheap. Fast forward, 2011. Now the car has 330k miles, and let me tell you, this car has been rock solid. This is list of everything I did for the car. (from my log book) 1 set of tires. 2 batteries. 8 sets of wiper blades. Oil change every 6-8k miles. (thats right) 4 air filters. 2 windshields. (rocks fly in Interstate) Front and rear Struts. 2 sets of brake pads for front, 1 set in back, 1 set of front rotors. 6 Headlight bulbs.. Im looking forward to the next 180k miles. I know this car will make it.

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  I liked my 1998 Lexus better - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By al klemm - October 13 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd ES300. I traded in a 1998 model for this car. Power and gas milaege are less than last vehicle. Brakes on car were poor and unsafe. When dealer serviced car he informed us there was a defect. Vehicle was not recalled. Brakes were dangerous, customers are not notified. You find out when you complain about the brakes. I will never buy another Lexus.

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  The ES needs work - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By slarson - October 13 - 10:00 am

  The 02-03 ES300s have a serious problem with the throttle/tranny computer. Ive read reviews saying the ES330 does not correct that problem. Lexus has acknowledged that customers have reported problems with the drive- by-wire system, Im one of those with major problems. Im not sure how they could make a car that does not go when you give it gas, but there are different driving situations where that happens. Most notable is when pulling into traffic out of a parking lot. If not starting from a dead stop, the computer causes a serious lag and does not kick the engine in for a second or two. Ill never buy a Lexus again if Lexus does not fix this

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  Smooth Blue - 1996 Lexus ES 300
  By Lexus4Her - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I found this car to be as smooth a ride as it is smooth looking. The engine is buttery to say the least. The dealer gave us new brakes when we bought it, with the 100K warranty. Sotps great, goes fast in ECT Power. Nice Cruise Control. More Bass in the Sound System would be nice. Sub woofer possibly? Seats are comfy with Leather, just wish they were heated. I wonder if anyone has had a situation where the chrome wheels leaked are due to rust? My dealer says this is a known Lexus problem of that year???

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  8 years and still running smooth.. - 2000 Lexus ES 300
  By nickosmith - September 23 - 2:06 pm

  best car i have owned. i think maintenance of it definitely pays off. what can i say, did all the basic stuff and the car is turning heads.

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  Rear Door Rattles - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By 4ali - September 18 - 2:00 am

  This is a powerful vehicle but is not at all quick off the starting line. The adaptive variable suspension works well and responds to the drivers mood. The ride quality is truly "creamy". Braking distances are very competitive. If you can afford the Mark Levinson sound system, you wont regret it.

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  Great vehicle - 2000 Lexus ES 300
  By MRamsey - August 30 - 7:13 pm

  We bought a 2000 model that had only 55000 miles and looked new. It has been a great vehicle, great ride, great handling, and I feel safe sending my 21 year old daughter to school in it.