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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  One Great Car - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Gary Janssen - August 13 - 10:00 am

  I have only had the ES 300 for a month but so far I am totally impressed with I have seen so far. We purchased the fully loaded version with the Nav and Mark Levinson stereo system. I find the ride to be great and use the active suspension on the way to work driving a bumpy curved filled road. My parents have a Delux Seville and said it rides better than their Caddy. For those who have said it needs more power I say for what? To me anyway it has more than enough power and was impressed with the pickup. I do however think the transmission could use a little work as I have found getting on the gas a low speeds cause some slightly rough shifting.

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  Moving on up - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By metfan - July 30 - 12:13 am

  Have been a Toyota loyalist for the last 15 years until I purchased my first Lexus about 3 years ago. I bout a 7 year old ES 300 with 100K miles on it. I have put about 50K on it since then and the car has been flawless. I change the oil about every 5K, and that is all that I have needed to do. Yea, I have the CD display problems that everyone else has, but other than that, the car is great! I get a realistic 25 mpg, and can hardly hear the car purring, even when completely stopped. I seriously do not believe they can make a car run any better than this one! Ill drive this baby for another 5 years.

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  Great Car - 1996 Lexus ES 300
  By Lexus_Lover - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned mine for over a year now. Now it has 78K miles and so far has been very reliable. The only things needed to be done on it were brakes, oil changes and stuff like that. It is a very confortable car and has a great sound system. It is a real eye catcher and is worth the extra dollars (it pays back in the long run).

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  Love my Lexy - 1997 Lexus ES 300
  By Love my Lexy - June 23 - 10:00 am

  I bought my ES300 about 4 years ago with 92k. I have not had to do anything more than the usual upkeep and I now have over 275k. Yes, she is getting tired but her ride and style does not compare to any other car on the road. Even the newer style ES300 is smaller and not as comfortable as this one. I previously had the 95 ES 300 with 268k when it was totaled in 2006.

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  cool - 2000 Lexus ES 300
  By cman - June 19 - 2:00 am

  love the car it seems to wait till it hits around 30mph to take off [without punching it]but still like the car alot .smooth ride ,no noise,fun sportydrive yet soft not like a sport suspention

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  What Can You Say? Its a Lexus - 2000 Lexus ES 300
  By 01dyna - June 12 - 2:00 am

  There are few cars in ones lifetime that one buys that you look back and say to yourself "Why didnt I do this sooner?". The ES300 is one of those cars. Unlike cars weve owned in the past, we enjoy the car *more* the longer we own it. The legendary quality of a Toyota is kicked up a notch with the Lexus. Dont be fooled, this is NOT a rebadged Camry. Having driven/owned both, the only things they share is the same parent company. "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection". Well, I think Lexus is getting pretty darn close to the finish line."

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  Great, reliable car. - 1999 Lexus ES 300
  By JB So Org Cty - June 1 - 7:30 am

  This is a great car with a nice ride. And the power is surprising for a V6. Very reliable and the highway mileage is great. In town mileage is good for a sedan. It has a smooth ride and is quiet running with just a little wind noise from the window at times. Large trunk space. Leather seats are nice and durable.

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  Simply said...a nice ride. - 1997 Lexus ES 300
  By Lmoore - May 12 - 2:36 pm

  I love this car. Since my purchase I have never had one problem. My Mom states the car drives better than her Caddy. At 8 years of age, this car performs as if I just drove it off the lot. The comfort, quite, smooth ride always making running errands a joy. On my next purchase, which I dont plan on for a few years...this baby will last another 100k easy...will without question be another Lexus! One more important point, the dealership was fantastic. No pressure sales, gave me my time and space. Was a pleasure to do business with them.

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  Ill never buy anything other - 1996 Lexus ES 300
  By Miboyz2 - May 5 - 7:50 pm

  My first car was a brand new 1987 Toyota Tercel, I kept for 4-5 yrs and I dont recall ever getting a tune up; my second car was a 1992 manual Toyota Paseo. I got 150,000 miles and the only major maintenance done was replacing the stick shift. My boys started getting taller so I looked at trucks. The Land Cruiser was way out of my league, the 4-runner was not economical, and the RAV was about 20,000 & I believe it was only 4-cylinder then. I had experienced the reliability Toyota offered and wouldnt settle for anything else just as long as it was in my budget. I did my research on only certified ES 300 and fell in love with the price and the warranty offered.

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  Great car but beware... - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By Becky K. - April 29 - 10:00 am

  This is our second Lexus. Love the exterior design and interior design as well. Really sharp car. Has all the bells and whistles anyone could need. Somewhat sluggish though on pickup. There is definitely a computer problem with the transmission. Seems to have trouble - at times - deciding what gear it needs to be in. Lexus is aware of problem with the 2002 ES300, but has not been able to come up with a solution as yet.