Page 29 - Motoring Winter 2022

LEXUS TEST REVIEW

t’s no secret that I love a good ‘old-fashioned’
luxury sedan, even if the rest of the world is
Ionly interested in SUVs these days.
Recently, we tested the Lexus ES sedan,
which certainly impressed, yet at the time, I
said that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the
hybrid version. It’s very much a case of same-
same but different.
The hybrid test car was in top ES spec as
opposed to the ‘lower’ EX spec of the previous
model. This is a case of taking a highly specced
car and then adding even more. The ‘spoil factor’
just gets higher with items like active cruise
control and safety, sunroof and more.
I find it interesting that the ES was originally
intended as the entry sedan in the Lexus range.
It has front-wheel drive instead of the rear of the
IS, yet it’s a larger car overall. Personally, I don’t
believe that buyers in this category know or care
LEXUS ES HYBRID about the difference.
The hybrid is powered by the same 2.5l
4-cylinder petrol engine but with added
hybrid technology. The power is rated at
160kW and 221+ E Nm. This is matched to
the superb variable automatic transmission
instead of the 8-speed torque convertor in the
non-hybrid version.
Perhaps it’s my driving style, but I felt that
the hybrid is not about performance, but rather
all about smoothness and sheer luxury cruising.
It can certainly deliver if you need it to and the
multi-mode transmission does have a sport mode.
I just left it in normal mode for the test period.
The comparison between the hybrid
and non-hybrid models was always going to
concentrate on fuel consumption above all else
and the result was absolute proof of the value of
a good hybrid system in the SA context.
The limited electric only range
complements the figures and, after a week of
varied driving, the figure of 5.5l/100km can only
be described as amazing, taken into context
against the 8.6l/100km of the non-hybrid
version. The sheer smoothness and luxury of
the package are a bonus.
If I have to find a complaint, it must be
about the pricing. All cars have become absurdly
expensive these days but, at R948 800 as tested, I
think I would forego a few luxuries and rather opt
for the ‘plainer’ EX hybrid at R774 400 instead.
A 7-year/105 000km maintenance plan is
included. n

Use this link to view our video review: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogXPqJtNRvA

MOTORING | Winter 2022 | 27