If you live in Europe and you’re in the market for a
new premium sedan with some Japanese flair, the 2019 Lexus ES is a great place
to start, as it’s getting ready to replace the GS as the automaker’s defacto
mid-size offering.
It’s already been priced in markets such as the UK,
where you can land the brand new ES 300h version from £ 35,150 (US$ 41,310). Order books open this month, with first deliveries
scheduled for January of 2019.
Lexus brought multiple new ES 300h saloons to this
year’s Paris Motor Show, showcasing different specs, with the main attraction
showing off its chrome Spindle grille plus other chrome inserts, both at the
front as well as at the rear fascia.
Powering the ES 300h is the Japanese automaker’s
fourth-generation hybrid powertrain, pairing a 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol
unit with an electric motor. Peak horsepower is said to be 218 PS, while
its combined fuel economy is rated at a very impressive 60.1 mpg UK (4.7
l/100km).
Can the new ES succeed in a segment dominated by the
likes of the BMW 5-Series, Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class, Jaguar XF and the Volvo
S90? As long as Lexus’ expectations aren’t to actually move more volume than
their rivals in Europe, it just might. Besides, the starting price for the 300h
is less than that of a diesel-powered entry-level Mercedes E-Class – although
on paper, their fuel consumption figures are very similar.
