2023 Lexus ES AWD Review

The Lexus ES has been a staple of the premium midsize saloon class for about three decades now. It is known for being a comfortable cruiser that is adorned with high-end materials on the inside. The ES AWD takes things up a notch with its superior traction and acceleration.

Its latest model, the new ES AWD 2023 is now upon us and is available for sale. All-wheel drive is standard on the ES250 models. With that, the following is a review of its highlights:

Features

The Lexus ES is currently in its seventh generation which was launched back in 2018 and then facelifted back in 2021. It offers a total of five trim levels and two engine options, not including the hybrid model sold separately.

As far as all-wheel drive is concerned, the 2023 Lexus ES250 variants feature this drivetrain. For this year, there have been several changes made to the interior and the list of its amenities, including the updates to its infotainment system.

Powertrain and Numbers

The 2023 ES250 AWD comes with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 203 hp and 184 lb-ft. As indicated by its name, the power is sent to an all-wheel drive system courtesy of an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The resultant acceleration is decent as the car takes around 8 seconds to achieve 62 mph from a standstill. You can also opt for a 3.5-liter 302-hp and 267-lb-ft V6 on the 2023 ES350, but that’s available exclusively with front-wheel drive.

The 2023 ES AWD can deliver up to 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. If you go for the 2023 Lexus ES Hybrid, you can get 43 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway.

Interior and Technology

The 2023 Lexus ES AWD comes with a beautiful cabin design that’s full of upscale materials and sports high build quality. The comfort is another highlight of the interior as the legroom and headroom are more than adequate.

You also get a respectably sized trunk which beats that of most of its rivals. But not only is it spacious, but it is also easy to load thanks to its wide opening. The number of cubbies and cup-holders also makes this car more user-friendly.

The following are the trim levels on the 2023 Lexus ES AWD:

2023 ES250 AWD
This model comes with perforated NuLuxe seats, and tech such as dual-zone climate control, push-button ignition, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, and a powered moonroof. You also get an 8-inch touchscreen, a 10-speaker sound system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The safety department includes automated emergency braking (w/pedestrian and cyclist detection), lane-departure warning, a rearview camera, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring (w/rear cross-traffic alerts), and adaptive cruise control.

2023 ES250 F Sport Design AWD
The 2023 ES F Sport Design adds upgrades such as wood trim, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats with memory settings, and wireless smartphone charging. There are some exterior changes as well.

2023 ES250 Luxury AWD
This gets you a quilted and perforated semi-aniline leather-trimmed interior, a wooden steering wheel and other wood trimmings. The other add-ons include 14-way power-adjustable front seats, a power cushion extender for the driver, ambient lighting, and more parking assistance.

2023 ES250 Ultra Luxury AWD
In this trim, you get all the sophistication mentioned above plus some more upgrades. These include a 10.2-inch head-up display, a powered trunk, a panoramic view monitor and automated emergency braking (w/parking assists).

2023 Lexus ES

2023 Lexus ES Sport

2023 Lexus ES Luxury

Exterior and Driving

On the outside, the 2023 Lexus ES AWD is very striking to look at with its sporty and aggressive design. Bi-LED headlamps, LED taillamps and DRLs are standard, while rain-sensing windshield wipers are offered on the top-3 trims.

The F Sport trim features a custom frontal area, a rear spoiler, and 19-inch wheels. Meanwhile the other trims come with various wheel designs, finishes, and sizes ranging from 17 to 18 inches.

The exterior colors on the 2023 Lexus ES are the following:

As a result of its suspension, the 2023 ES AWD handles well and is composed no matter how twisty the road is – there’s no body lean either. The steering is very responsive as well. The ride quality also deserves a lot of praise as it is one of the pillars of any luxury sedan.

Reliability and Warranty

The Lexus ES has always had an edge over its European mid-size sedan rivals for its dependability. JD Power has given it a score of 87 out of 100 and has ranked it #1 in the class. Consumer Reports also expects it to be more reliable than its peers.

Lexus offers you one of the best warranties as far as premium cars are concerned. You get a limited warranty of 4 years/50k miles, a powertrain warranty of 6 years/70k miles, plus complimentary maintenance for 1 year/10k miles.

Verdict

As you can tell, the Lexus ES AWD holds its own in the competitive world of executive midsize sedan cars. This is due to a multitude of reasons, starting with its performance. It is a relatively quick car that doesn’t compromise on its engine’s refinement.

But just because it’s quick doesn’t mean that you lose out on its fuel efficiency either. It has a great fuel economy along with a lot of predicted reliability. On the inside, you get a cabin that’s attractive, comfortable, and is built very well.

Furthermore, there’s a lot of technology offered as standard in the areas of convenience and safety. It increases as you move up the trim levels, along with the quality of the materials used. Hence the sky’s the limit as far as sophistication is concerned for the 2023 ES AWD.

To buy the 2023 Lexus ES AWD in Fort Thomas, Fort Mitchell, and Highland Heights, check out Performance Lexus RiverCenter here.