We don’t expect luxury cars to be affordable, as price is the last criterion of luxury appeal. However, this norm was altered when the Japanese giants gave us their version of luxury cars with Acura, Infiniti, and Lexus offerings. These brands took the fight to the established big guns from Germany and showed us that a no-compromise luxury car can be an insane value-for-money proposition. This has also motivated the Korean giant Hyundai to create a formidable rival with the Genesis line-up of luxury cars.
However, the car that actually sends shockwaves across the mid-size luxury segment is the Lexus ES with a price tag of well under $45,000. To give you a perspective, the latest Lexus ES is just $2,000 more expensive than the “normal” Toyota Crown. One might think Lexus has cut a lot of corners to achieve the ES’s aggressive pricing, and that’s true when equipped with a reasonably powerful V-6 engine. But that’s not the case: the Lexus ES offers wholesome luxury, comfort, and convenience, along with standard safety and assistive features. This is a truly luxurious car that gives the likes of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes a serious run for their money.
2025 Lexus ES 350: Luxury Without The Price Tag
Starting Price: $43,435
The current-gen Lexus ES 350 is priced at $43,435. To give you an idea of how insanely affordable the ES is, let’s look at some of its rivals. The most affordable one is the 2025 Acura TLX, starting at $45,400. Then comes the underrated 2026 Cadillac CT5 at $48,600. Then comes the newest contender—the 2026 Genesis G80 at $58,450.
The big guns from Germany are even more expensive and fall behind this Lexus. The BMW 5 Series costs $59,900; the Mercedes E-Class starts at $63,900; and the most costly of the three is the Audi A6, priced from $64,100. Also, note that the prices quoted for rivals are of the base trim, which may not include as many luxury, comfort, or, in some cases, even performance features as the Lexus ES.
Luxury Features That Make It A No-Brainer Choice
Lexus balances plush materials and a comprehensive suite of technology features to deliver a well-rounded luxury experience in the sub-$45,000 ES 350. Comfort appeal is highly regarded, with features such as dual-zone climate control, adjustable front seats, and soft-touch materials throughout. The air-con system also gets interior air filters, smog sensors, and an automatic recirculation system. A power moonroof enhances the airy feel of the already spacious cabin.
The in-car technology features also enhance the luxury appeal by adding convenience and comfort. The dashboard includes a standard eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Cloud Navigation, Intelligent Assistant, and Destination Assist, plus an optional 4G-enabled paid subscription. Other notable in-car tech features include a Lexus 10-speaker audio system, Wi-Fi Connect, Remote Connect, engine start, SiriusXM, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a backup camera with dynamic grid lines.
Safety and assistive features also play a vital role in elevating the overall luxury appeal of this Lexus, and rightfully so, for the extended list of standard features on offer. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 includes six advanced assistive features, ranging from the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection to Automatic High Beams. Other standard safety features include 10 airbags, stability control, and Safety and Service Connect for a seamless and well-insured luxury driving experience.
2025 Lexus ES 350 Packages
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Premium Package |
Technology Package |
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Price |
$2,790 |
$1,630 |
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Features |
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Since the ES 350 is priced so aggressively, add-on packages don’t materially affect the bottom line. In fact, it further elevates its VFM proposition by packing more for less. From a larger, more stacked infotainment screen to a range of comfort and convenience features, there’s a package for everyone.
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Sharp Looks And An Energetic V-6 Make It A Feisty Luxury Car
Power: 302 Horsepower
Lexus has long been known for its sharp, fluid design. There’s an inherent sportiness to even the SUVs from this automaker. Its spindle-front grille design is iconic, and the 2025 ES 350 wears it gracefully. The sleek LED headlamps and extended DRLs give it a distinctive front fascia. The sides are neat yet feature subtle muscular lines that continue the sharp theme. The silhouette is organic and sweeps gracefully, creating a slippery surface. Complementing the design are well-proportioned 17-inch alloy wheels. Going along with the ES 350’s sharp and sporty design language is a fairly spirited powerplant.
It features a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V-6 producing 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The price-to-performance ratio is impressive, further accentuated by its frugal nature at 25 combined MPG. For reference, the BMW 530i sedan (priced at $59,900) features a turbocharged four-cylinder producing 255 horsepower. Even the ES 350’s closest rival, the Acura TLX, falls behind with a smaller 2.0-liter turbo four engine producing 272 horsepower. Power is sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. It also hides a dynamic driving experience, thanks to a rigid chassis suspended on independent front and rear suspension.
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History Of The Lexus ES 350
Production Years: 2007 – Present
The first-gen Lexus ES is actually based on the Japanese-market Toyota Soarer. However, the ES 350 was introduced in 2007 as part of the fourth-generation upgrade to the ES family. The value-for-money proposition was strong with the earliest ES 350s, which included then-new features such as radar-based adaptive cruise control and rain-sensing wipers. This continued with the fifth-gen model, which received minimal updates. The sixth-gen LS saw notable updates, including a larger form factor. This was also the first Lexus LS to be built in America.
The seventh-gen Lexus ES, introduced in 2019, shifted to the then-new Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform and introduced a sportier F-Sport trim. The ES 350 got its first eight-speed automatic transmission. Now, Lexus is making its boldest move ever with the all-new eight-gen LS, which also marks the first-ever fully electrified lineup and a drastic shift to a bold, futuristic design language.
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The All-New 2026 Lexus ES 350 Makes An Electrified Shift
This Lexus “Re-imagines The Luxury Sedan”
This is the first core Lexus model offered as a multi-platform vehicle, with both hybrid and fully electric iterations. The design marks a notable shift, inspired by the next-gen BEV concept and the LF-ZC. The 2026 ES 350 is 6.5 inches longer and has a four-inch longer wheelbase. This should translate to a more spacious cabin. Minimalism and elegance are the key features of the luxury car’s cabin. To enhance the sense of openness, the cabin gets much slimmer seats and trim elements. The lower section of the front and side window frames has been lowered to increase the glass surface area. Sustainability aligns with luxury appeal, with elements such as bamboo door trim and synthetic leather.
Taking things up a notch is the first-ever Executive Package on an ES for America. This is available on the ES 350e FWD Luxury model and includes reclining rear seats with a passenger-side ottoman, rear outboard massaging seats, and rear-seat heating and ventilation. Powering the hybrid ES 350h is the sixth-generation 2.5-liter hybrid four-cylinder engine, producing a combined 182 horsepower. The all-new all-electric ES 350e features a front-mounted electric motor delivering 165 horsepower and is claimed to provide approximately 300 miles of driving range.
Sources: Lexus, The EPA