In the luxury-sedan world, reliability remains the quiet separator between cars that impress on a test drive and wow the neighbors, and cars that actually satisfy over years of ownership. Luxury car buyers may talk about screens, ambient lighting, and badge cachet, but long-term happiness comes down to the car’s starting every morning, the instrument cluster remaining void of warning lights, and avoiding the dealership for all but routine maintenance.
A luxury sedan that behaves itself becomes a friend in the best sense—refined, predictable, and stress-free. Over time, that dependability cuts down on ownership expenses, builds brand loyalty, and dictates resale value. Historically, the most respected luxury sedans earned their reputations by getting the basics right year after year. Factor in a legacy of build quality and reputation for refinement, and you get this guy — a truly bulletproof luxury sedan that nobody can bring down.
The 2025 Lexus ES Is Much More Than A Reliable Luxury Sedan
At a time when many luxury sedans are chasing tech gimmicks and overcomplicated drivetrains, the 2025 Lexus ES continues to succeed by sticking to fundamentals that matter to owners. It’s a midsize luxury sedan designed first and foremost to be lived with every day, not fussed over. It is the best-selling luxury sedan in America and the third best-selling Lexus, eclipsed only by a couple of crossovers, selling itself on a calm, predictable ownership experience, both in terms of reliability and comfort.
It’s been knocked for its uninspired looks (boy, will that change! But more on that later), conservative engineering, and an interior built for durability and comfort, rather than a showcase for luxury excesses and tech gadgetry. It doesn’t have the edgy performance of a 3 Series, nor the plushness of a Cadillac, but it starts every morning, rides quietly, and has aged gracefully through various generations dating back to the very birth of Lexus.
The Lexus ES Consistently Tops Owner Surveys
The 2025 Lexus ES benefits from one of the strongest reliability reputations in the marketplace, never mind the luxury sedan segment, backed by long-term ownership reporting, repair data, and maintenance cost tallies. From its owner surveys, J.D. Power rates the 2025 Lexus ES 83/100 overall, with a Quality & Reliability score of 89/100 and a Dealership Experience rating of 85/100. RepairPal gives it a 4–4½ star rating (out of 5), depending on model, and Consumer Reports recommends it with a 79/100 score.
- RepairPal Estimated Annual Repair Cost: $468–$524
- RepairPal Reliability Rating: 4–4½ / 5
- CarEdge Estimated Annual Maintenance & Repair Cost: $595
- Total Recalls: 1
2025 Lexus ES Lives On Proven Choices, Not Experimental Complexity
The 2025 Lexus ES lineup reflects a deliberate attempt to be more things to more buyers, with a choice of powertrains ranging from the ultra-efficient to the acceptably efficient, to not overcomplicate things. Buyers choose from well-established powertrains that emphasize smoothness, efficiency, and long-term durability but not outright performance—the venerable 2.5-liter four-cylinder, an established hybrid system with a differently tuned version of the same engine, and the durable 3.5-liter V-6. There is an F Sport version of the ES 350, but it doesn’t do anything special.
2025 Lexus ES Performance Specs
|
2025 Lexus |
ES 250 |
ES 300h |
ES 350 |
|
Powertrain |
2.5-liter inline-4 |
2.5-liter inline-4 + 2 motors |
3.5-liter V-6 |
|
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
Continuously variable |
8-speed automatic |
|
Power |
203 hp |
215 hp |
302 hp |
|
Torque |
184 lb-ft |
163 lb-ft |
267 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
All-wheel drive |
Front-wheel drive |
Front-wheel drive |
|
Range |
445 miles |
581 miles |
398 miles |
|
Efficiency City |
24 mpg |
43 mpg |
22 mpg |
|
Efficiency Highway |
33 mpg |
44 mpg |
31–32 mpg |
|
Efficiency Combined |
28 mpg |
44 mpg |
25 mpg |
Inside, the 2025 Lexus ESs focus on comfort, safety, and usability instead of showcasing novelty. Befitting a luxury sedan, even base trims are well-equipped with premium materials, usable tech, and sound deadening to put a quiet room to shame. Higher trims add upgraded materials, advanced driver-assistance systems, and enhanced sound insulation. Nothing feels experimental or half-baked, resulting in a sedan that oozes thoughtful assembly that’s meant to age well, not for superficial attraction.
This Hybrid Delivers Lexus-Level Luxury At Camry Prices
This luxury hybrid is close to a Toyota Camry in affordability, practicality and reliability, but spiced up with more features and greater refinement.
The 2025 Lexus ES May Be Just Right As A Luxury Sedan
The 2025 Lexus ES stands as one of the most reliable luxury sedans in the U.S. market, and achieves it without skimping on refinement. Built on a proven Toyota platform with mature powertrains, the ES benefits from years of incremental improvement, not just its own but experience from other Toyota models. The platform was developed from the Toyota Camry, the hybrid system from the Toyota Prius, and its engines have been used in Toyota cars and crossovers all over the world.
Owners routinely report maintenance costs far below the industry luxury car norm, and minimal mechanical issues, even as their ES sedans rack up the miles. Part of the success goes to Lexus’ conservative engineering choices, which are sometimes dismissed as uninspired, but which return peace of mind that few competitors can match. The ES forsakes performance extremes, which helps preserve long-term durability. Its reliability is purposefully engineered into every component.
The 2025 Lexus ES Balances Performance and Efficiency
Far from a sports sedan, the 2025 Lexus ES’s engines provide smooth, predictable power, perfectly suited for a luxury sedan geared toward commuting and highway cruising. The ES 250 provides sensible power and efficiency, choosing to maintain a reasonable entry price. The Lexus ES 300h elevates efficiency without compromising drivability (though it’s only available in FWD, whereas the entry-level ES 250 only comes in AWD), and the ES 350’s V-6 offers sufficient, not dramatic, acceleration, but it, too, is only FWD.
The 2025 Lexus ES Is Designed To Disappear Into Everyday Routine
The 2025 Lexus ES is a car designed to disappear into its driver’s routine. It excels at comfort, from the quiet ambience to the supple ride, to seats that remain comfortable and supportive from the first drive out of the showroom to the time it’s handed over to a new owner, and undoubtedly beyond. Controls are intuitive and logically placed, and reinforce the ES’ role as an effortless daily companion.
- Standard dual-zone climate control
- Standard 10-speaker sound system
- Standard drive-mode selector
- Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
- Six USB ports
The Lexus Sedan Leading in Reliability — And The German Rival Nipping At Its Heels
The Lexus ES continues to set the benchmark for luxury sedan reliability while the Mercedes E-Class closes the gap.
The Lexus ES Has Evolved From Supporting Cast To Lead Player
The Lexus ES debuted at the birth of Lexus in 1989, playing a supporting role in the Lexus LS’s breakout starring performance. Though it initially played second fiddle to the flagship LS, it has steadily evolved as the Lexus sedan co-star and even taken over the leading role with its consistent value, comfort, and reliability.
From its early days, the Lexus ES has been appreciated for its quiet demeanor and Toyota-derived dependability, even as critics dismissed it as conservative and even boring. Over time, though, the formula has proven resilient, attracting a loyal following of owners who prioritize ownership experience over badge prestige, though it certainly has that as well.
The Lexus ES Takes Its Place Alongside The BMW 3 Series And Mercedes C-Class
As consumer preferences drew luxury comfort and efficiency down-market, the Lexus ES found itself perfectly positioned with its fluid design refinement, consistent interior quality, and evolving powertrain and drivetrain options—for fuel-economy considerations, a four-cylinder entry-level option was added for the fifth generation (starting in 2007) and a hybrid followed for the sixth (2013); AWD was offered with the current generation (in 2019).
Lexus ES’s ability to adapt to changing market forces has kept it relevant throughout its lifespan, much in the same way (though on a different plane) as long-revered luxury models like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class have stayed relevant even as the luxury landscape shifted around them. The ES has earned its place as Lexus’s best-selling sedan and one of the industry’s finest. And it’s ready to evolve further.
Expect Subtle Refinement For The 2026 Lexus ES Despite Radical Design Shift
The future of the Lexus ES looks interesting, and will likely continue this upward trajectory as it transitions to an electrified model (both as a FWD or AWD hybrid ICE model, and as an EV with single or dual motors). The design change is radical, forsaking the traditional look of the Lexus sedan for the futuristic look of the RZ electric crossover. Technology upgrades will range from the sublime to the wholesale (in the case of the EV), but expect subtle refinement beneath the skin, rather than radical change.
Lexus 2025 And 2026 ES Performance Specs
|
Lexus ES |
2025 |
2026 |
|
Models |
ES 250; ES 300h; ES 350 |
ES 350h, ES 300e; ES 500e |
|
Powertrain |
2.5L I-4; hybrid 2.5L I-4; 3.5L V-6 |
2.5L I-4 + 2 or 3 motors; 1 or 2 motors |
|
Transmission |
CVT; 8-spd auto |
CVT; direct drive |
|
Power |
203–302 hp |
Est. 220–340 hp |
|
Torque |
163–267 lb-ft |
Not yet released |
|
Driveline |
Front- or all-wheel drive |
Front- or all-wheel drive |
|
Range |
398–581 miles |
Est. 500+ miles; 250–300 (EV) |
|
Efficiency Combined |
25–44 mpg |
Not yet rated |
Why The Toyota Camry’s Rich Cousin From Lexus Is Worth The Extra Money
Spending more on the premium Lexus ES Hybrid would certainly be money well spent.
The 2025 Lexus ES Is A Time-Tested Bulletproof Luxury Sedan
The 2025 Lexus ES carries on its reputation as the most bulletproof luxury sedan in America by excelling where it matters most—reliability, naturally, but also comfort, efficiency, and long-term value. It offers more than the durability of a bulletproof sedan, also delivering peace of mind, refinement, and the consistency on which owners depend. In a segment crowded with ambitious engineering, the ES has stood out by simply getting everything right. That being affirmed, there are options.
2025 Acura TLX And Genesis G80 Performance Specs
|
2026 Genesis G80 |
2025 Acura TLX |
|
|
Powertrain |
2.5L turbo I-4; 3.5L turbo V-6 |
2.0L turbo I-4; 3.0L turbo V-6 |
|
Transmission |
8-spd auto |
10-spd auto |
|
Power |
300–375 hp |
272–355 hp |
|
Torque |
311–391 lb-ft |
280–354 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
All-wheel drive |
Front- or all-wheel drive |
|
Range |
347–396 miles |
334–398 miles |
|
Efficiency Combined |
18–23 mpg |
21–25 mpg |
|
J.D. Power Rating |
80/100 |
81/100 |
The 2026 Genesis G80 Is An Attractive But Unproven Luxury Sedan
Though the brand is relatively new to the luxury market, Genesis has racked up impressive refinement and strong reliability for its Genesis G80 sedan. The executive class sedan delivers a clean, expressive design, extensive luxury features, competitive technology, and one of the better warranties in the biz, which helps balance its unproven long-term durability.
The 2025 Acura TLX Battles The Lexus ES With Sportier Manners
Almost a direct opposite of the Lexus ES, the 2025 Acura TLX takes its stand on sportiness and solid reliability. Similar in lineage to the ES, the TLX traces its heritage back to the 1980s to the Acura Vigor, which was derived from the Honda Accord. Firmer and less plush than the Lexus ES, the Acura TLX appeals to drivers wanting a more engaging experience from their lower-tier luxury sedans.
Sources: J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, RepairPal, CarEdge, The EPA, NHTSA