Lexus ES review

Those in the market for a luxury car that combines the environmental and tax advantages of a hybrid without the faff of plugging it in, have long been served by Lexus. Cast an eye over their current range and you’ll find almost everything they build is helped along by a battery pack and electric motor, and the Lexus ES is no different.

Although this is the first ES to be available in the UK, this is actually the seventh generation of a car that was introduced way back in 1989, primarily for America. Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre petrol engine that’s augmented by a couple of electric motors fed by a battery pack under the rear seats. The result is official CO2 emissions that are more in line with a small hatchback than a big luxury saloon.

That means that, unless you’re looking at plug-ins, the ES trumps rivals such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class for emissions. Of course, if you’re willing to regularly c charge at home, a plug-in hybrid such as the BMW 530e will be even more efficient, and brings even lower company car tax bills.

But can a car that shares much of its bones with the mainstream Toyota Camry really cut it against premium brands? Read on to find out what it’s like to drive, how swanky the interior is and how much space there is for people and their luggage. And don’t forget, our New Car Buying section could save you a packet on this and many other motors.