2018 Lexus ES 300h Hybrid Electric | First Drive

INTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES OF 2018 LEXUS ES 300H HYBRID ELECTRIC

The interiors of the Lexus ES 300h is an interesting story by itself. The seats are extremely comfortable and are stitched well and are of fine leather material. The wood finish strips on the dash and sides add to the elegance of the interiors. The 4-way front seats especially get massive lumbar support with separate upper and lower sections. Switches electronically control 4-way horizontal and vertical adjustments. The under thigh support too can be adjusted. There are a plethora of sleek buttons that can tune and change an almost infinite number of functions. These buttons are found on the dash area, rear passenger arm rest and on the steering wheel. To add to the delight of those seated in the front there is also a remote touch interface that again changes several settings from the menu that include audio control , radio control, navigation, smart phone settings, air-conditioner settings etc. The Lexus ES 300h offers you a 3-way climate control. Controls on the steering can also help you change or see a plethora of settings from cruise control, audio, tyre pressure monitoring, voice command, etc. Incidentally the tyre pressure monitoring shows the tyre pressure reading of all the four wheels and also the spare tyre! Two levers above the steering wheel help you choose your drive modes from Eco, Normal and Sport. The one on the right helps you to deactivate traction control. As for the screens to view, the car comes with a 7 inches TFT screen and a 12.3 inches Multi Media screen. While on the move, the driver can also get to see a fully coloured Head-Up display of 260m x 97.5mm size.

The moment you mention audio, you realise that the Lexus has one of the world’s best audio system. This one has a Mark Levinson surround sound system with 17 speakers. It’s like a theatre sound experience while driving around in this car.

The centre console box has a wireless charger where one can simply place the Qi-compatible smartphones and electronic devices on the charging tray. The lid on the centre arm rest too can be opened two ways, i.e. can be operated by both front passengers. This is an interesting feature. Storage areas are limited inside, with the inner door panel cavities only designed to accommodate small bottles of 500ml size.

The rear armrest also comes with an integrated control panel that can allow the rear passengers to adjust audio system, seat recline, ambient temperature (Lexus climate concierge), etc. It also has two cup holders. The rear passengers can also electronically adjust the rear windshield sun shade. The ones on the windows need to be adjusted manually. There is also a trunk through functionality that enables easy access to the trunk and also facilitates carrying of longer items that won’t usually fit in the trunk.

SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE OF 2018 LEXUS ES 300H HYBRID ELECTRIC

The Lexus ES 300h is a very safe car to say the least. It comes with 10 SRS airbags. That is a great reassurance by itself. Since it is a hybrid, it means it combines the strengths and advantages of a gasoline engine and a nickel-metal hydride battery. No, this is not a mild hybrid with a start-stop function but a full blown one that smartly combines the power of the two sources to give a perfect carbon footprint for Lexus to be proud of. While the top end hybrids in the Lexus range have lithium-ion, here it is nickel-metal hydride battery which is placed now under the rear seats. In the earlier versions of this car, the battery was in the boot area, compromising on the space.

Well, once you are seated on the driver’s seat and are ready to move, you are delighted to see the MM screen all light up the moment you press the start button, welcoming you with the Lexus sign. Now if you want to start your journey on a green foot, then all you have to do is to depress the EV button. Provided the battery is charged at least 50 percent, you can silently drive out. This feature is to be used when you are moving out from your garage or you are getting out or getting into your neighbourhood at night. The silent battery run car will not disturb anybody.

But even if you are not on EV mode, the car starts on the battery mode and is silent. It’s when you push that accelerator that the IC engine takes over and propels you further. From there on it’s a constant switch of battery charging and battery assistance. In fact, it’s fascinating to watch on the MM screen, the Energy Monitor display. It’s so cool. You feel as though you are really contributing a wee bit to the Green Earth.

Green does not mean that you need to compromise on performance. Nay! The three modes of driving – Eco, Normal and Sport—allow you to choose your driving style. You want to feel the power of speed, then it is the Sport mode that you need to choose. The TFT screen displays a reddish tinge, signifying aggressiveness. Step on the accelerator and you can hear the engine screaming as it beings to devour the distances in a hurry.

The car handles well and at corners you can feel it behaving in a balanced way. The braking too is perfect. Because of the special glasses all around and the additional insulation that this new model has got on its floorboard chassis, road noise too is limited. The suspension is on the softer side, making city driving so very comfortable.

VERDICT

This new Lexus ES 300h is pitted against the likes of the Audi A6, the BMW 5 series, the Mercedes E Class and the Volvo S90. Going by what competition has to offer, this Lexus car has a clear cut advantage. It is not only stylish, comfortable and strong on performance, but it is also one green step ahead of the others!