The Lexus ES300h offers a very sublime driving experience with its hybrid powertrain.

2021 Lexus ES300H Powertrain & Performance

Mechanicals of the ES300h remain unchanged. It is powered by a 2.5 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and an electric motor that puts out a combined output of 218 horsepower mated to an eCVT gearbox.  As usual the car starts up in EV mode in complete silence. Slot the gear lever into D and you move forward without making a sound. As long as there is juice in the batter, it will drive in EV mode till speeds of 50 kph. The petrol engine also kicks in seamlessly and its always fun watching the Energy Monitor on the infotainment screen. The gearbox works well and you here a whine only if you are driving aggressively. It also gets paddle shifters which are more useful for engine braking rather than spirited driving. The ES is a car that is meant to be driven in a relaxed matter, drive it sedately and it gives you a fantastic experience. This one is not for the outright enthusiasts. There are three drive modes as well: ECO, Comfort and Sport. While Comfort works well for most part, I particularly like the ECO model for city driving. Yes, throttle response may be dull in this mode but its more than all you need in urban city commutes. And get this, the fuel efficiency figure will put a big smile on your face. I managed to get more than 20 kpl on my drives. That’s how efficient this powertrain combination is.

2021 Lexus ES300h Ride & Handling

Ride quality is another strong point of the ES300h. Despite running on 18 inch wheels, the car simply glides over bad roads and cushions you over most undulations. Only extremely sharp bumps are felt inside the cabin and that isn’t much of a worry. It is also a delight around corners and the steering weighs well in all driving modes. Body roll is well controlled despite its length.