By reintroducing the ES, Lexus provides the answer to those who do not require a sporty GS

Photos: Azfar Hashim

The last time the local motoring landscape saw the ES model from Lexus was a decade ago. Yes, you’re reading that right: an entire d-e-c-a-d-e. Ten long years. And it was missing not because our market was ignored due to the small volume. It’s because some genius thought there’s no real need for a right hand drive. In fact, the only time yours truly saw the fifth generation ES - the last model we saw officially brought in was the fourth generation, FYI - was in Shanghai; because China’s a left hand drive market. We’re not.

And since the ES was missing (this model was particularly popular among the older set because of how inoffensive and oh-so-comfortable it was), Lexus did lose some of its repeat customers to the next best thing for the same money: the German E-Class.

But now the ES is back, and it is bound to be a surefire success. After all, it’s a Japanese Lexus, so reliability and value-for-money should never be questioned.

We took the hybridized version of this luxury sedan out, which according to Lexus, has no direct competitor. It doesn’t compete with the 5 Series, E-Class or XF; that’s the GS’s job. Now, how’s that for advantageous?

Let’s get all the technicalities aside first. The ES300h gets all its power from a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder in-line VVT-i engine; that’s right, no more V6 this time around. That said, power output is a respectable 205 bhp, while maximum torque some 213 Nm. The extra output courtesy of the electric motor — it has an additional 21 bhp over the petrol-only ES250 variant - definitely compliments the reliable VVT-i engine which you do need to stretch to actually hear some action.

Exclusive to the ES300h is the E-CVT gearbox that works seamlessly if you drive it the way it is intended to. If you put your foot down, the 'box will take its own sweet time like it's in a garden arranging flowers; before getting you there.

Left in 'D', the engine pulls coherently up the rev band without fail, even in stop-go traffic. Set out to be more of an expressway cruiser, it runs along at 90km/h so silently you can hear your hair growing. Then in the cabin you are so isolated from the real world that you get some idea of what it might be like to be, well, dead. In case you need to know, it does the century sprint in 8.5 seconds - which is also 1.3 seconds faster than the ES250 - despite the 90 kg weight disadvantage courtesy of the battery pack for the electric motor, placed within the boot.

One needs to get used to the almost silent start up. This is because when you fire up the engine, only the electric motor is running. It will continue doing so — provided you feather the throttle - until you hit 40 km/h. After that, the petrol engine will kick in to keep the car in motion.

The steering is uniformly smooth and accurate, but to some, it might be a tad too lifeless. That said, the ES300h is no clumsy, fat parody of a sports sedan despite the softness; far from it. It conducts itself with considerable poise, feeling predictable and planted in fast bends. But as a passenger, you will feel like being carried from place to place by a small white cloud…

The interior remains as plush as ever, and you will find a sense of order and logic. You do not get as much hard plastic, and the fit and finish is brilliant without any rattles and squeaks. In the center console, there is Lexus’s all-in-one multi-media system; unfortunately it still isn’t as user-friendly as Audi’s MMI unit and the mouse to toggle around the system can come across as equally irritating as the new MCE.

This being your typical premium Lexus, it also gets controls to keep the front two seats cool: a brilliant accessory for our humid country. Ahh…

As a luxury sedan, the ES300h is, easily, an idiot-proof choice. The level of creature comfort, how brilliant the cabin is and the fact that it returns respectable fuel consumption figures (Lexus quoted 18.2 km/L but in the real world I clocked an average 12-14 km/L), Lexus has for itself here a clear winner. It’s a good alternative to the usual E-Class and 5 Series in terms of comfort — excuse the repetitive use of word — and believably, delivers good value for money.

Just take some time to get yourself used to the multi-media system though.

Oh, and the answer to a question posed earlier: yes, this hybrid ES is a good upgrade if you are currently driving a Camry. Or Accord. Or Teana. You know what I mean...