2022 Lexus ES 300h Review

The 2022 Lexus ES 300h occupies a strange place in the market — most luxury sedans at the $40,000-$45,000 price point are small, sporty four-doors, but the ES 300h is a spacious, front-wheel-drive cruiser with few sporty pretensions. It offers stellar fuel economy, a tremendous amount of features and space for the money, and a great value as long as you aren't expecting a rewarding driving experience.

For 2022, Lexus is outfitting the ES 300h with several welcome updates. The one we're most excited to experience firsthand is the new touchscreen. We've lambasted the ES 300h (and really, the entire Lexus lineup) for employing an infotainment system that can only be controlled via a remote controller. The ES 300h used a touchpad for interacting with the system, and the cluttered screen made it difficult to accurately choose any one of the various virtual buttons. The 2022 model still gives users the touchpad option, but the screen itself is moved closer to the driver and is now equipped with touchscreen functionality. We expect these changes to drastically improve the system's usability.

The 2022 ES 300h also features light styling updates inside and out, including a new grille up front and a mild refresh to the center stack design. Lexus has made a few upgrades to the driver assistance systems as well. For instance, the adaptive cruise control function can now automatically increase speed before executing a lane change, and the lane-centering feature offers improved recognition of lanes and road edges. And if you find the ES 300h looks a little anonymous, the F Sport package is now available to spruce up the exterior. Enhancements include a dark mesh grille, black-painted 19-inch wheels and a lip spoiler. It also brings sporty interior visual touches.

The Lexus ES 300h has always been a solid pick if you want a spacious, luxurious and fuel-efficient sedan at a reasonable price. The 2022 model's newly revised technology offerings and available sporty appearance package only add to its appeal.