We stumbled upon one of these working as a taxi in San Sebastian. The driver told us he had several Mercs (E class) and they started giving him lots of trouble after 100K miles, to the point they weren't worth owning. He told us he had had the ES hybrid for 233K miles with zero issues.
Thank you for commenting. This is exactly what I needed to hear. I typically keep my cars for over 10 years and I was concerned about getting the hybrid because of the possibility of replacing the battery. 233K miles is awesome!!!!
I have a 23 ES300h with only 8,000 miles on it. Your video makes me happy knowing the future. Love this car... I keep the little screen on the left on the fuel economy screen... Looking down and seeing 40 something is just good vibes every time.
Awesome review. Hybrid vehicles are the future, not EVs, especially Toyota and Honda; they are magnificent. And you changing the oil every 5,000 miles is the best thing you've ever done for your car.
This car is the one, I'm using it on Uber Black and boy I'm very happy with it, Lexus got it right with this one, it's also a head turner due to it's uniqueness and quiet confidence.
It qualifies for Uber Black in your area? I was able to only use it for Lyft Black and Uber Premier. It didn’t qualify for Uber black in my areas of service.
@@ryanhablitzel I'm in South Africa, sorry I forgot to mention that bit, it does qualify in my country but there's very few Lexus Uber Blacks, the most are BMW's and Mercs
I also have a '23 ES300h UL and have to say it is the most comfortable, smoothest car I've ever owned. Mine only has 13k miles on it though 😄😄 I hope to keep it a long time!
Pro tip for improving the MPG. Add Shell Midgrade or above. It will improve your fuel efficiency. No idea why though, but only Shell Midgrade works. I rented and drove one of these to Phoenix a year ago. It was averaging around 43mpg. Once I refueled it with Shell Midgrade, the MPG went up 47 in 120 degree heat. That was just absolutely bonkers. Try it out and let me know if it works for you.
@@ryanhablitzel I didn't either. Then the pandemic hit and the Shell gas station had the lowest price in town. At the time I was driving a Ford Fusion Hybrid and I remember how my MPG went instantly from 43-44 to 45-47. Then I read the owners manual that it's recommended for the summer especially in high heat to switch to mid grade fuel. So I did just that. Now I live in the desert of Nevada. The temperatures here can get up to 120 on certain days. Usually my MPG plummets on my Ford Fusion Hybrid to about 33-38 depending on my if I drive day or night. However once the heat was over, I noticed that I was averaging around 50 MPG on mid grade shell, which was mind blowing for me. However for whatever reason, there is no effect if you go to premium 91 gasoline. No idea why, but the benefits cap out at the midgrade fuel. So naturally, I assumed the same thing for the 2021 Lexus ES Hybrid that I drove. What I didn't expect is to get 47-48 MPG in 120 degree weather while driving up and down the mountain roads of Arizona. After this I knew this is the next car I want to own.
Hi there. I just bought ES300h yesterday. I notice that sometimes I hear an electronic noise when I’m braking. From my research I think this could be the brake actuator pumping, which I hear is normal. Did this stand out to you when you bought it? Did you get used to it? I’ve never owned a hybrid before so I don’t know what to expect. The sound is similar to the electronic emergency brake noise but happens when I brake sometimes. My car is brand new 2025s
The hybrid does make a lot of strange noises that a gas car doesn’t make. I think I recognize the sound you are referring to and it is completely normal. Enjoy your new car!
after going through so many car reviews and the lexus's by far seem to have satisfied the customer the best, not a single bad thing to be said about these cars.
Your fuel door seems to be broken. With my ES MY2024 it stays at least open, there is a build in mechanism for that. And when it is open the flimsy cap is not a big issue. You should get the door checked.
I’ve been contemplating getting a hybrid for years. I’m coming from a 2011 gs350 and it takes premium gas. It sounds like the hybrid would be great for gas mileage while also using regular unleaded gas. I guess my question is how is the maintenance? I mean do I have to go to the dealership to get things maintained? What about the EV batteries when they need to be replaced, wouldn’t that be expensive?
@@ryanhablitzel I just looked into it a little bit yesterday and I just now found out that hybrids don’t have starters, alternators, or drive belts. Also, I heard that the transmissions are less likely to fail than gas only vehicles. And the hybrid batteries should last anywhere from 150,000 miles to 300,000 miles or more. Or 15 to 20 years. That sounds great to me with what I’ll be saving with pricey gas at the pump. My next car will definitely be a hybrid now, I’m sold on them.
You are definitely qualified to review and you did justice to it after being used on uber if it stands out like this tehn this is what makes the decision final going to get it mostly because of its quietness
I do Premier, Comfort, and Uber X - it just depends on how busy things are. I’ve done a few rides in Orlando, but it’s a different market and has Uber Black not Premier.
Getting Uber Premier is rare in Tampa unless you are driving at a surge event. In my opinion, the Tampa market is over crowded with drivers and the money isn’t that good.
Thanks. The NYC market has plunged due to overwhelming drivers and TLC regulations. We can’t go online whenever we want. You can’t get a livery license plate since 2018 and can’t even drive for Uber in NYC. You will be placed on a waitlist that takes 2-3 years to get off.
So you drive Lyft Regular, Lyft Extra Comfort, Uber X, Green, Comfort, Premier? Is that's about it? Or any other class can qualify without paying for a commercial insurance?
No comercial insurance needed. It qualifies for all of the categories listed. I typically try to stick to Lyft Black, Uber Premier, and Comfort. When business is slow, I do Uber X sometimes. I typically don’t do Lyft regular or extra because it doesn’t pay well enough.
@ryanhablitzel I haven't. I use a 2017 accord hybrid touring for uber. I like the car but dislike the uncomfortable seats, rattly and squeaky plastics, Super loud wind and road noise. I want to change to the ES or maybe the 11th gen accord because they said it's quieter and more comfortable than ever.
I currently drive in Tampa, FL where Uber has “Premier” not Black. It does qualify for Premier which is a similar rate to Black. When I used to drive in Phoenix AZ, it did not qualify for Uber Black, but does qualify for Lyft Black.
@@ryanhablitzelThank you! Would you mind sharing the minimum fare you can get in Tampa with a Premier ride? And what year qualifies for Premier? Thanks again!
$2 a mile is typically the minimum for premier. The vehicle must be newer (typically not older than 5 years), but Uber lists all the requirements on their website for the various areas of service.
The nice option for this model is that it qualifies for Lyft Black and Uber Premiere, but can also work for Comfort or UberX when business is slow. It cashes in big at events in premium only mode.
Does the car's computer require you to change the oil at 5k? I don't think that's necessary unless the car tells your when to change. The car already factored in a buffer and oils last easily 10k miles.
The manufacturers recommended oil change interval is 10k. I choose to change the oil every 5k. It’s a simple extra step to give the car extra longevity in my opinion.
If you dive deeper into the specifics you’ll see that most people’s use doesn’t qualify for the 10k “recommended service and intervals. Oil changes aren’t expensive, just do 5k services.
Der ES 300h ist das Beste was es in seiner Klasse gibt.Das Fahrwerk ist ein Traum,weich und so super soft,aber so gut das auch Kurvenreiche fahrten Laune machen.Dazu diese Göttliche Ruhe.Mit Verstand gefahren schaft man 3,2-3.6 l Im Alltag 4,0-4,4 l Wer mehr Verbraucht denkt beim fahren nicht mit. Hybrid fahren bedeutet nicht schleichen,sondern die Physik Sinnvoll nutzen Probleme hatte ich noch nie. Km Heute 187300
@@PFinkoloTL87 Den genauen Reifen Name kenne ich nicht.Am besten beim Händler fragen. Meiner ist Michelin 235/45 R 18 94 W Dieser Reifen wurde für Lexus entwickelt da er sehr wenig Wiederstand bietet und damit Optimal zu niedrigem Verbrauch beiträgt.
50k miles/yr which equates to 5k oil change/mo and 10k tire rotation every other month. Dealership: "Didn't we just change the oil on this car a month ago?"
@@ryanhablitzel Prob because it was still under warranty and/or you have service contract and maintenance package with them? Otherwise I would just buy my own engine oil and filter, then visit a nearby trustable mechanic to do the oil change for me; while also visiting some tire center and get 4 new tires that comes with 80k warranty.
Oil changes are actually a great value at the dealership sometimes. I don’t trust just anyone to change the oil on my brand new car. Plus it is good for resale value.
@@ryanhablitzel True and I usually do that for the first 6-8 years on a brand new car when the dealership oil change is around $50 - $75 and comes with a carwash (Prob required 90 min). After 8 years I prefer to buy my own full synthetic oil in bulk and already have a reliable shop to do the change for me where I can also watch them doing the work (45 min) and I will wash myself.
I've had the exact same car for over 28 months. I like everything about it except one thing: the awful, black, fake wood. I really wish Lexus would have an option for real wood trim. This stuff looks like something off cheap plastic furniture from Walmart.
Hmmmm. I haven’t noticed. I wonder if the quality of the trim changes significantly various levels. This one is the Luxury package and looks great in my opinion. I get compliments from my passengers constantly.
ryanhablitzel I have the Ultra Luxury trim level, as it's called in Canada. I'm just surprised that Lexus has plastic wood in their cars, especially since they took such pride in the treatment process for their real, stained wood trim when the original LS400 came out.
@tonysterbenc It's certainly real on the steering wheel. But on the the dash? I'll have to take a closer look. I hope you're right. I still think it would have looked much better with a grey-stain woodgrain. I'm still looking for a aftermarket kit.
@@lawrencetaylor5407 You won't even tell much by looking, since all cars' wood is a very thin veneer glued to a plastic backing (which is why some people say "A-ha! Fake!" when they see real wood that looks fake at the edges). I've tried aftermarket, and your choices are unfortunately limited.
We stumbled upon one of these working as a taxi in San Sebastian. The driver told us he had several Mercs (E class) and they started giving him lots of trouble after 100K miles, to the point they weren't worth owning. He told us he had had the ES hybrid for 233K miles with zero issues.
Which generation year of the ES did he have ?
These things are workhorses for sure!
Thank you for commenting. This is exactly what I needed to hear. I typically keep my cars for over 10 years and I was concerned about getting the hybrid because of the possibility of replacing the battery. 233K miles is awesome!!!!
@@Gnosis33it was a facelift versión so probably post-2017
I have the exact same model using for part time ride share. It now has 75k miles and 0 issues
Same deal for me 👍🏼
i have 2015, yours ?
I have a 23 ES300h with only 8,000 miles on it. Your video makes me happy knowing the future. Love this car... I keep the little screen on the left on the fuel economy screen... Looking down and seeing 40 something is just good vibes every time.
Car is solid 😎
Awesome review. Hybrid vehicles are the future, not EVs, especially Toyota and Honda; they are magnificent. And you changing the oil every 5,000 miles is the best thing you've ever done for your car.
This is my first hybrid, but I’m definitely sold. Very happy with this vehicle!
@@ryanhablitzel Great car indeed, enjoy it
The future is a long time. Burning gas isn't the future. EVs will be predominant in 10 years (make that 15 because Trump will kill anything pro-EV)
This car is the one, I'm using it on Uber Black and boy I'm very happy with it, Lexus got it right with this one, it's also a head turner due to it's uniqueness and quiet confidence.
It qualifies for Uber Black in your area? I was able to only use it for Lyft Black and Uber Premier. It didn’t qualify for Uber black in my areas of service.
@@ryanhablitzel I'm in South Africa, sorry I forgot to mention that bit, it does qualify in my country but there's very few Lexus Uber Blacks, the most are BMW's and Mercs
Cool to know!
I have a 2024 Lexus ES300H Ultra Luxury in Cloudburst gray exterior and Acorn interior and it's by far the best car I have owned.
Ultra Luxury 😳
I also have a '23 ES300h UL and have to say it is the most comfortable, smoothest car I've ever owned. Mine only has 13k miles on it though 😄😄 I hope to keep it a long time!
Mine is still smooth at 50k!
Pro tip for improving the MPG. Add Shell Midgrade or above. It will improve your fuel efficiency. No idea why though, but only Shell Midgrade works.
I rented and drove one of these to Phoenix a year ago. It was averaging around 43mpg. Once I refueled it with Shell Midgrade, the MPG went up 47 in 120 degree heat. That was just absolutely bonkers. Try it out and let me know if it works for you.
Wow! That’s weird. I never buy gas at Shell
@@ryanhablitzel I didn't either. Then the pandemic hit and the Shell gas station had the lowest price in town. At the time I was driving a Ford Fusion Hybrid and I remember how my MPG went instantly from 43-44 to 45-47. Then I read the owners manual that it's recommended for the summer especially in high heat to switch to mid grade fuel. So I did just that.
Now I live in the desert of Nevada. The temperatures here can get up to 120 on certain days. Usually my MPG plummets on my Ford Fusion Hybrid to about 33-38 depending on my if I drive day or night. However once the heat was over, I noticed that I was averaging around 50 MPG on mid grade shell, which was mind blowing for me. However for whatever reason, there is no effect if you go to premium 91 gasoline. No idea why, but the benefits cap out at the midgrade fuel.
So naturally, I assumed the same thing for the 2021 Lexus ES Hybrid that I drove. What I didn't expect is to get 47-48 MPG in 120 degree weather while driving up and down the mountain roads of Arizona. After this I knew this is the next car I want to own.
That’s wild! I’m going to try the mid grade next time and see what happens!
Hi there. I just bought ES300h yesterday. I notice that sometimes I hear an electronic noise when I’m braking. From my research I think this could be the brake actuator pumping, which I hear is normal. Did this stand out to you when you bought it? Did you get used to it? I’ve never owned a hybrid before so I don’t know what to expect. The sound is similar to the electronic emergency brake noise but happens when I brake sometimes. My car is brand new 2025s
The hybrid does make a lot of strange noises that a gas car doesn’t make. I think I recognize the sound you are referring to and it is completely normal. Enjoy your new car!
Haha, I knew I recognized where you were driving. That's Tampa, and you're in the parking lot for Jackson's. I loved that restuarant!
lol your right 🌆
after going through so many car reviews and the lexus's by far seem to have satisfied the customer the best, not a single bad thing to be said about these cars.
They are solid 🏆
Great review! This is what we need to know rather than how good the car is when it is new! Surely going to consider getting this one in the future!
Right on 👍🏼
Your fuel door seems to be broken.
With my ES MY2024 it stays at least open, there is a build in mechanism for that. And when it is open the flimsy cap is not a big issue. You should get the door checked.
Interesting. The fuel door has been that way for me since day one with zero miles.
Mine is kinda floppy too. 2023 ES 300h f sport trim with 16k miles.
I’ve been contemplating getting a hybrid for years. I’m coming from a 2011 gs350 and it takes premium gas. It sounds like the hybrid would be great for gas mileage while also using regular unleaded gas. I guess my question is how is the maintenance? I mean do I have to go to the dealership to get things maintained? What about the EV batteries when they need to be replaced, wouldn’t that be expensive?
Maintenance on the hybrid is simple just like the 350. I have had zero issues with the 300h.
@@ryanhablitzel I just looked into it a little bit yesterday and I just now found out that hybrids don’t have starters, alternators, or drive belts. Also, I heard that the transmissions are less likely to fail than gas only vehicles. And the hybrid batteries should last anywhere from 150,000 miles to 300,000 miles or more. Or 15 to 20 years. That sounds great to me with what I’ll be saving with pricey gas at the pump. My next car will definitely be a hybrid now, I’m sold on them.
The Mark Levinson system is also top notch!
My passenger love it when I crank it up for them!
Any thoughts or information on how long the battery will last?
I had other Toyota users say that they drove their hybrid well over 200,000 miles without any issues
Did you relocate to Tampa from Arizona? is it better?
I did relocate to Tampa. Arizona is much better 😳
You are definitely qualified to review and you did justice to it after being used on uber if it stands out like this tehn this is what makes the decision final going to get it mostly because of its quietness
Still running smooth and quiet at 75000 miles 👏🏼
Hi,
Do you only do Uber Premier or UberX also? And if you drive in Tampa, do you always get trios within Tampa or all over FL?
Thank you!
I do Premier, Comfort, and Uber X - it just depends on how busy things are. I’ve done a few rides in Orlando, but it’s a different market and has Uber Black not Premier.
Getting Uber Premier is rare in Tampa unless you are driving at a surge event. In my opinion, the Tampa market is over crowded with drivers and the money isn’t that good.
@@ryanhablitzelWhich location in FL do you suggest driving Uber? Currently, I drive in NYC.
Orlando or Miami would be a better market than Tampa in Florida, but they will likely be a downgrade in business from the NYC market.
Thanks. The NYC market has plunged due to overwhelming drivers and TLC regulations. We can’t go online whenever we want. You can’t get a livery license plate since 2018 and can’t even drive for Uber in NYC. You will be placed on a waitlist that takes 2-3 years to get off.
Does it start without any issues with battery if left off road for two months or so
I have never left it out of service for longer than 2 weeks. Never had an issue with the battery.
So you drive Lyft Regular, Lyft Extra Comfort, Uber X, Green, Comfort, Premier? Is that's about it? Or any other class can qualify without paying for a commercial insurance?
No comercial insurance needed. It qualifies for all of the categories listed. I typically try to stick to Lyft Black, Uber Premier, and Comfort. When business is slow, I do Uber X sometimes. I typically don’t do Lyft regular or extra because it doesn’t pay well enough.
@@ryanhablitzel got it! Wish you make tons of money and be safe out there!
Nice comprehensive review. Nice welding goggles too! 😁
😆
Nice review. I recently purchased the same model, 2021 ES300H UL. Have you found a way for both climate controls to synch with driver side?
They sync to the drivers side control when I tried the car on if I don’t use the passenger side control.
Great car! How many large suitcases you can fit in a trunk? Is it spacious enough?
The trunk is HUGE. I’ve always had enough room for large suitcases. Even fits large golf club bags too.
Have you been in the 11th gen accord hybrid touring?
I haven’t. Is it any good?
@ryanhablitzel I haven't. I use a 2017 accord hybrid touring for uber. I like the car but dislike the uncomfortable seats, rattly and squeaky plastics, Super loud wind and road noise. I want to change to the ES or maybe the 11th gen accord because they said it's quieter and more comfortable than ever.
The ES is a smooth operating machine 👌🏼
Is it ok to use regular gas to fill this car up? what gas you use?
Yes! It takes regular fuel. Premium fuel NOT required! It’s a gas saving machine all round!
@@ryanhablitzel Great!
Omg, i could never take my lexus through a brush car wash. Why do that when they have touchless.
Haha. I also have let thousands of random strangers into the car too 😂
Where do you drive for Uber?
Does it qualify for Uber Black?
I currently drive in Tampa, FL where Uber has “Premier” not Black. It does qualify for Premier which is a similar rate to Black. When I used to drive in Phoenix AZ, it did not qualify for Uber Black, but does qualify for Lyft Black.
@@ryanhablitzelThank you!
Would you mind sharing the minimum fare you can get in Tampa with a Premier ride?
And what year qualifies for Premier?
Thanks again!
$2 a mile is typically the minimum for premier. The vehicle must be newer (typically not older than 5 years), but Uber lists all the requirements on their website for the various areas of service.
Was it worth buying it for rideshare? Like did it pay out big?
The nice option for this model is that it qualifies for Lyft Black and Uber Premiere, but can also work for Comfort or UberX when business is slow. It cashes in big at events in premium only mode.
what tint do you have ?
Xpel 20% ceramic on the back and sides. 70% on the front.
@@ryanhablitzelDo you notice any haze on that ceramic tint?
No haze. I don’t even notice that the tint is there anymore. Crystal clear
Does the infotainment support android??
Absolutely!
Does the car's computer require you to change the oil at 5k? I don't think that's necessary unless the car tells your when to change. The car already factored in a buffer and oils last easily 10k miles.
The manufacturers recommended oil change interval is 10k. I choose to change the oil every 5k. It’s a simple extra step to give the car extra longevity in my opinion.
If you dive deeper into the specifics you’ll see that most people’s use doesn’t qualify for the 10k “recommended service and intervals. Oil changes aren’t expensive, just do 5k services.
Agreed. Cheap way to extend your cars life for thousands of miles.
Der ES 300h ist das Beste was
es in seiner Klasse gibt.Das
Fahrwerk ist ein Traum,weich
und so super soft,aber so gut
das auch Kurvenreiche fahrten
Laune machen.Dazu diese
Göttliche Ruhe.Mit Verstand
gefahren schaft man 3,2-3.6 l
Im Alltag 4,0-4,4 l
Wer mehr Verbraucht denkt
beim fahren nicht mit.
Hybrid fahren bedeutet nicht
schleichen,sondern die
Physik Sinnvoll nutzen
Probleme hatte ich noch nie.
Km Heute 187300
🤓
Welche Reifen sind montiert - Marke, Modell? Which tires are mounted - brand and model?
Bemerkenswerter Verbrauch. Noteworthy fuel economy.
@@PFinkoloTL87 Michelin,235 ,18 Zoll
@@Markus-dx9oy Okay, danke. Welcher Typ Michelin? Ich frage weil ich einen Reifen suche, der tatsächlich geringen Rollwiderstand hat.
@@PFinkoloTL87 Den
genauen Reifen Name kenne
ich nicht.Am besten beim
Händler fragen.
Meiner ist Michelin
235/45 R 18 94 W
Dieser Reifen wurde für
Lexus entwickelt da er
sehr wenig Wiederstand
bietet und damit Optimal
zu niedrigem Verbrauch
beiträgt.
50,000 miles is nothing report when you get to 500,000 bro
😎
Glad you had comparison to the Tesla when it comes to quality
Lexus is far superior 😎
50k miles/yr which equates to 5k oil change/mo and 10k tire rotation every other month. Dealership: "Didn't we just change the oil on this car a month ago?"
They always take my money with a smile every month 🤓
@@ryanhablitzel Prob because it was still under warranty and/or you have service contract and maintenance package with them? Otherwise I would just buy my own engine oil and filter, then visit a nearby trustable mechanic to do the oil change for me; while also visiting some tire center and get 4 new tires that comes with 80k warranty.
Oil changes are actually a great value at the dealership sometimes. I don’t trust just anyone to change the oil on my brand new car. Plus it is good for resale value.
@@ryanhablitzel True and I usually do that for the first 6-8 years on a brand new car when the dealership oil change is around $50 - $75 and comes with a carwash (Prob required 90 min). After 8 years I prefer to buy my own full synthetic oil in bulk and already have a reliable shop to do the change for me where I can also watch them doing the work (45 min) and I will wash myself.
You remind me of cyclops from X-Men. Just saying, i think it's cool.
lol thanks 😎
Hi wow i subscribed
😎
Are you in witness protection? Otherwise take off the ski googles please. No heated rear seats?
😎
HA! The sunglasses made me chuckle 🤪
No heated rear seats, even as an option. Which is doubly weird, since the Avalon offered them.
I've had the exact same car for over 28 months. I like everything about it except one thing: the awful, black, fake wood. I really wish Lexus would have an option for real wood trim. This stuff looks like something off cheap plastic furniture from Walmart.
Hmmmm. I haven’t noticed. I wonder if the quality of the trim changes significantly various levels. This one is the Luxury package and looks great in my opinion. I get compliments from my passengers constantly.
ryanhablitzel I have the Ultra Luxury trim level, as it's called in Canada. I'm just surprised that Lexus has plastic wood in their cars, especially since they took such pride in the treatment process for their real, stained wood trim when the original LS400 came out.
You're mistaken. The black wood is real; it's ash, stained black. I have it too, and I hear you, but that's the fact.
@tonysterbenc It's certainly real on the steering wheel. But on the the dash? I'll have to take a closer look. I hope you're right.
I still think it would have looked much better with a grey-stain woodgrain. I'm still looking for a aftermarket kit.
@@lawrencetaylor5407 You won't even tell much by looking, since all cars' wood is a very thin veneer glued to a plastic backing (which is why some people say "A-ha! Fake!" when they see real wood that looks fake at the edges). I've tried aftermarket, and your choices are unfortunately limited.
so this is UBER car ?
Yes. It’s used for Uber & Lyft
Amazing reliability 🫡
Absolutely