Lexus expands ES300h range

LEXUS Australia has increased choice for its ES300h mid-size sedan range, with the line-up expanding from two variants to five with the inclusion of the F Sport grade as well as an Enhancement Pack for it and the entry-level Luxury variant.

Along with the new variants, some increases in specification have been applied to the existing Luxury and Sport Luxury variants, accompanied by $600 price increases that now see the range kick off from $60,488 plus on-road costs for the Luxury.

The two F Sport grades – the first time F Sport is offered on the ES – will serve as mid-range offerings for the range and usher in unique styling and suspension changes.

Styling upgrades for the F Sport include a mesh grille with jet black plating across the bumper profile and rear garnish, 19-inch F Sport alloy wheels, F Sport fender badging and triple-beam LED headlights with sequential indicators and adaptive high beams.

For the first time in Australia on an ES, the F Sport ushers in Lexus’ Adaptive Variable Suspension system with five drive modes, which the brand says ensures smooth driving in Normal mode and tighter handling responsiveness in Sport+.

The range-opening Luxury adds intelligent clearance sonar, which brakes the vehicle if the brake pedal is released with an object in front as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility for the 12.3-inch infotainment display.

Standard safety kit across the range includes the Lexus Safety System+ with pre-collision safety with pedestrian detection, autonomous emergency braking, active cruise control, lane-keep assist, a rearview camera and 10 airbags.

Also available for an $8387 premium on the Luxury is the Enhancement Pack, which bundles in a surround-view monitor, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking support brake system, 18-inch alloys, leather-accented seats, ventilated front seats, driver memory settings, a 14-way power-adjustable driver seat with four-way lumbar adjustment, an electric rear sunshade and special Shimamoku ornamentation on the steering wheel, instrument panel and door trims.

Moving up to the F Sport, along with the styling and suspension upgrades, the new variant also includes F Sport-embossed front seats, a perforated leather F Sport steering wheel and Hadori aluminium instrumentation.

The F Sport also comes with an Enhancement Pack option for $4000, which throws in a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, a heated steering wheel and power-operated boot with kick sensor.

Topping the range is the $75,488 Sports Luxury, which includes the features from the F Sport Enhancement pack and adds semi-aniline leather-accented seats, tri-zone climate control, rear door sunshades, heated rear seats with power recline functionality and unique 18-inch alloys.

Twelve exterior hues are available on the ES300h, with two colours – White Nova and Cobalt Mica – reserved exclusively for the F Sport.

No changes have been made to ubiquitous hybrid powertrain underpinning the whole range – a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electric motor for a combined output of 160kW sent to the front wheels.

Since the all-new generation was launched locally in September last year, ES sales have flourished, with the 406 new registrations through the first eight months of the year representing a 187.9 per cent increase over the same period last year.

2019 Lexus ES300h pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs