Lexus ES 250

The seventh-generation Lexus ES debuted a few years ago, and for 2021 the four-cylinder-powered ES 250 joins the V6-powered ES 350 and ES 300h hybrid models. It's not as powerful as the V6-equipped ES 350 — 203 horsepower compared to 302 hp — but it comes with just as many features and has a lower price. Plus, it has something no other ES model can claim: standard all-wheel drive.

Aside from the engine, the ES 250 is generally the same as the ES 350 and 300h. This is a comfortable and well-appointed midsize luxury sedan. But how much does having a modestly powered four-cylinder engine dampen the luxury car experience, especially compared to rivals such as the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class? Or should you get an ES 350 instead? Check out the categories of our Expert Rating below for our full in-depth evaluation.

Go for the ES 250 Luxury. This midlevel trim has many appealing extras over the base trim while keeping the price reasonable. Get the optional Mark Levinson audio system too; you'll definitely enjoy its superb sound quality. Don't bother with the F Sport, though — if you want a sporty Lexus, the IS 300 and 350 are better choices.

The ES 250 is available in four trim levels: Base, F Sport, Luxury and Ultra Luxury. All ES 250s are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (203 horsepower, 184 lb-ft) paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Unlike the other two models, all ES 250s come standard with all-wheel drive. Feature highlights include:

Base Comes reasonably well equipped with:

• 17-inch wheels
• LED headlights
• Sunroof
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Automatic climate control
• 8-inch touchscreen display
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa integration
• 10-speaker Pioneer audio system
• Lexus Enform connected services

Every ES 250 also comes with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which includes:

• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
• Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
• Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)

Optional for the base ES 250 is the Premium package. It adds:

• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Memory settings
• Power-adjustable steering wheel

F Sport As the name implies, the F Sport is the sportiest ES 250 trim available. Upgrades and features include:

• Standard Premium package
• 19-inch wheels
• Sport suspension
• Sportier exterior trim
• Thicker front seat bolstering

Luxury The Luxury trim builds off the base ES 250 and serves as a more comfortable counterpart to the F Sport trim. Features on the ES 250 Luxury include:

• Standard Premium package
• 18-inch wheels
• Wood interior trim
• Ambient interior lighting
• Perforated leather upholstery
• Additional driver's seat adjustments
• Power rear sunshade
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Rear parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking

Ultra Luxury The top-level Ultra Luxury trim includes features, adding:

• Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the ES 250 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• Heated wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel
• Upgraded leather upholstery
• Rear door sunshades
• Upgraded suspension
• Navigation system

Many of the extra features on the upper trims can be added to the lower trims as options. Other notable stand-alone options include:

• Upgraded headlights
• Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
• 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system (typically bundled with the navigation system)
• Wireless phone charger