2017 marks the entry of Toyota’s luxury hand, Lexus in the Indian market. The Lexus ES300h is based on Toyota’s K platform which also underpins the Camry. 

As far as styling is concerned it definitely makes an impression and the signature Lexus spindle grille looks bold and the arrow-like LED daytime running lamps completes the premium front look. In outline the pronounced shoulder line, coupe-like roofline and well detailed multi-spoke alloys look nice. At the rear the signature L-shaped taillight, an integrated spoiler and shapely bumper looks really nice.

Where the Lexus ES has a luxurious appearance on the outside, the account once step inside isn’t as glowing. The curvy dash design definitely gets a big thumbs up from us, but it is in detail where the ES300H somewhat disappoints. 

Touch points like the steering, gear-lever, door handle and hand rest are all draped in rich hand stitched leather. But in most other places it is all covered in hard plastics and this is where ES300H’s price tag seems a bit too steep.

The tacky buttons and knobs on the centre console particularly disappoint and the fonts on them shout 1980’s rather than 2017. Like an iDrive system in a BMW, Lexus has its own Remote Touch Interface which honestly is not the easiest to operate. 

The front seats on the Lexus E300H are spot-on with right amount of suppleness and they hold you in place quite well too. Back seat too has loads of space, but surprisingly it isn’t as good as the Camry’s back bench which offers better thigh support and an adjustable backrest too.

The ES 300h comes with loads of equipment like 10 airbags, ESP, LED headlamps, sunroof, powered front seats with memory, rear sunblind, cooled front seats, three-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors and a reverse camera. 

The Lexus ES300h uses the same powertrain as found under the hood of the Toyota Camry Hybrid. This hybrid system comprises of two electric motors, referred to as MG1 and MG2 by Lexus. 

As compared to its rivals like the Mercedes E-class and the Volvo S90, the Lexus sedan is smaller in every direction but on the flip side despite the hybrid system it weighs less too.