“Affordable luxury” tends to be an oxymoron, especially when referring to midsize luxury sedans. But the 2021 Lexus ES250 AWD might be the exception to the rule. Starting at $41,025, the 2021 Lexus ES250 AWD is a bargain compared to other competitors like the Genesis G80 or Volvo S90, both of which are at least $7,000 more expensive. Yes, the Lexus comes with some compromises, like its base naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. However, the ES250 offers an entry-level price point to the Lexus marque that other luxury automakers don’t offer buyers looking to step into their fold.

You get a nice first impression when you enter the 2021 Lexus ES250 AWD. Although the cabin doesn’t have an eyebrow-raising X-factor, it does give you a warm welcome. The available 12.3-inch screen is a nice start, and it displays modern graphics and supports full-screen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It all appears great until you touch the screen and notice you can only control it via the not-so-useful touchpad, making an easy task more difficult than it needs to be.

The big 12.3-inch screen with navigation is packaged together with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson system that sounds crisp, and the stereo ups the experience in the ES250. The upgrade costs $2,900, but it forces $2,615 in additional equipment, which makes it an expensive option. Both the screen and the premium audio system are fantastic, but they are not worth over $5,500.

Another great impression is the space and comfort found in the cabin. Almost every past Lexus ES was based on the same architecture as the Toyota Camry, but a few years ago Lexus adopted the Toyota Avalon platform for this model. The result is a larger and more spacious cabin—whether you sit in the front or rear seat. Space has always been a plus in the ES, but along with adopting the larger architecture, designers lowered the hip point to allow more headspace for rear-seat passengers. Regardless of where you sit, the leather feels soft and premium despite this being an entry-level luxury sedan.

Our test model also came equipped with a wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel ($300), and wood trim and ambient lighting ($740) throughout the interior, all of which definitely benefits the cabin’s look and feel.

Not all of our test drivers are fans of the center console’s design, but it befits a luxury car. The three-level setup gives the ES’ interior a sort of old-fashioned luxury feel, as opposed to the clean, minimalistic looks of many of today’s cars. The console’s design also allows quicker access to the air conditioning and radio controls. Meanwhile, the instrument cluster lacks a full digital display, something competitors have, but the optional 10.2-inch head-up display ($500) enhances the experience.

On a sad note, despite the great space inside the 2021 Lexus ES250, we missed having folding rear seats. This lack of versatility makes it impossible to fit larger items for the occasional trip to Ikea or Home Depot, and I personally missed them greatly when I wasn’t able to go surfing during my time driving it.

The 250 badge means this Lexus is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder non-turbo engine that makes 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. That’s way less than what the competition makes, but the ES is also available with the more powerful V-6 for the same money, driving the front wheels only. If performance is less important to you and perhaps you live in a place where it snows often, the ES250 AWD may be the one to get.

The modest torque and power curves mean this Lexus never feels dynamic or punchy. The engine note is surprisingly good, but unfortunately, it doesn’t match what the driver feels behind the wheel. But the Lexus doesn’t feel completely sleepy, either. On the track, the 2021 ES250 AWD made it to 60 mph in a lazy 8.2 seconds, but on the road, it feels adequate in terms of acceleration. Although the car doesn’t feel powerful, it also doesn’t feel lethargic.

Besides the unimpressive power delivery, an eight-speed automatic transmission works relatively well. It occasionally hunts for gears but generally shifts smoothly. The steering feels a bit bland in Normal mode, but Sport mode adds more weight and balance, something road test editor Chris Walton noted at the track. On the other hand, the ES’ ride is a refined and luxurious experience and one of the Lexus’ best attributes. No, the comfort is not comparable to what you get in our 2021 Car of the Year, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which offers Air Glide suspension for an impressive ride. But the Lexus ES comes standard with a strut front, multi-link rear suspension, making the ride surprisingly pleasant and serene—and even better than that of the new Genesis G80. Chief tester Walton also noted the ES displayed good body control through tight corners at the track.

Like in most Lexus models, there are three available drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport. Eco completely kills the engine power and makes the driving experience weaker, Normal delivers a regular drive, and Sport enhances the experience by tightening the steering response and sharpening the throttle and transmission mapping.

Like all new Lexus models, the 2021 ES250 AWD comes with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, a series of safety assists meant to make driving safer and reduce driver stress. Although dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing assist, and lane departure alert with steering assist are standard, buyers need to spend an extra $1,065 for the blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, which is packaged together with a parking assist technology. Although the ES is the least expensive sedan in its class, we wish blind-spot monitoring came standard.

The IIHS has not rated the ES250, but the ES350 received the highest mark: Top Safety Pick+.

The new 2021 Lexus ES250 AWD brings tremendous value to a luxury brand that’s known for building comfortable, reliable cars. If you don’t really care much about all-out performance but have a medium budget and are looking for a fair amount of interior space, luxury, and all-wheel drive, the ES250 is for you. Priced below the competition—at least to start—the ES provides a plush ride and a well-equipped cabin that, although not segment leading, brings a real luxury experience to its occupants.

Indeed, the ES is far from being the segment leader, but it does a lot of things well for a luxury midsize sedan. And with the addition of the 250 model and all-wheel drive, the ES should appeal to a broader audience. In this sense, the 2021 Lexus ES250 AWD does luxury right.

Show All