ES 2021

Nervous buying without testing more alternatives but after 18 months: not a single unplanned shop visit. Safety features have intervened twice on the motorway. Comfortable on long journeys, easy to park. Everything you want.

Functional but underwhelming. Ride is fine, fuel economy acceptable, reliable enough. But every time I get in I feel I settled. Looking at competitors for my next car.

Hits a sweet spot for me. Refined on the motorway, economical for commuting, practical for family. Only gripe is infotainment slow to connect to phone on startup. Build quality noticeably better than my previous car.

Reliability has been below the brand's reputation. Two dealer visits in the first year for issues that shouldn't exist on a new car. Interior quality also doesn't match the asking price.

Excited at purchase, reality more subdued. Positives: generous space, good fuel economy. Negatives: touchscreen freezes, rear wiper smears, lane-keeping too aggressive. Not bad but needs polish.

Bought for practicality, expected dull. Wrong. Chassis is genuinely sorted — accurate steering, good body control, eager engine. Makes you look forward to driving.

Spent more than budget allowed but the 2021 Lexus ES justified every dollar. Cruising at highway speeds is serene, seats are supportive over distance, tech is useful rather than gimmicky. Running costs lower than expected.

Bought on strong reviews and brand reputation. Ongoing electronic issues: infotainment crashed twice, emergency braking triggered unexpectedly three times. Dealer slow to acknowledge. Driving experience fine but reliability has soured everything.

The 2021 Lexus ES is competent transportation. Nothing went wrong, nothing impressed me either. If you just need a reliable appliance this will serve you fine. If you want something engaging, look elsewhere.

Just had my 2021 Lexus ES valued after three years — depreciation far lower than I budgeted. Trouble-free ownership. A genuinely smart long-term buy.