Review: Lexus ES 250 F Sport facelift – Sometimes more is less

• The most expensive, range-topping variant
• Has less features than the cheaper Luxury variant
• Ride not as plush as expected from a Lexus

People say “Just be yourself” which essentially means staying true to your own identity or character, to act naturally rather than pretending to be different in order to gain approval. Having driven the Lexus ES 250 facelift in this F Sport guise, I think this saying is relevant to cars as well.

You see, the Lexus ES was created with an emphasis on comfort, quietness, and luxury against the likes of sport sedans. In many ways, it embodies what Lexus stands for albeit in a more attainable package compared to the flagship Lexus LS.

When the Lexus ES facelift arrived in Malaysia, the F Sport variant was introduced and now sits at the top of the ES range. The F Sport kit adds a bit of zest to the Lexus ES, making it look and feel… well, sportier. But personally, I’m not sold on the sporty treatment.

Also read: New 2021 Lexus ES 250 launched in Malaysia: adds F-Sport, upgraded LSS+, priced from RM 296k

Exterior – Still a sharp looker

Before we get into the whys, let’s have a glance at its exterior. Changes from the pre-facelift model are quite subtle to say the least; the headlamps are revised, featuring shorter LED DRLs and redesigned projectors, and that’s basically it.

Also read: New 2022 Lexus ES facelift debuts - Reloads its ammo against 5 Series and E-Class

Well, the Luxury variant does get new L-shaped inserts for the front grille but since we have the F Sport here, it’s unchanged from before as seen from overseas markets.

The exterior gets gloss black/dark chrome finishes as seen on the window surrounds and wheels, which does perhaps make it look bit more butch (trying to avoid the word “sporty” here… but looks like I’ve failed).

It’s still an extremely sharp and handsome-looking car, but my gripe on the exterior lies within those unsightly wheel gaps. Now, I’m all for suspension travel and comfort but as you’ll find out in a moment, these gaps don’t exactly translate to absolute comfort. Spoiler alert.

Interior – Love it or hate it

Open its door and you’ll immediate notice the red leather on the seats, door cards, and centre armrest. It’s not a bright and obnoxious red but I would still prefer it to be a little darker, more wine-like. Though some have said that they prefer to not have red seats entirely, personal preferences and all.

But there are a few things most, including myself, find agreeable with – the classy analogue clock, the movable metal ring on the instrument cluster (which is the F Sport’s party trick), and the unique rotary dials on each side on the instrument binnacle.

Build quality is faultless while the material choices are as good as the money will get you. The leather used is so supple that your other half might feel envious of the subconscious caressing. The door handles are cool to the touch and feels like it’s milled out of a single block of metal.

The power windows are near-silent in operation and slows down as it’s about to be completely shut, just like how the Japanese slowly closes their doors to be polite. It’s these little details that separates a Lexus from others.

The massive 12.3-inch infotainment display is now a touchscreen, which is good news because the touchpad is fiddly to use at best, especially if you’re right-handed. But the flipside is that the screen can quickly get covered in fingerprints.

Personally, I find that the graphics and user interface aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing, but it’s straightforward enough to use. One thing to note is that you have to enable Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in the settings because the system will not automatically prompt for it upon connection to your phone.

The 10-speaker Pioneer audio system sounds better than expected. You get full range of sound from lows to highs, without the bass rolling off in the lower registers. It’s also refined, clean, and is detailed enough to pick apart all the elements in your music. Which is lovely because all you’d want to do in the Lexus ES is to just cruise with your music on.

Complaints? Well, the F Sport doesn’t get three-zone climate control, memory function for the front passenger seat, rear seat control panel with reclining function, ambient lighting, and rear sun blinds. All of which are available in the cheaper Luxury variant. 

Space wise, it’s unbeatable on legroom while headroom is just about alright. To get more legroom, you’d have to climb your way to long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series.

Driving Experience – Soothes your soul

As aggressive as it may look, its driving experience is a soothing one. The entire experience from the spot-on driving position to the calibration of controls is just a cohesive and well-oiled package.

I find that the steering is perfectly weighted and feels more connected than any of the German offerings. There’s no variable ratio here, just good old fashion linearity. Throttle response is calibrated in a more relaxed approach, to set off from a standstill gracefully.

But relaxed can be a synonym for lazy. Sport mode is a solution, but it keeps engine revs higher than necessary in normal driving. Regardless of modes, acceleration is modest at best and I found myself wanting for more low-end torque, from either forced induction or electrification for effortless acceleration.

Once you realise the Lexus ES doesn’t like to be rushed, you’ll forget about the modes and cruise in a leisurely fashion. That’s where the ES truly shines, at a blissful cruise and not sporty (there’s that word again) driving.

Brakes are also calibrated for graceful stops. It’s easy to come to a complete stop without the final bit of jerkiness, important for chauffeuring. The progressive nature also makes it easy to modulate braking pressure and pedal feel is great.

Introduce some bends and the Lexus ES will oblige with poise and control. The excellent steering allows you to position the car with precision and the chassis feels tight. The body stays relatively flat and you don’t feel the weight transfer as much as say, the Toyota Camry on the same platform.

Many would like to draw comparisons with the Toyota Camry but there are enough calibration differences between the two for both to stand on their own. The Lexus ES does feel like a more sophisticated product, as it should.

Ride Comfort – An inch does make all the difference

Compared to the pre-facelift Luxury variant, the Lexus ES F Sport facelift feels noticeably stiffer, particularly through the sharper stuff. The 19-inch wheels with slimmer profile tyres are undoubtedly one of the causes, but the damping also feels firmer, if memory serves.

Impacts through sudden protrusions like exposed expansion joints or sharp bumps aren't as well-isolated as I would like. It’s not harsh, but it can be felt and I expected a more cosseting ride from a Lexus.

That being said, the ride sophistication is still there as minor imperfections are superbly filtered and there’s no jiggle or any sense of brittleness. Primary ride over larger undulations is perfect in my book. There’s zero floatiness from the taut damping but is pliant enough to flow on highways.

The sports seats are on the firmer side. There’s an initial plushness in the cushion then you’ll feel the firm base, which some might not appreciate. But in terms of sculpture and support, I think it’s among the best with Volvo. There’s no pressure points or gaps between my back and the seat, and feels wonderfully supportive.

The rear seats are plusher than the fronts, though it’s a shame that the F Sport variant loses out on the rear seat panel with reclining function.

Cabin insulation is exceptional and still our quietest car tested to date. You do notice some tyre roar at higher speeds but only because it’s the only source of noise and our ears love to hunt for noises.

Fuel Consumption

Over a course of 100.9 km with an average speed of 40 km/h, the Lexus ES F Sport facelift returned a fuel consumption figure of 7.9-litre/100 km. It’s an impressive figure considering its weight and engine capacity. The 40 percent thermal efficiency that Toyota claims seems quite believable.

Conclusion

Despite the more aggressive F Sport trim, the Lexus ES is still a gentle cruiser at its core. Sure, it’s sharpened up slightly in the ride and handling department but I would happily give all that back for uncompromised comfort.

More disappointingly, it gets less equipment than the Luxury variant whilst costing more. Because of this, I find it difficult to recommend the F Sport variant for those who are interested in the Lexus ES. 

Unless you’re really into the looks and red interior, I’d say go for the Luxury variant. It’s less expensive and you’re getting more for the money. It also wears a smaller set of wheels which will be more comfortable.

And let's face it, why would you want a Lexus ES to be sporty? It’s wrong-wheel drive in the first place. Forget sportiness and let the ES be an ES – comfortable, quiet, and luxurious. Bye-bye F Sport, hello Luxury.

Also read: Unpopular opinion: Carmakers don't care about your comfort anymore