Ranked #237 car in the UK · Saloon · 286 units sold last year

Lexus ES

The Lexus ES (2018 on) is the quietly classy executive saloon - a comfort-led alternative to the German default that's effectively a more luxurious, hybrid-only relation of the Toyota Camry. The ES300h self-charging hybrid is hushed, frugal and famously dependable. Front-wheel drive and softly sprung, it majors on serenity and running-cost peace of mind rather than dynamic sparkle.

How these figures are sourced the valuation is anchored to a researched used-market price for this model (AutoTrader median, 2023 at 30k miles). Reliability, mileage and variant data are real DVSA MOT records. Dimensions, tyre sizes and costs, servicing figures and the insurance group are segment-level estimates rather than sourced per car, and are being replaced model by model.

Lexus ES
Photo: Alexander Migl via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Body
Saloon
Years
2018–2026
Fuel
Hybrid
Economy
51 mpg

combined

Insurance
Group 33

The short version

48/100

Forecourt score

Value 16 · Reliability 95 · Insurance 18 · catalogue percentiles

The Lexus ES loses value faster than most cars and costs about average to run. Its MOT-based reliability is excellent — an MOT score of 93/100, ahead of 99% of the cars we track. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 16% of models.

The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20) — the from-new ownership picture. Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.

Flip side for used buyers: heavy depreciation is the first owner’s loss and the used buyer’s discount — a reliable car with a low score here can be a strong used purchase at today’s prices.

Pick your version

Estimates are tuned to the version you choose.

Fuel

Hybrid · 2487cc

Power

218 ps

Drivetrain

FWD

Cam drive

Chain

Quoted MPG

51 mpg

Volume ES (UK-introduced 2019 to replace the GS). 2.5 hybrid, 218 PS, e-CVT. ~51 mpg in a near-D-segment exec saloon. Chain-driven Toyota hybrid drivetrain.

Tell us about the one you're looking at

2023
20182026
31,224 mi
0Expected: 31,224180k
good
PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.

Remembered as you browse other cars.

Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.

Estimated market value

How we got this number — click for the breakdown, or to challenge it.

£22,900

Range £18,650£27,500

medium confidence

When new (2023)circa £48,000Age-based value£24,230Mileage adjustment+£0Condition & region+£17Market calibration+£153Forecourt price£24,400Private sale£21,400Part-exchange£18,800
Buythis 3-year-old

Past the steep drop — most of the depreciation is behind it.

At 31,224 miles it’s about the ~30,006 typical for a 3-year-old.

Seen one for sale?

£

A data-led guide from the depreciation curve, UK parc trend and reliability — not financial advice.

The depreciation curve

How a 2023-registration Lexus ES loses value over time.

What it costs to own

Over

Based on the 2023 car with 31,224 miles you entered above — worth about £22,900 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 10,408 miles a year.

5-year total

£21,885

Per year

£4,377

All-in per mile

£0.42

Fuel per mile

13.7p

If a company carAround £535/mo Benefit-in-Kind tax at the 40% rate (£268/mo at 20%) — 30% band

Depreciation£6,528
Fuel / energy£7,137
Servicing£2,570
Road tax£1,000
Insurance£4,650

If you're a company-car driver

At 30% BIK, a 40% taxpayer would pay about £535/month in company-car tax (£268/month at 20%) — on top of the running costs above. Full BIK table below for context.

Best age to buy — around 2 years

A 2-year-old example loses roughly £5,950 a year — 64% less than the £16,500 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.

Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.

How it compares

Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.

Holds its valuebetter than 16%
Reliabilitybetter than 95%
Fuel economybetter than 88%
Cheap to insurebetter than 18%

Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV?

How the available versions compare on price, running cost, and the headaches each tends to develop.

ES 300h

Lexus's mid-size luxury saloon. Cross-shop BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, Audi A6, Genesis G80. ES is the value-luxury saloon — strong reliability + hybrid economy at lower price than Germans. UK saloon demand modest.

New price
circa £50,000
Annual fuel / energy
£1,300
3-yr depreciation
51%

Watch for

  • ·Minimal — Lexus 1st of 31 in 2025 Driver Power
  • ·e-CVT drones under hard acceleration
  • ·10-year hybrid battery warranty

Fuel/energy costs based on this week’s UK averages (w/c 03/08/2026) · Petrol 159.9p/L, Diesel 179.2p/L, Electricity 27.0p/kWh · DESNZ

Estimated insurance

Group 33 of 50 (upper-mid — pricier to insure) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB

Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.

3 years
0 yearsBaseline: 3 years15+
Risk profile:

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39

£930/ year

Roughly £78 per month

Typical

Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.
Age bandLower riskTypicalHigher risk
Age 17-25£2,120£2,651£3,446
Age 26-32£1,107£1,302£1,588
Age 33-39Selected£818£930£1,097
Age 40-49£695£772£895
Age 50+£619£688£812

How we estimate this

Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.

Expected annual costs

Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).

10,408 mi/yr
2,000UK avg for this model: 10,40830,000

Routine service

£290

Annual main-dealer service

Major service

£280

Every 2 years, annualised

Road tax

£200

Standard rate, post year-one

Fuel

£1,483

51 mpg, £1.60/L

Insurance

£930

Age 33-39, group 33

Clean-air zones

ULEZ compliant
  • Hybrid variants are compliant with London ULEZ and all UK clean-air zones.

Based on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.

Total expected£3,183 / year

Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).

Unexpected costs

What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.

0-30k miles

£120

per year · low risk

30-60k miles

£360

per year · low risk

60-100k miles

£780

per year · medium risk

100k+ miles

£1,350

per year · high risk

Tyres

205/60 R16 · 225/50 R17 · 245/40 R18

What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 24,000 miles.

Budget

£300

set of 4, fitted · £60 per tyre

Mid-range

£440

set of 4, fitted · £95 per tyre

Premium

£620

set of 4, fitted · £140 per tyre

What to fit

Optional extras worth paying for

Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.

OptionNew costAdded used valueReturn

Tow bar (factory-fit)

Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it.

£650£45069%

Parking sensors & reversing camera

Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns.

£500£30060%

Heated seats / cold-weather pack

£450£20044%

Adaptive / matrix LED headlights

£900£40044%

Metallic or premium paint

Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk.

£600£20033%

Panoramic / opening roof

£1,100£35032%

Advanced driver-assistance pack

£1,500£45030%

Larger alloy wheels

£700£20029%

Premium sound system

£800£20025%

Parts most likely to fail

Drawn from owner reports and warranty data. Filtered for relevance to 31,224 miles.

Watch now

Failure typically happens around your current mileage.

Upcoming

A known weak point — but you haven't reached its usual mileage yet.

Already due

Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.

Tyres & wheelsWatch now

Typical at 30k-60k milesCost £80-£500low severityParts high

Recorded in 4.1% of MOT tests 30k-60k miles — from 17,176 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Driver's viewUpcoming

Typical at 60k-100k milesCost £60-£300low severityParts high

Recorded in 0.8% of MOT tests 60k-100k miles — from 17,176 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

BrakesUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 1.2% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 17,176 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Lighting & signallingUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £15-£120low severityParts high

Recorded in 1.2% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 17,176 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

SuspensionUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£450low severityParts high

Recorded in 0.7% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 17,176 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Identification & otherUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £20-£150low severityParts high

Recorded in 0.5% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 17,176 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.

Safety rating

Euro NCAP's independent crash-test rating for the Lexus ES, from its 2018 assessment.

5/5
TEST YEAR2018
Rating lapsed after 2024 · protocol superseded

The passenger compartment of the ES remained stable in the frontal offset test.

Independent crash-test data from Euro NCAP. Star ratings reflect the test protocol of the year shown — newer protocols are stricter, so a 5-star from 2024 represents a higher bar than a 5-star from 2014. Euro NCAP ratings run for six years from publication; a lapsed rating means the protocol has moved on, not that the car performs any worse than it did on test.

MOT outlook

How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 18,239 real DVSA test records.

MOT pass rate by age

A 3-year-old ES passes its MOT 94.2% of the time; by 10 years that has slipped to 83.3%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.

Longevity

Not enough older examples yet to gauge longevity.

Survival by registration year

85%90%95%100%20192022

Each point is one registration cohort. Older cars on the left, newer on the right. A flatter line means the model holds up over time; a steep drop means cohorts disappear from UK roads faster.

What’s on the road

The fuel-type split of every ES with MOT history in the DVSA record. From 7,452 vehicles tested at least once - not the number on the road today, which is lower.

  • Hybrid 98.1%
  • Electric 1.6%

What fails at the first MOT

The defect categories a ES registered 2020–2023 fails on at its first MOT, from 4,491 first tests. Every car here is the same age and the same generation, so these are the faults that show up first - not the wear a high-mileage older example collects.

  • Tyres & wheels2.6%
  • Driver's view0.6%
  • Brakes0.3%
  • Suspension0.2%
  • Lighting & signalling0.1%
  • Electrical0.0%

Share of first MOT tests recording at least one defect in that category. DVSA test-item categories, not parts: “Driver’s view” covers mirrors, wipers and glass.

Typical mileage by age

The average odometer reading for a ES at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.

  • 3 yr30,006
  • 4 yr40,666
  • 5 yr52,723
  • 6 yr64,648
  • 7 yr75,722
  • 8 yr61,581
  • 9 yr82,306
  • 10 yr102,223

Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records. Ages below three are not shown: the first MOT is due at three years, so the few cars tested earlier are a self-selected minority rather than a representative sample. Ages with at least 10 tests shown.

Reliability

93/ 100

Excellent

First-MOT pass rate and defect rate for cars registered 2020 onward (4,491 first tests), with cohort survival — high confidence.

MOT outlook · age 5 years

93%first-time pass rate

99th percentileAmong the best in the catalogue

Based on 2,679 MOT tests · ranked against 248 catalogue models with comparable data

Where this car sits in the catalogue

0%50%90%

Pass-rate distribution across 248 catalogue models

Things owners say

  • 01The ES300h hybrid needs no plugging in and returns excellent real-world economy for the size.
  • 02Front-wheel drive and a soft setup make it a relaxed cruiser, not a back-road weapon.
  • 03Top of the Lexus reliability charts - a key reason owners keep them for the long haul.

Safety recalls

Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Lexus ES, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Theft risk

A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.

Whole-car theft

Higher

Higher-value cars like this are relay-theft targets — keyless entry can be exploited from the driveway in under a minute.

Parts theft

Higher

Hybrid versions are a catalytic-converter target — a hybrid cat is rich in precious metals and can be cut out in about a minute.

Worth doing

  • Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
  • A catalytic-converter guard or forensic marking makes a hybrid far less appealing to cut.
  • A visible steering lock is a cheap, strong deterrent on a frequently-targeted car.

Clean-air zones

Whether driving a Lexus ES into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.

Charging zones for cars

CityAreaDaily chargeLikely outcome
LondonAll of Greater London (within the M25)£12.50
Likely exempt
Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.
BirminghamInside the A4540 Middleway£8.00
Likely exempt
Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.
BristolCity centre and part of the Portway£9.00
Likely exempt
Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.
GlasgowCity centre
Likely exempt
Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.
EdinburghCity centre
Likely exempt
Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.
AberdeenCity centre
Likely exempt
Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.
DundeeCity centre
Likely exempt
Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4.

Zones that don't charge private cars

  • BathCity centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
  • BradfordOuter ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
  • SheffieldInside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
  • Newcastle & GatesheadCity centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
  • PortsmouthPart of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).

Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.

Company car tax

What HMRC's Benefit-in-Kind charge looks like if you ran this Lexus ES as a company car, by tax year and income-tax band. Calculated from a CO₂ of 121 g/km, using £53,500 as the P11D value.

Tax yearBIK %Tax @ 20%Tax @ 40%Monthly @ 20%Monthly @ 40%
2025-2629%£3,103£6,206£259£517
2026-2730%£3,210£6,420£268£535
2027-2831%£3,317£6,634£276£553
2028-2931%£3,317£6,634£276£553
2029-3031%£3,317£6,634£276£553

P11D value is approximated from the latest new price; the exact figure on your tax code will depend on options fitted. The 4% diesel surcharge applies only to non-RDE2 (pre-2021) diesels — we assume RDE2 compliance for current models. Bands and rates from HMRC's Autumn Budget 2024 confirmation through 2029/30.

Servicing & the dealer network

How well-supported Lexus is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.

Franchised UK dealers

~55

Limited network

Premium

Network size relative to the UK's largest (Lexus is 1.2% of all franchised outlets)

A limited network — you may need to travel for main-dealer servicing, though independent specialists can often help.

For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.

Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.

Dimensions & weight

These are segment estimates, not manufacturer figures. 296 of 325 catalogued cars share one of 14 identical dimension sets, so they describe a class rather than this particular car. Sourced figures replace them model by model.

Length

4,700 mm

Width

1,840 mm

Height

1,450 mm

Kerb weight

1,550 kg

Boot

460–480 L

Fuel tank

48 L

How many are still out there

How the UK Lexus ES fleet splits: taxed and on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, and gone from the register where that figure is available.

Currently registered

6,540

Currently taxed & on road

6,442

99% of all registered

SORN (off road)

98

1% of all registered

Scrapped or exported

n/a

not in this DfT extract

UK fleet trend — 2018 to 2025

+2.5% vs 2024
26,442

Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 29 Jul 2026

Same underpinnings

Built on the Toyota TNGA-K platform

TNGA platform for mid-size cars and SUVs. Different badges, often substantially different residuals, but broadly the same mechanicals and repair cost profile.

Toyota New Global Architecture (mid-size) · Toyota

Common questions

Lexus ES, answered from the data

Is the Lexus ES reliable?
The Lexus ES scores 93/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure, ahead of 99% of the cars we track. That is computed from 18,239 real DVSA MOT test results.
How much does a used Lexus ES cost?
A 2023 Lexus ES with around 31,224 miles is worth roughly £22,900 today (typical range £19,950–£25,800). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
How quickly does the Lexus ES depreciate?
A new Lexus ES typically loses about 49% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
What insurance group is the Lexus ES?
The Lexus ES sits in insurance group 33 of 50 — the more expensive end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
What goes wrong on a used Lexus ES?
The most common age-related issues we track for the Lexus ES are: tyres & wheels (typically around 30k-60k miles, £80-£500 to put right); driver's view (typically around 60k-100k miles, £60-£300 to put right); brakes (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£500 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
What does the Lexus ES cost to run?
Expect around 51 mpg combined on the ES 300h Premier, £200 a year in road tax, about £290 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.
Is the Lexus ES ULEZ compliant?
Most petrol Lexus ESs from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.
How many Lexus ESs are on UK roads?
About 6,442 Lexus ESs are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.

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