If you’re looking to get behind the wheel of a luxury car, but prices for new models are just too high, the used market is the place to go. However, one of the biggest things you have to worry about when buying used, especially if you’re aiming for luxury, is reliability.
Buying a used luxury car that is around five years old is the sweet spot for balancing value with reliability. These cars will still have a ton of life left in them and are likely to be much cheaper than new models. Of the cars around this age, one luxury sedan stands out due to its sturdy build quality and impressive value.
By exploring some of the most popular and highly rated luxury sedans, we’ve found a used model that will definitely stand the test of time. We explore the opinions of owners and authoritative sources to understand the sedan’s overall reliability as well as taking a look at how much it will cost on average to get one in your driveway.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Lexus websites and other authoritative sources, including J.D. Power, Edmunds, CarEdge, RepairPal, the EPA, and TopSpeed.
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The 2020 Lexus ES Is a Five-Year-Old Bargain
It is no surprise that if you’re looking for a particularly reliable used luxury car, that it would wear a Lexus badge. Opting for the 2020 Lexus ES means that you can get a sedan without a lot of its usable life left at a price that is really hard to argue with. It also offers all the modern comforts you could want.
Average Used Pricing
|
Model |
Average Used Price |
|---|---|
|
ES 350 |
$29,602 |
|
ES 300h |
$29,781 |
|
ES 350 F Sport |
$30,398 |
|
ES 300h Luxury |
$32,224 |
|
ES 350 Luxury |
$33,208 |
|
ES 300h Ultra Luxury |
$33,724 |
|
ES 350 Ultra Luxury |
$34,650 |
The 2020 model year of the Lexus ES comes in two distinct flavors, the gas-powered 350 and the hybrid 300h. Prices for the two models are pretty similar at the moment, with the top trim hybrids being a little cheaper than their gas-only counterparts. Compared to buying a brand-new ES, you’d be saving yourself at least $10,000.
The 2020 model year of the ES is also a part of the same generation as the 2025 model. There have been two facelifts this generation, for the 2022 model year and the 2025 model year, though both were mostly cosmetic. The main thing you miss out on by going with the 2020 model is touch controls for the infotainment screen.
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The ES Is One of the Most Reliable Luxury Sedans You Can Buy
When it comes to reliability, Lexus sits at the top of the stack. In recent years, they’ve even been considered to be more reliable than their mainstream sibling brand, Toyota. That’s why it isn’t all that surprising that the 2020 ES is one of the most reliable five-year-old cars out there.
Reliability and Owner Opinions
Owners of the 2020 Lexus ES, and every ES from this generation for that matter, absolutely love the luxury sedan. Owners of the ES 350 gave it a 4.9 out of five for reliability and owners of the ES 300h gave the hybrid five out of five. Testimonials show that reliability was a big factor in owners buying the sedan.
I have owned Lexus ES 350’s over many years. My current ES is definitely the most outstanding. It has great styling, comfortable and quiet ride. Every Lexus that I owned had excellent reliability. Have received many compliments on the looks.
It isn’t just owners who rate the ES highly. Authoritative sites like J.D. Power also believe they are built to be sturdy. Collating multiple data points, J.D. Power awards the ES an overall score of 84 out of 100 for quality and reliability. This puts it among some of the most reliable luxury cars on the road.
Maintenance and Repair Costs
- Average Annual Maintenance Costs: $468 (RepairPal)
- Average Ten-Year Maintenance Costs: $5,945 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 3
One of the best things about owning a Lexus is that your maintenance costs are much lower than almost every other luxury brand. The ES is a great example of this. CarEdge estimates that the Lexus ES costs $3,845 less to maintain over ten years than the average luxury sedan.
In that same ten-year period, CarEdge estimates that there is only a 15.6 percent chance that the sedan will need a major repair, which is anything that costs $500 or more. This is over 13 percent less than the average for its class. This proves that owning an ES is significantly cheaper in the long run than owning most other luxury sedans.
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The Gas and Hybrid Engines Are Both Silky Smooth
Whether you opt for the ES 350 or the ES 300h, you’ll find that refinement is the name of the game with this Lexus. Everything is designed to keep you as comfortable as possible, without sacrificing too much power. However, if performance is what you’re after, you might be a little disappointed.
Performance Specifications
|
Engine |
3.5-Liter Naturally Aspirated V-6 |
2.5-Liter Hybrid Inline-Four |
|---|---|---|
|
Transmission |
8-Speed Automatic |
CVT |
|
Horsepower |
302 HP |
215 HP |
|
Torque |
267 LB-FT |
163 LB-FT |
|
Driveline |
FWD |
FWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
6.1 Seconds |
8.3 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
135 MPH |
116 MPH |
Despite having similar ideologies, the ES 350 and the ES 300h obviously prioritize very different things. The V-6 under the hood of the ES 350 offers a decent amount of power, giving it plenty of go when you put your foot to the floor. The hybrid, however, makes efficiency the most important factor.
Neither model is particularly sporty, though. While the ES 350 isn’t slow off the line, its competitors are quicker. It also isn’t particularly athletic for its class. It being front-wheel drive suggests that Lexus didn’t mean for it to be, though. The ES instead focuses on delivering a plush and comfortable ride, something that it does quite effortlessly.
Fuel Economy
|
Model |
City |
Highway |
Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ES 300h |
43 MPG |
44 MPG |
44 MPG |
|
ES 350 |
22 MPG |
32 MPG |
26 MPG |
|
ES 350 F Sport |
22 MPG |
31 MPG |
25 MPG |
Compared to the gas-only model, the hybrid is leagues ahead when it comes to efficiency. In fact, the ES 300h is the most efficient hybrid luxury sedan that you can buy. This is where you have to decide whether the added power and performance of the V-6 is worth the additional fuel costs over the years.
The F Sport model offers a tighter suspension tune and larger wheels, which is why it is slightly less efficient than other ES 350 models.
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A Classy and Comfortable Cabin Awaits You in the Lexus ES
As we’ve already mentioned, the 2020 model year of the ES is apart of the most current generation for the mid-size luxury sedan. That means that it comes with all the most modern technology. While the ES can’t compete with its rivals when it comes to sportiness, its interior luxury is indisputable.
Comfort and Cargo
Lexus finds a nice middle ground between contemporary styling and functionality, with an asymmetrical dashboard that mixes physical controls with digital screens. High-quality soft-touch materials cover every surface in the 2020 ES, including the seats which feature leather upholstery. Most impressive, though, is how good of a job Lexus has done at insulating the cabin from noise, delivering a truly serene experience.
The ES is also plenty spacious, with even those in the back being able to stretch their legs. Dual-zone climate control also helps keep all passengers comfortable. There is also an impressive 17 cubic feet of space in the trunk, which is more than many of the sedan’s key competitors.
Infotainment and Technology
While the 2020 model year doesn’t get the upgraded infotainment system that you’d find on the most modern, post-facelifted models, it is still more than serviceable. An eight-inch infotainment screen is standard on all models. For the 2020 model year, Android Auto became standard on all models, joining Apple CarPlay.
A ten-speaker sound system is standard, but you can upgrade to a 17-speaker Mark Levinson system instead, which will certainly please audiophiles. You can also expect the usual standard features, such as Bluetooth connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and GPS navigation, which are all standard amenities.
