If you're looking to get a modern hybrid at a bargain price, the used market is your best friend. Hybrids depreciate pretty quickly, and you can get slightly used, three-year-old models for an absolute steal. However, the first question that anyone asks when looking at used hybrids is 'Are they reliable?'. If you pick right, you could end up with a slightly used hybrid car that is more reliable than the many modern options on the market right now. Not only that, but it will also offer you one of the best, most luxurious packages in the mid-size segment. For that, your choice would have to be this 2022 MY sedan from Lexus.
By determining just how reliable this Japanese hybrid sedan is, especially against more modern rivals, we determine how this sedan is one of the best value used hybrids that you could get your hands on. We dive into owner testaments, expected maintenance costs, and how Lexus managed to make it such a sturdy sedan.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including J.D. Power, CarEdge, RepairPal, the EPA, and Consumer Reports.
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Posts The 2022 Lexus ES 300h Is Incredibly Reliable Close
Hybrid vehicles are generally considered to be less reliable than their gas-only counterparts. However, there are some vehicles that toss that thought aside, with a build quality that is clearly unmatched. If you're looking for a slighlty used hybrid, you can't get much better than the Lexus ES 300h, the mid-size luxury sedan that will likely outlive most of its rivals.
2022 ES Reliability And Maintenance
If you search through the reviews of verified owners, there are very few out there who have experienced any major problems with their ES 300h. While the 2022 model year isn't that old and shouldn't really be showing any major issues just yet, this reputation for sturdy build quality extends well past this model year. J.D. Power awarded the Lexus a fairly impressive score of 88 out of 100 for quality and reliability.
As far as maintenance goes, the ES is also one of the most affordable cars to maintain in its class, something that again breaks preconceived ideas about hybrids. CarEdge estimates that maintaining your ES 300h in its first ten years will cost $3,875 less than for the average luxury sedan. RepairPal concurs by estimating annual maintenance costs to sit at around $524.
Lexus ES Hybrid vs. Competition Reliability
Model
Reliability Score
2022 Lexus ES 300h
87/100
2024 BMW 5 Series
79/100
2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
83/100
2024 Audi A6
74/100
In the mid-size luxury segment, there is plenty of tough competition for the ES 300h. Leaders of the segment, like the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class all score significantly lower than the Lexus. This isn't a trend only seen in this segment, though. A score of 87 out of 100 is one of the highest reliability scores of any vehicle in 2022. The only competitor to the ES300h is the 2024 Genesis G80, which matches the Lexus' score.
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Posts A Sturdy Hybrid Inline-Four Powers The 2022 Lexus ES
One of the most important bits of mechanical engineering in a car is the engine. This is the most likely part to face issues and reliable cars tend to have fairly reliable engines. This is certainly the case for the 2022 ES 300h, which has a fantastic hybrid inline-four that is not only super reliable but will also save you tons of money on petrol.
Performance Specifications
Engine
2.5-Liter Naturally Aspirated Inline-Four + 2 AC Electric Motors
Battery
1.6-kWh Nickel-Metal-Hydride Battery Pack
Transmission
CVT
Horsepower
215 HP
Torque
163 LB-FT
Driveline
FWD
0-60 MPH
8.3 Seconds
Top Speed
116 MPH
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While not the most athletic car, the ES 300h has enough pep to get moving. Merging and overtaking on the highway should be no problem at all. The 2.5-liter four-banger produces a humble 176 horsepower, with the electric motor making up the difference. This means neither the engines nor the motor are being pushed too hard, a key factor in reliability.
Front-wheel drive is standard on all models, as is a continuously variable transmission. While many people worry about CVTs, there are loads of modern cars that prove they are more reliable than their reputation suggests. The most important factor for the ES 300h is efficiency, which is something that it offers in boatloads.
Fuel Economy
Model
City
Highway
Combined
2022 ES 300h
43 MPG
44 MPG
44 MPG
This Lexus puts fuel economy before all else, and it pays off. The ES 300h is one of the most efficient new cars on the market. it is also super consistent, with the EPA achieving nearly identical fuel economy figures in both their city and highway testing. Do note that as cars get older they start to become less efficient, meaning your used 2022 model year may not quite live up to these figures.
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Posts The 2022 Lexus ES Is An Absolute Bargain On The Used Market
With the average cost of new cars continuously skyrocketing, finding an affordable slightly used model with a high reliability score is something you should jump at. CarEdge puts the average price of a new car at $48,397, and the ES is well below that. The Lexus has done a decent amount of its depreciating and is now one of the best value-for-money three-year-old hybrids that you can buy.
Average Price Of A 2022 Lexus ES
Model
Average Used Price
Base
$36,415
Luxury
$39,620
Ultra Luxury
$42,517
F-Sport
$38,198
The average price of a 2022 Lexus ES is $37,692. The starting price of a Lexus ES 300h in 2022 sat at around $43,300. It is now almost $7,000 cheaper. This gap in price is pretty similar for just about every model, with the 2022 model being much more affordable across the board. Luxury cars depreciate quickly, and so do hybrids; hence, a luxury hybrid car depreciates even faster.
According to CarEdge, after the three-year mark, the ES 300h will continue to depreciate at a rate of about seven percent a year on average. This means that a used 2022 model year will have lost most of its value already, passing on the savings to you. While some hybrids hold their value in the first three years better than the ES 300h, after this point it holds its value better than most hybrid vehicles.
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Posts Lexus' Link To Toyota Has Helped It Become One Of The Most Reliable Hybrid Manufacturers
When you think of hybrid manufacturers that have been around for a long time, one of the first names that will pop in to your head is Toyota. As the luxury division of the Japanese brand, Lexus benefits from decades of engineering insight. Lexus has taken this insight and run with it, with many believing that the brand is even more reliable than their mainstream counterpart.
Toyota's History With Hybrids
While the first mass-produced hybrid car in the U.S. was the Honda Insight, Toyota wasn't far behind with the Prius. It launched in the U.S. in 1999 for the 2000 model year, and it changed the automotive landscape forever. While a somewhat humble little car, the Prius was a show of force for Toyota, who demonstrated that they could create an efficient and affordable car.
It took five years for Lexus to showcase their first hybrid electric vehicle, the RX400h. It was incredibly popular and pushed the brand in a new direction. Since then, Toyota, and by extension Lexus, has become on of the world's foremost producers of hybrids. With both brands having a pretty heavy focus on affordability and reliability, it is no wonder that the 2022 ES 300h is so sturdy.
Consumer Reports Ranks Lexus Higher Than Toyota
Every year, Consumer Reports does a ranking of the most reliable car brands on the market. This year Subaru came out on top, followed by Lexus and then Toyota. This isn't the first year that Lexus has scored ahead of its mainstream brand. Nowadays, the luxury brand is considered to have quality and reliability that are at least on par with their mainstream cousins, with certain models ranking even higher.
Regardless, this makes Lexus one of the most reliable car brands in the modern age, with only a handful of other manufacturers even able to compete with the Japanese giant.