Compare the2019 BMW 4 Series Gran CoupeVS 2018 Lexus ES Series

The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The ES Series doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional Side and Top View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The ES Series only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the 4 Series Gran Coupe and the ES Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and blind spot warning systems.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the ES Series’ (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4 Series Gran Coupe for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Lexus only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the ES Series.

There are over 43 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s warranty.

The battery on the 4 Series Gran Coupe is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures which can degrade battery life. By keeping the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The ES Series’ battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 15th, below the industry average.

The 430i Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 48 more horsepower (248 vs. 200) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 199) than the ES 300h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4 cyl. hybrid. The 430i Gran Coupe’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 248) than the ES 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The 440i Gran Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo 6 cyl. produces 54 more horsepower (322 vs. 268) and 84 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 248) than the ES 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the 430i Gran Coupe is faster than the ES 300h:

On the EPA test cycle the 430i Gran Coupe RWD gets better fuel mileage than the ES 350 (24 city/34 hwy vs. 21 city/30 hwy).

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Lexus only offers a regenerative brake system on the ES Series Hybrid.

Regardless of its engine, the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the ES Series Hybrid.

For better stopping power the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s brake rotors are larger than those on the ES Series:

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the ES Series are solid, not vented.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe stops much shorter than the ES Series:

For better traction, the 4 Series Gran Coupe has larger standard tires than the ES Series (225/45R18 vs. 215/55R17).

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the ES Series’ standard 55 series tires. The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional 225/40R19 front and 255/35R19 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the ES Series’ optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 4 Series Gran Coupe has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the ES Series. The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the ES Series.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 4 Series Gran Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The ES Series doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The ES Series’ suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The ES Series doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the ES Series’ (59% to 41%). This gives the 4 Series Gran Coupe more stable handling and braking.

The 430i Gran Coupe handles at .89 G’s, while the ES 300h pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe is 10.6 inches shorter than the ES Series, making the 4 Series Gran Coupe easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has 2.4 inches more front headroom and .3 inches more front legroom than the ES Series.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has a larger trunk with its rear seat up than the ES 350 (17 vs. 15.2 cubic feet).

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The ES Series doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The ES Series doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The engine in the 4 Series Gran Coupe is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the ES Series. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The ES Series doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The ES Series doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the 4 Series Gran Coupe and the ES Series have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 4 Series Gran Coupe is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The ES Series prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The ES Series doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the 4 Series Gran Coupe offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The ES Series doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The ES Series’ power mirror controls are on the dash, hidden behind the steering wheel, where they are awkward to manipulate.

Both the 4 Series Gran Coupe and the ES Series offer optional heated front seats. The 4 Series Gran Coupe also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the ES Series.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The ES Series doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The BMW 4 Series comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Lexus ES Series isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is less expensive to operate than the ES Series because typical repairs cost much less on the 4 Series Gran Coupe than the ES Series, including $209 less for fuel injection, $67 less for front struts, $439 less for a timing belt/chain and $280 less for a power steering pump.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 4 Series Gran Coupe third among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The ES Series isn’t in the top three.

The 4 Series was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2014. The ES Series has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The 4 Series was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2014. The ES hasn’t been picked since 1991.