Compare the2023 Lexus ESVS 2023 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus ES have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Lexus ES are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The ES offers an optional Panoramic View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 2 Series Gran Coupe 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 ES and 2 Series Gran Coupe have rear cross-traffic warning, but the ES offers optional Rear Cross-Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic.

Both the ES and the 2 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ES the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 2 Series Gran Coupe last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the ES 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 2 Series Gran Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the 2 Series Gran Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Lexus ES Hybrid’s reliability 12 points higher than the 2 Series Gran Coupe and the Lexus ES is rated 17 points higher than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. BMW is ranked third.

As tested in Consumer Reports the ES 350 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the 228i Gran Coupe:

On the EPA test cycle the ES gets better mileage than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

The ES can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The 2 Series Gran Coupe can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The ES’ standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus ES higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (3 to 7). This means the ES produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 2 Series Gran Coupe every 15,000 miles.

The ES 300h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a CVT.

The ES stops shorter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ES’ wheelbase is 7.9 inches longer than on the 2 Series Gran Coupe (113 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the ES is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The ES F Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The ES has 1 inch more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 4.8 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

With its sedan body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the ES offers cargo security. The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the ES offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 31% lower rating, BMW is ranked 7th.

The ES’ optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The ES’ headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the ES has standard extendable sun visors. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer extendable visors.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the ES and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the ES Ultra Luxury to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the ES keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Insurance will cost less for the ES owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the ES will cost $1170 less than the 2 Series Gran Coupe over a five-year period.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus ES and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lexus ES outsold the BMW 2 Series by almost four to one during 2022.