Compare the2023 Lexus ESVS 2023 BMW 330e

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 330e 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 330e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The ES offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The 330e doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The ES offers an optional Panoramic View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 330e 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.

The ES has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the 330e’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the ES has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. BMW charges extra for Cross Traffic Warning on the 330e and the 330e’s Cross Traffic Warning does not include automatic braking.

Both the ES and the 330e 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, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lexus ES is safer than the BMW 330e:

	ES	330e
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	120	145
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	32 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus ES is safer than the BMW 330e:

	ES	330e
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	85	107
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	160 lbs.	179 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	300	305
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	47 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	39 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 330e has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the ES 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 330e. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the 330e ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Reliability

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.

Engine

The ES 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 14 more horsepower (302 vs. 288) than the 330e’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the ES gets better mileage than the 330e running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
ES
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/44 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
330e
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	22 city/30 hwy

The ES Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the 330e (13.2 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The ES’ standard fuel tank has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the 330e (15.9 vs. 10.6 gallons).

Transmission

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 330e doesn’t offer a CVT.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the ES’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 330e (235/45R18 vs. 225/40R19).

The ES has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the 330e; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the ES is .5 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the 330e.

For better maneuverability, the ES’ turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the 330e’s (38 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

Chassis

The Lexus ES may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 pounds less than the BMW 330e.

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 330e doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the ES a Mid-size car, while the 330e is rated a Compact.

The ES has 5.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 330e (99.9 vs. 94).

The ES has .4 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and 4 inches more rear legroom than the 330e.

The front step up height for the ES is 1.7 inches lower than the 330e (14.8” vs. 16.5”). The ES’ rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the 330e’s (15” vs. 16.3”).

Cargo Capacity

The ES has a larger trunk than the 330e (13.9 vs. 13.2 cubic feet).

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

The ES has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The 330e doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 330e doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 330e 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 330e doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the ES owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the ES with a number “1” insurance rate while the 330e is rated higher at a number “3” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the ES is less expensive to operate than the 330e because it costs $81 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the ES than the 330e, including $364 less for a water pump, $398 less for a muffler, $67 less for front brake pads, $91 less for a starter, $66 less for fuel injection and $130 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus ES and the BMW 330e, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lexus ES outsold the BMW 3 Series by 37% during 2022.