Compare the2023 Lexus ESVS 2023 Toyota Camry

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

Safety

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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 Camry’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. Toyota charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the Camry.

The ES’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Camry doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the ES and the Camry have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 available around view 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 Toyota Camry:

	ES	Camry
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	120	140
Neck Stress	239 lbs.	262 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 Toyota Camry:

	ES	Camry
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	85	134
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Hip Force	264 lbs.	296 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	541 lbs.	752 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Hip Force	570 lbs.	622 lbs.

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

Warranty

The ES comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Camry’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the ES 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Camry. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Camry ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The ES’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Camry’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the ES has a standard 603-amp battery. The Camry’s 600-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the ES 350 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the Toyota Camry 4 cyl.:

	ES	Camry
Zero to 30 MPH	3 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	8 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.2 sec	5.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	91 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the ES gets better mileage than the Camry:

			MPG
ES
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/44 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/32 hwy
Camry
	FWD	LE/SE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/39 hwy
		Camry XLE 3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/33 hwy
		Camry XSE 3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/32 hwy
		XLE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/38 hwy
		TRD 3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/31 hwy

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

Regenerative brakes improve the ES Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Camry doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the ES Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Camry doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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 Camry doesn’t offer a CVT.

Suspension and Handling

The ES offers an available 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 Camry’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The ES has 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 Camry doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ES’ wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Camry (113 inches vs. 111.2 inches).

Chassis

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 Camry doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The ES has .3 inches more front legroom and 1.2 inches more rear legroom than the Camry.

Cargo Capacity

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

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the ES’ power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Camry doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 49% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the ES, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The Camry doesn’t offer a memory 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 Camry doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The ES’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Camry’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The ES’ optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Camry’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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

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 Camry doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The ES’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Camry and aren’t offered on the Camry Nightshade/TRD.

When the ES with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Camry’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The ES’ standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Camry offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The ES has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Camry TRD doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The ES has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is not available on the Camry TRD.

Both the ES and the Camry offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the ES has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Camry doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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 Camry is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the ES is less expensive to operate than the Camry because typical repairs cost less on the ES than the Camry, including $57 less for a water pump, $19 less for a starter, $29 less for fuel injection and $9 less for a fuel pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus ES and the Toyota Camry, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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