Compare the2023 Lexus ESVS 2023 Tesla Model S

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Tesla Model S doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The ES has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Model S doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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 Model S 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 Model S 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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the ES’ standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Model S doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The ES has standard Safety Connect®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model S doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the ES and the Model S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot 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 Tesla Model S:

	ES	Model S
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	120	129
Neck Injury Risk	24%	30%
Neck Stress	239 lbs.	247 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 Tesla Model S:

	ES	Model S
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	85	160
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Hip Force	264 lbs.	339 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	47 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	326	449
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	570 lbs.	785 lbs.

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 Model S does not qualify as a “Top Safety Pick.”

Warranty

There are over 59 percent more Lexus dealers than there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the ES’ warranty.

Reliability

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 37 points higher than the Model S and the Lexus ES is rated 42 points higher than the Model S.

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 Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Tesla is ranked 19th.

Tires and Wheels

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 Model S; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the ES’ turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Model S’ (38 feet vs. 40.3 feet).

Chassis

The Lexus ES may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 850 to 1000 pounds less than the Tesla Model S.

Passenger Space

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

The ES has .2 inches more front hip room, 3.7 inches more rear legroom and 4 inches more rear hip room than the Model S.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the ES offers cargo security. The Model S’ hatchback body style and non-lockable folding seat defeat cargo security.

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

Servicing Ease

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the ES to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, air filter replacement, tire rotation, radiator flush, brake pad replacement and transmission fluid replacement, vehicle inspection based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model S.

Ergonomics

The ES’ entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model S has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

The ES offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Model S doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The ES’ power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model S’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Model S’ headlights are rated “Poor.”

The ES’ standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model S doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

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 Model S 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 Model S doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

Model Availability

The ES is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Model S doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the ES owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the ES will cost $3765 to $12530 less than the Model S over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the ES is less expensive to operate than the Model S because typical repairs cost much less on the ES than the Model S, including $642 less for a water pump, $27 less for front brake pads and $1 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Lexus ES will be $45409 to $75857 less than for the Tesla Model S.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus ES, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Tesla Model S isn't recommended.

The Lexus ES outsold the Tesla Model S by 12% during 2022.

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