Compare the2024 Lexus ESVS 2023 BMW 3 Series Sedan

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
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 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The ES’ standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

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 3 Series Sedan’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 3 Series Sedan and the 3 Series Sedan’s Cross Traffic Warning does not include automatic braking.

Both the ES and the 3 Series Sedan 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors 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 BMW 3 Series Sedan:

	ES	3 Series Sedan
	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 3 Series Sedan:

	ES	3 Series Sedan
	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 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 3 Series Sedan has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the ES 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 3 Series Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the 3 Series Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the ES third among midsize premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The 3 Series Sedan isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 21 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.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the ES gets better mileage than the 3 Series Sedan:

			MPG
ES
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/44 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
3 Series Sedan
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/31 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/32 hwy

The ES can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The 3 Series Sedan can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lexus ES uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 3 Series Sedan requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a CVT.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the ES’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 3 Series Sedan (235/45R18 vs. 225/40R19).

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the ES’ turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan’s (38 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The ES has .4 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and 4 inches more rear legroom than the 3 Series Sedan.

The front step up height for the ES is 1.7 inches lower than the 3 Series Sedan (14.8” vs. 16.5”). The ES’ rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the 3 Series Sedan’s (15” vs. 16.3”).

Cargo Capacity

The ES has a larger trunk than the 3 Series Sedan (13.9 vs. 13 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’ 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 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan, 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 3 Series Sedan, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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

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