Compare the2024 Lexus ESVS 2023 Mercedes E-Class Sedan

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

Safety

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The Lexus ES has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 E-Class Sedan.

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. Mercedes charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the E-Class Sedan.

Both the ES and the E-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, 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 Mercedes E-Class Sedan:

	ES	E-Class Sedan
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	120	190
Neck Injury Risk	24%	30%

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 Mercedes E-Class Sedan:

	ES	E-Class Sedan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	85	132
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1.1 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	541 lbs.	594 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	326	326
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	570 lbs.	836 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 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The E-Class Sedan has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the ES 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the E-Class 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 E-Class Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The ES’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the E-Class Sedan’s (6 vs. 5 years).

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 33 points higher than the E-Class Sedan and the Lexus ES is rated 38 points higher than the E-Class Sedan.

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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

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 Mercedes 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, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 24th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the ES gets better mileage than the E-Class Sedan:

			MPG
ES
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/44 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
E-Class Sedan
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/31 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/30 hwy

The ES can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The E-Class 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 E-Class 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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The ES stops shorter than the E-Class Sedan:

	ES	E-Class Sedan
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

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 E-Class Sedan; 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 maneuverability, the ES’ turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the E 350 Sedan’s (38 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The ES’ turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the E 450 4MATIC Sedan’s (38 feet vs. 39 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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The ES has .2 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and 3 inches more rear legroom than the E-Class Sedan.

Cargo Capacity

The ES has a larger trunk than the E-Class Sedan (13.9 vs. 13.1 cubic feet).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 48% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

Consumer Reports rated the ES’ headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the E-Class Sedan’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 E-Class Sedan 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 E-Class Sedan because it costs $154 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the ES than the E-Class Sedan, including $371 less for a water pump, $641 less for a muffler, $319 less for a starter, $88 less for fuel injection and $22 less for a fuel pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus ES, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes E-Class Sedan isn't recommended.

The Lexus ES outsold the Mercedes E-Class/CLS by over two to one during 2022.

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