Compare the2025 Lexus ESVS 2025 Toyota Camry

Both the ES and the Camry 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, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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).

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’ reliability 19 points higher than the Camry.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked second.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Toyota is ranked third.

The ES has more powerful engines than the Camry:

As tested in Motor Trend the ES 350 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the Toyota Camry (232 HP engine):

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.

The ES’ standard fuel tank has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Camry (15.9 vs. 13 gallons).

The ES stops shorter than the Camry:

For better traction, the ES has larger standard tires than the Camry (215/55R17 vs. 205/65R16).

The ES’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Camry LE’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ES has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Camry LE.

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.

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).

The ES 350 F Sport Handling handles at .85 G’s, while the Camry XLE AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The ES 350 F Sport Handling executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Camry XLE AWD (26.5 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

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.

The ES has .3 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and 1.2 inches more rear legroom than the Camry.

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.

The ES uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Camry uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 42% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 24th.

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 Camry doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The ES’ standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Camry only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

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” by the IIHS, while the Camry’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the ES offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. 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 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.

Both the Lexus ES and Toyota Camry offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The ES offers optional power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Camry’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Lexus ES has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Toyota charges extra for Homelink® on the Camry.