Lexus ES: Best Luxury Midsize Car for the Money

Let’s get this out of the way upfront: the Lexus ES is not the most fun-to-drive sedan you can buy (look at the Audi A3 for a car that’s a good value and fun to drive). The thing is, most of us don’t spend the majority of our time behind the wheel attacking curves and mashing the accelerator. We spend our time in the car commuting or running errands – and that’s where the Lexus ES really shines. It’s a competent and comfortable partner for daily life.

The ES features a cabin that’s upscale and an engine with plenty of power for daily driving. It doesn’t have sporty handling, but it has the kind of ride the quiets road noise and smooths potholes, so you don’t get beaten down by your daily drive to work. The ES also has one of the lowest starting prices in the class and excellent ownership costs, so your wallet won’t get beaten down by the ES either.

For about $3,000 more, you can get a hybrid version of the ES that gets 40 mpg.