2024 Lexus ES vs Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry and Lexus ES represent a similar recipe at different levels in the market and today we find out which is bestThese two cars represent steps in the automotive market, but which is the better value?
The 2024 Toyota Camry and Lexus ES are similar cars with the same chassis, engine options, drivetrains, and similar fuel economy. At the same time, they work in different segments of the automotive market. Which one is better though? To find out, we’ll compare all the above-mentioned features along with interior quality, ride comfort, value, and more.
Specs
The Lexus is priced between $43,190 and $53,480 depending on trim and options. Buyers can choose from three engines. First is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Dubbed the 250 by Lexus, it gets up to 25 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. Next is what Lexus calls the 350 which is a 3.5-liter V6 with 302 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. It’ll net up to 22 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway. Finally, Lexus also offers a hybrid four-cylinder, called 300h, that gets 43 mpg in the city and 44 on the highway. It makes 215 horsepower and Lexus won’t say how much torque it makes.
Toyota priced the 2024 model from $29,495 to $35,695 and it too comes with the same engines. Notably, Toyota doesn’t give each one a specific name but on average, it manages better fuel economy. The V6 gets the same 22mpg in the city but up to 33 on the highway. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder achieves up to 28 mpg in the city and 39 on the highway. Finally, the hybrid (which makes 208 horsepower) gets 51 mpg in the city and 53 on the highway. Those are significant jumps and they put the Lexus on the back foot when specs alone are considered. The four gas-only engines in both cars use an eight-speed automatic while the hybrids use a continuously variable transmission.
Driving and Performance
The pricing and interior quality of these two cars are certainly different but they drive almost identically. To that end, we’ll cover the highlights together. The base four-cylinder engine is unimpressive. As we point out in our full review of the 2024 Camry, it hasn’t made many leaps and bounds over the base engine from 20 years ago. The chassis feels good in the bends but it’s far from impressive. Thankfully, the steering and pedal feedback is also slightly above average.
The V6 that’s available in both cars and is no longer an option for the 2025 Camry, is the real driver’s gem in the bunch. It makes enough power to keep up with modern traffic without issue or stress. At the same time, neither Toyota nor Lexus offers it with all-wheel drive which is a big miss. Without that, it creates torque steer at will and sometimes without one’s will.
Finally, the hybrid is similar to the base four-cylinder in terms of performance but has one big downside and one big upside. First, the CVT drones and is very annoying (especially in the Camry) under hard prolonged acceleration. The plus side is that it does achieve outstanding fuel economy scores that prolong one’s need to drop by the fuel station.
Comfort and Interior
Here’s where these two cars divert significantly. The Toyota Camry, especially in LE or SE trim feels inexpensive and utilitarian. It’s perfectly well built. The fit and finish is fine. But it’s clear that this isn’t a premium automobile. Cloth is accompanied by faux metal and foam. Step up from there and things get a touch better. Piano black trim might attract fingerprints but it looks nice. Real and faux leather show up on the menu too. In terms of comfort, the Camry scores well. It’s spacious and supportive with great cushioning, legroom, and headroom for most folks.
The Lexus is, unsurprisingly, also comfortable, spacious, and supportive. At the same time, it offers a dramatically different level of interior luxury. Everything in the cabin appears expensive, even in the lower-end trims. The cabin is quieter on the road too thanks to additional sound insulation. On top of that, the ES is the only one here to offer a rear sunshade, rear window sunshades, genuine wood trim, a 17-inch Mark Levinson sound system, and a panoramic glass roof.
Trims and Features
The Camry comes in six different trims. Things start with the LE which is available with either four-cylinder engine. It also comes with 17-inch wheels, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, and a 7-inch infotainment system. Above it is the SE, available with the same engines and standard with 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. An SE Nightshade trim adds dark exterior trim and a spoiler.
Then, the XLE includes some luxury items like leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, and heated seats. It’s also available with the V6 in addition to the other two engines. The XSE adds V6 availability to the luxury from the XLE with sporty touches like 19-inch wheels. Gas-burning XSE versions get a sport-tuned exhaust. Finally, the TRD comes standard with the V6 along with sport-tuned suspension, faux leather upholstery, and a bunch of red accents.
The Lexus is a far more complex affair, but we’ll try to simplify it. Remember that it’s available with three engines, 250, 350, and 300h. On top of that, buyers can select from five main trim levels and combine each with the aforementioned engine options (In almost all cases). The base trim includes 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment system.
The F Sport Design adds 19-inch wheels and a rear spoiler. The Luxury trim includes 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, and leather upholstery. The F Sport Handling trim isn’t available with the 250 engine and gets a heated sport steering wheel, a performance-tuned adaptive suspension, and ventilated front seats. Finally, the Ultra Luxury trim has 18-inch wheels designed to reduce noise, a hands-free trunk, manual rear-door window shades, and a voice assistant.
The Verdict
Ultimately, this comparison comes down to purpose and practicality. The Lexus ES is a pseudo-luxury sedan going up against giants in the segment like the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and Audi A6. In terms of comfort, it does fine. Beyond that, it falls flat. The Camry on the other hand is just meant to be a nice reliable and comfortable mainstream people mover. It’s one of the best at that. It also eeks out slightly better fuel economy scores and costs less while being the same to drive as the Lexus. The Camry takes this one.
The comparison was excellent, I sat in a new high end Lexus in 2024 & it was no different from sitting on a board. I skipped the Lexus 100% because of it & bought a Lincoln. It was way more comfortable, but the massage seat took some of it away. What happened to the Cushey seats Lexus use to have ??