Eastlife Spring 2020

Motoring
This year, 2020, is a special because it’s a leap year, so we have an extra day
in February. It only occurs every four years, so on Saturday 29 February 2020 I
am planning to do something that in my world is special to me. This will include
driving on open roads, in a relaxing luxurious environment in a special car.
And this week I have found just that car, the Lexus ES300h. The seventh-generation
family saloon is absolutely gorgeous, with impressive exterior styling and
a ‘stop and stare’ presence on the road.
For long distance journeys, the saloon has been named the nation’s most
reliable car brand for a second year running in the Auto Trader new car awards,
based on a survey of more than 63,000 car owners. Sales of the ES300h have
increased by eight per cent. which I don’t find surprising as the interior is luxurious
and holds a feeling of cool comfort and surreal silence.
The quality cabin has a driver centric cockpit with all the controls within easy
reach and all the information in plain view. In particular, I like the head up
display which projects relevant vehicle information onto the windscreen in the
driver’s line of sight. All cars should have this instant access to figures showing
speed, fuel level and gearshift as well as speed limit signs and navigation
directions.
Luckily, I don’t have to wait every four years to drive a Lexus which is always
a highlight in my driving life because I find them one of the most comfortable
cars on the market. Lexus has introduced a new Swing Valve Shock Absorber
with a world-first ultra-low velocity valve on the new ES. This innovation makes
sure an appropriate damping force is provided when even the slightest movement
is experienced in the car’s wheels and suspension, securing a comfortable,
unruffled ride and a stable feel, whether you are pulling away slowly, or
driving at speed on the motorway.
Lexus ES 300h
Written by Sue Cooke | Twitter: @cookecars
The independent vehicle safety testing organisation Euro NCAP has named
the ES as the best performing model in its Large Family Car and new Hybrid
and Electric Car categories. Lexus is flooding the market with a success of new
models and around 99 per cent of the cars it sells in the UK are self-charging hybrids.
The ES I road tested was powered by an all new fourth generation Hybrid
Drive system, a 2.5 litre engine and new battery.
Traditionally women can propose on Leap Day and if you are looking for a car
to take you to the church on your special day, then you couldn’t choose better
than the luxurious and impressive looking Lexus ES300h.
Fast Facts
Model: Lexus ES Hybrid 300h
Price: £35,155otr
Engine: 2.5 litre petrol and 120bhp electric
motor
Performance: 0-62 in 8.9 seconds and on to
a top speed of 112 mph
CO2 emissions: WLTP 48.49 to 53.55mpg
Combined fuel consumption: 34mpg WLTP
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