As Lexus continues to advance the styling of their products, they continue to lead with impressive hybrid offerings. The first luxury brand to introduce a hybrid vehicle nearly 10 years ago, Lexus continues its hybrid leadership by offering the 2014 Lexus ES 300h sedan powered by the innovative Hybrid Synergy Drive. We spent a fun-filled week driving the luxuriously appointed 2014 Lexus ES 300h sedan and can appreciate why folks just flat-out love this car!

The ES 300h cuts a striking figure, highlighted by the Lexus spindle grille dramatic L-themed LED daytime running lights and coupe-like profile. The car’s shape cheats the wind with a low 0.27 coefficient of drag (Cd), which helps reduce fuel consumption and minimize wind noise. The ES 300h conveys its hybrid status in subtle ways, with specific split-five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, lip spoiler, hidden exhaust pipe and blue hybrid badges. The cerulean blue metallic paint stood out on the road and is one of the cleanest colors when it comes to maintaining that clean look. The striking looks are enhanced by the new generation ES 300h gains LED fog lamps with HID headlamps.

There is no mistaking a Lexus when you enter the cabin space, as top of the line materials and ergonomically placed controls are right at your disposal. The original ES sedan upended the entry luxury category nearly 25 years ago by making a V6 standard in a category populated by four-cylinder models, and by offering more interior room and more standard luxury amenities. Lexus continues to set the trend in the entry-luxury category by virtue of a unique two-model strategy. The front-wheel drive ES models emphasize roominess and comfort, and the sport-minded IS models, which are built on a different platform, offer a choice between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. In contrast, other brands try to mold one model series to fit both roles.

The ES 300h is built on the sixth-generation ES platform, which grew slightly in external size over the previous-generation model and added a significant 4.1 inches in rear seat legroom to offer 40 inches. That compares favorably with legroom in some larger sedans All told, the Lexus ES continues to belie the term “entry luxury” by offering sumptuous accommodations. The ES 300h comes standard with 10-way adjustable power front seats, automatic climate control, NuLuxe interior available in parchment, light gray or black and with elegant piano black trim for instrument panel, doors and upper console. Other interior trim options include espresso bird’s eye maple or bamboo. Also available, 12-way heated/ventilated power front seats allow the seat cushions to extend by 1.4 inches for added leg support.

Several options enable the customer to take luxury to an even higher level, including Premium and Luxury packages, and, bringing flagship-style luxury to the ES 300h, the Ultra Luxury Package. The optional Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) helps detect vehicles in side blind spots and alerts the driver to rear cross traffic when backing out of a parking space or driveway. Lexus has long set the standard for adding function while maintaining easy-to-use controls. That becomes evident in the way the ES 300h cockpit is divided into separate display and operation zones to help the driver remain focused on the road. Large, clear Optitron gauges, a Lexus mainstay, are supplemented by a 3.5-inch color TFT multi-information display screen that puts vital information directly in the driver’s line of sight.

The ES 300h’s second-generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI), included with the Navigation/Premium Audio Package, provides access to many vehicle functions while helping to reduce driver movement and distraction. Using the system controller on the center console, the driver can intuitively operate the climate control, audio system, phone, optional navigation system and more. Menus display in the 3.5-inch instrument panel screen or larger center dashboard screens that come with audio and navigation options. The ultra-quiet ES 300h cabin makes the perfect listening stage for the standard Lexus Premium Sound System. The eight-speaker system plays from a variety of sources, including the in-dash CD player, USB/iPod connectivity and an integrated SiriusXM Satellite Radio receiver with an all-access 90-day trial subscription. Automatic Sound Levelizer (ASL) adjusts system volume in response to ambient noise. The ES 300h offers two audio upgrades. The first level upgrade is the Display Audio package, which adds a seven-inch screen, HD radio with iTunes tagging, Bluetooth audio, phone transfer, a vehicle information display and a rear backup camera.

Lexus has expanded connectivity in its vehicles while helping to reduce driver distraction. The foundation of this capability, Lexus Enform, can make a compatible Bluetooth smartphone even smarter. The available Enform service, with Destination Assist, eDestination and App Suite, comes with the Navigation System/Mark Levinson Audio Package. Lexus Enform provides access to the subscription-free App Suite. These voice-enabled apps let you search the Internet through Bing, make restaurant reservations through OpenTable, get movie tickets via MovieTickets.com, listen to Internet radio, including Pandora and iHeartRadio, search business reviews on Yelp, and check in on Facebook Places.

We were somewhat surprised with the firm ride in the Lexus ES 300h sedan, but surprised in a very positive way. It’s not easy to pull off a firm and agile ride in a larger sedan like the ES 300h, but Lexus did it with style. The overall ride is still smooth, but there is that performance based chassis underneath the skin that reaches the right balance between luxury and road-hugging suspension. It is also a car with striking fuel economy figures, delivering EPA fuel economy ratings of 40 mpg city / 39 mpg highway / 40 mpg combined. That makes the ES 300h one of the most fuel-efficient luxury sedans available.

The ES 300h model’s Hybrid Synergy Drive combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine with an electric motor to generate 200 total system horsepower. Teamed to the system’s electronic continuously variable transmission, the powertrain can move the ES 300h in rapid fashion, with zero to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. The ES 300h driver can exert control over the car’s responses by selecting from among four modes: Normal, Sport, Eco and EV. In certain conditions, while in EV mode, the car can be driven short distances at reduced speed, using only the power from the hybrid battery pack. Normal mode provides an ideal blend of performance and efficiency for everyday driving. Eco mode favors fuel economy, and Sport mode increases powertrain responsiveness for a more engaging driving experience. The ride is also complimented by large and comfortable seats that are some of the best in the market.

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With a car like the 2014 Lexus ES 300h sedan – featuring the premium package, including Lexus memory system for seating, outside mirrors and steering wheel, bamboo wood interior trim, remote keyless entry linked memory – I was somewhat astonished that the sticker price was only $44,710. When you spend a week driving a car like the 2014 Lexus ES 300h sedan and soak in everything that is offered, one comes away with a better understanding why Lexus is Lexus!