2021 Lexus ES 250 vs. Mercedes C 300
2021 Lexus ES 250 vs. 2021 Mercedes C 300
Overview
Are you trying to decide between the 2021 Lexus ES 250 and the Mercedes C 300? These two sporty, luxurious sedans would both make a great choice for your next purchase, but there are some differences you should know about as you make your choice.
Exterior (Overall Design)
When it comes to the overall design of these two cars, both look nice, but only one looks gorgeous. The Lexus stands out--you can't read a single review of this car without wading through effusive comments on the eye-catching styling. This is a 21st century, aggressive-looking sedan with a sporty grille, sweeping lines, and tires you can tell were made to hug the corners. Next to it, the Mercedes looks smooth, and even sexy at points, but also just a bit older. It does not have the fresh look the Lexus has achieved. And where the Lexus is equally pretty from every angle, the Mercedes looks amazing in spots but ho-hum in others.
Interior Features
Interior features on both of these cars, as you would expect, are crafted meticulously from high-quality materials. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and the door openings are nice and wide. Getting into the Mercedes, you have to slide rather than drop, and it's just not quite as easy as it is with the Lexus. We also noticed that, once in, the Lexus leaves a little space between the front seats and the door panels in a way that makes it feel spacious. One big difference is in the controls. Everything in the Lexus is particularly easy to reach, and while the Mercedes isn't hard to reach, it's just not quite as intuitive. Perhaps more importantly, the controls in the Mercedes go too far towards the minimal. If you're a person who doesn't want to have to memorize a slew of voice control commands or try to navigate a touchscreen while you're driving, you might find it aggravating there isn't more at your fingertips.
Engines
Both of these engines deliver plenty of power for the average driver. The Lexus, however, feels more stable and responsive around the turns. Its 4-cylinder, 2.5-liter engine gives you 184 lb-ft of torque and 203hp, and the 8-speed automatic transmission is slippery smooth, and gorgeous to drive with. The Mercedes brings a 9-speed automatic transmission to the game, but it doesn't shift more smoothly. It lags and is ever-so-faintly jerky. Another surprise, given that the Mercedes is a more expensive car to start with, is that you have to pay extra if you want anything other than rear-wheel drive. The Lexus comes with a sporty and responsive all-wheel drive standard.
Safety Features
Both of these cars get excellent marks from the NHTSA and the IIHS, including Top Safety Pick+ ratings. However, the Lexus stands out with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+. What makes this so amazing isn't that it has different tech than the Mercedes but that it has comprehensive safety tech as standard. You get things like lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more: all things you'll have to pay extra for with the Mercedes if you want them.