As a purveyor of premium Japanese products that have built a reputation for absolute reliability and solid construction, Lexus has made an impact on the high-end of the automotive sector since first debuting 33 years ago. In today's article, we will be looking at some models in the Lexus range to determine if any of them will make for good first cars.
Since we are dealing with a premium brand, we have to set a price cap, and since the least expensive Lexus is already R719 900, we have decided to cap our budget at R1.0-million for the purposes of this article.
Related: Find used Lexus models on AutoTrader here
What to look for in a first car
When looking for a first vehicle, there are several key considerations, namely price, safety, practicality and maintenance costs. Each individual has different needs when it comes to the issue of practicality, so this should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Similarly, the budget each person has for a first car way differ wildly from person to person, however, safety and maintenance costs should always be top priorities for a first-time buyer.
Lexus ES
The entry-point to the Lexus product range is the ES, a large luxury saloon car available with a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engine or a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engine paired with an electric motor in the hybrid variants. On paper, the ES appears to tick all of the boxes when it comes to what we look for in a first car. It has 5-Star safety, is practical, efficient, comes with a full maintenance plan and is the cheapest new Lexus currently available. Despite this, the ES is genuinely not the right vehicle type for a first-time buyer by virtue of its size and the fact that it's a luxury saloon, which is not generally considered an ideal first vehicle type.
Price:
| Lexus ES 250 EX | from R 719 900 |
| Lexus ES 300h EX | from R774 400 |
| Lexus ES 300h SE | from R948 400 |
Lexus UX
As the brand's most compact SUV, the UX boasts an acceptable 265-litre boot, offers seating for five occupants and sips fuel at a claimed rate of just 4.5 L/100km thanks to a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated motor paired with an electric motor. The electrified UX range will make for a great first car for those with the financial means to afford it thanks to its reasonably compact dimensions, practical interior, frugal powertrain, 5-Star safety and stylish crossover SUV design.
Price:
| Lexus UX 250h EX | R752 600 |
| Lexus UX 250h SE | R832 200 |
| Lexus UX 250h F Sport | R883 500 |
Lexus NX
Moving one up in the Lexus SUV line-up we find the new NX, which features the same 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engine seen in the ES, however, the solitary model that qualifies for our sub-R1.0-million budget also has all-wheel drive. With a voluminous 520-litre boot, 5-Star safety, reasonable fuel consumption and a full maintenance plan, the NX again meets our criteria but is excessively big for a first-time driver.
Price:
| Lexus NX 250 AWD EX | R 860 000 |
Lexus IS
The IS is a stalwart in the Lexus line-up having built up a reputation as a proper left-field alternative to the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The latest IS range offers a hybrid-only line-up, being powered by a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with an electric motor that sends the 164kW and 221Nm of torque to the rear wheels. Like the rest of the Lexus range, the IS has 5-Star safety credentials, a low fuel consumption figure of 5.2 L/100km, a full maintenance plan and a stylish design. Like its ES relative, the IS is simply not the right vehicle type for a first-time buyer, as we see the trend shifting towards hatchbacks and crossovers.
Price:
| Lexus IS 300h EX | R879 700 |
| Lexus IS 300h SE | R940 900 |
Verdict
When considering the three offerings listed above, we have to conclude that Lexus, despite producing great products, are generally not designed or marketed for the first-time buyer, instead being better suited to someone looking to upgrade from what they have been driving.
