The hybrid market is heating up, and the competition is fierce. Many automakers have recognized some consumers are still on the fence about buying electric, so they are offering a compromise with hybrids. Consumers are jumping at the chance, and the 2023 Lexus ES Hybrid is beating out its competitors, according to a recent report by U.S. News.

How does U.S. News choose its hybrid and electric winners?

U.S. News has again ranked the latest and greatest in hybrid and electric vehicles. There are some genuinely spectacular vehicles in this lineup, but the news site was able to choose a winner for several categories. 

According to U.S. News, “To build rankings in each of the eight award categories, we have combined U.S. News overall scores, starting MSRP, fuel economy, EV range and charging data from the EPA for 107 hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric cars. The winners have the best combination of quality, value, and capability in their segment.”

The 2023 Kia EV6 won the best electric vehicle, making it the ultimate winner for this study. The 2023 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid is the best plug-in hybrid, and the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning took home the best electric truck. 

Two SUVs made the list. The first is the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq, which was awarded the best luxury electric SUV. The 2023 Kia Niro is the best hybrid SUV. The 2023 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the best luxury electric car, and the 2023 Toyota Prius is the best hybrid car.

The best luxury hybrid award went to the 2023 Lexus ES Hybrid, which we will discuss in more detail.

The 2023 Lexus ES Hybrid is the Best Luxury Hybrid winner

U.S. News has awarded the 2023 Lexus ES Hybrid the Best Luxury Hybrid title for five years in a row, and there were three reasons for this. The first has to do with the luxurious amenities. When a luxury brand designs a vehicle, there is no room for shortcuts or cheap materials. Lexus understands this and designed an interior that is elevated with synthetic leather upholstery, a standard 8-inch touchscreen, and available wood trim.

The second reason why the ES Hybrid dominates the competition is fuel efficiency. It gets an estimated 44 mpg, which gives the ES Hybrid an estimated driving range of 700 miles.

The price point is the third reason the Lexus ES Hybrid won the best luxury hybrid award. Many luxury automakers have no problem slapping expensive price tags on their vehicles, but Lexus didn’t do that with the ES Hybrid. It has a starting price of $43,790, which makes it an affordable choice for many consumers. When you add in the money you’ll save thanks to the fantastic mileage, it’s easy to see why U.S. News thinks so highly of the 2023 Lexus ES Hybrid.

Our case for the 2023 Lexus ES Hybrid

The 2023 Lexus ES Hybrid is equipped with a 2.5-liter in-line 4-cylinder engine, which generates 215 hp. Lexus paired the engine with a high-output, permanent-magnet, electric-drive motor with EV mode. 

It’s not the fastest vehicle on the road, as it takes 8.1 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. The ES Hybrid’s top track speed is also 112 mph, which may not seem that impressive, but most daily drivers will never go this fast.

The price range for the ES Hybrid is $43,790 to $52,580. It may be a bit pricey, but if you can afford it, the ES Hybrid is worth your consideration.