BMW 3 Series vs Lexus ES

The BMW 3 Series starts from $89,900 before on-road costs, while the Lexus ES opens at $73,900. That makes the Lexus ES the more affordable entry point by $16,000.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $98,890 and $81,290 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Lexus ES by roughly $2,565 in fuel alone.

Both the BMW 3 Series and Lexus ES hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 97% for the BMW 3 Series and 95% for the Lexus ES.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Lexus ES packs more ADAS features with 7 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the BMW 3 Series.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BMW 3 Series and 8 in the Lexus ES. The Lexus ES adds a 360-degree camera that the BMW 3 Series misses.

The BMW 3 Series features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Lexus ES gets a 12.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW 3 Series stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Lexus ES. The Lexus ES counters with Apple CarPlay, head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats, power tailgate and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BMW 3 Series uses a Petrol producing 190kW and 400Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6 seconds.

The Lexus ES responds with a Hybrid making 160kW and 221Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.9 seconds.

The BMW 3 Series has the clear power advantage at 190kW vs 160kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW 3 Series is 2.9s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW 3 Series measures 4,709mm long on a 2,851mm wheelbase, 266mm shorter than the Lexus ES at 4,975mm (2,870mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus ES generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 480L in the BMW 3 Series and 473L in the Lexus ES, giving the BMW 3 Series a 7L advantage.

For towing, the BMW 3 Series leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 800kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,024/year for the BMW 3 Series and $1,511/year for the Lexus ES. That is a $513 annual difference in favour of the Lexus ES.

Estimated annual total: $2,024 (BMW 3 Series) vs $1,511 (Lexus ES). The Lexus ES saves you roughly $513 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW 3 Series) vs 4 years / 100,000km (Lexus ES). The BMW 3 Series has longer coverage. Capped-price servicing: —4yr (Lexus ES).