Honda HR-V vs Lexus ES
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Honda HR-V scores higher, 74 vs 73
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 29 Oct 2026, price 29 Oct 2026
Honda HR-V
12 of 27 standard · no option data · 15 no dataFrom
$29,900
est. RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 89kW
- Economy
- 6.2 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★4 · 2022
- Boot (seats up)
- 304L
Top CarSorted Score, 74 vs 73
Honda Australia offer: Free servicing, ends 31 Jan 2027. Terms
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Lexus ES
17 of 27 standard · no option data · 10 no dataFrom
$75,000
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- Sedan
- Fuel type
- Hybrid
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 144kW
- Economy
- 4.5 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 493L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Manufacturer offer
Ends 31 Jan 2027
Manufacturer's terms: while stocks last
Offer from Honda Australia, checked 10 Nov 2026
T&Cs apply, as the manufacturer prints them. Eligibility, stock and build limits vary, so confirm the offer with the dealer.
Lexus ES: we're still completing kerb weight, torque, 0-100km/h, ground clearance and turning circle, plus 1 other.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$29,900est. RRP
- no option data for this car
$75,000RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Honda HR-V Vi X
$29,900
Estimated RRP (the brand lists drive-away prices only), before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
$32,900 drive-away in VIC, as published by Honda Australia
About $129 a week in repayments ($32,900 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Lexus ES ES 300h Luxury
$75,000
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $324 a week in repayments ($75,000 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
CarSorted
Looking for your next car?
We help you research it, compare it and ask for a price.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$129/wk(≈$559/mo)
Estimate on the Honda HR-V at $32,900 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Honda HR-VDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Lexus ES a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 5 of 10 key systems on the Honda HR-V and 4 on the Lexus ES.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Honda HR-V
- REC-005932 · published 2 Apr 2024This is a re-notification of REC-000585.Year range on the notice: 2017 - 2020
- REC-000585 · published 14 Jul 2020Due to an improper manufacturing process, a component within the fuel pump could swell causing the fuel pump to become inoperative.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2021
Lexus ES
- REC-005374 · published 6 Apr 2020The fuel pump on affected vehicles may stop operating.Year range on the notice: 2013 - 2019
- REC-005366 · published 31 Jul 2019Some brake booster pumps may be manufactured improperly, and may cause the brake assist function to stop operating while driving.Year range on the notice: 2019
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The Honda HR-V features a 9-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Lexus ES gets a 14-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Honda HR-V stands out with Apple CarPlay — features our data doesn't list for the Lexus ES. The Lexus ES counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, panoramic roof, heated front seats and power tailgate. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Honda HR-V gets cloth upholstery while the Lexus ES offers nulux (synthetic leather). Climate control is 1-zone in the Honda HR-V and 2-zone in the Lexus ES.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Honda HR-V uses a Petrol producing 89kW and 145Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a FWD layout.
The Lexus ES responds with a Petrol making 144kW, paired to a cvt driving the front wheels.
The Lexus ES has the clear power advantage at 144kW vs 89kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Honda HR-V measures 4,345mm long on a 2,610mm wheelbase, 800mm shorter than the Lexus ES at 5,145mm (2,950mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus ES generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 304L in the Honda HR-V and 493L in the Lexus ES, giving the Lexus ES a 189L advantage.
The Honda HR-V turns in a 11.0 m circle, kerb to kerb; the Lexus ES's turning circle is not on our record.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Honda HR-V costs about $1,767 a year (6.2 L/100km) and fuel for the Lexus ES about $1,283 a year (4.5 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $484 a year less for the Lexus ES.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Honda HR-V) and 5 years / Unlimited (Lexus ES). Capped-price servicing: 5 years (Honda HR-V), no data (Lexus ES).
Where each one leads
The Honda HR-V: nothing in the figures we hold puts it ahead of the Lexus ES.
The Lexus ES: more power (144kW against 89kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (493L against 304L) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,283 a year against $1,767).
The Verdict
Honda HR-V scores higher, 74 vs 73
The Honda HR-V scores 74 to the Lexus ES's 73 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 0 of the 3 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: fuel economy (Lexus ES ahead by 15 points), safety (Honda HR-V ahead by 11 points), value (Honda HR-V ahead by 11 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Lexus ES costs about $484 less (4.5 L/100km against 6.2 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 304L in the Honda HR-V, 493L in the Lexus ES.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$129/wk(≈$559/mo)
Estimate on the Honda HR-V at $32,900 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Honda HR-VDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Honda HR-V and Lexus ES?
The Honda HR-V is the cheapest at $29,900 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Lexus ES by $45,100.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Lexus ES uses the least fuel at 4.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Honda HR-V holds a 4-star ANCAP rating (tested 2022). ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Lexus ES, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Lexus ES has the largest boot at 493L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Honda HR-V has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,000kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Lexus ES makes the most power at 144kW.
Track the Honda HR-V & Lexus ES
Get price-drop alerts on these models plus our free weekly new-car rundown. Unsubscribe anytime.
How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Comments (0)
Sign in to join the conversation
No comments yet. Be the first!
