The Best Used Lexus To Buy

With its bulletproof reliability and high safety rating, the 2015 Lexus ES350 is the best used Lexus to buy.
Written by Melanie Johnson
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Lexus ES is the best used Lexus series to buy. In particular, the 2015 ES350 stands out for its incredible reliability, high safety ratings, and long list of luxury features.
The Lexus ES series is one of the world’s best midsize luxury cars. Though not known for its performance (it’s no sports car) this series stands out with its emphasis on luxury and best-in-class comfort. If a new Lexus is out of your price range, buying a used Lexus is a smart way to experience all the features that this luxury brand has to offer at a fraction of the price.
The first Lexus was released in 1989 and set a new standard for luxury cars. With so many excellent options to choose from, selecting a Lexus can feel like an overwhelming task. Not to worry—
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The best used Lexus to buy: 2015 Lexus ES350

Lexus, the luxury subsidiary of Toyota, is a prestigious Japanese brand that prides itself on reliability, safety, and, you guessed it: luxury. The entire ES series is highly respected, but the ES350, in particular, consistently ranks among the best midsize luxury cars for value.

What makes the 2015 Lexus ES350 a good used car?

There aren’t a lot of bad options when buying a used Lexus—so what sets the 2015
Lexus ES350
apart from the reliably outstanding fleet? 
We’ll consider its true cost to own, reliability, safety features, and customization to showcase why the ES350 is at the head of the pack. Let’s dig into these:
  • True cost to own: The actual price of owning a car includes maintenance and insurance costs. The best used Lexus should be a high-value purchase that is affordable to maintain, insure, and repair. It should hold its value over time.
  • Reliability: A used car owner’s greatest fear is buying a car that’s not built to last. You want a Lexus you can depend on for the long haul—not one that breaks down the second you pull away from the dealership. 
  • Safety features: One potential downside of buying a used vehicle is not having access to the most cutting-edge safety features. For the best used Lexus, we looked for a car that was years ahead in terms of safety ratings and emergency assistance features. 
  • Customization and styling: Though buying used means you won’t be able to pick and choose upgrades at the dealership, you should be able to purchase a used Lexus in a variety of body styles and trim levels. 
MORE: 7 things to look for when buying a used car 

The true cost of owning a 2015 Lexus ES350

A vehicle’s true cost of ownership includes purchase price, as well as its costs of operation—including maintenance, insurance, and loan costs. 
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: when you buy luxury, you’re usually signing up for high maintenance and repair costs. This is because the parts for these cars are more expensive than those for other vehicles. 
Luxury cars also cost more to insure since they are worth more—adding to the true cost of ownership. 
Okay, the bad news is over with—don’t despair! Since the 2015 ES350 gets impeccable marks for reliability and is cheaper to insure than many other Lexus models, the true cost to own this used car is more reasonable. Let’s take a peek at what goes into the true cost of owning a Lexus—particularly the ES350.

Purchase price

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for a 2015 Lexus ES350 starts around $40,000 for the base model, but many dealers offer slightly lower prices.
Even after all the bells and whistles, the full premium package ES350 generally comes in under $48,000.

Costs of operation

If you have a good credit score and can afford a sizable down payment, you can keep loan and interest payments low with a 2015 E350. 
To keep maintenance and insurance costs down, consider opting for a lower trim level on your ES350. Keep it to the base model, which offers many standard features. 
Depreciation costs for a 2015 ES350 are lower than for a new Lexus, which can lose as much as 50% of its value after five years. Since this model is already seven years old, you won’t lose as much of your financial investment through depreciation. 
Repair costs for the ES350 will not break the bank, either. 
According to RepairPal, the ES350s average annual
car repair
and maintenance costs are around $470—that’s $270 lower compared to other luxury midsize cars.
Furthermore, ES 350 owners typically bring their vehicles in for repairs less than once a year, and when they do, there is only a 6% probability of needing a major fix. As a point of comparison, the probability of major repairs in similar cars in the ES350s category is estimated at 12%.
To top it off, fuel costs for the ES350 are lower than many luxury vehicles because it doesn’t require premium gasoline. The ES350 has a minimum octane rating of 87, which means you can fill it with regular gasoline. Of course, if you’d like to use premium gasoline, you may do so, but using unleaded regular gasoline will inevitably save you money in the long run.
Key Takeaway An approachable MSRP, as well as lower repair, maintenance, and fuel costs make the 2015 Lexus ES350 comparatively low. 

Safety features of the 2015 Lexus ES350

The Lexus brand prides itself on its safety features—and its ES350 is no exception to this rule.
Boasting a wide range of safety technology, the 2015 ES350 has a
5.0 crash test rating
and includes the following features:
  • Ten airbags
  • Emergency assistance technology
  • Emergency and security systems
  • Lane departure warning system
  • Blind-spot alert
  • Stability and traction control
  • Front and rear parking sensors
  • Backup camera
The ES350 also received a five-star
NHTSA safety rating
in its collision tests for frontal and side crashes and four out of five for rollover crashes.
The crown jewel of Lexus’ safety features is its Emergency Assistance Button (SOS)—available in the ES350—which is connected to a 24-hour Safety Connect response center. Using GPS technology, the system connects drivers to emergency services in the event of an accident.

Is the 2015 Lexus ES350 a reliable used car? 

Lexus has a reputation for building some of the most consistently reliable vehicles.
From expert opinions to customer reviews, the verdict is the same: the 2015 Lexus ES350 is one of the most reliable used luxury cars on the market.
RepairPal gives the Lexus ES350 a
4.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating
—ranking it fourth out of 31 luxury midsize cars. With its lower maintenance and repair costs, this vehicle is built to last.
The key to helping your Lexus live up to its long-lasting potential is following a regular
car maintenance schedule
. Routine maintenance won’t just help you fend off the normal wear and tear that any car experiences—it will allow you to detect developing problems and avoid major repair bills.
With regular maintenance and conservative driving habits, a Lexus can easily last past 100,000 miles—250,000 to 300,000 being common lifetime mileages. You can expect to keep your Lexus for 15 to 20 years.
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Customization and styling

While your used car needs to be safe and reliable, it should also be comfortable and enjoyable to drive. The 2015 ES350 is elegant, luxurious, and provides timeless aesthetics and comfort. 
The ES350 is only available as a sedan. It’s sleek, but not sporty, and will not suit certain buyers looking for a high-powered vehicle that packs on the horsepower. 
The base model already comes with many luxury features, including:
  • Push-to-start button
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
  • Display audio system on a 7-inch screen
  • Remote touch controller and Bluetooth
  • Moonroof
  • Auto-dimming rearview mirror 
  • HomeLink garage door opener
  • Cloth or leather seats
The Lexus ES series is also available as a hybrid. The Lexus ES 300h boasts a 40-mpg fuel economy without compromising on other features—save for a little less trunk space.

How to find affordable insurance for a used Lexus

In owning a luxury car, you’ll undoubtedly pay more for
car insurance
than if you owned a lower-value vehicle. The average cost to insure a new Lexus ES350 is around $3,000 per year—an intimidating expense for some buyers. 
You’ll save money insuring an older vehicle rather than one that’s brand new, but you can save even more with the
Jerry
app. 
As a licensed broker, Jerry will be able to connect you to the lowest rates available from over 50 top insurance companies. Just download our
trustworthy super app
, enter your information, and within seconds you’ll be seeing competitive quotes from companies like Nationwide, Safeco, and Allstate! In fact, drivers save as much as 36% per year insuring their Lexus ES 350 when they switch with Jerry.
Just like your ES350, your insurance policy needs consistent time and attention. That’s why Jerry routinely shops to make sure you’re getting the best offer. With help from the Jerry app, the average customer saves $800+ a year. 
“I was literally floored by the savings
Jerry
found for me. I was paying close to $960 every 6 months and now I’m paying $380 every 6 months for IDENTICAL COVERAGE in North Carolina!” —Olivia Z.
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every week, just for driving safe!”
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