BMW 3 Series vs. Lexus ES 300h
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the BMW 3 Series and Lexus ES 300h contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the BMW 3 Series and the Lexus ES 300h.
When comparing the BMW 3 Series's and the Lexus ES 300h's specifications and ratings, the BMW 3 Series has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars and base engine power. The Lexus ES 300h has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, reliability, resale value, interior volume and overall quality score. Based on this comparison of the BMW 3 Series's and the Lexus ES 300h's specifications and ratings, the Lexus ES 300h is a better car than the BMW 3 Series.
Pricing: A used 2024 BMW 3 Series ranges from $13,900 to $54,595 while a used 2024 Lexus ES 300h is priced between $43,963 to $57,383. For a new model, the BMW 3 Series's price is between $49,241 and $58,975, with the Lexus ES 300h priced between $47,974 and $57,628.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the BMW 3 Series loses 54.2 percent of its value and the Lexus ES 300h loses 47 percent of its value. This means the Lexus ES 300h retains 7.3 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the BMW 3 Series.
Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the BMW 3 Series is 7.3 out of 10 while the Lexus ES 300h's quality rating is 8.7 out of 10. This results in the BMW 3 Series being ranked 8 out of 28 Best Luxury Hybrid Cars and the Lexus ES 300h being ranked 1 out of 28.
Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the BMW 3 Series is 7.5 out of 10. For the Lexus ES 300h the reliability rating is 8.6 out of 10. This gives the Lexus ES 300h an advantage in reliability compared to the BMW 3 Series.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the BMW 3 Series’s base engine makes 288 horsepower, and the Lexus ES 300h base engine makes 215 horsepower.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Lexus ES 300h, a hybrid midsize car, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front leg room, rear leg room, and cargo space. The BMW 3 Series, a hybrid compact car, has the advantage in the areas of front head room, front shoulder room, rear head room and rear shoulder room.
Safety Ratings: The Lexus ES 300h has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
$49,241 - $58,975
Starting MSRP:
$45,600
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Hybrid Compact Cars)
$63,175
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Hybrid Compact Cars)
$45,600 - $83,900
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
$47,974 - $57,628
Starting MSRP:
$43,440
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Hybrid Midsize Cars)
$54,545
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Hybrid Midsize Cars)
$43,440 - $65,650
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$48,759
Price Range:
$13,900 - $54,595
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Hybrid Compact Cars)
$56,532
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Hybrid Compact Cars)
$48,759 - $68,334
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
974
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
14,114
# Good or Great Deals:
263
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$50,198
Price Range:
$43,963 - $57,383
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Hybrid Midsize Cars)
$50,198
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Hybrid Midsize Cars)
$50,198 - $50,198
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
129
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
10,978
# Good or Great Deals:
27
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
$24,971
Depreciation %:
54.8%
Resale Value $:
$20,629
Residual Value %:
45.2%
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Hybrid Compact Cars)
54.7%
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Hybrid Compact Cars)
51.9% - 54.8%
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
$20,621
Depreciation %:
47.5%
Resale Value $:
$22,819
Residual Value %:
52.5%
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Hybrid Midsize Cars)
47.5%
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Hybrid Midsize Cars)
47.5% - 60.1%
BMW 3 Series Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
7.3 / 10
Reliability:
7.5 / 10
Retained Value:
7.1 / 10
Safety:
Not available
Lexus ES 300h Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.7 / 10
Reliability:
8.6 / 10
Retained Value:
7.6 / 10
Safety:
10.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW 3 Series
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
11
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.3%
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Lexus ES 300h
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
13.2
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
21.5%
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
10.3
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Hybrid Compact Cars)
3.5
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Hybrid Compact Cars)
2.5 - 10.3
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.5
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Hybrid Midsize Cars)
1.8
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Hybrid Midsize Cars)
1.5 - 2.2
BMW 3 Series Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 12Ranking
1 out of / 5Ranking
1 out of / 4Ranking
2 out of / 20Ranking
2 out of / 17Ranking
2 out of / 5Ranking
2 out of / 5Ranking
2 out of / 5Ranking
4 out of / 20Ranking
4 out of / 5Ranking
4 out of / 5Ranking
5 out of / 20Ranking
6 out of / 28Ranking
6 out of / 20Ranking
7 out of / 28Ranking
8 out of / 28Ranking
9 out of / 28Ranking
9 out of / 20Ranking
11 out of / 20Ranking
13 out of / 28Ranking
18 out of / 28Ranking
19 out of / 20Ranking
25 out of / 28Lexus ES 300h Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 28Ranking
1 out of / 28Ranking
1 out of / 28Ranking
1 out of / 17Ranking
1 out of / 6Ranking
1 out of / 6Ranking
1 out of / 6Ranking
1 out of / 4Ranking
3 out of / 6Ranking
5 out of / 6Ranking
5 out of / 6Ranking
5 out of / 6Ranking
6 out of / 28Ranking
8 out of / 28Ranking
15 out of / 28Ranking
18 out of / 28Ranking
26 out of / 28Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline, Plug-In Hybrid
Available Drivetrain Options
Hybrid
BMW 3 Series Trim Levels
330e, 330e xDrive
Lexus ES 300h Trim Levels
Base, F SPORT Design, F SPORT Handling, Luxury, Ultra Luxury
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
6 years / 70000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
288 hp @ 3800 rpm
Torque:
310 foot-lbs @ 1450 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.071 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
215 hp @ 5700 rpm
Torque:
Not yet available
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.058 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
24 / 32 / 27
Range (city/hwy):
276 / 361 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Electricity, Premium Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT Automatic)
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
Not yet available
Range (city/hwy):
Not yet available
Recommended Fuel Type:
Not yet available
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Wifi:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.7 inches
Front Leg Room:
42 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.6 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.2 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.6 inches
Cargo Space:
9 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
94.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
37.5 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.4 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.9 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.4 inches
Rear Leg Room:
39.3 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54 inches
Cargo Space:
13.9 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
97.4 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4083 lbs
Width:
81.4 inches
Height:
56.9 inches
Length:
185.9 inches
Wheelbase:
112.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.8 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3730 lbs
Width:
73.4 inches
Height:
56.9 inches
Length:
195.9 inches
Wheelbase:
113 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R18
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
215/55R17
Exterior Colors
Black
Black Sapphire Metallic / Jet Black
Blue
Phytonic Blue Metallic / Portimao Blue Metallic / Tanzanite Blue II Metallic
Gray
Brooklyn Grey Metallic / Dravit Grey Metallic / Skyscraper Grey Metallic
Red
Melbourne Red Metallic
White
Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic
Beige
Not available
Green
Not available
Silver
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Caviar / Obsidian
Blue
Nightfall Mica
Gray
Cloudburst Gray
Red
Matador Red Mica
White
Eminent White Pearl
Beige
Moonbeam Beige Metallic
Green
Sunlit Green
Silver
Iridium
Interior Colors
Beige
Canberra Beige
Black
Black / Black w/ Blue Contrast Stitching
Brown
Cognac / Mocha
Gray
Oyster
Red
Tacora Red
White
Not available
Interior Colors
Beige
Not available
Black
Black w/ Open-Pore Black Wood Trim / Black w/ Striated Black Film Trim
Brown
Acorn w/ Open-Pore Black Wood Trim / Acorn w/ Striated Black Film Trim / Palomino w/ Open-Pore Brown Walnut Trim / Palomino w/ Striated Black Film Trim
Gray
Not available
Red
Not available
White
Macadamia w/ Ash Bamboo Trim
