currently driving 2010 TSX - 100K mileage - previous Lexus 330
love the shorter ILX but miss the comfort/QUIET of the Lexus and the Lexus getting 39/40 mpg (I drive 300-400 miles a week) - other considerations - appreciate it -

 

If you want comfort or a highway cruiser, I would go with the Lexus hands down. If you actually get to drive on some curvy roads regularly and enjoy the feel of the lighter car with a shorter wheelbase, then I would go with the ILX.

 

If you want quiet, the ES330 is the one to go over ILX.


Whatever you do, don't get the CT200h. I had it for 13 months and 27K miles, horrendous experience.

 

If you can live without the Lexus ride, and you don't care much about performance/handling, might be worthwhile to look into a CPO 2013/2014 ILX Hybrid. In the mid-atlantic region, you should be able to get a low mileage ILX Hybrid Tech in the $20k to $23k area. Pretty solid price considering new had an MSRP of $35k+ (Horrible for ILX Hybrid owners like me, who lost a ton of value with this car)

I've had more than my fair share of problems with my ILX Hybrid, but from what I'm seeing on AZine and my service adviser, it definitely seems like my car is unique to most of these problems.

Hwy cruising @70MPH gets me around 42 or 43MPG while aggressive city driving (I have a heavy foot) gets me around 31 to 34MPG. If you do mostly hwy driving, the TLX V6 might actually not be a bad option for you -- on my 3 different loaner TLX V6's, cruising ~60 to 70MPH, I was getting high 30s and low 40s MPG!!

 

The Lexus is definitely more luxurious. But I think the car to compare the ES to is the TLX. Maybe you'd like the 4 cyl TLX for the mpg?

 

Just my on the TLX i4 vs V6 -- The MPG was fantastic with the V6 - no problem getting in the 40 range on the highway (stop and go was nothing special, in the mid to upper teens) I haven't driven the i4 extensively enough to comment (1 i4 TLX loaner, 4 V6 TLX loaners)