Nothing says “you’ve made it” like pulling up in a superbly understated luxury sedan.
STEPPING up into the world of corporate middle management means getting a few perks: a customary celebratory dinner, your own office, maybe even your own parking lot.
Filling that last one demands a bit of creative thought. Nowadays, even cheaper cars look pretty good compared to, say, a decade ago, but you wouldn’t be caught dead driving anything without a German badge.
That’s where the Lexus ES250 comes in. With its newest executive sedan, Lexus’ efforts of fighting the Deutschen incumbents have paid off with the ES250 emerging as the Best Luxury Sedan in our 2018 ST-Torque awards. Can the way of the samurai once again cut through the competition here?
Easily its most accomplished 5 Series yet, BMW’s seventhgeneration 520i has morphed into an excellent all-rounder, delivering trademark driving dynamics but cosseting its occupants in luxurious surroundings. Keen drivers will appreciate its communicative steering, while the lucky chauffeured will love the plush rear seats.
And plushness is something Mercedes-Benz drivers know lots about. The E200 is the quintessential – some say unassailable – executive sedan of choice, and which most Singaporeans automatically associate with status and wealth. But in this company, can the threepointed star still shine bright?
Get your pens out, and let’s see which tender wins the contract.
ENGINE & GEARBOX
Lexus’s naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre 4-cylinder motor is the strongest, developing 203hp, but the 247Nm of torque is the smallest. The power is only accessible high up in the rev range, so working the engine hard introduces some harshness.
ENGINE & GEARBOX
BMW’s turbocharged 2-litre 4-cylinder with 184hp and 290Nm of torque provides plenty of poke and just about edges the Mercedes out for smoothness under medium acceleration, though you can occasionally hear it.
ENGINE & GEARBOX
Mercedes-Benz’s turbocharged 2-litre 4-cylinder matches BMW’s 184hp but puts out 300Nm of torque, giving it more effortless acceleration and is quieter than the BMW under load.
RIDE & HANDLING
RIDE & HANDLING
RIDE & HANDLING
LEXUS ES250 2.5 vs BMW 520i LUXURY 2.0 vs MERCEDES-BENZ E200 2.0
ES250
520i
E200
LEXUS ES250 2.5 vs BMW 520i LUXURY 2.0 vs MERCEDES-BENZ E200 2.0
LEXUS ES250 2.5 vs BMW 520i LUXURY 2.0 vs MERCEDES-BENZ E200 2.0
LAST WORD
The sleek and sporty Lexus ES250 is straight from a Japanese businessman’s checklist: large C-pillars to shade your face from the hoi polloi, and threequarter-window shades for enhanced privacy. A vocal engine and tight foot space keep it from rising further, but it remains very much a fullyfeatured and assertive contender in this group.
The ES250 is for someone who loves to be chauffeured and enjoys controlling the in-car technological amenities from their rear-seat perch. It’s a very un-German car, and for the better.
The Mercedes-Benz E200 speaks volumes for itself. The baby S-Class, long a favourite of the progeny of towkays, maintains its enduring tradition of offering a blissful ride and on-demand performance, all while being wrapped up in a gorgeous body.
This time, Mercedes has truly ticked all the luxury boxes, and then some. The all-glass digital cockpit is something out of a Boeing business jet, and we love the elegant simplicity that Mercedes has worked across its new cabins.
But for all its plushness, the E200’s drive could do with a bit more sparkle, and that is where the final contender comes in.
The BMW 5 Series was never the original go-to choice for executives looking for a comfortable and spacious car.
But in this generation, BMW has engineered the 520i to be everything the young business exec needs in driving dynamics and interior tech. Even if you’re of slightly senior disposition, the ride comfort should mollify you.
Overall, with its driver-focused bent and competent luxury, the 520i edges the E200 out as a better all-rounder. If you’re looking for space, pace and grace, the 520i has got it all.
LEXUS ES250 LUXURY 2.5 (A)
DRIVEN WHEELS Front
PERFORMANCE
CO2 EMISSION 150g/km
SUSPENSION
BRAKES FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
SIZE 235/45 R18
SAFETY
TRACTION AIDS ABS, VSC
MEASUREMENTS
TURNING CIRCLE 5.9m
BUYING IT
MERCEDES-BENZ E200 EXCLUSIVE 2.0 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
DRIVEN WHEELS Rear
PERFORMANCE
CO2 EMISSION 142g/km
SUSPENSION
REAR Independent multi-link, coil springs
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs
TYRES
SIZE 245/45 R18 (front), 275/40 R18 (rear)
SAFETY
TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESP
MEASUREMENTS
TURNING CIRCLE 11.6m
BUYING IT
BMW 520i LUXURY 2.0 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
DRIVEN WHEELS Rear
PERFORMANCE
CO2 EMISSION 124g/km
SUSPENSION
REAR Multi-link, coil springs
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs
TYRES
SIZE 245/45 R18
SAFETY
TRACTION AIDS ABS, DSC
MEASUREMENTS
TURNING CIRCLE 12.1m
BUYING IT
