Lexus ES vs Toyota GR Supra

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Lexus ES in South Africa

Lexus ES

ES 300h SE Hybrid ECVT
ZAR 1,138,800 ex-showroom
⚡ 160 kW 🔧 221 Nm ⛽ 21.7 km/l
VS
Toyota GR Supra in South Africa

Toyota GR Supra

3.0T Manual Petrol Manual
ZAR 1,561,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 285 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 12 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance GR Supra
Fuel Economy ES
🛡 Safety GR Supra
📦 Practicality ES
🔑 Ownership ES
ES starts ZAR 1524800 cheaper ES from ZAR 851,500 · GR Supra from ZAR 1,524,800

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec ES GR Supra
Engine Power 160 kW 285 kW
Torque 221 Nm 500 Nm
Engine Size 2500 cc 2998 cc
Claimed Mileage 21.7 km/l 12 km/l
Ground Clearance 158 mm 117 mm
Boot / Load Bay 454 l 290 l
Airbags Side,Knee,Curtain,Driver,Passenger 9
Kerb Weight 1740 kg 1545 kg
Seating Capacity 5 2
Warranty 7 years / 105,000km 3 years / 100 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

ES has a slight advantage, but GR Supra remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance GR Supra +36 pts
Efficiency ES +38 pts
Safety GR Supra +5 pts
Practicality ES +23 pts
Ownership ES +50 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

ES

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

GR Supra

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Which One's Right for You?

ES

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

GR Supra

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec ES GR Supra
Model Introduced Year 2021 2021
Generation Current seventh-generation Lexus ES executive sedan A90 fifth generation – co-developed with BMW on the CLAR platform
Facelift History Current South African ES range; the next-generation local range has not yet received final derivative confirmation Manual gearbox and power upgrade (280 kW→285 kW) in 2023
Facelift Launched Since Current South African ES range; the next-generation local range has not yet received final derivative confirmation 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17 Current
Body Style Sedan Sedan
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment Executive sedan Sedan
Vehicle Type Sedan Sedan
Color Note - Matte White, Nitro Yellow, Renaissance Red, Gravure Grey, Tungsten Silver, Black
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Spec ES GR Supra
Ground Clearance 158 mm 117 mm
Wheelbase 2870 mm 2470 mm
Length 4975 mm 4380 mm
Width 1865 mm 1865 mm
Height 1445 mm 1294 mm
Kerb Weight 1740 kg 1545 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2150 kg 1870 kg
Seating Capacity 5 2
Boot Space 454 l 290 l
Turning Radius 5.9 m 6.3 m
Load Bed Length 454 l 290 l
Load Bed Width - -
Number of Doors 4 4
Max Payload 410 kg -
Boot Volume 454 l 290 l
Doors 4 4
Seats 5 2
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 52 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2150 kg 1870 kg
Ground Clearance Max 158 mm 117 mm
Ground Clearance Min 158 mm 117 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 158 mm 117 mm
Height Mm 1445 mm 1294 mm
Length Mm 4975 mm 4380 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 454 l 290 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 410 kg -
Cargo Volume 454 l 290 l
Tare Mass Kg 1740 kg 1545 kg
Turning Circle 5.9 m 6.3 m
Turning Circle M 5.9 m 6.3 m
Width Mm 1865 mm 1865 mm
Towing Capacity - -
Front Track Width - -
Rear Track Width - -
Front Legroom - -
Rear Legroom - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -
Front Shoulder Room - -
Rear Shoulder Room - -
Boot Space Seats Folded - 290 l

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

ES leads by 10 points

ES has a slight advantage, but GR Supra remains highly competitive.

Winner 77 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 75% confidence
77
#1 Winner

ES

75% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 58
Performance 58
Efficiency 85
Safety 94
Practicality 62
Ownership 93
Leads by 10 points
67
#2

GR Supra

85% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Practicality 39
Performance 94
Efficiency 47
Safety 99
Practicality 39
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance GR Supra +36 Efficiency ES +38 Safety GR Supra +5 Practicality ES +23 Ownership ES +50

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

ES

Performance 58/100
Efficiency 85/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 62/100
Ownership 93/100

GR Supra

Performance 94/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 39/100
Ownership 43/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Lexus ES wins with 77 pts vs 67 pts for GR Supra

In structured scoring, ES emerges as the stronger overall package. However, GR Supra may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the ES edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: ES 85 vs GR Supra 47. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: ES 94, GR Supra 99. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: ES 93, GR Supra 43. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: ES 62, GR Supra 39. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: ES 58, GR Supra 94. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The ES edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The ES scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between ES and GR Supra in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: ES scores 58 vs 94.

Efficiency: ES scores 85 vs 47.

Safety: ES scores 94 vs 99.

Practicality: ES scores 62 vs 39.

Ownership: ES scores 93 vs 43.

Final structured scoring gives ES the advantage in this comparison.