Used 2021 Lexus ES for Sale near Illinois

How much does the 2021 Lexus ES cost?

Prices have softened 1.77% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 761 listings available, which suggests solid inventory for shoppers comparing trims and prices.

Is the 2021 Lexus ES a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Lexus ES earns a 4.9/5 user rating and a 7.3/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Cost effectiveness at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its luxurious feel, smooth ride, and fuel efficiency, and many also value the quality and overall value it delivers. The model’s comfort-first character fits shoppers who want a quiet, refined daily driver, and the overview points to a roomy cabin and relaxed driving demeanor as core strengths. The main trade-offs are fairly pedestrian performance and unintuitive technology, so it suits you best if comfort and ease matter more than excitement or cutting-edge interfaces.

The market also looks reasonably favorable, with 39.2% of listings marked as good or great deals.

Is the 2021 Lexus ES reliable?

Owners rate it 4.9/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

Drivers describe it as reliable, smooth, and a car they feel good about owning over time, with repeated praise for its dependable feel and trouble-free character. The expert summary also calls it a reliable car, reinforcing that impression. Its performance notes emphasize a robust V6 and an overall sense of competence, which supports confidence in everyday use. Lexus also includes a first scheduled maintenance visit on the house, which is a nice ownership perk. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about the car’s basic durability and more about choosing a well-kept example with the right maintenance history.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Lexus ES?

At 71.6% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a higher-trim or heavily optioned car. Focus on condition, maintenance records, and evidence of prior bodywork or repairs, since the market includes a meaningful number of cars with accident history. If you’re comparing multiple listings, the cleanest example with the best documentation is usually the safer buy.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: Standard, F Sport, Luxury, and Ultra Luxury trims are available, and the base trim misses blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. F Sport adds 19-inch wheels, unique styling details, a rear spoiler, aluminum interior trim, F Sport instrumentation, and a black headliner.
• Powertrain: The ES 350 uses a 3.5-liter V6 with 302 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic, while the ES 250 uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with standard AWD. The ES 350 is the stronger choice if you want more power and a more relaxed highway feel.
• Safety package: Lexus Safety System 2.0 is standard and includes forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, road-sign recognition, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on all versions except the base trim.
• Infotainment: The standard screen is 8 inches, and an optional 12.3-inch display is available. Wireless smartphone charging is available, and all trims include Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and connected services.
• Fuel efficiency: The ES 350 is rated at 25 mpg combined, and the test loop returned 22.9 mpg. The ES 250 is described as providing a significant gain in fuel economy.

Which 2021 Lexus ES trim should I buy?

The 2021 Lexus ES is offered in 4 trim levels: Standard, F Sport, Luxury, and Ultra Luxury.

Here's the short version:

• Standard: This is the value play if you want the ES’s core comfort, quiet cabin, and strong safety tech without paying for extras. It gives you the model’s main strengths, but you should note that blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are not standard here.
• F Sport: This is the best choice if you want the most distinctive look and a more engaging feel. It adds 19-inch wheels, unique styling details, F Sport instrumentation, and a black headliner, and it pairs especially well with the V6 if you want the sportier side of the ES.
• Luxury: This is the trim to consider if you want a more upscale experience without going all the way to the top. It makes the ES feel more premium while staying aligned with the model’s comfort-first mission.
• Ultra Luxury: This is the right pick if you want the most feature-rich ES and are willing to pay for it. It suits buyers who care most about comfort, refinement, and a more fully equipped cabin.

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on every version except the base trim.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Lexus ES?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you have room to compare listings carefully.

• Deal availability: 39.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 761 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.77% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 71.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $29,980, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Lexus ES's resale value?

The current average of $30,880 sits slightly below last year's $31,436.

That modest decline suggests the market has softened a bit, which can help you buy more confidently now. For a future seller, the current trend implies resale values may remain stable rather than sharply rising, especially if the model continues to attract comfort-focused luxury shoppers. Well-kept examples with clean history and strong equipment should hold up better than neglected ones.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.9/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Lexus ES safe?

The 2021 Lexus ES earns a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA.

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

Lexus Safety System 2.0 is standard, and it includes forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, road-sign recognition, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on all versions except the base trim. The expert review notes that the lane-centering system can be a little fussy and that the adaptive cruise can react more abruptly than a human driver might, so you may want to test those systems carefully on your own route.

Should I buy a 2021 Lexus ES or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 39.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 71.6% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.77% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 adds the new ES 250 series and standard blind-spot monitoring on most trims.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $28,982, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $30,880 average.
• It keeps the comfort-first formula and adds some in-cabin tech.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $34,064, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $30,880 average.
• It broadens powertrain choice with four-cylinder, six-cylinder, and hybrid options.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, comfort, and available inventory, the 2021 is the strongest all-around pick. If your budget is tighter, the 2020 is the better value path, while the 2022 makes sense if you want to spend more for broader powertrain choice.

How does the 2021 Lexus ES compare to the 2021 Toyota Avalon?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Lexus ES:

• Pros: Multiple powertrain options, Great ride quality, Comfortable.
• Cons: Potentially polarizing design, Unintuitive technology, Fairly pedestrian performance.

2021 Toyota Avalon:

• Pros: Comfortable, Spacious, TRD trim adds extra performance and style.
• Cons: All-wheel drive only available with the I-4 engine, Underwhelming base engine, Outdated technology.

Our experts score the 2021 Lexus ES 7.3/10 and the 2021 Toyota Avalon 6/10. The Lexus comes across as the more polished luxury choice, especially if you value ride quality and a more premium feel. The Avalon counters with space and a lower average used price, but its technology and base-engine drawbacks make it the less compelling pick overall. If you want the stronger all-around used luxury sedan, the ES is the better bet.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.