No. The ES300 did not come with a 2JZ engine. It used a Toyota/Lexus V6 from the 1MZ-FE family, and later generations of the ES lineup moved to other V6s, but not the 2JZ.
The question often comes up because the 2JZ family is famous for its use in performance Toyotas and some Lexus models. This article explains where the ES300 fits in Lexus powertrain history and where the 2JZ did appear in other Lexus models.
ES300 engine history
Below is a quick overview of the engines that powered the ES300 and its close relatives in the Lexus ES lineup.
- 1MZ-FE 3.0-liter V6 — the primary engine in the ES300, a front-wheel-drive Lexus model from the 1990s into the early 2000s.
- 3MZ-FE 3.3-liter V6 — used in later ES330 iterations, representing a growth in displacement within the ES family.
- 2GR-FE / 2GR-FSE 3.5-liter V6 — used in the ES350, part of the newer generation lineup that moved to larger displacement V6s.
In short, the ES300 line remained powered by non-2JZ V6 configurations, with the range evolving through 1MZ-FE, then 3MZ-FE, and eventually 2GR-FE-based powertrains in later ES models.
Where the 2JZ engine appeared in Lexus models
Before listing examples, note that the 2JZ-GE family was used in several rear-wheel-drive Lexus models, but not in the ES300. The 2JZ powerplant is most commonly associated with performance-focused or rear-wheel-drive Lexus offerings.
- Lexus GS300 — early generations used the 2JZ-GE 3.0L inline-6 in some markets and configurations.
- Lexus IS300 — produced from the early 2000s, widely known for using the 2JZ-GE 3.0L inline-6 in the U.S. market.
These examples illustrate that while the 2JZ-GE found a home in certain Lexus models, it was not used in the ES300’s front-wheel-drive lineup.
Summary
Bottom line: the ES300 did not feature a 2JZ engine. If you’re chasing a 2JZ-powered Lexus, look to the GS300 or IS300 lines, not the ES300. The ES lineup instead relied on 1MZ-FE, later evolving to 3MZ-FE and 2GR-FE-based V6s to suit its front-wheel-drive configuration.