Lexus looses it value just like any other luxury vehicle. So I wouldn't believe the wive's tale about Lexus holding their value. Residual values are set by the banks and the food chain of auction and dealerships just play along to make as much money as they can out the consumers. Edmunds long term test of the Lexus GS loosing over 1/3 of it's value from MSRP. "Resale and Depreciation: We accumulated 20,940 miles on our 2013 Lexus GS 350. Edmunds' TMV® Calculator valued the vehicle at $47,431 based on a private-party sale. The market did not seem to support this price, as CarMax offered us $40,000 and the best we could muster from a private partywas $41,000. This made for 30-percent depreciation from our paid price of $58,377. We were disappointed
Norm T lol. You took the depreciation of the dying GS to apply that to the rest of the models? That’s stupid. We when sold our 2010 LS460 with 60k miles, we had a value of around 20k. The same vehicle was sold at 28k. While the same year, close mileage S-class was sold at thousands less. Let me remind you, resale value is based upon simple demand and supply. Lexus are notoriously known for reliability, therefore they are still desirable years later, on top of that, the supply of used Lexus vehicles are far smaller than any other luxury manufacturers because of how reliable they are, so people tend to keep them far longer than other luxury manufacturers. The GS is one of the exceptions, including the RCF as well. At any rate, the GS still has good resale value for what it is because people knows it will run. 🙄
@@huythai1222 That quote was from Edmund's longterm test of a Lexus GS from...2013. Residuals do not matter much when you overpay in the first place. A new Land Cruiser is $76K while an Escalade is $64K on cars dot com. While a 2009 with less than150,000 miles the LC is $26K and a Escalade is $17K. A new LX570 3-row is $92K while a 2009 is $27K. So the LC drops $50K and the Escalade only drops $48K. Toyota LC is not luxurious and should not have that depreciation compared to another luxury marque.the LX is more like a luxury vehicle in it’s high depreciation of $65 in the last decade.
@@Soorma1988 not that simple. The blending my guess will be the IS and GS to make one sports sedan not two. ES is a fwd platform with the ability to add e-awd.
@@KirkKreifels 100% agreed. Funny thing is, there are some people (by that I mean 1) that are trying to say that the mediocre Buick LaCrosse is the "segment winner".
@@HappyCarReviews Lexus looses it value just like any other luxury vehicle. So I wouldn't believe the wive's tale about Lexus holding their value. Residual values are set by the banks and the food chain of auction and dealerships just play along to make as much money as they can out the consumers. Edmunds long term test of the Lexus GS loosing over 1/3 of it's value from MSRP. "Resale and Depreciation: We accumulated 20,940 miles on our 2013 Lexus GS 350. Edmunds' TMV® Calculator valued the vehicle at $47,431 based on a private-party sale. The market did not seem to support this price, as CarMax offered us $40,000 and the best we could muster from a private partywas $41,000. This made for 30-percent depreciation from our paid price of $58,377. We were disappointed
As a long time Lexus owner, now on my 3rd vehicle, you just can't go wrong with this beautiful ES. The historical reliability of this far out weighs any other make. Another excellent review, Alex.
I’m a Toyota, Honda, and BMW owner for years and I keep my cars like new condition with service at dealer and hand wash as my hobby. I gave my son my Acura RL and was searching for a replacement for the past few months. I stumbled on your videos and have been watching most in this category. I started with the 300h and saw that ten times and went to several dealerships but couldn’t find the ultra luxury hybrid model. I like the look of the F sport but I was looking for a luxury car and found a ES ultra luxury in a V6 with all the options it for me feels like a small LS for $30,000 less. Thanks for the great videos that help me make a decision on my retirement car.
Beautiful car..fully loaded it is still cheaper than the base german cars that come empty and it is much more comfortable and much higher quality in material and mechanics
Wow, it's like I'm looking in a mirror. I sold my lovingly maintained Acura RL to a family member and got an ES 350 Ultra Luxury. I was looking for a luxury car with a quality interior, a great stereo, smooth power and a refined ride. The ES is not perfect, but it's damn good and I know it'll likely stay that way at very little additional expense for a long, long time.
notformebeaky How would you know if you can’t afford or have never owned one?... You wasted your time to view a video about a product you claim that’s “boring” & went through the comment section searching for people who actually have their OWN money & can afford what they want to make a comment... Btw,boring in what terms? Do you live on a track? Are you trying to impress your boyfriends in the small town or village you’re from by going to 0-60 in 2 seconds?...Listen kid,go back & listen to your boyband music & keep watching your videos of money pit German brands...
notformebeaky So instead of watching your top German brands or Italian brands that’s not boring,you came to watch a video about a Lexus ES? 🙄...Buddy stay listening to your seapony music lol & keep out of grown folks wallets.
notformebeaky lol you obviously never owned one. We had two 3 series, 5 series, x3, two c class, one e class, A6, other than the c class, all German piece of shit. Boring to drive, loud and noisy, lot of road noise, half the car broke down less than 5 years of drive with full dealership maintenance, cost a fortune to repair. Sold them as rubbish since resale is pathetic. Changed to three lexus now, NX, RX, IS and a Volvo SPA XC90. way more fun to drive, much more comfortable and smoother, much less road noise. Made those german crap looked like toys. Will give Porsche a try some day but I’m prepared to be disappointed again. Lexus are miles ahead in refinement. We still had the 2016 E200 and x3 when we had the NX and RX, NO ONE ever wanted to drive the X3 and E class, they sat there gaining dust before we sold them cheap because of terrible resale value, why is the resale value so bad? German engineering!
notformebeaky oh, one absolute crap thing about Lexus is their infotainment system..... gosh it felt like they try by all means to be the worst..... definitely need tons of improvement.
you know why? because having dual clutch 9-10 speed transmissions are more expensive and better and that's why lexus stays reliable, they're old shit toyotas are still using 10 year old technology or even older just polished up... idiots like you think V6 and "normal transmissions" are good until you realize how mcuh you are missing out by still paying $50k but getting product thats 20 year old technology
Lexus looses it value just like any other luxury vehicle. So I wouldn't believe the wive's tale about Lexus holding their value. Residual values are set by the banks and the food chain of auction and dealerships just play along to make as much money as they can out the consumers. Edmunds long term test of the Lexus GS loosing over 1/3 of it's value from MSRP. "Resale and Depreciation: We accumulated 20,940 miles on our 2013 Lexus GS 350. Edmunds' TMV® Calculator valued the vehicle at $47,431 based on a private-party sale. The market did not seem to support this price, as CarMax offered us $40,000 and the best we could muster from a private partywas $41,000. This made for 30-percent depreciation from our paid price of $58,377. We were disappointed
@@andybub45 there was some good lease deals on BMW's before Covid. A X3 vs NX on Edmund's loan pages gives the Lexus 3% enter residual than BMW. Or $1,500 on a $50K car. Not really that much at this price point.
who tf is putting a thumbs down. he's laying down straight facts sprinkled with the occasional opinion. what is there to dislike about this video if you're looking into buy this car. people these days.
@@thisismagacountry1318 , at some point this is true.... but i know 3 people with Toyota hybrids. they are all between 8 & 11 years old. no new batteries yet. its very important to maintain the hybrid systems air filter. heat kills.
The loss of land yachts is the reason I am ditching the sedan. They are shrinking and going wildly up in price every year. My favorite vehicle is an 05 buick lesabre that is larger than most midsized pickups and has more storage than most compact crossovers. It gets 23 mpg on average (20-21 in the winter with aggressive winter tires) and it is a blast to drive. You really do feel like you're sitting in a comfy living room as there is an insane amount of space. It was also before the age of consoles and bucket seats so the seats are very spacious and if you fold up the "console" you have miles of hip room and enough room to fit a third person comfortably. It is called a 40/20/40 bench but It feels like a 33/33/33. Crossovers are where the land yacht design teams went when large cars got pushed into the curvy, sleek and aggressive designs, or very compact economy cars. But considering I want a less sporty vehicle and a stupid amount of space, I will likely be getting a truck as my next vehicle, whether it be a BOF SUV or a pickup.
Great video Alex as always and truly wonderful to see you following your successful formula. One thing that I see differently somewhat from your take on the US manufacturers following the Germans would be the Chrysler 300, Cadillac XTS and Ford Taurus (albeit all older designs but still in the market). However, the German "follow up" is such a statement maker in the media that one can easily overlook these non formula vehicles or to find them at an odd place. Keep up the good work and thanks for another superb video.
great commentary....and i love the way you explain things, i feel that you and redline reviews are the most knowledgable hands down in the industry.....keep rocking...
Lilrick96 they have been complaining since the last generation ES. If ES is AWD it will have a hump, the hood will be bigger so all those will make rear smaller. Also GS is comparable size wise to E and 5 Series. A sporty AWD sedan can’t simple be as big as an ES.
@@seannguyen593 when you say "it will have a hump" We assume you are referring to the trans hump on the floor below the rear seats. So it does have that hump. Everyone else has AWD so no one is complaining they just want to see Lexus to bring to the table what is standard with other brands. Word on the street is Lexus will offer AWD in the ES.
i've not had any issues with mine.....there was an update that i did have to go in for, but otherwise....zero mechanical complaints.....oh yes, i did have to go in to get a new battery.....which they changed....it was because the new es has so much electronics on the car that apparently sometimes you need a new battery but mine was covered....
Personally i think that the ES’s most direct competitor is actually the Toyota Avalon Limited and Touring trims. The Avalon I think does what the ES should be doing better. It has a couple extra features - folding rear seats - heated rear seats - 4 way lumbar for the passenger - 7 inch mid - sequential turn signals Not only that but it’s more practical especially with the folding rear seats
Now I know all the so-called experts call this beautiful Lexus sedan a case of "badge-engineering". And while there's some truth to that, the new ES is at least a great example of how to do it right! This car rightly builds off the strengths of its Toyota Camry sibling while offering a uniquely styled and luxurious package! Totally worth the value!
Needs AWD to consider here in Canada, I understand that winter tires are more crucial than AWD, but it’s no doubt a great feature for both performance and resale value.
Go for a less expensive LaCrosse with torque vectoring AWD. Lexus looses it value just like any other luxury vehicle. So I wouldn't believe the wive's tale about Lexus holding their value. Residual values are set by the banks and the food chain of auction and dealerships just play along to make as much money as they can out the consumers. Edmunds long term test of the Lexus GS loosing over 1/3 of it's value from MSRP. "Resale and Depreciation: We accumulated 20,940 miles on our 2013 Lexus GS 350. Edmunds' TMV® Calculator valued the vehicle at $47,431 based on a private-party sale. The market did not seem to support this price, as CarMax offered us $40,000 and the best we could muster from a private partywas $41,000. This made for 30-percent depreciation from our paid price of $58,377. We were disappointed
Lexus looses it value just like any other luxury vehicle. So I wouldn't believe the wive's tale about Lexus holding their value. Residual values are set by the banks and the food chain of auction and dealerships just play along to make as much money as they can out the consumers. Edmunds long term test of the Lexus GS loosing over 1/3 of it's value from MSRP. "Resale and Depreciation: We accumulated 20,940 miles on our 2013 Lexus GS 350. Edmunds' TMV® Calculator valued the vehicle at $47,431 based on a private-party sale. The market did not seem to support this price, as CarMax offered us $40,000 and the best we could muster from a private partywas $41,000. This made for 30-percent depreciation from our paid price of $58,377. We were disappointed
Huh vertically mounted AUX/USB input inches away from a cupholder.. That's some engineering right there, only a matter of time before some liquid damage gets in there, a wet umbrella drips, etc.
I wonder why he didn't put the Toyota Avalon (given that the ES is the same size and would compete with it price wise for some configurations) as a competitor. I think the Avalon would be a better value overall when fully loaded, not to mention that the insurance premium would probably be a little lower for the Avalon. Yes, the Lexus is more refined, but they are both Toyota's at their core so... Just my humble opinion.
As a UK GS450h owner, the ES is a huge disappointment...it's clearly a good car, but it's directly replaced the GS in the UK market and we're only getting the ES300h. That means we're losing a fast RWD car and getting a slow FWD car instead. I'm sure it will sell better (the GS450h sold less than the Ferrari 458 per year in Europe I believe) but it's a shame. Leaves only the expensive (but very nice) LC500h as a fast model without the V8- which is an issue here considering fuel is nearly 3x the price of the US.
The GS is going nowhere, this doesn't rival the 5 series and E class. Lexus will redesign the GS, but not at this moment. carbuzz.com/news/lexus-tells-us-it-will-keep-the-gs-and-gs-f
I still hope they redesign the GS and yes they said they will keep them but there is no word of a full design GS. It’s being in the market for seven long years and it’s pointless to keep manufacturing for every year without internal changes. It looks really outdated
@@LacoteCohen I don't think Lexus needs a 5/E rival. Their customers by and large clearly don't care, and haven't for years. If anything, it would be to take the fight to Genesis, whose G80 conquest sales have largely come at Lexus' expense. Fortunately Toyota just replaced the Crown, so at least the platform investment is already accounted for.
It's a nice comfortable ride with some luxury and very reliable that lasts 15 yrs + . Just not crazy to buy new at that price point. You can't go wrong with a 2010 es and up . I'll stick to my 2010 , other wise the only point in getting a new car is like new furniture . If it ain't broke or ripped get your money's worth and buy clean second hand when you get a good deal
Every time I see This interior I can’t get over the Chevy Corsica-esque stalks on the side of the gauge cluster. The rear doors seem really long which gives it an awkward side profile. I’m sure it’s a nice car otherwise.
Love the look of the new ES, just wish they would offer the hybrid version in F-Sport trim like on the RX. The Kia Cadenza is an awesome option, and drives fantastic..AND for 2020 they are adding an AWD option. Just wish Kia would expand the vehicle more and add the kia hybrid system.
Alex - There is a difference in the driving dynamics of F sport v regular ES. Having reviewed both cars The F sport has a stiffer ride and significantly more road noise than the regular ES. To put in perspective you listed F sport having a sound decimal of 69. A 1995 Toyota cesseida had a sound decibel reading of 66. The F sport will not please the traditional Lexus buyers.
@@sprague49 Not quite. More likely F Sport only exists as a low-cost gesture to have something for the 7 customers who come in missing the now-extinct GS. And to drive down the Methuselah-like average age of recent ES buyers.
notformebeaky You Know you just named some of the most UNRELIABLE cars on the market in your top of the line Luxury mark right?....The depreciation of the cars you mentioned are a JOKE...These German brands & Especially That Land Rover you mentioned are always at the bottom of the reliability section...Who’s going to spend money on those cars when in a matter of 5 years they can buy a Honda Civic for the same price?...The problem here is you came to watch a video based in North America where Reliability is a key factor (& a video on a brand you dislike,that says lots about your time)...Keep to your side of the world & what you like & let others buy what they want with their money,after all it is their money & not yours (if you have any).You think people are actually going to buy some unreliable pos,you claimed there are videos about poor quality from Lexus & American brands when there are videos about BMW & Mercedes,Audi as well of being unreliable garbage....So at the end of the day it’s others money & go view a German brand video to preach your nonsense.
@notformebeaky What? The reviews I've seen praise Lexus for the best materials in its segment, even better than Mercedes. They also praise the new design, even the ones that previously disliked the spindle grill. They call the speed modest rather than slow. It's only 0.2 seconds slower than a 2019 RWD E class. The only complaints are about the unintuitive infotainment system and mediocre handling. Sounds like you're just spouting random bullshit because you can't afford the car.
@notformebeaky Also, I live in one of the wealthiest cities in the US. I don't need you to tell me what you think the tiers of luxury are. The brands battling for the top spot are Mercedes/Lexus/BMW. And it's commonly known that BMW has the worst interiors of the three. Here, people who want real luxury get Mercedes/Lexus.
I am happy, that we see the ES for the first time in Germany... The car looks really good in real. I have seen one in black metallic and it was an ultra Luxury line. But the only sad point ist, that we only get the 300h at this time.. So my question is, could you also test the hybrid version in your home area? By the way in our country should the ES compete direct with BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, Audi A6, Volvo S90 and Jaguar XF..
The standard model at the end of the video really looks good to me vs. the F-Sport. I like the last gen ES has well. It is meant to look classy not sporty IMO.
For a car that doesn't have a touch screen (which I'm ok with given the better location of the screen) I think the touch pad is the best infotainment control you can get. It's much better than the old sliding joystick Lexus used to have and also better than the dial controls the German cars use. Having said all that I wouldn't call the touch pad great either.
oldtwins na IMO, I prefer the Avalon over the ES. It’s cheaper, and more practical because the Avalon has heated folding rear seats and 4 way lumbar for passenger. Plus, infotainment in the Avalon is easier to use over the Lexus. But my overall pick would be the Camry XSE V6.
@@suserman7775 Pretty much this. If nobody cared for the luxury badges on things, luxury brands would fail miserably. Like it or not, we live in a world where people *will* cough up extra just for the privilege of having a luxury badge - even if it's the same product. Not to drag down the Lexus ES. It's a great, classic luxury car. But if nobody cared for the Lexus badge, the Avalon would be selling far more than this.
I am so considering getting one but that non-touchscreen, mouse-like controlled display(w/c I understand is because it's too far from the driver) is making me wanna change my mind. Gotta try it for myself, I guess
Great review Alex as always! Love the new ES myself. I had a 2015 that I sold to a friend. Don't expect to get much of a discount on a new one though, as Lexus isn't dealing on them very much...at least right now. Ended up going with a new Avalon Limited and am very happy with my decision. Toyota dealers are negotiating on the Avalons. Got $7K discount. $2K rebate + additional $5K dealer discount. You do give up the rear sunshade, but with window tint not really necessary. Also, no rain sensing wipers. However you do gain heated/fold down rear seats in the Avalon which are not available in the ES. $37k out the door, and I couldn't touch the ES for that money. Yes, you do give up the dealer experience at Lexus, but that, and having an L on the front wasn't worth the price difference to me.
I think the ES is a loner based on its drivetrain. I wouldn't compare it with the Acura as that's not a luxury brand like ES besides it has SHAWD which is not available in the ES. Cadenza is good value especially considering the warranty period available, but still not a luxury brand. The Lincoln sedans come to mind but they do not have the same heritage as the Lexus and I guess that explains the price differential even if the Lincolns are value packed. In my opinion a shopper who originally wanted the ES would go right ahead and buy it without cross-shopping. If Lexus included AWD in the ES, the GS sales would plummet so Lexus won't do that. They simply provide an ES to upsell Avalon shoppers who want a luxury badge with legendary reliability and ride confort
Toyota has a lot to catch up in terms of styling - inside and out. This ES's suspension is probably a completely different one than the rest of the Toyotas to earn an "A+" cause, I've never been in a Toyota, other than the Estima, that I don't feel like throwing up my stomach.
For styling, I like the way the ES looks overall, but the front end all comes down to the grill texture. I’m not a huge fan of the vertical lines on the ES or the horizontal bars on most SUVs. I find the intersecting lines on the LS500 to be the most attractive. The design really just doesn’t work on SUVs because of the shape. It’s meant to go with a curvy sedan, not a boxy SUV
The new ES is good but I can't understand why they trimmed the fuel tank by 1 gallon if they made this model a little bit larger than the previous ES. It's quite interesting that there is so many voices for Lexus to discontinue the ES to address the declining sales of the GS.
I suspect they shrank the fuel tank for several reasons: The new car got better MPG so they could. A smaller tank saved weight and therefore previous MPG. It also saved space so they could deliver a bigger combination of back seat and trunk room at a given overall size.
The ES is a front wheel drive where the LS is rear wheel drive. You can make best use of interior space with FWD platforms at the expense of true luxury motoring or a true sporty drive. Even passengers can notice torque-steer as the driver accelerates really fast. Even the GS is prefered by proper luxury car drivers. LS, GS and IS have proper drivetrains for luxury cars. I guess you can get away with an ES as long as you don't drive it on backroads.
I think the ES's closest competitor is the E-class. A lot of people in my neighborhood either go with an E-class or an ES and they tell me that they cross shop those two.
@@alliejr I went to the Mercedes dealer a couple months ago and they said the typical E-class (for the local dealers, to be sure) are usualy priced around $60,000. The top end ES is around $52,000. So it makes a little bit more sense. At that point, its a matter of badge or space
Here is the value add for me with the F-Sport model; 1/ Bigger tires and wheels. The 17 inch wheels in the standard set up looked undersized on this larger car. The 19" give the car a balanced, planted visual appearance. 2/ The larger tires provide better grip resulting in better braking and acceleration numbers. 3/ The F sport gets the adaptive dampers making the highway drive even smoother but you can "button it down" in sport mode with variable throttle mapping and tranny settings to boot. The F Sport gives you the larger driver display behind the wheel as well. Remember this is a F "Sport" version.. NOT an F.
@@rdefacendis I'm sorry, but 19" wheels on a sedan are just stupid. For a sports car, large diameter wheels allow for bigger brakes. But for a sedan? Pointless. The shorter, stiffer sidewall provides less protection of the rim from potholes, and worsens the ride. The larger wheels also tend to be heavier, increasing unsprung weight, which also worsens the ride. Finally, the lower profile tires are more expensive. Big wheels like these are solely about looks, but they increase cost, are more prone to damage, and worsen ride. Better braking and acceleration are a function of tire patch and tire type. I bet that you could get 90% of that performance with the smaller size wheels and tires just by switching to good summer tires. But fundamentally, I have to ask why bother? This is an ES. It isn't a performance car. It isn't the type of car where you are going to be accelerating at full throttle or using maximum braking performance on a regular basis. If you want a sport sedan, then go buy a sport sedan, which isn't an ES.
Is the 350 in the model name is for 350 buttons? The steering wheel alone has about 20. They really need to redesign (refine) that info sys and have a control knob instead of a laptop track-pad from a 2003 Toshiba and maybe *find a way to include 80% of the smart phone users*
Recently took my 2011 ES 350 in for the air-bag recall fix (finally) and they let me drive a loaded 2019 F Sport, I never took it back, it's now in my garage, gorgeous nebula gray pearl. I just couldn't bring myself to part with the 2011, pearl white and pristine as the day it was new! So now I have three Lexus filling my three car garage...these beauties share space with my 2015 gray RC...Other than the air-bag-recall on the 2011 ES, gas, tires, breaks and oil thats it...and still on the original battery...I traded a 2010 Mercedes E-350 for the 2011 Lexus because of the Mercedes high maintenance costs.
Can't believe you didn't give the decibel measurements on this one. When are you going to review the Toyota Avalon on your home turf? I want to see how far off it is against the Lexus ES in ride and cabin noise. I have high hopes that the 2020 Hydundai Cadenza will be on par with this generation ES or even beat it.
When you mention value its too bad you don't mention depreciation, the huge and hidden cost of owning a vehicle. When you add that in to the equation none of the competition even comes close to holding its value like the Lexus. This is a fact, not an opinion and can easily be checked on the internet.
Alex, I wish you had compared it to the outgoing Buick LaCrosse. Since you put out the 2017 Kia Cadenza and Buick LaCrosse as neck 'n neck in their category it would make sense. Even in both reviews you did on those cars, you pointed out several things that out do the Lexus ES for less money! In my opinion, that dash and interior is nothing really to write home about. The Buick LaCrosse has much better styling and infotainment. The Cadenza has much better look and fell of materials then the Lexus ES. Both priced well below the Lexus ES. No need to badge shop for me! Oh and reliability loooks to be close enough to Toyota and Lexus to satisfy me. Thanks, Alex.
Sorry, but the Kia Cadenza interior materials don’t compare to that of the Lexus. Build quality and fit and finish on the Lexus is 10x better. Also, the Cadenza drives like a boat and feels like a land yacht. Even though this looks big it feels smaller and it definitely handles better.
@@andybub45Have you owned both? I have (2017 Cadenza SX Limited and currently a 2020 ES 350 Luxury) and can definitively say the materials are at least comparable, and in my experience build quality and overall solidity favor the Kia. (I'm surprised, too... and I'm frankly disappointed in Lexus.) The Cadenza also had less road noise intrusion, ride quality is essentially the same and if there's a significant difference in handling it's at levels I don't drive at anymore. I've no doubt the Lexus will last longer and be more reliable overall. But I miss the Cadenza.
Alex, in all my years of taking folks to the typical business lunch,....... I have never, ever had anyone sit in the middle rear seat....... Oh, I forgot, in 2008 during the drop in sales time, I did put an intern in the “evil” middle seat, and that was in my 2008 S550. Alex, I do know you must speak about the manufacturer’s car. However, your reviews are the very best. It sure would be helpful if you looked at the reliability on each car. Following Scotty Kilmer’s trashing of so many vehicles certainly is “truthful “ on GM and especially Fiat/ Chrysler. You probably would never have any “press cars” from some of the perineal crappy car builders: Chrysler, GM, Fiat, Alpha-Romeo etc. Dave in Phoenix Arizona USA
Car reviewers aren't in the business of reliability and could care less! The only reviewer i've seen call out defects and flaws on a car is Savagegeese. Scotty Kilmer gets you the rest of the way there on what brands to buy or stay away from.
Let’s take not that you can get a slightly used one ( less than 20k miles fully loaded ) for between 30-35k..... hard to pass it up for a used car of this magnitude
Own a 2019 ES350 - This is a great car - but has the worst Navigation and info/entertainment cluster. Do like the Apple Play, but system is very difficult to operate and learn. Navigation on my cell phone is much better. Grill on F Sport looks like an old screen door mesh I had at my last home, I do like the grill on my regular ES350. If I had a chance to do it over I would buy the hybrid model, less stops at the gas station is a real plus, and gas prices in California are out of sight (gas was much cheaper when I bought the gas model last December).
Better value than 5-series or E-class, similar ride quality, but man, much more reliable...
Lexus looses it value just like any other luxury vehicle. So I wouldn't believe the wive's tale about Lexus holding their value. Residual values are set by the banks and the food chain of auction and dealerships just play along to make as much money as they can out the consumers.
Edmunds long term test of the Lexus GS loosing over 1/3 of it's value from MSRP.
"Resale and Depreciation:
We accumulated 20,940 miles on our 2013 Lexus GS 350. Edmunds' TMV® Calculator valued the vehicle at $47,431 based on a private-party sale. The market did not seem to support this price, as CarMax offered us $40,000 and the best we could muster from a private partywas $41,000. This made for 30-percent depreciation from our paid price of $58,377. We were disappointed
Norm T no just search urself
@@Richard-dd3mm Lexus, or any luxury nameplate depreciates like a rock.
Norm T lol. You took the depreciation of the dying GS to apply that to the rest of the models? That’s stupid. We when sold our 2010 LS460 with 60k miles, we had a value of around 20k. The same vehicle was sold at 28k. While the same year, close mileage S-class was sold at thousands less. Let me remind you, resale value is based upon simple demand and supply. Lexus are notoriously known for reliability, therefore they are still desirable years later, on top of that, the supply of used Lexus vehicles are far smaller than any other luxury manufacturers because of how reliable they are, so people tend to keep them far longer than other luxury manufacturers. The GS is one of the exceptions, including the RCF as well. At any rate, the GS still has good resale value for what it is because people knows it will run. 🙄
@@huythai1222 That quote was from Edmund's longterm test of a Lexus GS from...2013.
Residuals do not matter much when you overpay in the first place.
A new Land Cruiser is $76K while an Escalade is $64K on cars dot com. While a 2009 with less than150,000 miles the LC is $26K and a Escalade is $17K. A new LX570 3-row is $92K while a 2009 is $27K.
So the LC drops $50K and the Escalade only drops $48K. Toyota LC is not luxurious and should not have that depreciation compared to another luxury marque.the LX is more like a luxury vehicle in it’s high depreciation of $65 in the last decade.
2019 ES is one of the best luxury bargains on the current market. Bulletproof and beautiful. Comfortable and quiet. Good review Alex.
LEXUriouS Kirk - if you are going to “blend” your 2 models namely the GS and ES, might as well carry over the AWD system as well for that price
@@Soorma1988 not that simple. The blending my guess will be the IS and GS to make one sports sedan not two. ES is a fwd platform with the ability to add e-awd.
LEXUriouS Kirk - I thought when this new model ES came out the GS was officially discontinued. Btw the IS is in need of a redesign
@@KirkKreifels 100% agreed. Funny thing is, there are some people (by that I mean 1) that are trying to say that the mediocre Buick LaCrosse is the "segment winner".
@@ryanlittleton5615 Five years later, that one poster's LaCrosse posts have aged like fine... milk.
Scotty Kilmer plans to buy this exact car in 15 years.
Will he rev up the engine?
Rumpa Stiltskin But reving the engine is an endless money pit!
Yep, but instead of $52,000 he will pay $5,200 🤣
@@HappyCarReviews At most.
@@HappyCarReviews Lexus looses it value just like any other luxury vehicle. So I wouldn't believe the wive's tale about Lexus holding their value. Residual values are set by the banks and the food chain of auction and dealerships just play along to make as much money as they can out the consumers.
Edmunds long term test of the Lexus GS loosing over 1/3 of it's value from MSRP.
"Resale and Depreciation:
We accumulated 20,940 miles on our 2013 Lexus GS 350. Edmunds' TMV® Calculator valued the vehicle at $47,431 based on a private-party sale. The market did not seem to support this price, as CarMax offered us $40,000 and the best we could muster from a private partywas $41,000. This made for 30-percent depreciation from our paid price of $58,377. We were disappointed
The crazy thing is this beautiful ES fully loaded is cheaper than a base 5 series and e class and is much better quality and comfort..can't beat that.
As a long time Lexus owner, now on my 3rd vehicle, you just can't go wrong with this beautiful ES. The historical reliability of this far out weighs any other make. Another excellent review, Alex.
Meh. That infotainment system is a complete abortion.
@@M1911jln
Most people find that turning the controller sensitivity all the way down makes it much better...
Voice control also works very well...
Why not just get an Avalon then and save money while getting a working tech interface?
M1911jln Most people who drive these will never use the infotainment system.
M1911jln who cares about infotainment system when purchasing ES. It’s all about ride quality. Quietness and comfort.
I’m a Toyota, Honda, and BMW owner for years and I keep my cars like new condition with service at dealer and hand wash as my hobby. I gave my son my Acura RL and was searching for a replacement for the past few months. I stumbled on your videos and have been watching most in this category. I started with the 300h and saw that ten times and went to several dealerships but couldn’t find the ultra luxury hybrid model. I like the look of the F sport but I was looking for a luxury car and found a ES ultra luxury in a V6 with all the options it for me feels like a small LS for $30,000 less. Thanks for the great videos that help me make a decision on my retirement car.
Beautiful car..fully loaded it is still cheaper than the base german cars that come empty and it is much more comfortable and much higher quality in material and mechanics
Wow, it's like I'm looking in a mirror. I sold my lovingly maintained Acura RL to a family member and got an ES 350 Ultra Luxury. I was looking for a luxury car with a quality interior, a great stereo, smooth power and a refined ride. The ES is not perfect, but it's damn good and I know it'll likely stay that way at very little additional expense for a long, long time.
I just bought a 2009 ES 350 and its new to me lol never had a luxery car before. It's so comfortable !
Welcome to lexus family! Just bought my 1st lexus rc350 too!
@@troytruong8246 nice..my dream
Easily one of if not my favorite car on sale today. Beautiful, powerful, fuel efficient for a V6, reliable... and finally a good character behind it!
notformebeaky Thanks, I needed that.
Lexus all the way for me...I just can’t go with another.
notformebeaky Says the guy who watched the video,browsed through the comment section & listens to country...Nice try kiddo...Tread lightly.
notformebeaky How would you know if you can’t afford or have never owned one?...
You wasted your time to view a video about a product you claim that’s “boring” & went through the comment section searching for people who actually have their OWN money & can afford what they want to make a comment...
Btw,boring in what terms? Do you live on a track? Are you trying to impress your boyfriends in the small town or village you’re from by going to 0-60 in 2 seconds?...Listen kid,go back & listen to your boyband music & keep watching your videos of money pit German brands...
notformebeaky So instead of watching your top German brands or Italian brands that’s not boring,you came to watch a video about a Lexus ES? 🙄...Buddy stay listening to your seapony music lol & keep out of grown folks wallets.
notformebeaky lol you obviously never owned one. We had two 3 series, 5 series, x3, two c class, one e class, A6, other than the c class, all German piece of shit. Boring to drive, loud and noisy, lot of road noise, half the car broke down less than 5 years of drive with full dealership maintenance, cost a fortune to repair. Sold them as rubbish since resale is pathetic. Changed to three lexus now, NX, RX, IS and a Volvo SPA XC90. way more fun to drive, much more comfortable and smoother, much less road noise. Made those german crap looked like toys. Will give Porsche a try some day but I’m prepared to be disappointed again. Lexus are miles ahead in refinement. We still had the 2016 E200 and x3 when we had the NX and RX, NO ONE ever wanted to drive the X3 and E class, they sat there gaining dust before we sold them cheap because of terrible resale value, why is the resale value so bad? German engineering!
notformebeaky oh, one absolute crap thing about Lexus is their infotainment system..... gosh it felt like they try by all means to be the worst..... definitely need tons of improvement.
I placed an order on an E350 F Sport today, based in no small part on your thorough and objective review. Thank you, Alex.
underrated reviewer with underrated car
Lexus for sure... reliable and comfy..
Severely underrated
how? It sells very well
Best looking sedan on the market 😀😀
Amen to that
Thank you Lexus for keeping the V6 and normal transmissions.
It has a standard transmission?
CVT is going to go away due to so many problems
NO_EYES_ON_ME I want to believe you but got a source?
you know why? because having dual clutch 9-10 speed transmissions are more expensive and better and that's why lexus stays reliable, they're old shit toyotas are still using 10 year old technology or even older just polished up... idiots like you think V6 and "normal transmissions" are good until you realize how mcuh you are missing out by still paying $50k but getting product thats 20 year old technology
@@Rhyme905 but it is reliable ! Done
Amazing brand, very luxurious, very reliable, not that expensive like the competitors, very smooth, and the best quality
Lexus looses it value just like any other luxury vehicle. So I wouldn't believe the wive's tale about Lexus holding their value. Residual values are set by the banks and the food chain of auction and dealerships just play along to make as much money as they can out the consumers.
Edmunds long term test of the Lexus GS loosing over 1/3 of it's value from MSRP.
"Resale and Depreciation:
We accumulated 20,940 miles on our 2013 Lexus GS 350. Edmunds' TMV® Calculator valued the vehicle at $47,431 based on a private-party sale. The market did not seem to support this price, as CarMax offered us $40,000 and the best we could muster from a private partywas $41,000. This made for 30-percent depreciation from our paid price of $58,377. We were disappointed
@@normt5463 Guerantee that a BMW would lose over 1/2 of its value or more in that period of time. People who buy Lexus keep their cars for a while.
@@andybub45 there was some good lease deals on BMW's before Covid.
A X3 vs NX on Edmund's loan pages gives the Lexus 3% enter residual than BMW. Or $1,500 on a $50K car. Not really that much at this price point.
es f sport looks the best. This paint color is the gorgeous ultrasonic blue Mica 2.0.
I was 4 years late! But it's still my car Alex.
who tf is putting a thumbs down. he's laying down straight facts sprinkled with the occasional opinion. what is there to dislike about this video if you're looking into buy this car. people these days.
Even though the F sport looks handles and accelerates great, the hybrid is the way to go. Still dying to review one!
Unless you plan on keeping it for more than 5 years. Then, the regular V6 is much more reliable and doesn't need a $6,000 battery.
Ehh hybrid is a little to pricey. I think the base with options is best deal.
@@thisismagacountry1318 , at some point this is true....
but i know 3 people with Toyota hybrids. they are all between 8 & 11 years old.
no new batteries yet. its very important to maintain the hybrid systems air filter.
heat kills.
@@googoo-gjoob Yep, you could almost start a business doing just the filters and the other filters too.
Amazing how fast you can talk lol. You are the best reviewer. Great job.
He's really good
he and redline reviews are the most knowledgeable and professional, they know their shit 100%
It is the Lexus for me, the reliability is the main point in my family.
The loss of land yachts is the reason I am ditching the sedan. They are shrinking and going wildly up in price every year. My favorite vehicle is an 05 buick lesabre that is larger than most midsized pickups and has more storage than most compact crossovers. It gets 23 mpg on average (20-21 in the winter with aggressive winter tires) and it is a blast to drive. You really do feel like you're sitting in a comfy living room as there is an insane amount of space. It was also before the age of consoles and bucket seats so the seats are very spacious and if you fold up the "console" you have miles of hip room and enough room to fit a third person comfortably. It is called a 40/20/40 bench but It feels like a 33/33/33. Crossovers are where the land yacht design teams went when large cars got pushed into the curvy, sleek and aggressive designs, or very compact economy cars. But considering I want a less sporty vehicle and a stupid amount of space, I will likely be getting a truck as my next vehicle, whether it be a BOF SUV or a pickup.
Thank you Alex for finally reviewing it
!
Great video Alex as always and truly wonderful to see you following your successful formula. One thing that I see differently somewhat from your take on the US manufacturers following the Germans would be the Chrysler 300, Cadillac XTS and Ford Taurus (albeit all older designs but still in the market). However, the German "follow up" is such a statement maker in the media that one can easily overlook these non formula vehicles or to find them at an odd place. Keep up the good work and thanks for another superb video.
Got es350 last week, it is awesome
Anyone else watching that's not even remotely in the market for one/can't afford one and just watching because his videos are so damned good?
great commentary....and i love the way you explain things, i feel that you and redline reviews are the most knowledgable hands down in the industry.....keep rocking...
Thanks for the break down with other competitor brands at the end of the video.
3/4 Lexus sedans (IS, GS, LS) have already offered AWD. Not sure why people continue to complain the ES doesn’t offer AWD.
Because ES is the most popular model that they buy, GS might not be back and it's smaller, IS is smaller and LS is more expensive.
Lilrick96 they have been complaining since the last generation ES. If ES is AWD it will have a hump, the hood will be bigger so all those will make rear smaller. Also GS is comparable size wise to E and 5 Series. A sporty AWD sedan can’t simple be as big as an ES.
@@seannguyen593 when you say "it will have a hump" We assume you are referring to the trans hump on the floor below the rear seats. So it does have that hump. Everyone else has AWD so no one is complaining they just want to see Lexus to bring to the table what is standard with other brands. Word on the street is Lexus will offer AWD in the ES.
i was speaking to a lexus dealer this week, AWD for ES will probably be available but not till 2021 model year
@@seannguyen593 Because the segment winner, Buick LaCrosse, offered torque vectoring AWD.
Have an Avalon and my lease is up in August. Very tempted to step up to an ES350
Please include anticipated frequency of repair rate (reliability) in your reviews and comparisons. That's VERY important to many of us.
i've not had any issues with mine.....there was an update that i did have to go in for, but otherwise....zero mechanical complaints.....oh yes, i did have to go in to get a new battery.....which they changed....it was because the new es has so much electronics on the car that apparently sometimes you need a new battery but mine was covered....
@@johnmartinez5472 Even my 22.5 yo Lexus is hard on batteries. Thanks.
Still prefers the regular ES to this F-sport model. Nice review anyway👍
Same. Regular ES with Navigation & Panoramic Sunroof 😍😍
Nice car, but I wish they improved the infotainment system
Personally i think that the ES’s most direct competitor is actually the Toyota Avalon Limited and Touring trims.
The Avalon I think does what the ES should be doing better. It has a couple extra features
- folding rear seats
- heated rear seats
- 4 way lumbar for the passenger
- 7 inch mid
- sequential turn signals
Not only that but it’s more practical especially with the folding rear seats
The GS is the stepchild. Very nice ES!
Now I know all the so-called experts call this beautiful Lexus sedan a case of "badge-engineering". And while there's some truth to that, the new ES is at least a great example of how to do it right! This car rightly builds off the strengths of its Toyota Camry sibling while offering a uniquely styled and luxurious package! Totally worth the value!
Love the 80’s synth intro music. Was hoping for a flock of seagulls over.
Alex ran, he ran so far away.
Needs AWD to consider here in Canada, I understand that winter tires are more crucial than AWD, but it’s no doubt a great feature for both performance and resale value.
Go for a less expensive LaCrosse with torque vectoring AWD.
Lexus looses it value just like any other luxury vehicle. So I wouldn't believe the wive's tale about Lexus holding their value. Residual values are set by the banks and the food chain of auction and dealerships just play along to make as much money as they can out the consumers.
Edmunds long term test of the Lexus GS loosing over 1/3 of it's value from MSRP.
"Resale and Depreciation:
We accumulated 20,940 miles on our 2013 Lexus GS 350. Edmunds' TMV® Calculator valued the vehicle at $47,431 based on a private-party sale. The market did not seem to support this price, as CarMax offered us $40,000 and the best we could muster from a private partywas $41,000. This made for 30-percent depreciation from our paid price of $58,377. We were disappointed
Very good looking car. Will be super reliable as well and won't depreciate as quickly as the competitor. All in all a smart purchase.
Lexus looses it value just like any other luxury vehicle. So I wouldn't believe the wive's tale about Lexus holding their value. Residual values are set by the banks and the food chain of auction and dealerships just play along to make as much money as they can out the consumers.
Edmunds long term test of the Lexus GS loosing over 1/3 of it's value from MSRP.
"Resale and Depreciation:
We accumulated 20,940 miles on our 2013 Lexus GS 350. Edmunds' TMV® Calculator valued the vehicle at $47,431 based on a private-party sale. The market did not seem to support this price, as CarMax offered us $40,000 and the best we could muster from a private partywas $41,000. This made for 30-percent depreciation from our paid price of $58,377. We were disappointed
Dull to drive , horrible cvt gearbox, doesnt sound right , and slow, I would pick a 5 series over this any day
@@normt5463 because you chose a GS...the one that holds the least residual value 😂
Only the hybrid has a cvt
I drive my ES 350 like a little old lady goin' to church on Sunday...
Huh vertically mounted AUX/USB input inches away from a cupholder.. That's some engineering right there, only a matter of time before some liquid damage gets in there, a wet umbrella drips, etc.
Might be waterproof
Just close the cover
I wonder why he didn't put the Toyota Avalon (given that the ES is the same size and would compete with it price wise for some configurations) as a competitor. I think the Avalon would be a better value overall when fully loaded, not to mention that the insurance premium would probably be a little lower for the Avalon.
Yes, the Lexus is more refined, but they are both Toyota's at their core so...
Just my humble opinion.
YediydeYah O. Allen Yes, But no one asked for your humble opinion,did they?
Luxury brand has a different car sales and service environment.
YediydeYah O. Allen He probably assumes a company wouldn’t compete with its own divisions
As a UK GS450h owner, the ES is a huge disappointment...it's clearly a good car, but it's directly replaced the GS in the UK market and we're only getting the ES300h. That means we're losing a fast RWD car and getting a slow FWD car instead. I'm sure it will sell better (the GS450h sold less than the Ferrari 458 per year in Europe I believe) but it's a shame. Leaves only the expensive (but very nice) LC500h as a fast model without the V8- which is an issue here considering fuel is nearly 3x the price of the US.
I hate the cancerous swollen grill, but I love that blue-purple color.
Cancerous?
I really hope Lexus doesn't kill off the gs , as much as I love my beloved es , I want a redesigned gs. 😟
It's probably going to depend on how well this ES does.. Too much sales cannibalization and Lexus would probably drop it to save costs
Already killed off in Europe. Rest of the world likely to follow.
The GS is going nowhere, this doesn't rival the 5 series and E class. Lexus will redesign the GS, but not at this moment. carbuzz.com/news/lexus-tells-us-it-will-keep-the-gs-and-gs-f
I still hope they redesign the GS and yes they said they will keep them but there is no word of a full design GS. It’s being in the market for seven long years and it’s pointless to keep manufacturing for every year without internal changes. It looks really outdated
@@LacoteCohen I don't think Lexus needs a 5/E rival. Their customers by and large clearly don't care, and haven't for years. If anything, it would be to take the fight to Genesis, whose G80 conquest sales have largely come at Lexus' expense. Fortunately Toyota just replaced the Crown, so at least the platform investment is already accounted for.
Best car ever made to be honest
It's a nice comfortable ride with some luxury and very reliable that lasts 15 yrs + . Just not crazy to buy new at that price point. You can't go wrong with a 2010 es and up . I'll stick to my 2010 , other wise the only point in getting a new car is like new furniture . If it ain't broke or ripped get your money's worth and buy clean second hand when you get a good deal
Every time I see This interior I can’t get over the Chevy Corsica-esque stalks on the side of the gauge cluster.
The rear doors seem really long which gives it an awkward side profile. I’m sure it’s a nice car otherwise.
Awesome review again.... waiting for your passport review
The Hybrid is the most compelling version.
Love the look of the new ES, just wish they would offer the hybrid version in F-Sport trim like on the RX. The Kia Cadenza is an awesome option, and drives fantastic..AND for 2020 they are adding an AWD option. Just wish Kia would expand the vehicle more and add the kia hybrid system.
Nicely summarized comparisons
perfect car!
Alex - There is a difference in the driving dynamics of F sport v regular ES. Having reviewed both cars The F sport has a stiffer ride and significantly more road noise than the regular ES. To put in perspective you listed F sport having a sound decimal of 69. A 1995 Toyota cesseida had a sound decibel reading of 66.
The F sport will not please the traditional Lexus buyers.
F Sport's only exist to please handling obsessed automotive journalists.
@@sprague49 Not quite. More likely F Sport only exists as a low-cost gesture to have something for the 7 customers who come in missing the now-extinct GS. And to drive down the Methuselah-like average age of recent ES buyers.
i have the f sport es 350 and it really handles beautifully and is fast.......
Which one you could tell better. ES sport or Audi A6 ?
Please review BMW 740 2018 I didn't find it on your channel 🌹
how do you keep that vulnerable grille from getting smashed when parallel parking in NYC? (spoiler alert: impossible)
@notformebeaky you're an idiot!
@notformebeaky That has nothing to do with the original comment. If this is fake, I'd like to hear what you think is real luxury.
notformebeaky You Know you just named some of the most UNRELIABLE cars on the market in your top of the line Luxury mark right?....The depreciation of the cars you mentioned are a JOKE...These German brands & Especially That Land Rover you mentioned are always at the bottom of the reliability section...Who’s going to spend money on those cars when in a matter of 5 years they can buy a Honda Civic for the same price?...The problem here is you came to watch a video based in North America where Reliability is a key factor (& a video on a brand you dislike,that says lots about your time)...Keep to your side of the world & what you like & let others buy what they want with their money,after all it is their money & not yours (if you have any).You think people are actually going to buy some unreliable pos,you claimed there are videos about poor quality from Lexus & American brands when there are videos about BMW & Mercedes,Audi as well of being unreliable garbage....So at the end of the day it’s others money & go view a German brand video to preach your nonsense.
@notformebeaky What? The reviews I've seen praise Lexus for the best materials in its segment, even better than Mercedes. They also praise the new design, even the ones that previously disliked the spindle grill. They call the speed modest rather than slow. It's only 0.2 seconds slower than a 2019 RWD E class. The only complaints are about the unintuitive infotainment system and mediocre handling. Sounds like you're just spouting random bullshit because you can't afford the car.
@notformebeaky Also, I live in one of the wealthiest cities in the US. I don't need you to tell me what you think the tiers of luxury are. The brands battling for the top spot are Mercedes/Lexus/BMW. And it's commonly known that BMW has the worst interiors of the three. Here, people who want real luxury get Mercedes/Lexus.
I am happy, that we see the ES for the first time in Germany... The car looks really good in real. I have seen one in black metallic and it was an ultra Luxury line. But the only sad point ist, that we only get the 300h at this time.. So my question is, could you also test the hybrid version in your home area? By the way in our country should the ES compete direct with BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, Audi A6, Volvo S90 and Jaguar XF..
The standard model at the end of the video really looks good to me vs. the F-Sport. I like the last gen ES has well. It is meant to look classy not sporty IMO.
if u want classy maybe go buy a Buick or Mercedes, lexus is trying hard to sell to those under 65 years of age
For a car that doesn't have a touch screen (which I'm ok with given the better location of the screen) I think the touch pad is the best infotainment control you can get. It's much better than the old sliding joystick Lexus used to have and also better than the dial controls the German cars use. Having said all that I wouldn't call the touch pad great either.
Why this instead of a full load Camry V6 or even an Avalon ?
This is way more solid of a car in ride and comfort than the economy heritage Camry. Closer to Avalon though.
Because badge-whoring and keeping up with the Joneses are real things.
oldtwins na IMO, I prefer the Avalon over the ES. It’s cheaper, and more practical because the Avalon has heated folding rear seats and 4 way lumbar for passenger. Plus, infotainment in the Avalon is easier to use over the Lexus.
But my overall pick would be the Camry XSE V6.
@@suserman7775 Pretty much this. If nobody cared for the luxury badges on things, luxury brands would fail miserably.
Like it or not, we live in a world where people *will* cough up extra just for the privilege of having a luxury badge - even if it's the same product.
Not to drag down the Lexus ES. It's a great, classic luxury car. But if nobody cared for the Lexus badge, the Avalon would be selling far more than this.
Build and material quality and then there's the badge.
This is a very good review, comprehensive!
If it was rwd or awd i would consider getting one, i love almost everything about it. And yes they need to add a rotary dial/touch screen.
If you want a rear drive Lexus, get a GS!
Touchscreen is in 2022 ES...
I like FWD. Maybe it doesn’t handle as good but you won’t have much trouble in the snow.
Best car reviewer on the web.
Just give me a proper naturally aspirated V6 over the tin pan 4-cyl with 100 turbochargers
Are the seats made of the leather, or the faux material like in the IS ? Thanks in advance.
Faux except Luxury and Ultra Luxury. (I know, this is five years later. Sorry about that.)
I am so considering getting one but that non-touchscreen, mouse-like controlled display(w/c I understand is because it's too far from the driver) is making me wanna change my mind. Gotta try it for myself, I guess
2022 ES has touchscreen...
Great review Alex as always! Love the new ES myself. I had a 2015 that I sold to a friend. Don't expect to get much of a discount on a new one though, as Lexus isn't dealing on them very much...at least right now. Ended up going with a new Avalon Limited and am very happy with my decision. Toyota dealers are negotiating on the Avalons. Got $7K discount. $2K rebate + additional $5K dealer discount. You do give up the rear sunshade, but with window tint not really necessary. Also, no rain sensing wipers. However you do gain heated/fold down rear seats in the Avalon which are not available in the ES. $37k out the door, and I couldn't touch the ES for that money. Yes, you do give up the dealer experience at Lexus, but that, and having an L on the front wasn't worth the price difference to me.
Either way they both are amazing vehicles..the avalon is amazing
Very true but Lexus looks better all around in & out to me that’s worth the extra cash
dame this ES is gorgeous with red exterior color 27:15
I think the ES is a loner based on its drivetrain. I wouldn't compare it with the Acura as that's not a luxury brand like ES besides it has SHAWD which is not available in the ES. Cadenza is good value especially considering the warranty period available, but still not a luxury brand. The Lincoln sedans come to mind but they do not have the same heritage as the Lexus and I guess that explains the price differential even if the Lincolns are value packed.
In my opinion a shopper who originally wanted the ES would go right ahead and buy it without cross-shopping.
If Lexus included AWD in the ES, the GS sales would plummet so Lexus won't do that.
They simply provide an ES to upsell Avalon shoppers who want a luxury badge with legendary reliability and ride confort
Toyota has a lot to catch up in terms of styling - inside and out. This ES's suspension is probably a completely different one than the rest of the Toyotas to earn an "A+" cause, I've never been in a Toyota, other than the Estima, that I don't feel like throwing up my stomach.
For styling, I like the way the ES looks overall, but the front end all comes down to the grill texture. I’m not a huge fan of the vertical lines on the ES or the horizontal bars on most SUVs. I find the intersecting lines on the LS500 to be the most attractive. The design really just doesn’t work on SUVs because of the shape. It’s meant to go with a curvy sedan, not a boxy SUV
The new ES is good but I can't understand why they trimmed the fuel tank by 1 gallon if they made this model a little bit larger than the previous ES.
It's quite interesting that there is so many voices for Lexus to discontinue the ES to address the declining sales of the GS.
I suspect they shrank the fuel tank for several reasons: The new car got better MPG so they could. A smaller tank saved weight and therefore previous MPG. It also saved space so they could deliver a bigger combination of back seat and trunk room at a given overall size.
It's not a direct competition but I'd certainly compare the ES with the Avalon if I were shopping for the ES or Avalon.
It's interesting how the ES has more leg rooms than the LS.
The ES is a front wheel drive where the LS is rear wheel drive. You can make best use of interior space with FWD platforms at the expense of true luxury motoring or a true sporty drive. Even passengers can notice torque-steer as the driver accelerates really fast. Even the GS is prefered by proper luxury car drivers. LS, GS and IS have proper drivetrains for luxury cars. I guess you can get away with an ES as long as you don't drive it on backroads.
I wonder how much will it cost to replace that sliding instrument gauge when the motor breaks.
Great review!! Yessss for heading towards the bushes lol 😂 that part was funny to me
Loved your comprehensive comp...!
Looks great, drives like the best ES ever, but still needs AWD to be all that it can be
4 stars
I think the ES's closest competitor is the E-class. A lot of people in my neighborhood either go with an E-class or an ES and they tell me that they cross shop those two.
Interesting since the typically equipped (not base) E-Class is gonna be $15,000-20,000 more than a typical ES.
Right, and those are two terrible cars that prove the point that badge-whoring is alive and well.
@@alliejr I went to the Mercedes dealer a couple months ago and they said the typical E-class (for the local dealers, to be sure) are usualy priced around $60,000. The top end ES is around $52,000. So it makes a little bit more sense. At that point, its a matter of badge or space
Alliejr it is more expensive but that doesn't mean it has more features..
@@suserman7775 "Two terrible cars"? Okay, you win the Internet.
Is the 2018 Camry V6 noisier inside the cabin?
F-sport on an ES is just pointless.
Kinda agree
M1911jln If Lexus added Awd and had more grip with the 3.5 twin turbo it would be worth the badge
Here is the value add for me with the F-Sport model; 1/ Bigger tires and wheels. The 17 inch wheels in the standard set up looked undersized on this larger car. The 19" give the car a balanced, planted visual appearance. 2/ The larger tires provide better grip resulting in better braking and acceleration numbers. 3/ The F sport gets the adaptive dampers making the highway drive even smoother but you can "button it down" in sport mode with variable throttle mapping and tranny settings to boot. The F Sport gives you the larger driver display behind the wheel as well. Remember this is a F "Sport" version.. NOT an F.
@@rdefacendis I'm sorry, but 19" wheels on a sedan are just stupid. For a sports car, large diameter wheels allow for bigger brakes. But for a sedan? Pointless. The shorter, stiffer sidewall provides less protection of the rim from potholes, and worsens the ride. The larger wheels also tend to be heavier, increasing unsprung weight, which also worsens the ride. Finally, the lower profile tires are more expensive. Big wheels like these are solely about looks, but they increase cost, are more prone to damage, and worsen ride.
Better braking and acceleration are a function of tire patch and tire type. I bet that you could get 90% of that performance with the smaller size wheels and tires just by switching to good summer tires. But fundamentally, I have to ask why bother? This is an ES. It isn't a performance car. It isn't the type of car where you are going to be accelerating at full throttle or using maximum braking performance on a regular basis.
If you want a sport sedan, then go buy a sport sedan, which isn't an ES.
@@123jarre And if my aunt was a man she'd be my uncle...
Love you videos!
Is the 350 in the model name is for 350 buttons? The steering wheel alone has about 20.
They really need to redesign (refine) that info sys and have a control knob instead of a laptop track-pad from a 2003 Toshiba
and maybe *find a way to include 80% of the smart phone users*
What do I think about the styling?
Like all Lexus, looks great, except that horrendous front end.
and you forgot the 2 big ass knobs on each side of the instrument cluster... also with a shitty small screen when competitors are using full LCDs...
how tall is Alex? when he states his head touches the roof when sitting in the rear seat does not mean anything without his height.
Recently took my 2011 ES 350 in for the air-bag recall fix (finally) and they let me drive a loaded 2019 F Sport, I never took it back, it's now in my garage, gorgeous nebula gray pearl. I just couldn't bring myself to part with the 2011, pearl white and pristine as the day it was new! So now I have three Lexus filling my three car garage...these beauties share space with my 2015 gray RC...Other than the air-bag-recall on the 2011 ES, gas, tires, breaks and oil thats it...and still on the original battery...I traded a 2010 Mercedes E-350 for the 2011 Lexus because of the Mercedes high maintenance costs.
You are a true Lexus aficionado!!
Android auto is coming soon because it it coming on some 2020 toyota trucks and SUVs
I was told by a lexus dealer that lexus is coming out with an AWD ES 350 next.
There has been some negative feedback about the Mark Levinson sound system on the ES. Can you comment and give us your opinion on it?
Can't believe you didn't give the decibel measurements on this one. When are you going to review the Toyota Avalon on your home turf? I want to see how far off it is against the Lexus ES in ride and cabin noise. I have high hopes that the 2020 Hydundai Cadenza will be on par with this generation ES or even beat it.
I believe you should give more weight to reliability and resale value when comparing brands and models.
When you mention value its too bad you don't mention depreciation, the huge and hidden cost of owning a vehicle. When you add that in to the equation none of the competition even comes close to holding its value like the Lexus. This is a fact, not an opinion and can easily be checked on the internet.
Alex, I wish you had compared it to the outgoing Buick LaCrosse. Since you put out the 2017 Kia Cadenza and Buick LaCrosse as neck 'n neck in their category it would make sense. Even in both reviews you did on those cars, you pointed out several things that out do the Lexus ES for less money!
In my opinion, that dash and interior is nothing really to write home about. The Buick LaCrosse has much better styling and infotainment. The Cadenza has much better look and fell of materials then the Lexus ES. Both priced well below the Lexus ES. No need to badge shop for me! Oh and reliability loooks to be close enough to Toyota and Lexus to satisfy me. Thanks, Alex.
Sorry, but the Kia Cadenza interior materials don’t compare to that of the Lexus. Build quality and fit and finish on the Lexus is 10x better. Also, the Cadenza drives like a boat and feels like a land yacht. Even though this looks big it feels smaller and it definitely handles better.
@@andybub45Have you owned both? I have (2017 Cadenza SX Limited and currently a 2020 ES 350 Luxury) and can definitively say the materials are at least comparable, and in my experience build quality and overall solidity favor the Kia. (I'm surprised, too... and I'm frankly disappointed in Lexus.) The Cadenza also had less road noise intrusion, ride quality is essentially the same and if there's a significant difference in handling it's at levels I don't drive at anymore.
I've no doubt the Lexus will last longer and be more reliable overall. But I miss the Cadenza.
Alex, in all my years of taking folks to the typical business lunch,....... I have never, ever had anyone sit in the middle rear seat....... Oh, I forgot, in 2008 during the drop in sales time, I did put an intern in the “evil” middle seat, and that was in my 2008 S550. Alex, I do know you must speak about the manufacturer’s car. However, your reviews are the very best. It sure would be helpful if you looked at the reliability on each car. Following Scotty Kilmer’s trashing of so many vehicles certainly is “truthful “ on GM and especially Fiat/ Chrysler. You probably would never have any “press cars” from some of the perineal crappy car builders: Chrysler, GM, Fiat, Alpha-Romeo etc. Dave in Phoenix Arizona USA
Car reviewers aren't in the business of reliability and could care less! The only reviewer i've seen call out defects and flaws on a car is Savagegeese. Scotty Kilmer gets you the rest of the way there on what brands to buy or stay away from.
Let’s take not that you can get a slightly used one ( less than 20k miles fully loaded ) for between 30-35k..... hard to pass it up for a used car of this magnitude
Own a 2019 ES350 - This is a great car - but has the worst Navigation and info/entertainment cluster. Do like the Apple Play, but system is very difficult to operate and learn. Navigation on my cell phone is much better. Grill on F Sport looks like an old screen door mesh I had at my last home, I do like the grill on my regular ES350. If I had a chance to do it over I would buy the hybrid model, less stops at the gas station is a real plus, and gas prices in California are out of sight (gas was much cheaper when I bought the gas model last December).
the older ES is much quieter and smoother.
The 2016 & 2017 ?
Where are the measurements?
I bought a CPO 2017 ES with 30,000 miles...good as new and got what I thought was a good deal on money.
He keeps referring to the GS. Isn't it scheduled to be cancelled?