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The ES is a sedan that’s as old as Lexus itself, being a mainstay for the brand since its launch in 1989. After nigh on 30 years, the Lexus ES begins its seventh generation, adopts an all-new platform, and even gets its first F Sport iteration. The mission? Maintain the level of craftsmanship that Lexus prides itself on and find luxury in the little things. “My inspiration for the ES came in micro-moments in everyday life,” said ES chief engineer Yasuhiro Sakakibara. He alludes to moments like the confidence brought on by donning a favorite, well-tailored shirt, or savoring each bite of a gourmet meal. Much like we consume cuisine, Lexus customers may very well easily find the “fast food” version of what the ES offers, but miss out in reveling in its careful preparation.
The Good: Seven generations is a long time to get things right, and with that in mind, the ES has honed its role. Slotted closer to the IS on the automaker’s sedan spectrum, it provides the full Lexus sedan experience without expanding to the heftier GS and LS models. What that means is a smooth ride with a well-appointed interior, a well-baffled cabin and a quality aural experience with the Mark Levinson sound system. Audiophiles will rejoice in the quality produced by the 17-speaker package, which was carefully arranged throughout 10 different cabin locations so that tunes are optimally delivered. I’m not as keen-eared as those who can discern finer quality audio gear, but even I was able to hear layers of favorite songs that I didn’t know existed. The sound system is a standalone option, so folks who want it aren’t forced into a particular package.
Who It’s For: In the U.S., the median age of an ES buyer is around 60, but Lexus hopes to broaden the appeal of the ES with this generation while still satisfying the needs of its stalwart buyer base. “Our customers have been with the brand since the beginning. They’ve grown up with us and, frankly, aged with us,” said Brian Bolain, General Manager of Lexus International. This ES and its F Sport injection is an attempt at rejuvenating that consumer base.
Watch Out For: The Lexus multimedia system has come a long way, and is faster and sharper than ever before, but it’s still got some kinks to work out. As it happens, the infotainment interface is accessible only via a “remote touch interface,” which is essentially a trackpad that manipulates an on-screen cursor. It will quickly snap to the options or icons you want to click on — like “Ok” or “Cancel” — and its movements are reinforced with little haptic vibration to confirm your selection. But ultimately it’s quite distracting for use on the go. There’s a reason why car interfaces are different than that of a PCs: they’re not meant to demand that much of our concentration. The 12.3-inch screen has no touch capabilities, making the trackpad the sole interface, which I finally gave in to after smudging the screen ineffectually a couple of times.
Alternatives: The Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Audi A6 would be the biggest threats to the Lexus ES. Audi’s offer might prove to be the more dynamic drive experience out of all of the three. Mercedes tech is also usually top-notch, not to mention that the car carries a little more luxury brand prestige along with it. Both come with a price tag to match. Lexus says the ES will start “around” $40K, but both German competitors start much higher.
