REVEALED! 8th Generation Lexus ES Megathread (ES 350h, ES 350e, ES 500e)
- Thread starter gecko
- Start date
gecko
Administrator
- Messages
- 5,219
- Reactions
- 12,877
I brought my IS 500 in for an oil change last week and low and behold, Hennessy Lexus of Atlanta had a white ES 350e parked outside, so I checked it out.
This was my first time seeing and touching the car, and my impressions were mixed. Overall the interior does look better in person than it does in pictures, but it is still tall, awkwardly proportioned, and not particularly attractive. Unfortunately the interior was a major letdown I did not expect because I'd heard/read some reviewers say it was simple, yes, but high quality.
That was not my experience at all. The plastics on the center console and around the shifter feel like the trim off a mid-2000s Corolla. The horizontal accent bar across the dash is a hard, tinny, thin, cheap plastic that feels like a mid 2000s Chevrolet Malibu. The "leather" on the door armrest is a shiny vinyl material that doesn't even remotely look close to the Nuluxe on the seats.
I haven't been a fan of this car since it was released but even with low expectations, I was majorly disappointed with the interior materials and quality.
This was my first time seeing and touching the car, and my impressions were mixed. Overall the interior does look better in person than it does in pictures, but it is still tall, awkwardly proportioned, and not particularly attractive. Unfortunately the interior was a major letdown I did not expect because I'd heard/read some reviewers say it was simple, yes, but high quality.
That was not my experience at all. The plastics on the center console and around the shifter feel like the trim off a mid-2000s Corolla. The horizontal accent bar across the dash is a hard, tinny, thin, cheap plastic that feels like a mid 2000s Chevrolet Malibu. The "leather" on the door armrest is a shiny vinyl material that doesn't even remotely look close to the Nuluxe on the seats.
I haven't been a fan of this car since it was released but even with low expectations, I was majorly disappointed with the interior materials and quality.
DarkSpace6383
Follower
- Messages
- 427
- Reactions
- 192
Thanks for keeping honest Mike
Kelvin2020
Admirer
- Messages
- 921
- Reactions
- 2,134
Lexus ES Chief Engineer Is 'Not Happy' About SUVs Taking Over | Carscoops
Six years after Lexus killed the GS, the chief engineer behind the new ES just said what most executives won't about SUVs
www.carscoops.com
Stop manipulating people🤣🤣
You don’t like SUVs taking over, and now you’ve built a sedan that looks exactly like an SUV.
DarkSpace6383
Follower
- Messages
- 427
- Reactions
- 192
They didnt build it with the purpose of it looking like an SUV. It's a fundamental platform issue. The ES needs to support both a hybrid engine and a battery pack that fits under the floor. Due to this, the whole car effectively needs to be put on stilts, so the battery pack can go underneath. It's just compromised packaging. They would've likely made it lower if they could.Lexus ES Chief Engineer Is 'Not Happy' About SUVs Taking Over | Carscoops
Six years after Lexus killed the GS, the chief engineer behind the new ES just said what most executives won't about SUVs
Stop manipulating people🤣🤣
You don’t like SUVs taking over, and now you’ve built a sedan that looks exactly like an SUV.
Lexus ES Chief Engineer Is 'Not Happy' About SUVs Taking Over | Carscoops
Six years after Lexus killed the GS, the chief engineer behind the new ES just said what most executives won't about SUVs
Stop manipulating people🤣🤣
You don’t like SUVs taking over, and now you’ve built a sedan that looks exactly like an SUV.
Wtf are they even talking about? You killed every sedan you had, kept only the ES - and that thing is basically a cost-cutting machine. Now you wanna cry about SUVs taking over?
Bro you literally did this to yourselves. Killed the GS, made everything boring as hell, then wonder why nobody gives a crap about sedans anymore. Absolute clown behavior!
LexDDas
Fan
- Messages
- 58
- Reactions
- 126
we need a "!!" reaction option
AI summary: Overall consensus
Most reviewers think the new ES is a major step up from the old one — bigger, quieter, more upscale, and much closer to a true flagship luxury sedan than before. Several reviewers even ask whether Lexus is quietly replacing the role of the LS with this car.
The biggest themes across the videos are:
- The ES now feels more like a mini-Lexus LS than an entry luxury sedan
- Lexus prioritized comfort, refinement, and efficiency over sporty driving
- The hybrid versions are viewed more favorably than the EV versions
- Interior quality and ride comfort are major strengths
- Styling is controversial but generally praised as modern and premium
Funny enough, it's an inch taller than the Polestar 4 - which Polestar themselves billed as a crossover.Lexus ES Chief Engineer Is 'Not Happy' About SUVs Taking Over | Carscoops
Six years after Lexus killed the GS, the chief engineer behind the new ES just said what most executives won't about SUVs
Stop manipulating people🤣🤣
You don’t like SUVs taking over, and now you’ve built a sedan that looks exactly like an SUV.
bogglo
Admirer
- Messages
- 670
- Reactions
- 888
They are preparing the customers for an all SUV line up. At least Ford was straight forward with the customer when they made the decision.
Tragic Bronson
Expert
- Messages
- 3,209
- Reactions
- 3,807
Lexus Engineers Couldn't Stop Fighting Over The New ES, And It Wasn't Power Or Screens | Carscoops
The fiercest debate inside the new ES program came down to one unglamorous part most buyers never see
www.carscoops.com
Tragic Bronson
Expert
- Messages
- 3,209
- Reactions
- 3,807
Tragic Bronson
Expert
- Messages
- 3,209
- Reactions
- 3,807
Lexus Is Paying ES Owners Not To Jump Ship - CarsDirect
ES owners can get a $1,500 loyalty discount. It can be stacked with other incentives. The newest ES can be surprisingly expensive. Learn More.
www.carsdirect.com
Lexus Is Paying ES Owners Not To Jump Ship - CarsDirect
ES owners can get a $1,500 loyalty discount. It can be stacked with other incentives. The newest ES can be surprisingly expensive. Learn More.
- ES owners can get a $1,500 loyalty discount.
- It can be stacked with other incentives.
- The newest ES can be surprisingly expensive.
It's Worth $1,500 And Is Only Available To ES Drivers
The $1,500 loyalty discount is available to those who own or have an expiring lease on an ES. No other Lexus model is eligible for a loyalty discount, making this a highly targeted offer. It's probably not a coincidence that Lexus discontinued the standard ES sedan with a gas engine for 2026 and now only offers it as a hybrid or an EV.The loyalty bonus is available through June 30. To qualify, you or someone in your household will have to own an ES or have an ES lease maturing between June 2 and December 1. A trade-in isn't required to get the deal, which can be claimed when buying or leasing any new 2026 Lexus. It can also be stacked with other offers.
Your Options For A New ES May Be Surprisingly Pricey
Even with the $1,500 discount, we think that this could be a tough sell for some ES owners. Last month, the 2026 ES 500e debuted with an EV lease that costs almost $860 a month. This month, the cheaper ES 350e got its first lease, though that, too, is shaping up to be an awful car to lease with an effective cost of almost $800.In base form, the cheapest 2026 ES Hybrid is over $7,500 more expensive than the previous year. There are also no incentives yet on the redesigned hybrid. There's also very little reason to choose another Lexus when it comes to incentives since there are no Lexus rebates apart from a $6,000 discount on the RZ crossover.
Bad News For Hybrid Lexus Shoppers
If you're coming from an ES Hybrid, the outlook doesn't look good when it comes to the brand's hybrid incentives. Our analysis found that the NX Hybrid is excluded from Lexus' financing deals. The same goes for the larger 2026 RX Hybrid's deals. Leases for those variants also remain very expensive due to unfavorable lease rates.You Might Want To Upgrade To An RX Lease
On the West Coast, the NX 350 is currently listed at $499 for 36 months with $4,999 due at signing. With the loyalty bonus, we estimate that it could have an effective cost as low as $596 per month. At that point, the bigger RX 350 may be a smart upgrade for an extra $20 per month. Current Lexus lease deals end on June 30.On the opposite end of things, some car brands are offering up to $5,000 in conquest cash incentives to entice shoppers to switch this month. For example, the Porsche Welcome Credit offers payment credits worth up to $1,500 per month on your last 3 lease payments. That's a maximum of $4,500 in savings to switch.
DarkSpace6383
Follower
- Messages
- 427
- Reactions
- 192
its literally because the car has shitty optimization. they would've made it lower if they good. i agree that its a badly executed car but we are just grasping for straws here