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New color options, revised interior, all-LED headlights, L-shaped tail lights like on the GS and a new ES200 with a 2.0 DI four cylinder engine alongside the existing, slightly weedy ES250. No ES200t, although the RX now gets a RX200t variant. All in all, a good refresh, this could be the best selling ES generation yet.
It might very well become the best-seller ES, but I can't help but to think that the revised front is too similar to Toyota. Look how similar the bumpers, lights, and grilles are to the Avalon and Camry examples below. I wish Toyota would've went a different styling route rather than imitating the Lexus spindle grille. Maybe I'm just blind and need to put my glasses on...
ugh, the front of the vehicle just looks confused and messy, the bottom of the spindle grille is much wider and fatter so it looks very similar to the Avalon / Camry grille. The only thing i like are the new rear taillights, i wouldn't mind buying the taillights after market for my ES, im sure they will fit.
Overall, I am happy with the refreshed design. It looks quite handsome and has the emotion/drama that I was looking for in the front fascia. The design captured the new Lexus design language that they've been implementing on their other models, but on a more conservative level. I also like how the new tail lights are more reminiscent of the ones found on the LS.
Overall, I think it is a very nice package up improvements and upgrades.
I still have mixed feelings about the changes to the front of the vehicle. but, while I'm not a fan of the larger spindle grille and, especially, the new fog light design, I have to admit that the way that the entire exterior of the vehicle blends together creates a very nice look, and the changes to the rear are very nice.
The interior changes look good to me. Especially, I like the addition of wood to the console and what appears to be the use of black trim on the lower portions of the dash, console, and doors. I also like the redesigned embossed seats, and the larger information display is a nice upgrade.
One thing that I'm curious about is the "innovative self-healing clear coat paint". My guess would be that what would "heal" would be things like polishing swirls and very minor surface scratches, but I don't imagine, unfortunately, that they have figured out a way to have things like even small rock chips heal themselves.
All-in-all, it looks like a very nice refresh. While I can't imagine that too many 2013-2015 ES owners are going to be rushing to buy a 2016, those who already have a 2013-2015 ES are not the intended targets of the refresh, and the changes made should make the ES an attractive choice for new buyers for the remaining 2-3 years of the Generation 6 ES's life cycle.
Further, if I was considering the purchase of a new ES right now, I think that I would be inclined to wait for the 2016 ES to become available. Because a good number of potential buyers will want to wait for the 2016, that should lead to some very nice opportunities for discounts on the 2015 ES during the next several months. And, when the refreshed 2016 ES does become available, the nice changes in the refresh will likely give dealers the opportunity to hold pricing closer to MSRP on the 2016 for a while.
04-19-15, 08:51 PM
2016 Lexus ES Refresh Officially Unveiled
