Sure, be happy to comment if you start another (ES vs. Accord, or apples to peanuts?) thread. My disagreement with the lack of Accord legroom opinion seemed to strike a nerve on this thread.

 

CSTONE3636 - based on your extensive comparison please comment on a simple matter: size of Genesis Vs ES.
I am particularly concerned with the back seat. (2 vs 2.5 vs 3)

 

A couple things I noticed while test driving the Genesis size wise was it had a nice amount of room for both the front and rear seat occupants. The seats are made a little differently in both vehicles however in the Genesis my impression was you were sitting lower in the seats as the console was raised in the center. Not a big deal but when you open the center console it opens with 2 doors opening from the center and both opening out making it harder to look into the center storage compartment. I didn't quite understand the thinking on that and didn't like it myself. The rear seats are very comfortable in the Genesis and I asked my 15 YOA son what he thought of them to answer your question. He felt there was more leg room in the Lexus however the Genesis is a little wider so there was more room width wise which matches up since its 3 inches wider than the ES. I specifically sat in the rear of both of these cars and I'm not a small guy and I had plenty of room. You won't be disappointed in either back seat it just depends if you want more leg room or more room width wise. Comfort wise the Genesis seats were more comfortable without a doubt. If you could take those seats and put them in the ES it would make it an even better car in my opinion. Good Luck

 

Thanks a lot for your points.
This narrows down my alternatives to replace my 2012 Genesis when the lease ends by December.
Mine is fully loaded and 2012 has the improved suspension. Great car. Not a Lexus though.

Currently, after excluding the GS just because of rear space, I consider:

- 2015 Genesis
- RX-350
- ES-350

This thread has been VERY helpful!

 

Those are 3 great vehicles to choose from. Good luck, let us know what you decide on.

 

the RX is virtually bullet proof, very dependable and predictable vehicle, the big downfall for me is the suspension on the RX. Its is too floaty (for lack of a better term), and unbalanced for me. I would narrow it down to the ES and Genesis, 2 awesome cars. Hard to say, i really like the Genesis and obviously i really like the ES because i bought one. MPG was the biggest factor for me as that is the application that the vehicle is used for, commutes, trips etc.. But seeing that MPG is not a huge issue for you, i would look at the Genesis very closely. The re design is very nice.

 

PirelliES, you mentioned the RX is "floaty." I disagree completely. The second gen was a bit soft, but this third generation has been criticized by many as "too firm". The RX board has had a debate over the 19" wheels causing a harsh ride compared to the 18" rims (sound familiar - as a similar debate has occurred here comparing 17 and 18" rims). Of course, the f-Sport causes even more debate, even though it is supposed to be a bit firmer.

Frankly, even with the 19" rims, I don't see the RX as either "harsh" or "floaty". I think the RX has a firm ride but to me it is just right. Frankly, our perception of the ride quality probably depends more on our basis of comparison than anything else. If you feel the RX is floaty, what are you comparing it to?

The RX is definitely not a sports car, but it is a terrific car. The other choices are all good options too, but two are sedans and one is an SUV. Do you need to narrow down the "type" vehicle before selecting the model?

Compared to the RX, the ES has much better rear seat room and the rear seat ingress/egress is much easier. The RX has more room if you need to haul anything. The ES is quieter as well. We get about 19 MPG with the RX in mostly city driving. The third generation RX is a bit taller and somewhat of a stretch for my 5'4" wife so be careful to evaluate that during any test drives.

 

If you decide on the RX, I'd wait for the 2016 which is scheduled for a change.

 

Thank you all for the guidance.
As for the 2016 it is a perfect point. They may not to be so flexible with prices as they are in the 2015.
Their leases are unbeatable. (of course because of the coming 2016)

 

Like the 2013 ES, the 2016 RX is even more aggressive looking and probably more firmer targeted to a younger audience. When the 2016 hits the showroom, you should test drive and confirm. If you like the softer ride, you'll get a good price on the out going MY and existing inventory they need to clear.

 

In the RX release they specifically stated that the new RX had improved ride comfort, so i wouldn't automatically assume its going to ride harder. The RX is also available with AVS which I have on the GS and isn't available on the ES which helps it handle flatter without riding harder.

If you haven't driven an NX, they ride very well, I would expect the 2016 RX to ride well.

 

The new RX simply looks like a stretched out NX, i personally think they are both very unattractive vehicles. And i do not think this new RX will be a big success like the previous models, because they are targeting a younger demographic with the sharp, aggressive lines, and i dont think the RX clientele is necessarily looking for that.

 

IDK, I kind of like it and I'm not too young.

 

Neither the NX or new RX are my cup of tea, but I do see how both will probably appeal to a younger/new demographic for the Lexus brand and should do well.

 

Yep, it's wierd how Toyota's marketing department computer programs keep telling the designers and engineers their cars need to appeal to a younger crowd that desires aggressive styling and doesn't mind harsh, noisy rides, hard seats and hard plastic interiors. Then the company later learns the hard way those changes can hurt sales (e.g. Scion sales have crashed, Avalon sales are lackluster, 2012-14 Camry sales have been below expectations). Sales of the 2015 Camry have been better no doubt because the non-sporty versions of the car offer improved ride comfort and quietness and richer looking and feeling surfaces in the interior.