I'm potentially going to buy a 2016 ES in a private party sale. I currently have a 2008 ES with 110k miles but would really like to have a back up camera. Two things I would like from the 2016 is a back up camera and navigation that will be very robust and reliable for the next 8 years. I don't really care if they are the latest technology I just want functionality without bugs and intermittent problems. Will I get that in the 2016?

 

I have a 2016 ES 350 with backup camera and Navigation. My wife loves it, and the navigation works well.
As for the other technology features, Lexus switched from 3G to 5G and they were no longer available. I recently received an email that these features could now be accessed using their phone app. The price is pretty high, as well as being subscription based.
Navigation and such work without the update, and I can live without the other features. I just don't like the idea of having to pay a yearly subscription to have remote start.

 

I have had my 2016 ES 300H for 5 years now. It has about 75k miles. I have the premium level with nav, backup camera and, what I value the most, the safety features: front and rear proximity and motion warning, emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-side warning and adaptive cruise control.

The plus side of the Nav is that it has live traffic re-routing, assuming that you live in area where there is radto station that broadcasts the data. What I don't like is the $179 to update the maps themselves. If you live in an area without much growth in terms of new subdivisions or changes in highways and roads you don't need to update it. Otherwise it is an inconvenience and I revert to my phone for those areas. The other part that frustrates me is the address entry method requires patience to with the joystick. But as a nav system it works without glitches and traffic-aware routing reliably matches Google maps routing.

The comfort, reliability and safety features make this the best car I have ever had. I hope to get 200K miles with it. My concerns with the Nav are mostly OCD frustrations and most normal humans do not share them.

 

Don’t have any Nav bugs. But then again, it’s been updated to the latest software.

 

[QUOTE=ESully;11391387]I have a 2016 ES 350 with backup camera and Navigation. My wife loves it, and the navigation works well.
As for the other technology features, Lexus switched from 3G to 5G and they were no longer available. I recently received an email that these features could now be accessed using their phone app. The price is pretty high, as well as being subscription based.
Navigation and such work without the update, and I can live without the other features. I just don't like the idea of having to pay a yearly subscription to have remote start.

thx for your response. Spoke to that dealer. They have two options. One thru the phone, one thru the car fob. Another dealer said they are looking at a possibility for around $600. We'll see. Thx again.

 

Aren't they moving to systems where you use your phone like android auto and thus no GPS updates required?

 

My 2014 nav is atrocious. It’s a UL option package. Doesn’t get the time to destination correct, even though I adjust the settings. Hard to read, too many finicky settings. Not intuitive, and the update in my part of the woods is $600. So I ignore it. I have a Garmin on the windshield. Perfect. iPhone Google maps is far superior too. Other than the lack of one higher fan setting on the hvac it’s a great vehicle.

 

just get a phone holder and use google maps or waze. no in-car nav will ever even come close to a phone's nav.

only time in-car nav is superior is when you get no signal from the phone.

i have not used my car's nav for the past 4 years. its GARBAGE.

 

I have been using the Google Maps for iOS along side my 2016 Lexus Nav. I HATE the interface for the Lexus. It takes forever to enter an address with joystick. Furthermore, Google Maps is hands down the best for cross country travel that involves off-freeway routing. The downside for me is that I have a limited data plan so I use it to check the routing from the Lexus and then shut if off. Another app that I use is for offline travel is Sygic. Maps are on the phone. It does need a data connection for real-time traffic, but data use is low. Google Maps is superior, however.

 

Another nice feature of the 2016 - 2022 ES's with Navigation is the Weather Channel. Press the center console
Menu button and then tap on Info. One of the choices is Weather. Current, 3 Day, Remote Cities, Weather Map.
Kept up to date by tuning to any HD (Hybrid Digital) terrestrial radio station. Can be brought on screen verbally
by pressing the steering wheel speech button and "show Weather Forecast". This is free and not dependent on
the 3G towers or a subscription to the Lexus Enform App services.

 

Generally the Stock Navigation works OK for most short to mid length trips. For longer trips though I prefer WAZE over Google Maps. It seems like it gets a lot of user input and better re-routing than Google maps.
Interesting thing is, Google owns WAZE. In my other 2020 car I use Android Auto with WAZE.

 

HERE maps is better than Waze in my experience. Can download entire counties offline.

 

Hello Tomscot2:

you do not have to enter address via joystick, you can use voice commands instead. just press the voice menu icon on the steering wheel and follow the prompts. if you need assistance you can contact a technology specialist at your local Lexus dealership.

 

My Garmin also records everything which makes it worthwhile. I have 2. The newer one that uses the app for traffic and is not as good as the old one which uses radio waves for that. I will use the phone on occasion as well during heavy traffic.

 

If you are comfortable installing an aftermarket headunit, I have a 10.25 Inch Binary unit installed in my car. Also known as the "Lexion" unit, it supports Wireless Apple Carplay/ Android Auto. I personally think it updates the cabin a lot and helps to get rid of that archaic Infotainment system that they were shipping with these cars. There's a huge thread about it on the forums here, https://www.clublexus.com/forums/cl-...models-39.html.

If you have any questions, feel free to message me and I can help out.