2016 es 350
 

Just got two obsidian 2016's in today :woot:

My lease is up in December and I am not sure I can handle that grill. And now today I see the 2016 GS has and equally objectionable (to me) grill. If it wasn't for the excellent customer service I have experienced over the years I would most certainly be looking elsewhere.

Dave Mac

Beautiful!!!

How do they drive as compared to 2015?

Still not sure what to feel about that front grill.

That photo must exaggerate the look of the grill. Surely it can't be that bad. :-(

It does seem to overwhelm the front end rather than enhance it.

In one of the other 2016 ES threads, I have said that, overall, I think that the 2016 ES refresh includes a very nice package of upgrades over what was in the 2013-2015 versions of the ES, but the grille would certainly be a major exception to that assessment. To me, the grille design is not consistent with a Lexus image. When I've thought about Lexus vehicles, images of understated elegance and class come to mind, but the grille of the 2016 ES (and those on other recent Lexus redesigns) creates the feeling that the car can't decide whether it wants to be a Toyota or a Ram pickup, and it is not at all consistent with my image of a Lexus vehicle.

If given the choice between a 2015 ES and a 2016 ES, I certainly would prefer to have the 2016 ES, but that choice would be in spite of the redesigned grille and not because of it.

I havent seen a 16 ES in person, but while picking up our '15 ES there were other vehicles waiting to be delivered.

A '15 IS, '15 IS Fsport and a used LS.

The IS grille is fairly "out there" but I dont think it comes close to as "out there" as the new ES grille looks to be. The front end of the new RX looks very similar to what I think the '16 ES front end will look like, so if you see one of those on the road, chances are thats about what you'll get with the ES.

I personally do NOT like the grille. As mentioned before, it seems to overwhelm the whole front end. Whereas the grilles on the IS complement it a bit without being too gaudy. This is one of only a few reasons that we chose to buy a '15 now instead of wait for a '16.

I do like most of the other improvements, it would be nice to have them in our '15 but not imperative. I also question the switchover to building them here in the Kentucky plant. I dont doubt we can build good cars here, but I worry that the first few "batches" will have some QC issues that need tweaking.

definitely dig the rear especially those improved ex tips, but the front man that's a big mouth.

Maybe the new front end will be like the infamous Acura "beak". Over the top and controversial initially and then scaled back over the model years. The Acura beak is still around but rarely mentioned as a negative any more. At least that's what I hope happens with some of the Lexus mugs.

Sometimes I think that the manufacturers make body style changes for the sake of change rather than improved style. I believe that to be the case here, with the grille of the 2016 ES. For me, I like the 2013 style grille and think it was a very classy design. Another issue with this grille is what about those states that require a front license tag?
On the earlier models of the ES there was a bar separating top and bottom sections. I think if the tag is required it will look horrible.

Theyve toned it down enough to be acceptable.

I think the IS-type spindle grille is about as acceptable as the beak is right now.

The grille on the '16 ES is like the beak was originally.....Honda actually redesigned the beak during a mid cycle refresh because they got so many complaints about it.

That grill is hideous, and the persons who designed and approved it should be terminated.

you know i forgot about that, and i'm in one of those states that require it.