2014 vs 2018
 

Hey guys,

i just got a loaner 2018 after dropped my 2014 base trim in for service.

maybe I am imagining this, but this car feels much luxurious (actual HID lights woah) as well much sporty handling. Its riding on same rim size/tire as mine / 215 55 17 michelins. But the ride is more BMW like, more planted on ground.

did they tune suspension in later years for 6th gen???

Hmm, I thought my 2013 came with HID headlights, lol.

my 2014 has ****ty halogens.

For the 2013 and 2014 model years, HID headlights were available as an option. I believe that the cost of the option was around $600 or $700.

As someone who owned a 2013 ES and who now owns a 2017 ES, I see no difference at all with regard to handling or other performance characteristics. What I do see that is a significant improvement with the post mid-cycle re-fresh model years is the upgrades made to the interior of the car, including nicer stitching on the seats (for Luxury and UL package cars), wood trim on the center console (also for Luxury and UL package cars), nicer LED interior lighting, the soft padded material around the perimeter of the center console, and nicer switch plates on the doors. Those upgrades do, for me, give the car a more upscale feeling.

Ditto the other day. My 2014 finally had an issue--the oil pan started leaking. My first repair in six years! Anyway, I got a 2020 ES loaner for a couple days. I like the extra stuff and the seats seem better...but darn for the eight speed. I don't like it. Keeps searching for gears, too many to downshift with, etc. I got back into my 2014 and aahhhhh....

I don’t know if that’s true for all cars of model year 2018, but mine has LED headlights rather than HID. Maybe that is the difference the OP noticed.

i think HID was an option halogen was stanard in 2013-2014 not sure about other there but i think that's what i twas then in 2015 or maybe it was 2016 they stoped HID and started LED options but Halogen for standard my 2016 has LED i wish it had HID i think HID is way better than the LED

How do like the size? I had one as a loaner and it felt much bigger and I didn't particularly like that.
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My karma just ran over your dogma
Current Hers: '13 Lexus ES350
Current Mine: '15 Jaguar XF (it's aubergine)

My 2015 had halogen. I believe LED became standard with the refresh in 2016.

My 2014 has HID according to the build list for its VIN; (option code LG T046). I believe lesz is correct: the brochure for 2014 shows HID as an "Individual Option" outside of any packages. They may have been included as basic in future years or as part of a package.

My 2014 ES350 came with HID headlights and they were listed as a $565 option on the window sticker

this.

and the new speedo gauges with metallic perimeter and new font add more premiusm feel.

how many miles on your car compared to the loaner car may I ask?

The loaner is much newer and has less wear and tear on suspension probably making it feel tighter and more solid. Just my .02 haha

i have 72 k km. The loaner had 39 k km.

not only that, I think 2018 has less of that ugly wheel hub gap and the car is closer to ground than 2014. Official stats disagree with me on height numbers but that is what I felt.

16-18' refresh have revised suspension (more compliant suspension), stiffer chassis, a quieter interior, better visor mirrors, frameless rearview mirror, standard LED headlights (high beams depending on trim level) and a few other interior niceties such as touch map lights, leather booth gear shifter, newer gen steering wheel and stitching on seats.