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What’s the drop in sedan sales in general over the last ten years? Probably around 40%. My point is I think it’s unlikely there will be a drastic drop in ES sales 2025 vs. 2026.
Where I do have a real problem with the ES 8th Gen is the front cabin and dash. Part of the joy of owning a luxury or premium vehicle is enjoying the tactility of switches and numbers, something lost in this era of haptic switches and touch screens. When I purchased my 2025 ES 350 UL I crossed shopped against the German midsized competition. Besides saving a few thousand by buying an ES, I never warmed up to the screen festooned dashes of Mercs and BMWs. Maybe this will change by the time the 8th Gen will make it to US shores.
V6 ES.
My thoughts exactly. The new dash and interior are NOT luxurious looking. No doubt they will have good quality materials but that is pretty common across a lot of cars and brands at lower price points. Absolutely nothing in the images I’ve seen ranks this in the luxury or near luxury category, which is a massive shame and seriously detracts from the value proposition for which the ES has been known.
Higher roof (to accommodate battery in the floor), making the car less sleek looking and unnecessarily increasing center of gravity for the hybrid models.
Unnecessarily longer, as if there was not enough space in the rear.
Heavier.
Fastback design not as pleasing to the eye as coupe design of 7ES.
Incredibly ugly design line running through the doors.
Rear light looks like robocop and is featured on many cars these days, rather than the current stylish feathered L design that is unique to Lexus.
Interior looks like Tesla wanabe.
Haptic touch buttons on steering wheels and climate controls...
All this means I will not be going from 7ES to 8ES, and instead hope the next IS generation can entice me, even though I prefer the size of the current ES.
That said, if I see one in person and all these points melt away (which I doubt), then sure I'll get one.
If they did this to ES, you know they will fiddle with the IS design too!
Originally Posted by ESAsh
Points against 8ES:
Higher roof (to accommodate battery in the floor), making the car less sleek looking and unnecessarily increasing center of gravity for the hybrid models.
Unnecessarily longer, as if there was not enough space in the rear.
Heavier.
Fastback design not as pleasing to the eye as coupe design of 7ES.
Incredibly ugly design line running through the doors.
Rear light looks like robocop and is featured on many cars these days, rather than the current stylish feathered L design that is unique to Lexus.
Interior looks like Tesla wanabe.
Haptic touch buttons on steering wheels and climate controls...
All this means I will not be going from 7ES to 8ES, and instead hope the next IS generation can entice me, even though I prefer the size of the current ES.
That said, if I see one in person and all these points melt away (which I doubt), then sure I'll get one.
This is not a hit on the ES a fantastic sedan it is just the sedan market in general. Lexus looks at this trend and said "we need to shake it up or move on".
My thoughts exactly. The new dash and interior are NOT luxurious looking. No doubt they will have good quality materials but that is pretty common across a lot of cars and brands at lower price points. Absolutely nothing in the images I’ve seen ranks this in the luxury or near luxury category, which is a massive shame and seriously detracts from the value proposition for which the ES has been known.
Spot on. The ES stands for executiive sedan. This looks no where near executive. It looks like a Dodge Charger on the exterior and a Tesla interior. So racy and plain Jane.
RIP ES, very sad day indeed. I am actually nervous for the Lexus brand and direction they are going. You think they would have learned looking at what BMW did with there reversions of XM and then having to reverse back to tradition.
I was hoping to get the 8ES 350h. Now, I am thinking about getting the 2025 300h UL or the RX350h. Still, spending 60000 dollars on a car that appeared 7 years ago is crazy.
I was hoping to get the 8ES 350h. Now, I am thinking about getting the 2025 300h UL or the RX350h. Still, spending 60000 dollars on a car that appeared 7 years ago is crazy.
I was hoping to get the 8ES 350h. Now, I am thinking about getting the 2025 300h UL or the RX350h. Still, spending 60000 dollars on a car that appeared 7 years ago is crazy.
Mike is spot on. I had a 2017 ES h and driven several times a new ES h as a loaner while getting service. Had a 2017 RX 450h and now a 2024 RX 350h. First the new RX drives so much better than the 2017. Quieter smoother much better. The new RX drives as close to the drive of the ES in ride quiet etc. Okay not 44 mpg but 38 mpg but better visibility more truck space with the back seat ability to line lowered. ES great ride but RX IMO better choice. Of course with the 8th generation ES now RX much better interior and exterior.
I had the RX500h for some time and I can say that the car is nicely built, the fit and finish is exceptional, the isolation is fenomenal (built in Japan). The only thing that I did not like was the second immobilisator and the problems that go with it.
I had the RX500h for some time and I can say that the car is nicely built, the fit and finish is exceptional, the isolation is fenomenal (built in Japan). The only thing that I did not like was the second immobilisator and the problems that go with it.
What did you do with the 500h and why did you get rid of it? Just curious. I know they had some trans issues with that model.
I think we may eventually see something more catered to the US market. The point Josh made in the video I posted above is that the 8ES was designed primarily for the China market. But he's also saying that he thinks that Lexus will later produce a version adapted to the US and European markets. This is in contrast to the past where the first version was primarily designed for the US market.
The question is how significant any future US modifications will be. I suspect they will be modest.
The 7th gen ES was virtually identical between US and Chinese versions, except for the availability of the limo rear seat and unavailability of the V6 in China. So much so, they were co-introduced at concurrent press events in Shanghai and Tennessee. This time, as you know, the introduction was in Shanghai only. But I see no reason to think this was for any other reason except that the US market is less important now. I think any expectation of a car significantly reworked for American tastes is pure hopium with no evidence behind it.
This is not a hit on the ES a fantastic sedan it is just the sedan market in general. Lexus looks at this trend and said "we need to shake it up or move on".
They chose "move on."
As noted earlier, they decided it wasn't worth it anymore to design and build an ES for America. Instead they co-developed a Chinese sedan for China, and will export a few here so that Lexus dealers have something with an ES badge on it to sell to die-hards who come in hell-bent on replacing their ES with another ES.
Thinking this is Lexus's idea of an ES for American customers is missing the point. The ES has been discontinued. This Chinese Popemobile with ES badges will be sold at US Lexus dealerships instead.
