For example. Local dealers reported inventory. None are ultra.

 

I wonder why Lexus doesn't build more UL's? It seems like there is a little more demand vs. inventories for them. Maybe they want to keep it exclusive, or their dealers are hesitant to keep any inventory of them.

 

What's the difference between Luxury and UItra Luxury? I currently own a Lux GS and am curious how the Lux/Ultra Lux packages on the ES compare. Lexus' website does not do a great job of breaking it down.

 

Since the 7th generation introduction Lexus has continuously adjusted the standard and add-on feature list of the Luxury and Ultra Luxury models to where now with the 2022 model year the only thing you can get with an Ultra Luxury and not a Luxury model is manual rear door sunshades. Granted to get a Luxury model feature list up to a minimal Ultra Luxury standard no extra cost included feature list requires the purchasing of additional cost add-on options and packages. However, there are no cost standard features included with the Ultra Luxury the some people in various comment threads over the years have said they really don't want and would highly prefer not having to buy them either as an add-on cost or part of the increased standard/base cost of a more feature laden model.

For the 2022 model year, below is the list of extra cost add-ons (along with the [US] Lexus web site's listed cost) one must purchase to have the same features as a no add-ons Ultra Luxury standard feature set:

Power open/close trunk with kick sensor $550

18-inch split-five-spoke alloy noise-reduction wheels $180

10.2-inch Head-Up Display $500

Navigation System* with 12.3-in touchscreen multimedia display $1820

Rear Pedestrian Detection* and Panoramic View Monitor* (add-on to common standard Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking) $835

The total cost of these add-ons needed for a Luxury model to have the same features as included as standard with the Ultra Luxury is $3885 which is slightly greater than the $3780 difference in the starting prices between the Luxury and Ultra Luxury models. So, by eliminating just one of those add-ons - say the noise reduction version of 18 inch Luxury standard wheels - the dealer can create the illusion of a "low cost budget bargain" package deal where the buyer is getting an Ultra Luxury seeming model for a "cheaper" Luxury model pricing but in reality the buyer is paying more for the add-ons being bought than if they were purchased as part of the standard Ultra Luxury package.

Also, I don't know if it is still the case but it used to be dealers got a bigger cut of the price of extra cost add-ons than they did if the same feature was a standard included part of even a much higher priced model. So the dealer may have a greater incentive to sell the extra cost add-ons model version over the same/similar feature set standard version including model - more money to the dealer for selling essentially the same vehicle.

An additional factor may be that Ultra Luxury models just don't sell that well; especially now where ES sales has undergone a pretty significant reduction in favor of SUV models. When I purchased my 2019 Ultra Luxury during the "December to Remember" 2019 model year closeout, the only 2019 models left at my dealer and surrounding southern California dealers' lots were Ultra Luxury and high priced F-Sport models. It is anecdotal evidence but still some indication the Ultra Luxury models may not be fast or easy sellers. With the price increases and the pandemic economic impacts since then I don't imagine the dealers have seen any improvement in the sales picture for Ultra Luxury models.

See above for the option and packages you have to add-on to a Luxury model to have the same features that are standard with an Ultra Luxury model.

Now, there are some pretty expensive options and packages common and available for both (e.g., triple beam headlights, panoramic roof, Mark Levinson audio system) that are more likely to be found on Ultra Luxury than Luxury models to the extent that they seem to be standard included features of Ultra Luxury models.

Although it isn't the most intuitive to find feature, The [US] Lexus web site has a spreadsheet like page showimg all twelve 2022 ES model offerings and the standard, package, and optional features for each. I haven't been able to get a working direct web link through this forum's link posting support code so I'll have to post breadcrumbs trail directions on how to reach it. Go to the 2022 Lexus ES web page, then scroll down and expand any of the MORE PERFORMANCE, MORE TECHNOLOGY, or MORE SAFETY sections and then in the expanded section click on one of the revealed ALL PERFORMANCE, ALL TECHNOLOGY, or ALL SAFETY boxes and that will take you to spreadsheet like page with that particular feature set section expanded (and you can easily expanded all the other feature sets also on that same page). (Lexus has recently added a slightly less complicated means of reaching the spreadsheet comparison page - in the STYLES section click on the "COMPARE STYLES" button and that will also take you to the comparison spreadsheet page.) The Packages and Options tabs on that navigated to page when selected will show more details along with the pricing of each package and option. (You can also adjust the spreadsheet columns down to just the particular models you want to compare the features, options, and packages on.)

 

I thought you may have overlooked the front and rear Performance Dampers, standard on Ultra Luxury and unavailable on Luxury, but I was wrong: I see they've added those to the Luxury trim for 2022 as well. Very good post, BTW.

 

Thanks @grp52 for the spreadsheet directions! I wish it wasn't so tucked away and hidden on their website. I never would have looked there.

 

I purchased a 2022 ES 300H in SoCal for $2979 below MSRP ($47290 -2979= $44311 + tax & Lic.) on 10/30/21. Much different than the 2-3k over sticker + accessories that I was quoted at beginning of October. Three different dealers offering $2300-2900 off sticker, probably last day of month helped. Also $2484 in dealer accessories (paint protection, interior protection. Alarm, clear shield, etc.) that was already on car was included at no charge.

These deals are out there if you follow some basic internet car buying techniques:

Email dealers within 100 miles for price quote on a specific car in stock. Be flexible on color/options at this point as you are just looking for competitive quotes. You could use these quotes when shopping for cars at other dealers that may have your exact spec in stock. Never walk into dealer until you have your price quote and are going to pick up car.

 

Probably because it's a pretty stripped down model.

 

Last week my wife and I were shopping for an ES350. The dealer had to pull the one off the showroom floor for our test drive. Great car by the way. When we got back to the dealer, my wife blurted out, "I love that car! I want that car!" She's such a great negotiator. She really wanted a white car, but this one was black. The salesman said he couldn't locate a white one, but he would sell the black one to us at cost. Despite my better judgement, I said we'd take it, but SWMBO vetoed it. She insisted on a white car, and low and behold we got a phone call an hour after we left that there was a white Luxury model available for delivery in mid-January... So we got what we wanted at MSRP.

Remember everything's negotiable. But you'll probably only get a deal on a less equipped or unpopular color. Patience is key.

 

Even when I purchased my 2020 ES350 UL in December 2019, the Ultra Luxury trim was very scarce and hard to come by. When you factor in your specific wants such as interior and exterior color, it's even harder to find. I live in Northern California and at the time the dealer did a 250-mile search and found NONE. When I used cars.com to do a nationwide search I found a couple in Southern California, but they weren't what I wanted. I ended up finding 3 of them in Texas that were almost exactly what I wanted. After pitting them against each other I finally made my purchase and had it shipped to me for $1200. It was well worth it to get exactly what I wanted. The bottom line is the Ultra Luxury trim has ALWAYS been very limited and scarce, so this is nothing new. I would imagine it's even more of a limited production now. Looking at the current prices I'm just glad I bought the car before all of this nonsense started happening!

 

I heard this before but I happen to live and work near two pretty large dealers who had plenty of UL inventory before the chip nightmare. Now almost none. It seems there are plenty of RXs to go around but none of the other models. I even see leftover 2021 RXs sitting at these dealers.

 

The RX is in its last year and the popularity of most cars tend to go down in its last year. Excited to see what the next RX is like. If they can shave 400 lbs, use the NX450 plug in drivetrain, and for the lower model RX use the highlander spec hybrid powertrain (Same as ES hybrid just added power) they'll have a big hit on their hand.

 

wow its not even the time to consider finding bellow MSRP be happy to find one selling for MSRP id say
the stupid dealership near me has vehicle online they list the MSRP price but thats not the sale price
they then tack on several thoursand more for what they wnat to call market adjustment i flew to the other side of the country to find my 2021 ES and drive it home to utah

 

Yeah you buy a car in the last year of that gen and almost instantaneously have an old car. My wife has a 17 RX which has been bullet proof so far but I suspect she's ready for something new so we'll be interested in the next gen when it gets released. Probably our first foray into hybrid land

 

I agree with this in general, however there is also an argument that the later model years during a generation can also be the most thoroughly debugged version from that generation. I’m not trying to justify my decision to buy a 2021 RX, but I just wasn’t sure I wanted to jump into a first year NX, plus I wanted more power…