My take has always been a luxury car should be above and beyond the market average car. Force full electric and hybrids into the Toyotas, make them optional in the Lexus, but keep the V6 (or V8) available in the "luxury" cars.

Its exactly why we just bought a 2025 ES350. I dont like the looks of the '26, but I *really* dont like being forced to go 4 cylinder in a $55K+ vehicle.

 

"Its exactly why we just bought a 2025 ES350. I dont like the looks of the '26, but I *really* dont like being forced to go 4 cylinder in a $55K+ vehicle." Agreed!!!

 

No sale!

 

They have taken away the classics look of the ES. It now longer resembles the ES "heritage." Also, just saying, I think the car is maybe 6 inches longer than last years? Way too big for me. My current ES has such a spacious interior. I do not think that longer car will even fit in my garage.

 

No way! I find it rather ugly and nothing about it says luxury to me. I like how Lexus incorporated a bit of Japanese culture into the current F Sport with the Japanese samurai katana blade-inspired door trim, but I'm not feeling the “bamboo” door trim on the 26 ES. It makes an already bland interior ugly.
Even if it were as good-looking as the current ES, I wouldn't buy it for the simple fact that they only come in hybrid and electric. I've always been a car enthusiast, so I never liked the idea of a hybrid or EV vehicle. It’s great for those who like them, and I know that's where the future is headed, but I’m not ready for all that just yet.

 

The new administration in the US already removed all the mandates given to car manufacturers by the previous.
Small turbo engines are no longer required as well as EVs. Dodge is bringing back the Hemi V8s. Hopefully Toyota brings back the 5.7L V8s and hold on to the 2GR.

 

For me style, looks and all the rest with V6 all the way - 4 banger HEV no way + 2026 ugly to boot, probably designed by Committee what were they thinking?.
I have too many years with V8s and V6s so will keep my ES.

 

ES sales have dropped 40% in the last five years. Not reflected of the ES but sedans. So Lexus trying to increase sales places a black plastic linear graph on the doors and copies Tesla with the ugliest plain interior. World wide sales will be okay but US sales will drop by 25% in their first year. It is like Bud Light and Cracker Barrel ignore and insult your target audience while trying to gain a whole new market.

 

I thought I read somewhere the new ES is meant to be the replacement for the LS as well.

 

That would be socking if true. If Lexus wants to remain in the luxury market they would have to have a distinct car and one far more luxurious than the new ES.

 

Having just bought a 2025 ES300h UL I am not currently in the market. However if I was I would be looking elsewhere.

 

Vehicles are built for the global market, and we’re not the hot place to build for unless you’re making pickups and SUVs/CUVs (which is why most of the world won’t buy many of our exported vehicles like this, our top sellers being the F-150 and Silverado). Some Americans have a hard time grasping that the world isn’t focused on us the same way as they have in the past for these things; that has nothing to do with politics it’s just that our desires and expectations for vehicles are not compelling, practical or affordable enough in many countries and regions. [The reverse is true as well - the little cars very popular in Europe and many other places are not even exported to the US because the vast majority, myself included, do not want to drive those super small cars. Again, it’s not a “fairness” issue, it’s just much different market preferences.] Complain all we want, Americans have voted with their wallets and shunned sedans across manufactures. Legendary American car company Ford doesn’t even build a sedan for its home market.

As for the wish that bigger ICE engines will return, I think that’s a dream only for most. Four bangers, with and without turbos, are cheaper to build and easier to comply with global emissions regulations, even more important to a degree than mileage. It is truly impressive how much power they can extract from these things today. What annoys me the most, though, is that Toyota is simply not producing them with sufficient smoothness for more expensive lines. It’s okay to be buzzy in a Corolla, but when you hit the $60K and up market their 4’s should be much silkier. The Germans can do it and Toyota could. Ok at cruise is great and all, but when you take off from the light you shouldn’t have to hear vacuum cleaner growling and vibration in an RX or ES. Either way, 4’s are here to stay like it or not.

 

I wish I bookmarked it, so take it with a grain of salt.

In my brain it (sadly) makes sense because I dont think the LS is a big seller to begin with and if Lexus really wants to limit their sedan offerings, an ES the size of the "old" LS would be a way to start.

Kind of like what Acura did by dropping the RLX.

 

Well said. I'm happy to have an occasional buzz in the RXh going up a steep hill given nearly 40mpg and the otherwise silky smooth, quiet and shiftless ride. I'll probably never buy another pure ICE vehicle again.

 

(not including hybrids)
EVs that are also ICE=compromised
ICE that are also EVs=compromised
EVs (and gas for that matter) built from the ground up for its purpose=much better start. (packaging, dynamics, styling, weight, safety, performance, utility) to name just a few.

I believe Toyota is working on such EVs, but this 8ES isn't it. This 8ES is yet another stop-gap hold-me-over type cross-purposed vehicle (in terms of powertrain) and as such, for me, is DOA.

that's the pickle a lot of legacy gas engine car companies are in. trying to pursue two different tracks in terms of platforms/engineering/supplier chains/manufacturing etc when its still relatively uncertain where the market will go. best is to pick one and run with it.

trying to be everything to everyone is hard. thats my take