im looking to purchase my next Lexus within 6-12 months. I currently drive a 2008 ES 350 and enjoy the quietness of it. While getting my airbag replaced, I was given a 2017 ES loaner and the ride was smoother and quieter than my 2008. I've priced out both a 2017 ES and NX and they are only a few dollars difference in price with the options I want. My question is has anyone gone from an ES to an NX and how is the ride and quietness of the vehicle?

 

You will give up some quietness and smoothness but pick up so much more. Technology is the latest from Lexus on the NX, for some they like being up higher in a SUV to see more of the road and overall better handling vehicle. It get’s very good mileage for an SUV but requires Premium fuel. The ES styling has not changed very much over the years while the NX is the latest styling from Lexus.

In the end it is your choice. Either way you can’t go wrong, they are both a Lexus.

 

I've owned 3 different ES vehicles, including a 2017 ES, and I've recently considered trading my GX for something smaller. That being the case, I've taken a couple of extended test drives in the NX.

The ES and the NX are very different vehicles. First, the ride quality is quite different. Not only does the NX have a firmer suspension, but a wheel base that is 7 inches shorter will make the ride feel even firmer.

I suspect that what will be even more noticeable will be noise levels. The 3.5 liter V6 in the ES is much quieter than is the 2 liter turbo in the NX, and the increased noise levels in the NX will be especially noticeable during hard acceleration. Further, I suspect that the ES has more sound insulation that better isolates the cabin from road, engine, and wind noise.

You will also notice a difference in the amount of passenger room inside the cabin. While I did not feel cramped in the NX, leg room, hip room, etc. are noticeably smaller than what is the case in the ES cabin, and rear seat legroom in the ES is considerably bigger.

Overall, my test drives with the NX left me quite impressed, and the vehicle was actually much nicer than what I had expected, but, again, the NX is a different type of vehicle than is the ES. Only you can decide whether it is more important to you to have the comforts of a relatively large sedan or the capabilities of an AWD compact SUV.

 

If the biggest factor to you in your vehicle is a quiet and soft ride, then I wouldn't suggest going with the NX. As others have said, completely different driving experience and one you probably won't like. However, best to give it a try!

 

lesz is on point, totally different vehicles I traded my Camry for the NX, obviously can't compare the camry with the ES, with the SUV handles totally different than a sedan. I would expect a firmer/stiffer ride-suspension, and less roomy, those ES looks very comfy not saying the NX isn't comfy but cabin room is a bit reduced.

 

I agree with what has been said above since I have owned both an 07 and a 2013 ES. I enjoyed both cars but wanted something a little smaller and more agile. I traded the 2013 for a 2016 NX and have never looked back. The (driving) fun factor of the NX won me over and will probably not go back to a sedan. By the way the NX is much easier to park.

 

My wife and I currently own a 2015 ESh and a 2016 NXh, so both have the identical drivetrain (although the NX adds an electric motor for the rear wheels). While these may not be the exact configurations you would be looking at, it does give me a good basis to compare the two vehicles.

As others have said, both are very nice vehicles but quite different. The ES is more refined with a considerably smoother ride. The ES is also much quieter. The standard seats in the NX are more comfortable than the standard (premium package on both so NuLuxe fabric) seats in the ES.

Neither is particularly sporty but the ES is more luxurious with a more refined ride and has considerably more rear seat room. The NX has a shorter wheelbase so it is bouncier than the ES but it still has a pretty nice ride. Last winter the snow was deep and falling so rapidly the road crews couldn’t get to our subdivision to plow for several weeks - so the ES was parked for that same period. The NX was a real trooper and handled the snow depth just fine. We also like the higher seating position of the NX.

I recently asked my wife which she preferred now that we are coming up on three years with the ES and two years with the NX. She couldn’t really name a favorite and I would have to agree. Both are nice but they are very different with very different attributes.

 

The 2018 NX has improved in both quietness and ride quality. A big improvement over 2015-2017, so you should test drive the 18.