Doug DeMuro 2026 ES review
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5,026
Likes: 1,630
From: MI
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Joined: Dec 2012
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From: SE PA
I've never heard of this reviewer and therefore attach very little credence to his statements and review. Looks like he's a professor at YOUTUBE University... 
Time will tell if this model is accepted here in America. I can only say that I'm very happy that I own a 2019 ES UL...
Time will tell if this model is accepted here in America. I can only say that I'm very happy that I own a 2019 ES UL...
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 9,538
Likes: 2,592
You been under a rock? i used to watch doug demuro in the early early early days before no one knew who he was. he became extremely famous about 7-8 years ago. Curious how you have not heard of him. he's a goof but he's pretty well versed on car stuff and tends to sway in the right direction. he moved to the west coast when he started becoming more popular because this is where all the car journalism action/press events happen.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 9,538
Likes: 2,592
that being said i believe the 8ES (hybrid only) is a competent car. never doubted that. it's just a... funky looking car inside and out (to put it nicely)
and from videos it appears lexus did clean up the quality as a lot of their prototypes were BAD. whoever was in charge of lettign those protoypes in the wild should be looked at by lexus... that right there kickstarted the public perception/posts which didn't help them much. and i'm 1000% sure lexus is reading these threads....
and from videos it appears lexus did clean up the quality as a lot of their prototypes were BAD. whoever was in charge of lettign those protoypes in the wild should be looked at by lexus... that right there kickstarted the public perception/posts which didn't help them much. and i'm 1000% sure lexus is reading these threads....
Last edited by E46CT; Jun 3, 2026 at 08:02 AM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5,026
Likes: 1,630
From: MI
CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,874
Likes: 396
From: Ohio
I noticed right away and greatly appreciate that all the switches and buttons in my '24 ES350 UL are backlit. Doug says that the buttons in the new ES are "sort of backlit." What's that mean? Either they are backlit or they are not.
Besides that bit of sloppy writing, I thought his review was fairly balanced. He pointed out the strange and unusual design features, and he liked a lot of the upgrades, especially the replacement of buttons and sliding switches (sun roof) for touch sensors, which is, of course, not everyone's cup of tea.
I was shocked to see that the new ES is 7 inches longer. As Doug notes, that's really a lot. I would think that a lot of people do not want a car that big. Although surely smoother and quieter on the road, it's harder to maneuver, a lot harder to park and, I would think, have a larger turning radius.
For those reasons, I don't think I'll be in the market for one (unless, maybe, I'm in a position to hire a full time driver and ride in the back).
Besides that bit of sloppy writing, I thought his review was fairly balanced. He pointed out the strange and unusual design features, and he liked a lot of the upgrades, especially the replacement of buttons and sliding switches (sun roof) for touch sensors, which is, of course, not everyone's cup of tea.
I was shocked to see that the new ES is 7 inches longer. As Doug notes, that's really a lot. I would think that a lot of people do not want a car that big. Although surely smoother and quieter on the road, it's harder to maneuver, a lot harder to park and, I would think, have a larger turning radius.
For those reasons, I don't think I'll be in the market for one (unless, maybe, I'm in a position to hire a full time driver and ride in the back).
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,626
Likes: 3,422
From: NJ
You been under a rock? i used to watch doug demuro in the early early early days before no one knew who he was. he became extremely famous about 7-8 years ago. Curious how you have not heard of him. he's a goof but he's pretty well versed on car stuff and tends to sway in the right direction. he moved to the west coast when he started becoming more popular because this is where all the car journalism action/press events happen.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,626
Likes: 3,422
From: NJ
that being said i believe the 8ES (hybrid only) is a competent car. never doubted that. it's just a... funky looking car inside and out (to put it nicely)
and from videos it appears lexus did clean up the quality as a lot of their prototypes were BAD. whoever was in charge of lettign those protoypes in the wild should be looked at by lexus... that right there kickstarted the public perception/posts which didn't help them much. and i'm 1000% sure lexus is reading these threads....
and from videos it appears lexus did clean up the quality as a lot of their prototypes were BAD. whoever was in charge of lettign those protoypes in the wild should be looked at by lexus... that right there kickstarted the public perception/posts which didn't help them much. and i'm 1000% sure lexus is reading these threads....