7th-gen ES sits on a stiffer, sportier platform and offers an F-Sport
All-new 7th generation By Mark Richardson NASHVILLE—The all-new seventh generation of Lexus’ mid-size sedan now sits on a stiffer, sportier platform and, for the first time, offers an F-Sport edition. But is the new Lexus ES actually any quicker, or more agile, or more economical? Is it better than before? ▲
New engines = more power The conventional engine for the Lexus ES 350 is all-new as well, with 34 more hp and 19 lb-ft more torque. There’s also a hybrid option, which last year accounted for about one in every five ES sales, and it has more power too. We took all three versions for a drive on the winding roads outside Nashville to find out if the car is improved enough to keep up with its competition. ▲
Choose from 10 trim levels There will be 10 different trim levels of the new ES available when it comes to Lexus dealerships in September, though pricing is not yet revealed for any of them. The base model will probably be little changed from the 2018 sixth-generation, which has an MSRP of $43,950 (but is currently being sold for $4,000 less than that to clear it from the lots). The top-of-the-line hybrid will probably sell for close to $60,000. ▲
F-Sport adds performance variables The Lexus ES 350 and ES 300h will each have four trims (Regular, Premium, Luxury and Ultra-Luxury), while there will also be two F-Sport trims of the 350. The F-Sport isn’t actually any more powerful, but it does have an adaptive variable suspension, larger 19-inch wheels, two extra drive modes and a more aggressive exhaust sound, as well as a rear spoiler and generally racier looks. ▲
More power for quiet, economical V-6 The standard engine is a new 3.5-litre V-6 that now makes 302 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. It’s not a particularly exciting package, though, and peak torque isn’t reached until 4,700 rpm. Acceleration from standstill is fine but nothing special, but most ES drivers aren’t looking for racy power – they want a car that performs well but also delivers good fuel consumption with a comfortable, quiet drive. They’ll take handling over speed any day. ▲
More gears, better selection, improved economy The Lexus ES V-6 is now matched to an 8-speed automatic transmission – two more gears than the outgoing model – and this helps fuel economy. The ES 350 has an official consumption of 10.6 L/100 km City and 7.2 Hwy., for a combined rating of 9.1 L/100 km. This is an improvement of 6.6% over the previous generation. I tried flicking through the gears into and out of corners using the paddle shifters, but the car performed better when I left the transmission alone. ▲
All-new stronger and stiffer platform The new chassis is built on the new Global Architecture–K platform, which allows for much more structural adhesive and laser screw welding than before, helping to make it generally stronger and stiffer. There’s only a front-wheel drive model available, but Lexus says it’s “watching the demand for all-wheel drive closely.” ▲
Bigger, longer wheelbase, more cabin room The GA-K platform means the everything in the new Lexus ES is slightly bigger, with a wheelbase that’s about five cm longer. The hood is lower and the A-pillar is a little farther back, which apparently improves the driver’s sightlines, though I really couldn’t tell. The stiffer platform also helps the car’s handling and it took to the Tennessee curves with no problem at all, holding flat and true around all the corners I could find. ▲
F-Sport for racy appeal The F-Sport has the same engine and transmission as the conventional ES 350, though it’s tuned for better response. It adds Sport-Plus and Custom to the three drive modes of Normal, Sport and Eco, and fuel consumption suffers as a result by about 0.3L/100 km. Most drivers won’t care about that. It’s easily recognized by having a mesh grille (which is huge and polarizing), while the ES 350 has vertical slats on the grille. ▲
Snugger fit interior with bolder colours The F-Sport also has seats that fit a little snugger, and a clever instrumentation panel that actually slides the large tachometer dial across the screen behind the wheel to prepare you for the drive. The F-Sport offers more colourful leather and stitching inside and it all looks the part, but it doesn’t really drive much differently from the regular ES350. ▲
New engine means more fuel savings The hybrid version of the Lexus ES, the 300h, uses a new 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine that’s mated with an electric motor, and the powerplant drives through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Its fuel consumption is more dramatically improved from the 2018 model, with an official rating of 5.5 L/100 km City and 5.2 Hwy, for a combined rating of 5.3 L/100 km. This is an improvement of more than 11%, and the same consumption as the original Toyota Prius. ▲
Ample power at the front; more trunk space in the rear The Lexus ES 300h is less powerful than the V-6 ES 350, making a total of 215 hp, but again, it’s got all the power you really want for regular driving and that’s a 20-hp increase from before. Perhaps most important, it no longer comes with a big sacrifice of trunk space, as it did before. The battery is now slim enough to fit under the rear seats so the trunk has the same cargo capacity as the ES 350. It holds 473 litres, which is a major jump from the 343 litres of the previous hybrid, and even an improvement from the 430 litres of the conventional 2018 model. ▲
Added technology for safer road use The updated technology of the 2019 ES now has better driver’s assistance features. Lexus Safety System 2.0 includes being able to recognize cyclists, to help avoid potential collisions, and an improved active cruise control that will follow the vehicle in front and maintain a safe distance from it, right down to a standstill in traffic. ▲
Improved technology, now with Apple CarPlay And finally, Lexus now offers Apple CarPlay in the ES, for complete integration with your iPhone. This is a major move for the company in acknowledging drivers want this technology, which is also now available in the new Toyota Avalon and will presumably make its way into all future models. Android Auto is not yet available, but it surely can’t be far behind. ▲
Keyword: FIRST DRIVE: 14 developments in the 2019 Lexus ES