Athletic, provocative and fun
NASHVILLE, Tennessee — From its debut in 1989, the Lexus ES has been Lexus’ top-selling sedan, one that prioritizes refinement and solitude over driving thrills. While endearing to older drivers who prefer a comfortably sedate sedan, it did little to attract younger buyers who understandably thought that ES was an acronym for Elderly Shuttle rather than Executive Sedan, its true nom de guerre.
Selling in more than 90 countries, Lexus is about to release the redesigned 2019 Lexus ES, which employs an all-new platform that it shares with the 2019 Toyota Avalon. In fact, the 2019 ES shares the 2019 Avalon’s 113-inch wheelbase and 195.9-inch overall length. This means the ES has grown five centimetres longer, half a centimetre lower and slightly wider than before. The wheelbase has also grown by five cm, allowing for an exceptionally roomy cabin, particularly in the rear seat. In fact, according to Lexus, the ES has more rear seat legroom than the flagship Lexus LS sedan. Overall size is larger than a BMW 3-Series, but smaller than the 5-Series.
All that length is put to good use. Looking like a miniaturized LS, the ES gracefully embraces Lexus’s kinetic new styling, a look highlighted by the brand’s distinctive spindle grille and L-shaped LED taillamps. Lexus’ design chief Koichi Suga describes it as “provocative elegance.”
Despite the new platform and updated appearance, the ES’s chief attribute remains intact. To ensure the ES is even quieter than its predecessor, sound-deadening insulation covers 93 per cent of the floor pan, up from 68 per cent. This explains why the ES is extraordinarily quiet at all speeds. Hybrids are noticeably noisier thanks to their low rolling resistance tires, although not by much. Its sheer silence might seem at odds with Lexus’s attempts to inject the ES with a more exciting demeanour, but that’s not the case. The old car didn’t possess a scintilla of excitement, whereas the new one possesses a pulse, although how much of one depends on which model you choose.
The ES 350 is powered by a double-overhead cam 3.5-litre V-6 that produces 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 34 horsepower and 19 pound-feet of torque from the previous V-6. Fuel efficiency is up as well. While final EPA numbers aren’t available, Lexus estimates average fuel economy of 26 mpg. A new eightspeed automatic transmission with manual shift mode is standard; a manual transmission isn’t available.
The ES 300h Hybrid comes with an all-new 2.5-litre four-cylinder Atkinson cycle gas engine mated to an electric motor and continuously variable automatic transmission rated at 215 horsepower. Fuel efficiency is estimated by Lexus at 44 mpg, although test drives of the new ES 300h saw fuel economy reach 45.9 mpg.
Finally, there’s a new F-Sport model that employs the V-6 engine with the eight-speed transmission but adds front and rear adjustable performance dampers, 19-inch wheels with 235/40 allseason tires and a rear spoiler. Other models have 17-inch wheels, although 18-inchers are optional.
This results in three very different personalities. The ES 350 is responsive and powerful, although the transmission chooses a high gear and then hesitates before downshifting when more power is needed. Nevertheless, it runs zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 6.6 seconds. In contrast, the ES 300h makes the same run in 8.1 seconds. Although noticeably slower, most buyers will be happy with this model.
Once underway, you’ll find the new ES is somewhat more engaging than the outgoing model. The suspension isn’t floaty, yet still masterfully absorbs bumps. Credit the car’s unique shock absorbers that have a mini piston inside the larger shock to handle smaller bumps on moderately smooth surfaces that don’t require much shock travel. The bigger piston handles the larger bumps. Body lean is evident during cornering, but it’s well controlled. Push this car and you’ll find its limits are higher than you’d expect. This is particularly true of the F-Sport, which is a credible, fun-to-drive sports sedan that’s more than capable of putting a smile on your lips by providing athleticism never associated with an ES.
Nevertheless, the eight-speed transmission still acts with the annoying fuel-efficient shifting found on other models. The Hybrid’s continuously variable transmission lacks the rubber-banding common in this type of transmission, when the engine revs but the car doesn’t move forward.
While piloting the ES, you’ll find the instrument panel centres on an eight-inch infotainment interface that uses a touchpad on the centre console. While it’s an improvement from the joystick previously used by Lexus, it’s still not as easy to use as other systems that employ a touchscreen or knob. An eight-inch screen with a 10-speaker Pioneer audio system is standard; a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system and 12.3-inch screen are options. The new ES is Amazon Alexa-enabled; Apple CarPlay, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless charging come standard. The 2019 Lexus ES350 goes on sale in September. “We are confident that we have created a new expectation of what a luxury car should be,” Suga said during the car’s introduction in Nashville last week, and it’s no idle boast.
For the first time, the Lexus ES isn’t an Elderly Shuttle; it’s an Excellent Sedan.