2016 Lexus ES: First Look
- Competes with: Acura TLX, Lincoln MKZ, Infiniti Q50
- Looks like: The ES got a conjoined grille and some new interior pieces
- Under the hood: 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 with a six-speed automatic transmission (ES 350) or 200-hp (combined), 2.5-liter four-cylinder and electric motors with CVT automatic transmission (ES 300h); front-wheel drive for both
- Hits dealerships: Second half of 2015
Lexus’ popular ES, a premium sedan that plays up luxury over sportiness, received a range of updates at the 2015 Shanghai auto show. As we expected last week, the ES is an update of the current generation, not a full redesign. The car has additional structural reinforcements to improve body stiffness and handling, Lexus says, while more dashboard insulation aims to hush engine noise.
Related: 2016 Lexus RX: First Look
The ES goes on sale the second half of 2015.
Exterior
The ES wears an updated version of Lexus’ “spindle” grille, with more visual continuity between the upper and lower sections. New LED headlights separate L-shaped daytime running lights into offset sections. Vertical brightwork now frames the fog lights, which sit higher and closer to the car’s corners.
The taillights have a more-distinctive “L” shape within their frames, but apart from that, the sedan’s rear design mostly carries over. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard. The ES 350 has optional 20s; the outgoing car topped out at 18s.
Interior
The ES’ new steering wheel has a smaller hub, more-prominent spokes and more controls. The dashboard carries over last year’s layered approach, but areas around the center tunnel add some stitched trim, and the gated transmission shifter now has a leather boot, to, uh, boot.
It’s good to see the ES went the way of the redesigned RX, rejecting capacitive temperature controls (RC, IS) and the trackpad-style version of Lexus’ Remote Touch Interface (RC, NX) that’s irked some Cars.com editors. Instead, it has physical climate controls and the older — and more sensible — knob-style RTI, now with separate “enter” buttons along each side.
Lexus’ NuLuxe faux-leather upholstery is standard. Optional leather comes in regular or semi-aniline grades. Available trim includes piano black, wood or matte-finish bamboo.
Under the Hood
While international versions of the ES have some powertrain changes (including the ES 200, pictured), engines in the U.S. carry over. The ES 350 gets a 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6, while the ES 300h hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors for 200 hp combined. The ES 350 has a six-speed automatic, while the ES 300h has a continuously variable transmission; both transmissions drive the front wheels.
Safety
Lexus’ new Lexus Safety System Plus combines adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, lane departure warning and forward collision warning with automatic braking into a single option package.
