Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. Reviews

2019 Lexus ES Lineup first drive review

'Alexa, how much gas do I have?' Lexus turns to tech to give the ES an edge

Chris Chin
By
2019-Lexus-ES-300
2019 Lexus ES Lineup first drive
“Lexus shakes the ES awake with an eye-opening ride that drivers of any age will envy.”
Pros
  • Significantly improved handling
  • Refined and still smooth and comfortable as a Lexus should be
  • Lots of standard tech
  • Lively V6 and well-tuned transmission
  • Up to 44 mpg for hybrid
Cons
  • Unintuitive infotainment
  • Hybrid’s gas engine drones

When the Lexus ES was first introduced, it wasssssdjioadndalfkjnlunewe … Oh my, sorry, I fell asleep on my keyboard. What were we discussing? Oh, right, the Lexus ES.

You see, the Lexus ES has a reputation for being as devoid of excitement as it is sleep-inducingly comfortable for long road trips. But its undeniable quality and luxury have made it Lexus’ best seller 15 years in a row. If AARP of Fort Lauderdale had a “people’s choice award,” the ES would be runner up, right behind the 1990s Buick Park Avenue. With an average buyer’s age of 64 years old, its reputation is impossible to deny.

Related

Lexus wants to change that. To attract younger buyers, the company started completely afresh for 2018 with a design that’s sportier, sexier, and drenched in tech. But can the new ES shake its vanilla reputation to appease the sweet-tooth of younger buyers?

We got a chance to find out and drive all three forms of the 2019 Lexus ES: the standard ES 350, the ES300h hybrid, and an all-new ES 350 F Sport version. Competitors range from less expensive versions of the BMW 3-Series, to the Acura TLX. Lexus says pricing will be revealed later in the year and shouldn’t differ  much from the current car’s $38,950 starting sticker.

Interior and tech

As a product of Lexus, Japan’s premiere luxury automaker, technology takes a front seat in the new ES. All ES models come with Lexus’ Safety System + 2.0, standardizing everything from Pre-Collision System, which can sense oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists during the daytime; to radar-guided cruise control with distance control; Lane Tracing Assist; Keeping Assist; Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist; Road Sign Assist; Blind Spot Monitoring; a panoramic camera system, and automatic Intelligent High Beam headlights.

Technology takes a front seat in the new ES.

The optional Mark Levinson 1800-watt hi-fi audio system with 12 speakers is incredible, while the standard system is a not-so-shabby eight-speaker Pioneer system. And for the first time in any vehicle, the ES offers in-car Amazon Alexa integration, paired with Lexus’ Enform App Suite 2.0. That means you can ask Alexa to check the fuel level, control the locks, and even start the engine. For the first time in any Toyota or Lexus vehicle, Apple CarPlay is standard on the Lexus ES.

All occupants sit lower, but still get plenty of room as the wheelbase grows by two inches. Impeccable build quality continues in Lexus fashion, but cranked up a notch. For once, the switchgear doesn’t feel like it picked directly from Toyota’s parts bins. The gauge cluster design varies by model – for instance, the F Sport comes with an LF-A-inspired center tachometer and LCD combination for the main gauge cluster, while the hybrid gains a different display showcasing the hybrid system’s function. It’s safe to say that this is the nicest, most stylish interior we’ve ever seen in a Lexus ES.

Except for Lexus ES’s infotainment control. It uses a haptic touchpad, which can be difficult to learn, and fussy even when you’re familiar it. The AARP would not approve. Nonetheless, everything is displayed very vividly, and in high definition on a large center stack-mounted screen.

Driving experience

Underpinning the 2019 Lexus ES’s new exterior and interior design is a completely new “GA-K platform,” spun from Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA). A few years back, current President of Toyota Motor Corporation, Akio Toyoda, a professed lover of speed and motorsports, promised to reinvigorate the entire range of Toyota and Lexus vehicles with more driving performance and sportier characters. And the results really present themselves in all of the models we drove, from the hybrid version to the all-new F Sport.

The Lexus ES in all forms is a genuinely pleasant car to drive and drastically better at handling than the previous model.

The new platform lowers the roofline and overall center of gravity, allowing engineers to widen the car’s track and extend its wheelbase. The result is significantly improved handling and road-hugging driving dynamics across the board. No, really, we’re not joking. The Lexus ES in all forms is a genuinely pleasant car to drive on some curvy bits, and drastically better at handling them than the previous model.

This is also thanks to a special new shock absorber design featuring a new “swing valve” that improves dampening functions and control, translating to way better steering response, vehicle stability, ride comfort, and suspension composure.

2019-Lexus-ES-300-xxl
Chris Chin/Digital Trends

The “standard” ES 350

The base ES 350 model is Lexus’ bread and butter, so it can’t afford to mess this one up. The 3.5-liter V6 remains, but with revisions to make a smooth and surprisingly very rev-happy 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, up by 34 horsepower and 19 pound-feet from the old mill. A new, slick-shifting eight-speed automatic serves up a 0-to-60 time of 6.6 seconds. While not as sporty as the F Sport, which gets an electronically controlled adaptive suspension that really works, the standard ES 350 still proved excellent behind the helm.

The ES 300h hybrid

The 2019 Lexus ES maintains the usual gas-sipping four-cylinder mated to an electric motor and continuously-variable transmission (CVT). However, the system’s been entirely overhauled, with the 2.5-liter engine benefitting from upgrades, and a new transaxle that’s 15 percent smaller in mass and smoother with 25 percent less friction than the outgoing version. It gives the ES 300h a total system output of 215 horsepower. It might not be the quickest ES of the bunch, but its hugely impressive 44 mpg estimated average makes up for it. We also found the ES 300h to feel better balanced behind the wheel, thanks to a lighter lump at the front. The revised nickel-metal-hydride battery mounted in the floor also takes more advantage of the new platform’s lower center of gravity, resulting in a more balanced feel. I know, strange words to be said and read about Lexus’ new ES 300h hybrid.

The all-new ES 350 F Sport

Joining the line for the first time is the all-new F Sport model. It adds larger, sportier wheels, a more aggressive body kit, sport seats and trim for the interior, and more. But best of all, it adds the company’s latest electronically controlled adaptive suspension. It adjusts thousands of times per second and over 650 possible steps, making this the best-handling ES ever made, without compromising its signature comfort. The F Sport gets the same V6 as the base car. It may not steal any buyers away from those who have their eyes set on something like a BMW 3-Series Sport or a Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG Sport. But it still impresses in the corners for those who like to drive.

Can you really tell the difference?

Just for kicks, a fellow writer and I teamed up to sample the previous ES 350 against the all-new ES 350 F Sport. While his F Sport competently wound through the twisties of Natchez Trace Parkway, my outgoing ES 350 dramatically screeched its tires out of displeasure from just trying to keep up, even at the posted speed limits. And as the turns got tighter, the older ES just plowed wider and wider, proving to be a complete pudge beside the new ES. The difference is that noticeable.

Warranty

All Lexus vehicles benefit from a 48-month, 50,000-mile basic warranty and a 72-month, 70,000-mile powertrain warranty, whichever comes first. And being a Lexus, or a Toyota underneath, the 2019 ES will be as reliable as a wood-burning stove.

How DT would configure this car

Since most of us have a pulse, we’d opt for the exciting new ES 350 F Sport in Nightfall Mica blue to match Digital Trends’ blue theme, with the Flaxen dark-brown leather interior. You won’t have to fiddle too much with the option boxes, since the Lexus ES has always prided itself for featuring lots of standard equipment and tech.

Conclusion

The all-new 2019 Lexus ES completely shatters the old ES’s reputation for being a complete bore behind the wheel, or even to look at. Its dramatic new design is well proportioned and cohesive, without being seemingly over-styled, which Japanese auto designers have a habit of doing. And the changes go more than skin deep, making the newest ES the best-handling model ever. Even for younger buyers, this is now a sedan worth a second look.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Chris Chin
Chris Chin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Since picking up his first MicroMachine, Chris Chin knew his passion for automobiles was embedded into his soul. Based in…
Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more
Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs
Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more