Ian J. Parsley

Simple answer - yes. I actually moved from IS to ES via (mark 1) NX; the NX was my least favourite and I'd probably say my current ES, even though it's a base model, is marginally my favourite. The ES is a big (but therefore also spacious) car; yet when you drive it it doesn't really feel like it. It is front-wheel drive, unlike the IS, so think of it as a luxury vehicle to travel in rather than as a sports saloon.

Don't know if this helps, but Apple Maps (and perhaps similarly the "own maps" on Android, whatever they are) actually connects fully to my car, in the sense that directions even appear on the dashboard. I find this helps not to miss turns (personally I actually mute the guidance itself).

Just as an update, the MY25 *does* appear to have Climate Concierge; I found it in a fairly nondescript menu the other day. We'll see how it works over the winter!

The MY25 Premium (aka Premium Edition) does not have auto-fold. However, you can fold them manually, turn off ignition, and then put the button back to the centre: this will see them open automatically on restart.

It is back working again today and I used the above advice to contact Customer Services who said: After thorough investigation, we’ve identified that the issue is due to a widespread problem with our network partner. This has affected many of our customers, and we completely understand the impact it’s having on your experience. We are led to believe this has been rectified now, can you confirm and check by syncing your vehicle again to the LexusLink+ app? If your problem is resolved… [etc]

I’m afraid the 101 reappeared today and the app is no longer connected nor connectable again.

Oh dear… and actually DCM is displaying.

I’d agree with you. And I note, for all that, my last trip has not saved.

I had to do a complete reset, but now everything seems to be working ok.

As of about midday today several people including me have noticed they the DCM (top right on main nav) is no longer phased out, and have been able to reconnect. I haven’t yet had any trips recorded since, but otherwise all seems fine.

Seemingly likewise, I noticed my DCM was no longer blanked out about half an hour ago; I was then given a QR code with which to connect and, although I haven’t checked everything, I am certainly connected with the correct mileage etc. Only thing I would say is that my trip today (even after stopping the car) has not been recorded.

The Toyota equivalent is working perfectly on my wife’s Aygo X, to add to the embarrassment… 🙂

Just to check this, are you sure everything is working as normal? I found I couldn't use the remote controls, for example, that the app was inaccurately recording all doors as locked when they weren't, and that the app would not update beyond evening of 13th (even though all *seemed* ok with it).

I’ve had exactly the same on my new ES (picked up 1st). It may be worth emphasising that a few gremlins were noticeable: - the speed limit did not display on the dashboard (for a few minutes); - the SatNav did not come up on the dashboard (though again, this is sporadic); - I got the Error 101 which kept reappearing every 10-15 seconds, thus rendering the system effectively inoperable, but that has now stopped; - the Lexus Link app hadn’t updated since 13th (I didn’t use the car on 14th but journeys from early 15th were not recorded); and - I could not use the remote connection. When I cleared everything, I could not reconnect the car to the app. As of this morning, that was still the case. It either refuses outright, or doesn’t provide a code.

I have seen it called "tri-zone" (and actually also "triple zone") but, as a linguist, I can't have that - because if it's tri-zone, two zones should be bi-zone... 🙂

A few pictures as requested. “Trial zone” is a separate zone for the back, as well as for the passenger and driver. It’s not that uncommon now.

I collected by Model Year '25 ES300h base spec (slightly oddly entitled "Premium") earlier this month, after the end of my lease on a '20 ES300h F-Sport. Clearly, this is a lower spec; the main highlights of what I lost are probably the memory seats (including the seat moving back on exit), auto-tilt/closing mirrors and the climate concierge. On the other hand, it is a newer car - complete with the new nav (and remote app functions), added safety (blind spot light, etc) and general improvements. I've also switched from dark grey to navy blue (my terminology!) - you take your pick on those, but I think I'm veering towards preferring the latter, as it looks particularly good from behind. My early instinct is that the balance is considerably in favour of the newer car - so if you are switching, consider the base spec. You don't really lose out on much. Cabin Improvements are most obvious in the centre lower cabin; here there are now two regular cup holders and more storage as the "mouse pad" has been removed (given the infotainment is now via touchscreen). (In my case, the colour has changed too - I'm now "forest brown" rather than black!) Navigation Of course the general nav and infotainment are completely different. It is well known that there is now a large touch screen, which incorporates a new on-board navigation system (which frankly looks huge, as much as anything) and a series of settings controlled now on what looks more like a tablet. The system has also expanded voice commands, so you can say "Play Radio 1" and it will turn that on. But there are quite a few limitations to that, I have found. There are some notable improvements that are not really mentioned in the literature: - Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now wireless (this matters to me, as my iPhone is so old it cannot be connected by wire); - Using the Apple Maps app, you still get the turns presented on the dashboard (i.e. as if you were using the car's own system); and - Once you have set "home" in the nav, the dashboard will tell you how far away you are once you are close by regardless of whether you have set it in your nav. The remote functions work well, but are limited. You can lock the car (you will only do this if you receive a notification that you forgot to do so, as locking it from the app does not trigger the alarm); and you can turn on the climate system for 20 minutes. However, you cannot adjust the climate controls; so this may work as a defroster but it is unlikely to help, for example, with getting those heated seats on full blast when the rain suddenly starts. Safety The safety system on board is now expanded to include cross alerts of various kinds, blind spot info, curve assist and a modified road-sign assist. Lane-keep assist also adds a "lane centring" option (also known as "lane trace"), which I find useful on expressways/motorways but less so otherwise. There are some negatives here: if you turn road-sign assist off, no speed limit is displayed on the dashboard (in my previous car, the speed limit was still displayed, taken from the nav); audible alarms for breaching the speed limit and veering out of lane are now compulsory (in the sense you have to turn them off every time you start the car if you don't want them), which is a particular annoyance if you go past a temporary limit not actually in force (e.g. a 20mph sign at a school which only applies during school hours); there is no immediately evident way to turn lane-keep assist off (though actually if you hold the lane-keep button on the steering wheel for five seconds, that'll do it). That said, the audible warning is not particularly intrusive and I have to say I have already become used to it. The key was to get all the other alerts turned off, such as the one for change of speed limit! Driving There is no doubt the driving experience is different; steering seems more direct (and therefore, in my view, much improved). There's an outside chance this is because it's no longer an F-Sport, but I think the passage of time is much likelier as I do not think it is all to do with the suspension. Boot Now, here is a funny thing. Firstly, on the negative side, the "convenience pack" no longer exists - so if you have a cargo net and sports mats from your previous car, keep and transfer them. Secondly, the single most positive thing I have noticed about the newer car: the boot lid. Of course, you have to close this manually. On the 2020 version, this caused a truly horrible, mucky, tinny crash sound totally at odds with the rest of the car (I actually developed a technique to close it slowly to avoid it). On this version, this is much improved; I suspect there are a few extra springs in there so that it now closes with a much more satisfying cling. This is of course barely a difference, and some may not notice it at all, but it is now much more aligned to the quality finish of the rest of the car! Three bad things With regards to buying an ES, some things are still just less than optimal versus rivals in the same bracket: - there is no trial zone climate control; - although the spec is great, the removal of the climate concierge and reverse tilt just seems odd and out of character (the former is available on my wife's base spec 2020 UX); - there is no all-electric version. Three outstanding things For all that, if you are in the market for an executive saloon (and I accept ever fewer people seem to be, unfortunately), personally I wouldn't even look at the competition. Here are just three reasons: - the reliability is second to none; - the build and ride quality, inside and out, is simply unparalleled; and - for the spec and adding in the fact it is an automatic hybrid, the value is not even remotely matched elsewhere in the sector. I'd add one other thing: I like the fact there are so few options. It is much clearer what you are getting and, to me, it gives me faith that Lexus is so confident about the quality of its product it can essentially say "Here it is: you take it or you leave it". I'd go with the former...

I've just picked up a 2024 Premium, and I can confirm the functions to start the climate system (for 20 minutes) and operate the hazard lights are included (even on the base model, which the Premium is, despite its name), and work well. You can lock and unlock the vehicle too, but locking it that way does not appear to enable the alarm; a consequence of this is that you can only unlock it with the remote control if you locked it the same way. Tbh I can't see any real use for that function anyway!

You should find that it goes "blue" if it is on, and that's faded out if it's off. Towards bottom left on Climate page, IIRC.

After all that, there's no change even in the engine details (even though I thought I'd seen a change on the website). I don't yet know about the spec; I'd imagine little change there either but will keep you informed when the car actually arrives!

Funny, IIRC I could have had the old one this month. But when I said I was willing to hold (my current car's contract runs until end July), they said it may even be September and they'll just keep me in my current car until then. I don't know how helpful that is to you, as I've been clear with them I personally am in no hurry. Apparently more information on the spec of the new version will come mid/late May.

The truth is there is nothing reliable out there about the 2025 ES at all; I would share your doubts, instinctively, but I note also that the 2025 Camry in North America is only available as CVT hybrid but has an AWD option.

Back to the topic, the answer would appear to be yes (as I currently have one on order). What I know is that all should be revealed/confirmed mid/late May. I am aware of the potential for an AWD option (or even, potentially, that AWD will be standard). Looking at the site, others have already noted the rise from 215hp to 245hp (though the car is definitely still FWD there). There is also now no F-Sport option, seemingly. I have also spotted that the finance offer on the base model (now referred to just as "Premium" in the UK) specifies blade scan technology (for the auto-high beam), whereas IIRC the MY24 "Premium Edition" did not have that and indeed the current base model is still listed without it on the configurator. So I suspect the price rise will include at least an element of higher spec and higher performance. Are we also to assume this is the final year of this generation (the 7th of the ES worldwide)?

We have both an ES and a UX in the household (both hybrid), and I don't notice this difference. If anything, I would say the ES is better, though there's not much in it.

On the OP, I obviously was much more charmed with by IS than you were, as I really liked mine. Then I came to an ES via an NX (which I wasn't so keen on only because SUVs really aren't for me). I'd safely say you'll not be disappointed. The ES is a surprisingly easy car to drive given its size, maxes out in comfort, and for a front-wheel hybrid really doesn't drive badly at all.