The Lexus ES is a luxurious series of executive sedans currently presented by the Lexus car brand in its seventh generation. The Japanese company describes it as a vehicle that possesses elegance in motion as it is designed with a coupe-like structure paired with contemporary details. Inside, it boasts a cabin fitted with modern luxuries and topnotch safety features. As of 2021, Lexus Philippines offers the updated ES 300h hybrid and the ES 350 Premier V6.
Launch
The first-generation Lexus ES was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in 1989. It is built with a 2.5-liter engine with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.
Its second generation was revealed in 1991 offered in three engine choices with two transmission options.
In September 1996, its third generation, the Lexus ES 300 was unveiled in a posh event in Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. It flaunted a longer body and an adaptive variable suspension was included in the vehicle.
With every generation, the Lexus ES is efficiently evolving to cater to the changing needs of its loyal fans and new followers. On its seventh release held at the 2018 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, the reliable executive sedan shows no signs of stopping.
Fast forward to 2021, Lexus Philippines has brought in the updated ES for the 2022 model year. It now has two variants: the ES 300h, and the ES 350.
Locally, the current version was launched at a private event in Lexus Manila located at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
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Exterior
The revamped Lexus ES measures 4,975mm long, 1,865mm wide, and 1,445mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,870mm. As of 2021, the new ES has a sharper pair of headlights, a new set of wheels, plus a new grille insert. It still retains the same silhouette as the previous version.
Interior
The sophisticated cabin of the Lexus ES is spacious and provides total comfort. Highlights include semi-aniline leather seats with intricate patterns, wooden interior trim, and three-spoke leather steering wheel with paddle shifters. The top-spec ES 350 also gets 10-way power adjustable front seats, LED ambient lighting, a kick-activated power trunk, among others.
For cooling, the ES 350 gets a three-zone automatic air-conditioning system, while the ES 300h has a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system.
Technology & Safety Features
The Lexus ES 300h is fitted with a 10-inch headunit, while the Lexus ES 350 gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen. For the top-spec model, the said screen is linked to a 17-piece Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound system, while the 10-inch screen is connected to a ten-piece speaker system.
The top-spec ES 350 also has wireless charging, rain-sensing wipers, and ventilation for the front seats.
In terms of safety, the ES 350 gets a hole host of driver assist features. This includes blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, adaptive high-beams, dynamic radar cruise control, a panoramic view monitor, among others.
Platform & Chassis
The Lexus is a front-engine front-wheel-drive vehicle built with an independent MacPherson Strut suspension with stabilizers on the front and Trailing Wishbone with stabilizer suspension in the rear. Braking power is assisted by an anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, and brake assist.
For the updated version for the 2022 model year, the marque also updated the braking system with a better master cylinder. The rear suspension was also tuned for better responsiveness, and the body of the car was reinforced for more rigidity.
Engine & Drivetrain
The Lexus ES now has two engine options for the Philippine market. On the ES 300h, it uses a 2.5-liter inline-4 gasoline paired with an electric motor. Together, this hybrid mill produces up to 218 horsepower. Power is then sent to the front wheels via an electronic continuously variable transmission (E-CVT).
Meanwhile, the ES 350 uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a maximum output of 300 horsepower and 356 Nm of torque. It is also front-wheel-drive, but it uses a direct-shift eight-speed automatic transmission.