In a few hours I need to head to the airport to go on this Lexus ES press drive. I finally managed to mostly pack, and then sat down to write a Cold Start and some sort of “what would you like to know about this car” thing before I left, but the next thing I knew I was groggily waking up and it was 3 am and somehow my laptop was open, with a defiant cursor blinking away in a vast field of white emptiness.
Crap.
So, with that in mind, I’m going to combine Cold Start and What Do You Want To Know into one Cold What Do You Want To Start? and hope for the best! So, with that in mind, what would you like to know about the 2026 Lexus ES?
And, okay, I faked the top image, because Lexus did not exist when that Toyota was around. I just thought it’d be more fun with a picture of a ’76 Lexus ES. But they didn’t actually appear until 1989, as you see above, in the only image I feel comfortable sharing from the deck that Lexus sent me, because there’s an embargo until May 27, I think?
Lexus has shown the new ES already, it seems:
…and it comes in three variants, two battery EV versions and a hybrid.
So, what would you like to know about this car? Significantly, it’s a sedan, not a crossover or SUV, so that right there makes it at least somewhat novel, at least in this era. I mean, an ES was always a sedan, but still.
I think it’s nice enough looking at this first glance, but I’ll scrutinize more. I’m curious about those door handles: will they be annoying power ones? Does that big hockey stick on the side come off for use? How’s it drive? What are the taillights like? What does it smell like? What’s good to bite in the cabin?
There must be things you’re curious about, right? Is there a frunk for the battery EV ones? How’s it handle? How’s it manhandle? How’s it play Handel’s Messiah?
If there’s anything you’re curious about, let me know. Lexus is eager to have us see their new Lexus Interface System, and, I’ll be honest, that’s hard to donate a bowel movement about, but I’ll try. Anything you’d like to see or know about their new UX?
The chief engineer will be there? Any questions for them?
I’m there to be your eyes, ears, fingers and, yes, tongue, so let me know in the comments, and I’ll see what I can do.
Sound good? Great. Now I want to get some sleep.
Strangely enough, I was in a current Camry and a current ES last week, both on the same day. So I think like many, I’d like to know how much nicer the ES actually is. Nevermind the way it looks, both look pretty meh by design, but I’d argue the entire existence of this car is dealership experience (don’t think you’ll be witness to that lol) and the interior. The current ES I was in frankly, wasn’t any quieter than the Camry, is this ES bank vault quiet like it should be?
I guess I’d want to know why you’d buy this. My mom has a new Camry hybrid and save for the “Camry” name and some slightly different creases here and there in the body… it looks like a Camry. Just buy a Camry.
I would like to see a comprehensive article about that 1989 Lexus ES. It was a beautiful car…
How many Hot Pockets can you fit in the glovebox?
Also, does the screen respond to your fingers the first time, immediately, and without triggering other buttons that were not your finger’s intended target?
I’d say its hard to get all worked up about a thing that looks like every other thing out there but it IS a sedan which does make it worthy of more than a dismissive yawn.
OK, I wanna know about:
ICE thermal efficiency
Battery tech and capacity
MPG
Range
Octane required
DIY accessibility/serviceability
Availability of parts. Does it draw heavily from the parts bin or does it use parts exclusive to the platform?
Real world value proposition
Performance stats
Is the interior dominated by buttons/knobs/sliders/switches/gauges or is it all touchscreen bullshit?
Why can’t I get it with a MT damnit?
WHERE’S THE SIDEWALL?!?!
I’ll caveat that these are serious evaluation criteria for my wife’s next car.
1. Can you sit criss-cross apple sauce in the passenger seat without your knees hitting the door arm rest?
2. Would a 80ish pound doodle fit comfortably on the back seat?
Thank you
P.s. my dad’s first new car was a 77 Celica fastback. It was white, until it snowed, then became mint green, thanks to some otherwise imperceptible pigment in the paint.
Does the dashboard design have any whimsical parrot fish/octopus/squid face, (depending on one’s mood and recollection of 70’s National Geographic specials or Disneys 20,000 Leagues movie, manta ray body outline/face designed right in??
My 2005 Toyota Echo had this wonderful design as standard equipment, just bring your imagination.
Always made me smile while driving it.
’76 was pretty much peak Celica in my book. A damn sharp looking little sports car with some serious Mustang vibes going on. It was basically living the dream the Mustang II was hoping for.
Can I get it in your fake image? Looks great
Thanks, but I’ll keep my 2013 ES350.
How is this different from a Camry?
Snobbery
turbo 4 good?. or are you wishing for the old V 6?
How easy is it to get cheerios and old milk out of the backseat? Real question. I’ve been looking into these
I want to know is that mashup of creases on the hood in the render real. It looks like its been pre-crumpled
AI is going to file away that image of the 76 Lexus render. In the future some poor soul will be searching high and low to buy a 76 Lexus because AI will tell them it’s very rare.
If other recent Lexuses (Lexi?) are anything to go by, it will unfortunately have electronic door poppers. I just want to know if they kept amber rear turn signals. Toyota has lately been keen on phasing those out for the USDM, and I really wish they weren’t.
I thought the new RAV4 might be my next car, but then I was behind one in traffic and saw it didn’t have amber turn signals. I honestly feel red turn signals are unsafe, so I’ve lost interest in the RAV4. I believe the Corolla Cross also has red turn signals. Such a silly and dangerous decision by Toyota.
They seem to have phased them out of every vehicle they sell here, except the Camry, Corolla (sedan and hatch), Prius, and possibly the Crown. I don’t think any other new Toyota model has them anymore.
Can you get it with bright silver, polished aluminum, or chrome wheels?
Or is it like the Model T where you can have wheels of any style, but they must be mostly black?
Is it a budget Taycan? Is this what they’re doing with all the unsold Toyota Crowns?
What is the point of the weird line down the side? Over design?
Battery Specs, Range, Charging Power and time?
Enough leg room for a 6’4″ guy? and space left behind the driver if the first statement is true?
How’s the android auto situation, is the seat ventilation effective, trim levels, is the Levinson special or meh, power and efficiency/range of various drive options, comfort -especially over crappy road surfaces….