The luxury models of the es350 have the double glass I’m so glad you talk about that. So many people miss that every single big reviewer misses that 😂 no one talked about it in the xle and xse 2025 Camrys
That’s so weird though I’ve never seen a Lexus, luxury or otherwise, without the double pane glass! That should really be standard on a luxury product.
I have a 2024 ES300h Luxury and I find it especially smooth and quiet. It averages about 44mpg in my driving. This is my third Lexus and first Lexus sedan.
@@Richard_Fouts I like to say that "I drive my age" these days - like an old man. I don't race around like I once did. I had an LX that averaged about 13/14mpg.
I had a ES300h from this generation, Luxury trim and it had the double pane glass on the front windows. It also had the acoustic rims. Mine was getting 42 mpg easily. The ES definitely looks more luxe inside and out, and a bargain at that since you can get a high trim for less than 50k. I guarantee the next gen ES will see the substantial cost cutting Toyota/Lexus has been doing.
Hi Josh, I had an ES loaner a while back and thought it drove really smooth and easy to commute in. However I did think the materials of everything were way below what I would have expected for a Lexus ES. We owned a 2002 a long time ago.. the quality was so much better. The fuel economy on the 2024 ES was great! I test drove a Crown platinum recently and really liked it I found it nicer than the ES and I especially liked that it was higher up off the ground.. zero road noise and zero hybrid buzz. The crown is just too long of a car .. holding out for the crown sport 😂 After a bad experience with my Lexus NX Fsport.. they bought it back.. so I am having fun elsewhere 😂 and will return to Toyota/ Lexus at another time ❤ Great video 😊
Yes! I agree. The ES is nicer than the full new Lexus models but it definitely doesn’t compare to older Lexus models. And that’s good to know about the Crown. I don’t really understand what the deal is with Toyota cars being better than Lexus… and I agree at the crown being too big/long, I would love if the Crown Sport would come to the states!!
The engineers actually spoke about how they had to “louden up” the ES bc during production they felt it was too quiet and it would put people to sleep. They should’ve left it people like their lexus ultra quiet
I agree about the drive mode dial! We had a current gen RX F-sport loaner and couldn’t find the drive mode control until I realized it was probably in the infotainment screen; which I didn’t want to try to find while driving. Disappointed the new Lexus are cost cutting so much.
Finally head to head comparison video between camry and es. I expect more from ES but kinda disappointed after hear that road noise, i stick with my camry, save and wait for the next gen es. It seem the Camry is getting beter and better
If you can do with the V6 and not the hybrid, the V6 is quieter. I’d also say that all new Lexus products have been very disappointing to me with cheaper materials and less isolation, so I don’t have high expectations for the next ES.
I think for any car that offers a V6, it’s worth buying the V6. I love hybrids but they’ll be around for a good long while and so you have all the time in the world to buy one later on.
I love this video. Incredibly high quality video, this is definitely in 4k, lol. I love the detailed views of the interior from the passenger seat. Great film work. I was curious about the road noise and wind noise. Driver makes an excellent point about Ultra Luxury having noise reduction tires. Thanks for the discussion for the NVH levels in the 2025 ESh. I can only hope the redesigned 2026 Lexus ES steps up it's NVH levels. Toyota has no other sedans that interest me besides ES. The interior is gorgeous. I know the steering wheel is soft and comfortable. There should never be a Lexus that has no Laminated windows in the front seat! Hey my local Toyota dealership sucks too!
I honestly expect it to go the other way based on all of Lexus’ new products. Their cars are really going downhill as it relates to the qualities I expect out of a pseudo-luxury brand. The new generations of NX, RX, TX, and GX have all started to feel really cheap inside and I’ve noticed a marked reduction in the sound insulation. See my other videos on the channel, specifically the RX and GX. TX is obviously brand new so nothing to compare it to, but where my GX460 feels like a proper luxury car, the new GX550 feels like a Toyota.
Not having physical buttons for common features on the rx and nx is the reason I'd chose the es. I traded in my es350 V6 because it's atrocious on gas and the automatic transmission was annoying with it's gear hunting and poor acceleration unless you floor it. The ultra luxury model is on another level with road noise. 300h is the way to go, a turbo adds a layer of complication and maintenance.
I have a 2019 ES300h in luxury trim which is made in Japan and after 5 years it’s not holding up like older Lexuses I own(ed). I baby this car. This generation and newer Lexus cars are suffering from cost cutting measures. I love the interior design and it is the most comfortable Lexus I have owned so far. As for the noise, mine is quiet until I open the moonroof shade and the wind noise is simply not acceptable. You guys would have been even more disappointed if you had the shade retracted. In second year of my ownership these problems occurred and they are progressively getting worse: 1) headliner developed rattles above the A and B pillars that get worse in colder days. It’s annoying to the point that I wanna sell the car. In summer time, no rattles. 2) moonroof wind noise: it had it from day one but depending on ambient temperatures it gets worse. I believe the reason is the amount of insulation in front and underneath the moonroof. My other Lexus has a plastic piece which doesn’t expose the opening of the moonroof glass directly to passenger area. 3) moonroof eventually leaked and replaced under warranty. Wind noise is still there and dealer can’t adjust it. 3) hybrid battery temperature randomly goes up but the fan doesn’t turn on as it should which makes the hybrid system not being available and I get worse MPG. I run Dr. Prius app to turn on the fan and it fixes the issue & the MPG goes up. No codes so the dealer is useless to diagnose. 4) rattles: recently there are a lot of rattles coming from under the dash. 5) while the leather seats are nice, Toyota/Lexus used inferior leather for the back seats. It’s thin and it can easy get punctured. We got one from my son’s jeans and I was shocked how thin the leather is. None of my previous Lexus vehicles had developed annoying problems over the years. I believe cost cutting is to blame for. Also when I got a loaner ES recently, I noticed the climate control & steering wheel buttons felt cheaply made compared to the earlier years of this generation. For those who want to buy a used one, the first couple of years audio amplifiers had an issue with the logic. There was barely enough sound coming out of the rear speakers. I got mine replaced under a TSB that was eventually released. It made a huge difference but the rear speakers sound quality is still abysmal. No issues in the front.
I agree with your cost cutting comments, but you have a first model year car and so a lot of the rattles and squeaks and such are normal on first model year cars, regardless of whether they came from Japan or not. I have a 2024 Land Cruiser in my driveway right now and it was also made in Japan but there are A LOT of early production run issues that are consistent with what you have in your car. Lesson here is if you care about getting a car that’s fully baked, don’t buy first model year.
@@joshjamescars I agree with your comment regarding first year model issues. I’m just comparing to older Lexus vehicles I owned. I had a 2006 IS250, but the interior components held up much better than this ES for the 6 years I kept it. Even the plastic panel gaps were tighter for a first year model.
@@joshjamescars And the first model year issues for 2019 were even worse because that wasn't just the first year of a new model, it was the first ES on a new platform in 20 years.
Thanks for your well written, thorough review of your 2019 ES300h! It's good to hear balanced stories of, well, any car or brand. Too often I read or hear videos trashing a certain brand or model of car. Or conversely, people who think a certain brand or model is perfection and never have any issues. I have loved and hated every vehicle I've ever owned, and my latest rather expensive luxury car definitely has some issues and design fails. It seems to me that being honest about both the good and the bad of one's car is the way to go, if nothing else, then to prevent the insanity we perfectionists are prone to😄.
That’s interesting you found that-all the new RXs and GX I’ve driven have had the cheap headliner. This ES was also the hybrid which does use lighter weight materials to save every ounce they can.
great video! will be really interesting to see what the next generation ES looks and drives like. PS - have you thought of possibly doing a similar video on the new Honda Civic hybrid?
The ES is fine visibility wise, but no car has great visibility these days. The Rav4’s D-pillar is HUGE. You really do rely on back up cameras and blind spot monitors.
Thank you for an informative video. I am considering a 2025 Lexus ES 300h next year. This year I bought a 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum. This is my first hybrid car. My question is, is it safe to take a hybrid through a high pressure car wash (I.e. brushless wash)? The owners manual seems to have a lot of precautions about using a high pressure washer because of the sensors, radar for the cruise control, and because it is a hybrid. Has any body had experience with this?
Yes it’s absolutely fine to do so but automatic car washes are horrible for your car’s paint and finish. I always recommend hand washing if you intend to keep the car for a long time and want the paint to look showroom clean in the long run.
Very nice review. Recently bought an underpowered ES250, but needed the AWD where I live. The ES is sibling to Avalon and correct by saying cousin to Camry because Camry is shorter length. Road noise could be tires or road itself you’re riding on. I upgraded to 19 inch wheels and definitely made a difference in road noise. LMAO on Land Cruiser comment. Agreed on new GX as a former GX460 owner.
Ugh yeah it’s such a shame the only way to get AWD is with the base 250. The new Camry with the hybrid and AWD is fantastic. Hopefully they bring that to the ES with its redesign.
Hey Josh, Can you measure the cabin noise with your reviews? I would be curious to know the noise level differences between the cars you review on your channel. The Apple Watch does a great job at recording the Decibel levels. I see you all are Rolex’d out like Ric Flair! 😂
I have done it a few times using my Apple Watch, but what I’ve found is that sound measurements can vary so much depending on what road I’m on, the cars around me at any given time, and wind conditions and so I stopped doing it because it didn’t seem fair to the car.
Scary to see these Lexus vehicles interiors slowly becoming more Toyota like. I know it's nothing new, but can you imagine 5 years from now? :( That GX 550 dash!!! Whaaaat?! lol
SERIOUSLY! Although judging by the Land Cruiser I have right now and the new Tacoma……. Well… things may also be getting proportionately worse over in Toyota land too. I feel like they’re having a mid-2000s GM moment.
@@joshjamescars In this case, Lexus says it actually provided extra sound insulation on the hybrid, a three-layer insulation sandwich at the firewall to quiet the four-cylinder engine's inherently higher noise level.
U should test the Ultra Lux model, really quiet. I test drove one and its a little bit noisy due to the 4 cylinders sound. The Ultra Lux has noise reduction rims
my uncle bought a brand new RX hybrid to replace a RX and I feel the same thing about the overall quality. There has definitely been a downgrade in quality by Lexus. My uncle just wants ultra reliable motoring in a comfortable place so he does not mind as much as I do for him haha.
Ugh I completely agree. The new RX is such a disappointment in terms of design and materials quality. Like you say, it’s perfect for people who want what your uncle wants, but not for us car people. 😅
It’s not the tires, hybrids always have less sound isolation to cut down on weight versus the 350 which they can saddle down since its mission is quiet and luxurious driving, not pure efficiency.
@@star9732That's why they couldn't go full on sound insulation on the 300h like the 350. If it already weighs 40lbs more with the reduction of noise insulation materials, it will be even heavier if the 300h had the same amount of insulation as the 350.
@@joshjamescars I don't think this is true. In fact, Lexus publicized that they ADDED a 3-layer soundproofing sandwich at the firewall only to the hybrid models to quell the unluxurious-sounding racket of the droning 4-cylinder engine.
I had a new 2022 Es300h ultra luxury. While the car was quiet “at times” , it was very dependent on the road surface. It was louder and more noise from “below” or underneath the car would become known on concrete road surfaces. The car was very smooth on freshly “paved” blacktop roads. So for me the quietness was very depended on the road surface you were traveling over and at what speeds
You'll have to wait for the next gen 2026 ES to get that luxury separation between the ES and the new Camry. Hopefully they don't butcher it with gimmicky features.
Well judging by Lexus’ new products, the separation will completely go away as new Lexus products are completely lacking when it comes to any semblance of craftsmanship and quality.
@@joshjamescars I agree. Even my 2022 IS500 has fewer features than my 2015 CT200h. For example, the CT has dual pane glass, windows that slow down near the end when you roll them up and down on auto, and an F sport logo on the steering wheel that's fully covered in plastic (the new F sport logos are exposed). I also have a couple rattles in my IS500. Lexus really started cutting corners after the pandemic.
@V8Brah I am SHOCKED that your IS500 doesn’t have double pane glass! I mean, I’m sure it’s nice to hear your engine all the time ;) but still… that’s inexcusable for the price of the car. And also on the rattles, I just had the 2024 Land Cruiser in my driveway and it had all kinds of build quality issues despite the fact that it came from Japan.
Love the creamy caramel color of the ES, the materials are less than Lexus Luxury through, it does not relate to handcrafted Japanese work. The harsh linear visual lines across the dash that are triangulated are visually utilitarian in scope, not luxury designed.
That’s a very Toyota thing… I agree, I’m not a fan of the sharp and angular design language they’ve adopted as of late… especially the lines on the new RX with the overbite..
Josh is this quieter than the Crown Signia? My next vehicle may be the Signia, Camry or the ES hybrid. My husband likes the Signia as we have the 23 Venza.
The Avalon, Camry, and ES are all based on the same TGNA-K platform, the ES and Avalon just have a slightly stretched version of it. Crown and Camry are also on the platform.
It depends on what you value and your finances. I REALLY enjoyed the 2025 Camry I drove but the Lexus is a cut above. I think if you’re paying cash, buy the ES. But if you’re financing, save yourself the additional interest you’d pay on the $10K and buy the Camry.
Get it while you can the new one will be take the same cost cutting as the rx and tx and gx and the new lx is better then those models but took a step back in the ride and rattles and the new turbo v6 had a big recall I would stay clear of the lx600 for now
You’ll save about $10-$15K by default choosing the new Camry over the ES. And if value and cost savings is an important factor in your car purchase, then definitely buy the Toyota.
@@joshjamescars Thank you for your reply. I remember watching one of your previous videos where you mentioned that the Rav 4 Hybrid was exactly the same to drive as the Lexus equivalent but just that the Lexus had more luxuries on the inside so I was wondering if the same applied to the 2025 Camry and ES300h.
@KM-vc7iy Ah! The current ES definitely still has some of that old Lexus magic to it, so there is a difference. I expect the next gen ES to loose that just like the new NX, RX, GX, and TX have.
thanks for doing these videos. question. Whats your thoughts on the 2024 toyota camry se (4 clyinder).. im debating about the 2024 camry SE- gas $27K before tax VS a 2025 camry hydibrd SE for $34K before tax? i cant decide.
I personally wouldn’t buy any Toyota sedan or crossover that isn’t a hybrid. There’s no reason NOT to buy the hybrid. It’s so much better to drive, so much more efficient, and the resale will be so much better down the line.
have 22 lexus es300h. i will agree with you about cabin isnt quiet as i expected. i do hear lots of road noise and outside noises. lexus did bad job with the insulation.
It’s about the same. All Lexus hybrids tend to be more rough and gruff because of the A25A engine and the Lower levels of sound insulation around the cabin. Also, we had a Premium Plus so about the same spec as this ES was!
Re: the interior loudness and road noise This past summer I was looking to buy a 2019 to 2021 Lexus ES to replace my very old current car. I was almost totally unfamiliar with the Lexus brand, and despite _'liking'_ the many Es-es I test drove, I was, sadly, disappointed with all of them...and I was shocked by that. I had expected a quiet ride, good bump absorption, very little to no road / interior noise, and lots of luxury type equipment. Nope🙁. The interiors were _'nice'_ but since *none* were the "Ultra Luxury" model *I was disappointed with the lack of equipment and vinyl (sorry---"Nuluxe") seats.* Really? In a supposed 'luxury' car? (Apparently the "Luxury" and "Ultra Luxury" packages were ordered on virtually _no_ Es-es in most of Western Canada in all of 2019 to 2021. I literally could find none for sale for two months.) *But the worst aspects were what this review already identified---what to me was obnoxiously loud road / tire noise, wind noise....* every type of noise I certainly didn't want in a luxury car. Total deal killer. When my base model, 2007 Subaru Outback _(riding on old, rock hard tires)_ is both quieter and drives smoother than a four year old Lexus? Uh, uh. Nope. Oh! And a properly designed and sound insulated car does *_not_* need double glass to create a quiet interior. In fact, I've driven in late model, high end cars that _have_ double pane glass and some of them are _still_ noisy inside☹.
I hate to tell you this but since you haven’t bought a car since 2007, vehicles have changed drastically in the last 18 years. Fuel economy and emissions regulation has meant that every car has to get the best MPG that it can. Manufacturers achieve that at the expense of less sound insulation, thinner plastics, thinner body panels, etc. Have you sat in a new Subaru? They feel terrible on the inside and are really loud to drive. And I hate to say that as I owned a 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring, but got rid of it because in the couple of years I had it, everything started to squeak and rattle, I think because the materials and quality had been downgraded: So that to say-you need to reset your expectations for what any car out there will be here in 2024 because, like home appliances, cars just aren’t made the way they used to be.
Sorry about that. But what you missed when you lost patience was that the Luxury and Ultra Luxury (at least in the States; I'm guessing Canada is the same) have three separate noise-reducing features that other ES's don't: chassis Performance Dampers, dual-pane front door glass, and wheels with noise-reduction chambers. They make a car for you, and you haven't driven it. What's more, what kind of nonsense is it to say that some ways to achieve quietness are "good engineering" and others aren't? Is the goal a quiet car or not?
Agree with the quality note. That one sadly always looked kind of fuddy duddy. I really liked the ES that came before it and this new generation that came after it. Both of them have more of an angular look. From the last generation of sedans, my favorite was the GS450h.
@@joshjamescars agreed. I owned both. The GS450h a solid car, the top trim ES had really good seats, quality tactile switches and locks (had the quietest boot motor). With the current generation, I actually prefer the interior of the Crown Signia over the RX.
@FilmScape4K Oh the new RX is a joke. It’s full of cheap leather and thin plastic. Not to mention I’m not entirely sure if the wood is real or not… it’s so heavily coated it’s impossible to tell. So I’m with you, the Crown products seem to be better.
Not quite. The V6 is quieter because its V6 is a quieter engine than the hybrid's somewhat noisy, rattly Four. The 300h actually weighs more because of its heavy hybrid battery.
The finest affordable Luxury Sedan on the market hands down. I own the 2023 ES300h Ultra Luxury edition and she's a beauty. CloudBurst Gray with Acorn semi-aniline leather. If you want more get the LC500h. LOL And yes it's a Gen 4 hybrid system and naturally aspirated engine.
I blame the hybrid engine. The ES350 v6 is not that loud (for me). This version have a whistle noise, and like you mention the window glass plays a huge part. But les be honest, that is a nice looking car.
It’s the hybrid engine but also that Toyota often puts more sound insulation in non hybrid vehicles like the ES350 with the V6 because the those obviously aren’t designed for efficiency.
Simple. The Camry is technically on a new generation for 2025. The ES is still in its last generation. Also, the Camry technically has gen 4.5 hybrid system. It’s not a fully gen-5 car like the Prius or Crown Signia.
The Camry is a much better VALUE than the ES. But a luxury car by its very nature isn’t meant to be a value. I think if you want an ES hybrid it’s worth waiting to see what the next generation of it looks like.
The new GX isn’t a true Lexus as far as I’m concerned, it’s a different Land Cruiser Prado. And sadly, all new Lexus cars have interiors that are absolutely abysmal in terms of materials and design.
One of the things I like most about the es is the fact that it uaes regular gas. It is one of a few luxary cars that uses regular gas
Yes!! Love that about it too.
The luxury models of the es350 have the double glass
I’m so glad you talk about that. So many people miss that every single big reviewer misses that 😂 no one talked about it in the xle and xse 2025 Camrys
That’s so weird though I’ve never seen a Lexus, luxury or otherwise, without the double pane glass! That should really be standard on a luxury product.
@@joshjamescars100 percent agree. 😢
@@joshjamescars Ultra lux is the one that is the most quiet.
I bought my new Lexus ES300h just two months ago,
and i love my new car.💯
I have a 2024 ES300h Luxury and I find it especially smooth and quiet. It averages about 44mpg in my driving. This is my third Lexus and first Lexus sedan.
44mpg sounds great.
@@Richard_Fouts I like to say that "I drive my age" these days - like an old man. I don't race around like I once did. I had an LX that averaged about 13/14mpg.
I had folded mirror in my 1990 Toyota Corolla back in Jamaica and all windows powered,in 2024 that should be on all cars
Yes, that’s far more common in global markets but for some reason remains mostly a luxury car feature in the US.
I had a ES300h from this generation, Luxury trim and it had the double pane glass on the front windows. It also had the acoustic rims. Mine was getting 42 mpg easily. The ES definitely looks more luxe inside and out, and a bargain at that since you can get a high trim for less than 50k. I guarantee the next gen ES will see the substantial cost cutting Toyota/Lexus has been doing.
Yes!! I completely agree, and have the same feeling about whatever comes next.
I have the same feeling as well. I hope we're wrong.
I think if one understands the purpose and the function of a car like an ES 300H, then it shines even more. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Josh,
I had an ES loaner a while back and thought it drove really smooth and easy to commute in. However I did think the materials of everything were way below what I would have expected for a Lexus ES.
We owned a 2002 a long time ago.. the quality was so much better.
The fuel economy on the 2024 ES was great!
I test drove a Crown platinum recently and really liked it I found it nicer than the ES and I especially liked that it was higher up off the ground.. zero road noise and zero hybrid buzz.
The crown is just too long of a car .. holding out for the crown sport 😂
After a bad experience with my Lexus NX Fsport.. they bought it back.. so I am having fun elsewhere 😂 and will return to Toyota/ Lexus at another time ❤
Great video 😊
I agree. Cross shopping Audi, BMW, Lexus. Lexus ended up with the poorest quality interior of the three.
Yes! I agree. The ES is nicer than the full new Lexus models but it definitely doesn’t compare to older Lexus models. And that’s good to know about the Crown. I don’t really understand what the deal is with Toyota cars being better than Lexus… and I agree at the crown being too big/long, I would love if the Crown Sport would come to the states!!
The engineers actually spoke about how they had to “louden up” the ES bc during production they felt it was too quiet and it would put people to sleep. They should’ve left it people like their lexus ultra quiet
How interesting!! I actually fully understand that because that’s how my GX and the old LX was. But ugh what a shame.
I read that. Honestly, having driven a UL, I think they were exaggerating. It's quiet but not THAT silent.
I love this car. I bought a 2024 Lexus ES300H Ultra Luxury in Cloudburst Gray and Acorn Interior. I love this car! Best car I have owned.
Congratulations!! You’re the second person in the comments to say they have that exact configuration!
I agree about the drive mode dial! We had a current gen RX F-sport loaner and couldn’t find the drive mode control until I realized it was probably in the infotainment screen; which I didn’t want to try to find while driving.
Disappointed the new Lexus are cost cutting so much.
Yeah it’s buried like 3 levels deep in the vehicle settings tab in the new RX which is ridiculous.
Finally head to head comparison video between camry and es. I expect more from ES but kinda disappointed after hear that road noise, i stick with my camry, save and wait for the next gen es. It seem the Camry is getting beter and better
If you can do with the V6 and not the hybrid, the V6 is quieter. I’d also say that all new Lexus products have been very disappointing to me with cheaper materials and less isolation, so I don’t have high expectations for the next ES.
I brought my 2014 es300h with 200,000 miles currently I’m at 310,000 and I’ve had no issues at all willing to take this car anywhere
Wow!! What an amazing decade you’ve had with it!
Hi josh, agreed with getting the V6. That is one of the car we are also considering. It’s more difficult to choose as old V6 is disappearing
I think for any car that offers a V6, it’s worth buying the V6. I love hybrids but they’ll be around for a good long while and so you have all the time in the world to buy one later on.
My favorite interior color
I love this video. Incredibly high quality video, this is definitely in 4k, lol. I love the detailed views of the interior from the passenger seat. Great film work. I was curious about the road noise and wind noise. Driver makes an excellent point about Ultra Luxury having noise reduction tires. Thanks for the discussion for the NVH levels in the 2025 ESh. I can only hope the redesigned 2026 Lexus ES steps up it's NVH levels. Toyota has no other sedans that interest me besides ES. The interior is gorgeous. I know the steering wheel is soft and comfortable. There should never be a Lexus that has no Laminated windows in the front seat! Hey my local Toyota dealership sucks too!
I honestly expect it to go the other way based on all of Lexus’ new products. Their cars are really going downhill as it relates to the qualities I expect out of a pseudo-luxury brand. The new generations of NX, RX, TX, and GX have all started to feel really cheap inside and I’ve noticed a marked reduction in the sound insulation. See my other videos on the channel, specifically the RX and GX. TX is obviously brand new so nothing to compare it to, but where my GX460 feels like a proper luxury car, the new GX550 feels like a Toyota.
@@joshjamescars thanks for the reply and info about recent Lexus vehicles. I will definitely check the other videos on the channel
Awesome car! Old school Sedans are becoming so rare in this SUV world.
They are… Toyota is even over there trying to turn a sedan into an SUV with the Crown. 😂
@@joshjamescars
🤣🤣🤣
Not having physical buttons for common features on the rx and nx is the reason I'd chose the es. I traded in my es350 V6 because it's atrocious on gas and the automatic transmission was annoying with it's gear hunting and poor acceleration unless you floor it. The ultra luxury model is on another level with road noise. 300h is the way to go, a turbo adds a layer of complication and maintenance.
Favorite thing about the car is the clock.
And now Lexus is getting rid of it on the newer cars🥺
Same!!
Es300h. awesome car.
It looks great in red.
My grandmother bought that color. She likes all of the bright medal and red lol. Not my cup of tea at all.
True that Ceder Park dealers sucks the biggest one !
I have a 2019 ES300h in luxury trim which is made in Japan and after 5 years it’s not holding up like older Lexuses I own(ed). I baby this car. This generation and newer Lexus cars are suffering from cost cutting measures. I love the interior design and it is the most comfortable Lexus I have owned so far.
As for the noise, mine is quiet until I open the moonroof shade and the wind noise is simply not acceptable. You guys would have been even more disappointed if you had the shade retracted.
In second year of my ownership these problems occurred and they are progressively getting worse:
1) headliner developed rattles above the A and B pillars that get worse in colder days. It’s annoying to the point that I wanna sell the car. In summer time, no rattles.
2) moonroof wind noise: it had it from day one but depending on ambient temperatures it gets worse. I believe the reason is the amount of insulation in front and underneath the moonroof. My other Lexus has a plastic piece which doesn’t expose the opening of the moonroof glass directly to passenger area.
3) moonroof eventually leaked and replaced under warranty. Wind noise is still there and dealer can’t adjust it.
3) hybrid battery temperature randomly goes up but the fan doesn’t turn on as it should which makes the hybrid system not being available and I get worse MPG. I run Dr. Prius app to turn on the fan and it fixes the issue & the MPG goes up. No codes so the dealer is useless to diagnose.
4) rattles: recently there are a lot of rattles coming from under the dash.
5) while the leather seats are nice, Toyota/Lexus used inferior leather for the back seats. It’s thin and it can easy get punctured. We got one from my son’s jeans and I was shocked how thin the leather is.
None of my previous Lexus vehicles had developed annoying problems over the years. I believe cost cutting is to blame for.
Also when I got a loaner ES recently, I noticed the climate control & steering wheel buttons felt cheaply made compared to the earlier years of this generation.
For those who want to buy a used one, the first couple of years audio amplifiers had an issue with the logic. There was barely enough sound coming out of the rear speakers. I got mine replaced under a TSB that was eventually released. It made a huge difference but the rear speakers sound quality is still abysmal. No issues in the front.
I agree with your cost cutting comments, but you have a first model year car and so a lot of the rattles and squeaks and such are normal on first model year cars, regardless of whether they came from Japan or not. I have a 2024 Land Cruiser in my driveway right now and it was also made in Japan but there are A LOT of early production run issues that are consistent with what you have in your car. Lesson here is if you care about getting a car that’s fully baked, don’t buy first model year.
@@joshjamescars I agree with your comment regarding first year model issues. I’m just comparing to older Lexus vehicles I owned. I had a 2006 IS250, but the interior components held up much better than this ES for the 6 years I kept it. Even the plastic panel gaps were tighter for a first year model.
@@joshjamescars And the first model year issues for 2019 were even worse because that wasn't just the first year of a new model, it was the first ES on a new platform in 20 years.
Thanks for your well written, thorough review of your 2019 ES300h!
It's good to hear balanced stories of, well, any car or brand. Too often I read or hear videos trashing a certain brand or model of car. Or conversely, people who think a certain brand or model is perfection and never have any issues.
I have loved and hated every vehicle I've ever owned, and my latest rather expensive luxury car definitely has some issues and design fails. It seems to me that being honest about both the good and the bad of one's car is the way to go, if nothing else, then to prevent the insanity we perfectionists are prone to😄.
@@be5952 Terrific comment. Thanks for sharing it, and keep enjoying your car!
The headliner switch is so interesting. The new RX has a super soft headliner, but the ES doesn't. There is a lack of consistency amongst the models.
That’s interesting you found that-all the new RXs and GX I’ve driven have had the cheap headliner. This ES was also the hybrid which does use lighter weight materials to save every ounce they can.
@@joshjamescarsMaybe there’s a variation amongst different productions? It is super soft in the RX, but the ES has a mesh one.
@dsdddsd4543we It could be. Toyota also changes things year over year as well, so 23 to 24 to 25 may have changed that.
great video! will be really interesting to see what the next generation ES looks and drives like. PS - have you thought of possibly doing a similar video on the new Honda Civic hybrid?
Yes! That’s one that I absolutely want to drive because I love the civic in general.
Beautiful interior, but such small windows. The visibility must be bad. I wonder how the visibility compares to the Rav4 Prime or Camry.
The ES is fine visibility wise, but no car has great visibility these days. The Rav4’s D-pillar is HUGE. You really do rely on back up cameras and blind spot monitors.
Thank you for an informative video. I am considering a 2025 Lexus ES 300h next year. This year I bought a 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum. This is my first hybrid car. My question is, is it safe to take a hybrid through a high pressure car wash (I.e. brushless wash)? The owners manual seems to have a lot of precautions about using a high pressure washer because of the sensors, radar for the cruise control, and because it is a hybrid. Has any body had experience with this?
Yes it’s absolutely fine to do so but automatic car washes are horrible for your car’s paint and finish. I always recommend hand washing if you intend to keep the car for a long time and want the paint to look showroom clean in the long run.
Tires make a difference and if driving on concrete that becomes an issue with all cars in terms of road noise ...
My GX460 is remarkably quiet out on the concrete. And so is the ES350, it’s that the hybrid has less sound insulation for weight savings.
Still a nice car, traded my 2016 hybrid camry for an NX hybrid and like it more. This car is really long and harder to maneuver.
Very nice review. Recently bought an underpowered ES250, but needed the AWD where I live. The ES is sibling to Avalon and correct by saying cousin to Camry because Camry is shorter length. Road noise could be tires or road itself you’re riding on. I upgraded to 19 inch wheels and definitely made a difference in road noise. LMAO on Land Cruiser comment. Agreed on new GX as a former GX460 owner.
Ugh yeah it’s such a shame the only way to get AWD is with the base 250. The new Camry with the hybrid and AWD is fantastic. Hopefully they bring that to the ES with its redesign.
@@joshjamescars it’s all good, I enjoy it, good thing I am not in a rush.
Hey Josh, Can you measure the cabin noise with your reviews? I would be curious to know the noise level differences between the cars you review on your channel. The Apple Watch does a great job at recording the Decibel levels. I see you all are Rolex’d out like Ric Flair! 😂
I have done it a few times using my Apple Watch, but what I’ve found is that sound measurements can vary so much depending on what road I’m on, the cars around me at any given time, and wind conditions and so I stopped doing it because it didn’t seem fair to the car.
And folks we at 10k🎉🎉🎉, congrats Josh 🗣️
Haha heyyyy thank you!!! And I still haven’t figured out what to do to celebrate. I guess our Land Cruiser video will have to do. 😂
@@joshjamescars well.... Tell John you wanna trade his Camry for a ES350 2022.
@wonderboy1998 LOL!!! What id want to trade it for would be an IS500, buuuuttttt… that’s not happening. 😅
Scary to see these Lexus vehicles interiors slowly becoming more Toyota like. I know it's nothing new, but can you imagine 5 years from now? :( That GX 550 dash!!! Whaaaat?! lol
SERIOUSLY! Although judging by the Land Cruiser I have right now and the new Tacoma……. Well… things may also be getting proportionately worse over in Toyota land too. I feel like they’re having a mid-2000s GM moment.
@@joshjamescars 😂🤣 Can't wait.
Love your channel Josh 🙂👍
I have one and absolutely love it
It’s a great car!!
This things gotta be up for a redesign like yesterday
ES tends to follow Camry by a year and Camry just got redesigned this year, so we should see a new one next year.
That’s very strange that it has a lot of road noise. The previous gen 2018 ES felt very quiet to me
It’s the hybrid and hybrids always have less sound insulation for weight savings than their gas engine counterparts.
@@joshjamescars lol that’s dumb..the point of getting a Lexus is the sound deadening. Hybrid or not.
@AJ88874 I agree which is why I say I’d go for the V6
@@joshjamescars In this case, Lexus says it actually provided extra sound insulation on the hybrid, a three-layer insulation sandwich at the firewall to quiet the four-cylinder engine's inherently higher noise level.
Love your reviews Josh! Please review the new Infiniti QX80 and the new Nissan Armada when it's released.
Yes! Definitely want to get my hands on both of those.
U should test the Ultra Lux model, really quiet. I test drove one and its a little bit noisy due to the 4 cylinders sound. The Ultra Lux has noise reduction rims
Yes, what I find is that the V6 models are quieter than the hybrids across the range. So the V6 Ultra Luxury will always be the quietest version.
Thank you bro this just made my day 😊
Glad to hear it!!!
Super cool - I have been thinking about buying an older one of these as my daily driver 😀
That would be a great daily.
pre owned is better value than overpriced Camry
( better rear legroom too)
What are you going to drive on the weekends?
@@2004cyrus My 2016 Limited 4runner
@@FatalAnimal oh yea same here! I have a 2021- my mother gave me hers, only 12,000 likes. She said it wasn’t the car for her. I lucked out.
my uncle bought a brand new RX hybrid to replace a RX and I feel the same thing about the overall quality. There has definitely been a downgrade in quality by Lexus.
My uncle just wants ultra reliable motoring in a comfortable place so he does not mind as much as I do for him haha.
Ugh I completely agree. The new RX is such a disappointment in terms of design and materials quality. Like you say, it’s perfect for people who want what your uncle wants, but not for us car people. 😅
I think the tires on the hybrids are a little noisier, my es350 is pretty quiet 😮
It’s not the tires, hybrids always have less sound isolation to cut down on weight versus the 350 which they can saddle down since its mission is quiet and luxurious driving, not pure efficiency.
@@joshjamescars that's sooo interesting.. I'd have guessed that more MPG would = more headroom for manufacturers adding soundproofing materials! 🤯
@@star9732That's why they couldn't go full on sound insulation on the 300h like the 350. If it already weighs 40lbs more with the reduction of noise insulation materials, it will be even heavier if the 300h had the same amount of insulation as the 350.
@@joshjamescars I don't think this is true. In fact, Lexus publicized that they ADDED a 3-layer soundproofing sandwich at the firewall only to the hybrid models to quell the unluxurious-sounding racket of the droning 4-cylinder engine.
I had a new 2022 Es300h ultra luxury. While the car was quiet “at times” , it was very dependent on the road surface. It was louder and more noise from “below” or underneath the car would become known on concrete road surfaces. The car was very smooth on freshly “paved” blacktop roads. So for me the quietness was very depended on the road surface you were traveling over and at what speeds
YES. This is exactly the case with the one that we were driving as well. On smooth pavement it was wonderful. On concrete highways, much louder.
Tires can inflluence that, though.
You'll have to wait for the next gen 2026 ES to get that luxury separation between the ES and the new Camry. Hopefully they don't butcher it with gimmicky features.
Well judging by Lexus’ new products, the separation will completely go away as new Lexus products are completely lacking when it comes to any semblance of craftsmanship and quality.
@@joshjamescars I agree. Even my 2022 IS500 has fewer features than my 2015 CT200h. For example, the CT has dual pane glass, windows that slow down near the end when you roll them up and down on auto, and an F sport logo on the steering wheel that's fully covered in plastic (the new F sport logos are exposed). I also have a couple rattles in my IS500. Lexus really started cutting corners after the pandemic.
@V8Brah I am SHOCKED that your IS500 doesn’t have double pane glass! I mean, I’m sure it’s nice to hear your engine all the time ;) but still… that’s inexcusable for the price of the car. And also on the rattles, I just had the 2024 Land Cruiser in my driveway and it had all kinds of build quality issues despite the fact that it came from Japan.
Love the creamy caramel color of the ES, the materials are less than Lexus Luxury through, it does not relate to handcrafted Japanese work. The harsh linear visual lines across the dash that are triangulated are visually utilitarian in scope, not luxury designed.
That’s a very Toyota thing… I agree, I’m not a fan of the sharp and angular design language they’ve adopted as of late… especially the lines on the new RX with the overbite..
Josh is this quieter than the Crown Signia? My next vehicle may be the Signia, Camry or the ES hybrid. My husband likes the Signia as we have the 23 Venza.
Hello! I haven’t driven the Crown Signia so I can’t say for sure, but I would guess it would be similar.
@@joshjamescars thanks Josh, love your videos.
The ES is on the Avalon platform. It's not built on the Camry platform. The Avalon would have been a better comparison.
The Avalon, Camry, and ES are all based on the same TGNA-K platform, the ES and Avalon just have a slightly stretched version of it. Crown and Camry are also on the platform.
Also, the Avalon was discontinued two years ago, so you'd have to do a used car comparison.
great video
Anyone might hate me but I wish you could take this interior and put it in the last gen GS 😢😢
I LOVED the GS. I almost bought the last model year in 2020 but I couldn’t find one with AWD.
If I could take this interior's touchscreen and put in the last gen GS, I'd have bought it.
Thanks, I m also debating es300h vs Camry XLE full options,, tuff choice is about 10k more for Lexus, worth it?
It depends on what you value and your finances. I REALLY enjoyed the 2025 Camry I drove but the Lexus is a cut above. I think if you’re paying cash, buy the ES. But if you’re financing, save yourself the additional interest you’d pay on the $10K and buy the Camry.
Get it while you can the new one will be take the same cost cutting as the rx and tx and gx and the new lx is better then those models but took a step back in the ride and rattles and the new turbo v6 had a big recall I would stay clear of the lx600 for now
So true! And I’ve heard that about the ride from a number of people about the LX600. I just got out of the new Land Cruiser and same thing there.
Do you think we can save money by just buying the 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid instead of the 2025 ES300h?
You’ll save about $10-$15K by default choosing the new Camry over the ES. And if value and cost savings is an important factor in your car purchase, then definitely buy the Toyota.
@@joshjamescars Thank you for your reply. I remember watching one of your previous videos where you mentioned that the Rav 4 Hybrid was exactly the same to drive as the Lexus equivalent but just that the Lexus had more luxuries on the inside so I was wondering if the same applied to the 2025 Camry and ES300h.
@KM-vc7iy Ah! The current ES definitely still has some of that old Lexus magic to it, so there is a difference. I expect the next gen ES to loose that just like the new NX, RX, GX, and TX have.
thanks for doing these videos. question. Whats your thoughts on the 2024 toyota camry se (4 clyinder).. im debating about the 2024 camry SE- gas $27K before tax VS a 2025 camry hydibrd SE for $34K before tax? i cant decide.
I personally wouldn’t buy any Toyota sedan or crossover that isn’t a hybrid. There’s no reason NOT to buy the hybrid. It’s so much better to drive, so much more efficient, and the resale will be so much better down the line.
have 22 lexus es300h. i will agree with you about cabin isnt quiet as i expected. i do hear lots of road noise and outside noises. lexus did bad job with the insulation.
Yeah, I think it’s that the hybrid has less sound insulation for weight savings, too.
OMG thank you. In South Africa the 300h is not much more than a UX hybrid
how does the cabin noise compare to the nx that you guys had? I don't remember if you guys had the top trim in the NX or not.
It’s about the same. All Lexus hybrids tend to be more rough and gruff because of the A25A engine and the Lower levels of sound insulation around the cabin. Also, we had a Premium Plus so about the same spec as this ES was!
What tires does the ES come with? Brand and exact model name?
OEM equipment tires vary by region. This one had Michelin Kinergy tires, I believe.
@@joshjamescars Thank you.
Re: the interior loudness and road noise
This past summer I was looking to buy a 2019 to 2021 Lexus ES to replace my very old current car.
I was almost totally unfamiliar with the Lexus brand, and despite _'liking'_ the many Es-es I test drove, I was, sadly, disappointed with all of them...and I was shocked by that. I had expected a quiet ride, good bump absorption, very little to no road / interior noise, and lots of luxury type equipment.
Nope🙁.
The interiors were _'nice'_ but since *none* were the "Ultra Luxury" model *I was disappointed with the lack of equipment and vinyl (sorry---"Nuluxe") seats.* Really? In a supposed 'luxury' car? (Apparently the "Luxury" and "Ultra Luxury" packages were ordered on virtually _no_ Es-es in most of Western Canada in all of 2019 to 2021. I literally could find none for sale for two months.)
*But the worst aspects were what this review already identified---what to me was obnoxiously loud road / tire noise, wind noise....* every type of noise I certainly didn't want in a luxury car.
Total deal killer. When my base model, 2007 Subaru Outback _(riding on old, rock hard tires)_ is both quieter and drives smoother than a four year old Lexus? Uh, uh. Nope.
Oh! And a properly designed and sound insulated car does *_not_* need double glass to create a quiet interior. In fact, I've driven in late model, high end cars that _have_ double pane glass and some of them are _still_ noisy inside☹.
I hate to tell you this but since you haven’t bought a car since 2007, vehicles have changed drastically in the last 18 years. Fuel economy and emissions regulation has meant that every car has to get the best MPG that it can. Manufacturers achieve that at the expense of less sound insulation, thinner plastics, thinner body panels, etc. Have you sat in a new Subaru? They feel terrible on the inside and are really loud to drive. And I hate to say that as I owned a 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring, but got rid of it because in the couple of years I had it, everything started to squeak and rattle, I think because the materials and quality had been downgraded: So that to say-you need to reset your expectations for what any car out there will be here in 2024 because, like home appliances, cars just aren’t made the way they used to be.
Sorry about that. But what you missed when you lost patience was that the Luxury and Ultra Luxury (at least in the States; I'm guessing Canada is the same) have three separate noise-reducing features that other ES's don't: chassis Performance Dampers, dual-pane front door glass, and wheels with noise-reduction chambers. They make a car for you, and you haven't driven it. What's more, what kind of nonsense is it to say that some ways to achieve quietness are "good engineering" and others aren't? Is the goal a quiet car or not?
I'd consider the 300h if it was AWD like the camry.
Yes, definitely the ES’ shortcoming. I’m sure it will be remedied in whatever comes next.
Now why John looks like he wanna fight with that Lexus Gx loool, he was upset
That interior did not feel good at all. Felt like just a nicer Toyota. Exterior styling is okay, but the interior isn’t what a Lexus should be.
@@johnjames7712 I feel you ... maybe that Gx looks like the press car they send to everybody to beat up.
the gauge cluster is so dated
18:26 Will that particular Lexus ES300h's rubber door gasket (that runs between the front & rear doors) fit on your Camry to make it quieter? 💡
I don’t think so, the doors are different shapes. And the Camry is actually quite quiet even without double pane glass and rubber gaskets.
Next episode we traded our Camry for a ES300
Hahaha noooo… I think an IS500 would be more likely. But… that’s not happening. 🤣
Good video🎉🎉🎉
Thank you!
The 2017 Es300h is actually a quieter car. Better quality.
Agree with the quality note. That one sadly always looked kind of fuddy duddy. I really liked the ES that came before it and this new generation that came after it. Both of them have more of an angular look. From the last generation of sedans, my favorite was the GS450h.
@@joshjamescars agreed. I owned both. The GS450h a solid car, the top trim ES had really good seats, quality tactile switches and locks (had the quietest boot motor). With the current generation, I actually prefer the interior of the Crown Signia over the RX.
@FilmScape4K Oh the new RX is a joke. It’s full of cheap leather and thin plastic. Not to mention I’m not entirely sure if the wood is real or not… it’s so heavily coated it’s impossible to tell. So I’m with you, the Crown products seem to be better.
Do you own that blue Camry Josh?
No, that was a demo vehicle!
Probably the 300h is made lighter from gas mileage, maybe the V6 is quieter
Yes! Absolutely what it is. Same with most Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
Not quite. The V6 is quieter because its V6 is a quieter engine than the hybrid's somewhat noisy, rattly Four. The 300h actually weighs more because of its heavy hybrid battery.
The finest affordable Luxury Sedan on the market hands down. I own the 2023 ES300h Ultra Luxury edition and she's a beauty. CloudBurst Gray with Acorn semi-aniline leather. If you want more get the LC500h. LOL And yes it's a Gen 4 hybrid system and naturally aspirated engine.
Ah fantastic! I didn’t realize that was what you drive, but that’s fantastic!
@@joshjamescars Yep, bought at Park Place Lexus of Grapevine.
Your driver is really nice
I blame the hybrid engine. The ES350 v6 is not that loud (for me). This version have a whistle noise, and like you mention the window glass plays a huge part.
But les be honest, that is a nice looking car.
It’s the hybrid engine but also that Toyota often puts more sound insulation in non hybrid vehicles like the ES350 with the V6 because the those obviously aren’t designed for efficiency.
@@joshjamescars that is true.... btw 9.93k 🙌🏽Correction 9.98k
But it has gen 4 hybrid system n Camry has gen 5 hybrid system, y?
Simple. The Camry is technically on a new generation for 2025. The ES is still in its last generation. Also, the Camry technically has gen 4.5 hybrid system. It’s not a fully gen-5 car like the Prius or Crown Signia.
@joshjamescars thanks!
@joshjamescars so, is Camry better than ESH?
The Camry is a much better VALUE than the ES. But a luxury car by its very nature isn’t meant to be a value. I think if you want an ES hybrid it’s worth waiting to see what the next generation of it looks like.
Seems like a Nicer interior than the new GX which is quite monochrome and bland... how's that possible
The new GX isn’t a true Lexus as far as I’m concerned, it’s a different Land Cruiser Prado. And sadly, all new Lexus cars have interiors that are absolutely abysmal in terms of materials and design.
@@joshjamescars totally agree on GX... I think their cheaping out ...
That is not a Camry nor does it ride like one and it's quieter.
This one definitely does. Sorry if our opinions hurt your feelings but it makes sense that they ride similarly since they’re very closely related.
👏👏👏👏👏👏😄😄😄
Can a lexus be had WITHOUT a sunroof, even a traditional sunroof?
Some of them can but not all. I believe it’s optional on the NX and UX, but I’m not sure about the ES.
Josh I would really prefer shorter videos 😂
LOL I always say you guys don’t have to watch them all the way thru! :) skills around as you’d like!
Hey Josh! First!
Welcome!!! Thanks for watching!!!