I actually have come around on the new ES and LS, and now I find them both quite attractive.

 

Lexus has gotten uglier too. In fact, I think lexus makes some of the ugliest vehicles today. With each evolution of the spindle grill Lexus seems to be on a pursuit of making ever more hideous designs. Akio Toyoda needs to withdraw his deep involvement in the design and development of Lexus vehicles.

In this SUV crazed market Lexus spent time and resources to launch the poor selling RC and LC while neglecting the antiquated GX and LX, not to mention completely handing the premium CUV segment to the Germans. The 2010’s was the decade where Lexus seemed totally lost and relegated itself irrelevant among first tier luxury brands. Soon it will lose market share to the Korean Genesis. Changes are desperately needed within Lexus!

 

Very different cars. NSX is more GTR than LC500. It's blistering fast and a great performance car. The Lc500 performance comparatively is severely lacking but it's a good GT car. I'm more of a Performance guy than GT guy so I love the NSX. I got to play with one in the canyons and the acceleration on a roll is insane in that car. Very impressed.

 

On looks alone, I happen to agree above on the old TL and even the RDX, but wish that the NSX would have given Acura the clue to be not as conservative on styling. I like Lexus in large part because of its styling and when I first saw the RX300 when I was living in Chicago in the late 90s, I knew I wanted one of those and eventually got my wish (despite considering other vehicles including the other finalist the Infiniti QX4). When I was living in Mexico and Acura came there (Infiniti was there with limited range and Lexus will come next year), people were telling me how shocked they were on the styling elements being so basic and not much of a difference from Honda. I told them they are still very good vehicles, but knowing how European luxury vehicles, especially Audi which was a real Mexican favorite, and their designs caught my Mexican friends' eyes, I just could not see them getting much play in the market.

 

You guys remember the older RL, when it was also called the Legend from the 90s. That was a good looking car, in my younger days I loved the design of the older Acuras. The integra/ Legend etc. In fact when I could afford a nicer car than the beat up maxima I wanted to buy a 2000 TL - S but ended with a GS400. its a shame the current Acuras are weird looking and I agree with OP

 

Please explain how...

 

I will speak up for the MDX. I used to drive Yukons, but I am now on my fifth MDX (01, 05, 11, 17, 20) with no significant issues, and none out of warranty. IMO the MDX is the best in all around value, size, and utility. Each time I have shopped other vehicles (RX, Q7, XC90, X5, QX60, etc) but came back to the MDX. I did not like the beak on my 11 and was going to get something else, but the 17 had sufficient updates, and being an **** financial guy, I just did not believe the premium cost of the others was worth it. Was planning on looking at Telluride and Palisade this time, but at end of March turned in lease early for good lease deal on a 20. Clearly not as luxurious as others, but fine for me. In 2017 they actually started using real wood for the interior trim, instead of the plastic, wood looking trim that we on the MDX forum called Plood.

Re infotainment, many complaints on the MDX forum as well, but I like the touch screen and buttons, or just use voice commands (my 20 has CarPlay which I am getting used to). I guess I don’t drive my wife’s ES300h enough, but I have trouble with the touchpad. Also not used to the small touchpad on my S550 (allegedly it can read my writing) but can use the Command controller or voice.

 

All you have to do is look at their infotainment. Screen resolutions are WAY lower than Lexus, menu designs are even more antiquated, built in streaming entertainment options are fewer. Connected vehicle services are much less sophisticated.

Lexus IS way behind in infotainment, but Honda/Acura is worse.

 

I briefly owned the MDX its a was 2006, it was a good car but wife liked the RX better, I ended up selling it after 1 year. Have to say it held its value and I sold it for the same price I bought it from a dealer to a private party 10k miles later. It was not as quiet (some rattles) as the RX or as smoother but I didnt have any issues with it. I did like the nav and touchscreen better, it was somewhat larger inside too. It wasn't a bad car at all but having owning lexus we wanted to get back to lexus.

 

Agree 100%. The TL, particularly this generation, was awesome in its day. I wanted one so badly for my first car. When I was really young my dad had an Integra (that would eventually have its wheels stolen, followed by the entire car being stolen just a day or two after the wheels) & my mom had a Vigor, both were manuals. When the Integra was stolen, my dad got the 3.5RL for my mom and took the Vigor. I eventually learned to drive in the 3.5RL. It's a shame to see where Acura has gone today. They used to make such cool cars.

 

Excellent post.

 

The Acura TLX looks outstanding. Better than any Lexus aside from the sexy LS500. Never liked the awful front end of the latest LX refresh. Acura front ends are meh. RX way better The GS front end is the worst spindle ever and I think it was called a predator front.

Lexus UX looks great

Older Lexus models are now aging quite well

I have always thought there should be a emoticon with the spindle grille front

 

i agree that car was pretty high tech when it came out, even now they still feel luxurious and quick with great reliability

 

they really do look fairly cartoonish these days, and once the 9 speed got phased in they became less fun to drive... the 2016 MDX my parents leased had it and basically takes away any reason to use the paddles since you just have to do too much shifting to get to a good gear, and with only a 3.5 n/a engine moving 4500 lbs you need to be in the right gear to move anywhere... the 2014 with the 6 speed was great since you were never more than a quick 1-2 away from good acceleration, both had horrendously laggy infotainment menus though

 

the legend was great looking and fantastically well built but you can't take on FR V8 cars with an FF V6