Motorola

They looked underneath both vehicles and allegedly the ES uses more sound deadening material. Surprising to see the newer, more expensive RX skimp out on that.

Toys4RJill

like what?

mmarshall

.......And IMO, it needs it. The current 6Gen ES, IMO, does not have anywhere near the refinement/smoothness/quietness that the superb 4Gen version had...IMO the best ES ever produced. Except for the 3-cylinder engine, I actually find my small entry-level Buick significantly more refined to drive.

SW17LS

Current ES is 7th gen.

I own a 4ES and the 7ES is every bit as quiet if not quieter. We literally must have been driving different cars…

mmarshall

Correct. Sorry...a typo.

The 7Gen I test-drove, with the 45-series tires, was noticeably rougher and noisier than the 4Gen....particuarly a 4Gen with new tires that had not worn unevenly (which will make any vehicle louder). Yes, I know that the 7Gen also offered the 55-series. I could not find one to sample, but I did sample a Avalon (which is a similar vehicle on the same platform) with the same size tire, and it was an improvement on the 45s.

SW17LS

The 7ES I drove had 45 series tires and I completely disagree with you…and my 4ES has great tires.

Toys4RJill

It gets really tiring hearing about the 4th gen ES time and time and time and time again.

SW17LS

I have to agree. It was 20 years ago that it came out, 21 years ago actually. It really has no relevance when compared to cars today.

703

The ES has always been more refined than the RX. That’s the way it’s meant to be.

703

the instrument panel trim that goes all the way across by memory is digitally printed, in colours like bamboo, even if the rest is real wood.

Motorola

I have never heard that before, what is the basis for this? The RX is a more upscale, expensive vehicle than the ES.

Striker223

Nah, they are the same tier of car but the RX is an SUV so it will be worse at all dynamics and driving aspects as well as comfort. It's upside is that it's an SUV with the advantages that brings, that's why they are different models and not the same thing.

Motorola

But we're talking about noise isolation, which the RX has always excelled in, at least up until this generation. Noise isolation material has nothing to do with being a crossover, if anything the ES F-Sport with its lower profile tries would have more of an impact on cabin noise than the RX.

Striker223

Nope. A car has the advantage in isolation since it's easier so isolate nosies with a lower to the ground object. You have less space between the undertray/and road and can most easily calibrate resonant frequency attributes of the the spacing and materials. You also have the important factor of less wind passing over, and below the car and the needed design changes to keep it smooth and thus silent as well. A car being lower and relatively smoother of a shape means less turbulence there as well, the wheels also being more hidden in the wheels helps both factors as well.

The engine bay of the ES is also smaller/less wasted space/room for sound to travel before hitting deadening materials. It also means the tighter area is less prone to allowing road noise into it and near the firewall where you may hear it.

Motorola

Again, we're talking about noise isolation material. In Savagegeese's video, Jack explicitly mentions that the ES has more sound deadening material/welding on it than the RX. There is no reason why the RX being a crossover means it should have less noise isolation material, if anything it should have more than the ES for the reasons you already mentioned. It makes sense for the NX, being a cheaper and smaller vehicle, but the RX? Not really.