Bold - untrue;
Underline - nobody cares.

 

Your penchant for self-aggrandizing is astounding and off-putting. Your knowledge base is extensive, OBVIOUSLY!! Your posts are frequently informative, and beneficial yet you often pollute the message with so much arrogance. To me it's counterintuitive and the benefit of the message you are putting out there gets overshadowed. You bring a lot to the table, but seriously! Most people in the forum have the capability and awareness to recognize those efforts and you would likely be respected more however, your acrimonious nature, to me, negates that. You have an obvious need for recognition and the level of self-importance is overbearing. You make it easy not to root for you. This is my opinion only as I speak for no one but myself. My apologies to the OP for the OT post.

 

Lithium batteries are definitely better in some measurable ways, not the least of which is sustained delivery of full current. It’ll be more powerful in various situations.

 

The ES didn't get a touchscreen until the 2022 model year. 2021 and prior model years are/were touch pad only operation for the Multimedia display system.

For many/most 2019 ES model year ESs there was a fuel pump recall. The recall was several years ago so there should be very few, if any, recalled ESs that the fuel pump replacement work hasn't been done.

There were a few early 2019 production ESs shipped without Apple CarPlay and for which there's no Lexus CarPlay update path available. Also, 2019 ESs and early production 2020 (IIRC production dates September 2019 and earlier) ESs only had Apple CarPlay with no Lexus update path for Android Auto. (On 2022 and prior model years Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are only available/possible on navigation equipped vehicles with the 12.3 inch multimedia screen.)

The cellular network provider for connected car features including in-car Wi-Fi for 2019 ESs and early production 2020 ESs is/was Verizon. Starting with the October 2019 production date (IIRC) for 2020 ESs the cellular network provider is/was AT&T. With Verizon provider equipped ESs, there's one known issue with an active in-car Wi-Fi subscription in needed special manual intervention in the case of repairing/replacing the Multimedia system and/or the Data Communications Module (DCM).

 

There's some good information in this thread. But at the bottom line, I wouldn't get too worried about the differences in battery type or country of origin. The ES300h is very economical, reliable and durable with either battery, and it's very well built with good fit and finish from either country and in all model years.

In my personal opinion, there are only a few watch-outs:

•Most reviewers despised the touchpad. grp52 is correct that '22 was the first year for the touchscreen. I held out for it, so I'm merely walking my talk when I advise others to do the same. If you try the touchpad and are comfortable with it, ignore this advice.

•Many cars in the earlier model years drew bitter complaints that the rear speakers were so quiet as to be inaudible. Bring a USB drive or CD with a piece of music you like and judge for yourself.

•Beyond that, the individual example you're shopping is more important than the model year or other factors -- its condition, clean paperwork, reputability of seller, freedom from accidents, and the fairness of the price. They're all good cars if not abused. Best of luck in your shopping.

 

Let’s discuss about that.
So my ES300h with 1 MG and NiMH battery draws 100A on full throttle, charges 130A on max regen.
My RAV4 with 2 MG (MG2 and MGR) and Li-Ion battery draws 130A on WOT and charges 130A on max regen.

 

To original question....First ES300h we owned was a 2013, with which we had no issues. Traded for a 2019 ES300h in April 2019 for the upgrade in tech safety features, as well as the new generation has a higher quality look and feel. This is my wife's car and we have had no issues, and plan to keep it for a long time. As an fyi, our 2019 ES300h was built in Japan, and has NiMH batteries.

To a comment by the OP....I may be wrong, but I don't believe the touchscreen was available until 2022. I am not a fan of the touch pad in the 2019, but then I don't drive the car that much to get used to it.

 

I can echo this. We traded our 2015 ES300h for the 2019 for much the same reasons as stated above. We have really enjoyed it. There have also been some complaints about uncomfortable seats and neither my wife nor I have found that to be the case. For reference, I am a fairly average build/weight at 5'8" and my wife is a somewhat heavy 5'4". We did experience the low volume issue in the rear seat and there was a bulletin to replace the amp, but apparently only for those owners that complained of the issue. The "improved" amp only provided a very modest improvement however. Regarding the touchpad, our RX has both the touchpad and the touchscreen, and I find the touchscreen is just too much of a stretch and favor the touchpad, plus I don't like looking at fingerprints all over the touchscreen. It is really a matter of personal preference in my opinion, and both are satisfactory. Some people absolutely hate the touchpad, so you really need to try it out for yourself as yours is the only opinion that counts.

 

I can’t speak for earlier ES h, but we have a 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid and a 2023 ES 300h. We love the ES and have been very happy with the reliability of the Avalon hybrid.

 

Note that the RX touchscreen is not in exactly the same location as the screen in the ES. I've seen reviewers make the same complaint about the RX screen, and I've ssen reviewers praise the ES screen as reachable.

 

Read the below (instructions not advice)

Instructions are specific, step-by-step directions that are clear, precise, and mandatory for completing a task or achieving a goal. They are structured and typically found in guides, recipes, or manuals.

Advice consists of flexible recommendations, guidance, or opinions based on someone's experience or knowledge. It is non-binding, contextual, and can be tailored to individual situations, often seen in counseling, financial planning, or relationship advice.

 

Lexus moved the screen 4” forward for 2022 ES when it became a touchscreen.

 

That is interesting. Thank you for the clarification. I'm sure that would make a difference. I wonder if the RX screen was also moved closer when they switched to the touchscreen - just perhaps not close enough due to the geometry of the larger cabin? Anyway, good point.

 

Yes RX were moved closer. These generations were never designed for touch screen, just after-thought.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I think I will most likely steer towards the '21 and '22 models, if I go with a used 300h given the change to the lithium-ion battery. As most of you know, the car market is still grossly inflated with respect to prices now compared to 2019. I can find a 2021 ES 300h in the color scheme I want with about 20,000 miles for about $42K (asking price). Interestingly, if I build the same car on Lexus.com the MSRP is $46,580 (base model with added premium package). Honestly, I have not checked with a dealer yet to see if they would even sell me the '23 model year car for MSRP, or whether they are still adding some dealer markup.