Shaboom

I've been looking around for a 2023 Lexus F Sport DESIGN, just to see what one looks like in person and maybe drive one. The Design Package seems like a great idea, enabling folks with my preferences to have a car that is a little more sporty looking without having to buy the performance features we're not interested in. I notice BMW and Audi have been doing this same thing for some time, now. I'm curious as to how much those 19" wheels compromise the traditional 350 ES comfortable ride. I'd also like to see if the bolstered sears are better padded than those on my regular 350 ES (2021) and if the edge makes contact with my hip every time I enter the car to sit behind the wheel. Finally, I assume the spoiler and rear diffuser are standard parts of the Design package, right?
Would anyone owning/leasing one of these models please advise. Thanks.

dezymond

I have a 2022 F sport 300h, which is comparable to the 2023 F Sport Design, and it is very comfy and luxurious (both mine and whoever rides in my car opinions).

The ride is "stiff" with the larger wheels and smaller sidewalls, so you feel more road imperfections. I say "stiff" because of the ES reputation of the past, but pretty much all cars in this class are going towards this more sporty feel. There is little body roll and the car overall feels planted even on the backroads. There is a noticeable difference in road noise between the 18" wheels and the 19" F Sport wheels from what I can remember of the UL I test drove. However the cabin is still quiet and the Michelin Primacy tires that came with the car are pretty good with noise and offer great comfort overall. The F Sport seats are perfect for my body type and I find to be far comfier than the standard seats and even the seats on the Ultra Luxury trim. The shape of the seats is longer and I feel like I'm sitting in them and not "on top" of them if that makes sense. The bolsters aren't too aggressive, but will hold me in nicely if I decide to take turns in a more spirited manner. The longest drive I've made was 2 hours each way and at no point did I feel any body fatigue.

The spoiler is standard on the F Sport and really serves no functional purpose other than aesthetics. I think the ES looks better with the trunk lid spoiler than without though.

mikemu30

Im 4 1/2 years into FSport ownership and still like the ride. Love the seats and the cluster. The one downside with ANY low profile tires - they develop flat spots even overnight and you may feel some bumpiness the first mile or two until they smooth out in the morning. For me, the Non FSport version of this car would have been a non starter.

Denzlex

F Sport design or F Sport handling?

mikemu30

MY19 only offered FSport.

Denzlex

MY 2019 only offered which F Sport…..design or handling?

mikemu30

It was merely called FSport - just one trim option.

Denzlex

I see. Curious, what made a 19 F Sport an F sport? Was it cosmetics, or suspension enhancements, or both?

mikemu30

Grill, cluster, spoiler, 19"wheels, nuluxe sport seats, metal hadori trim, paint colors not available otherwise and I guess optional AVS which I opted out of intentionally.

KMiles

In addition our 2019 FSport includes adaptive variable suspension tuning, performance dampers - Front and Rear, FSPORT Heated Leather Steering Wheel. The steering wheel package also adds paddle shifters. I'm not sure if the transmission tuning in Sport mode is different for a standard ES and F Sport.

Denzlex

When you say -includes adaptive variable suspension and performance dampers, are you saying all the 19 F Sports had this? Or were they options? Do you know what year they started offering the choice between F Sport design and F Sport handling trims? I assumed it was the entire 7th gen, but apparently not.

mikemu30

AVS was optional in 2019. Black headliner was also part of the FSport trim that year.

UltraLux22

2023 was the first model year for the separate F-Sport design and handling packages. The addition of the design package was likely to address those buyers that loved the look of the F-sport but maybe didn't desire the ride/drive of the F-Sport, hence the separate handling package. So essentially, you get the look (exterior) but not the feel (driving/handling dynamics) in the design package. This also means that on the inside, the design pkg. is going to look about like any other ES. There is a reason they almost exclusively use F-Sport photos in their marketing and collateral. How many would love the sportier look without the extra stuff?

Also included in the handling package is an adaptive suspension system with a Sport+ mode in addition to the standard drive mode choices. You have F-Sport tuning. In addition, the F Sport handling package features a heated, F Sport-specific steering wheel. This is also the first year a panoramic glass roof has been available as an option on the F-Sport, but in the design package only. Also, new/updated for 23 MY is a new Ash Bamboo trim, Macadamia upholstery color, redesigned center console with a sunglass holder, revised cup holder location, and wireless charger pad relocation outside the armrest console. Also, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Hey Lexus assist software, and Sayonara to the touchpad, which I didn't hate that much.

I would look at it like this; everything you can see (exterior) but not "feel" would be the design—handling should be self-explanatory, but I can help if you need me to. Outside = Vroom Vroom, inside = ho-hum. 😁

E46CT

I think also black headliner, usually brake booster fine tuning, and the chassis dampers.

E46CT

Haven't verified on ES, but on CT, the CT200h F Sport got its own brake booster part#. as to what was different about it i don't know. CT200h was a great unique car.