JamesAZ

Smoothness and pleasing sound is entirely subjective. Speaking as someone who just bought a 350, the 300H is much smoother in my personal opinion.

ATL350

The downside is that’s is a 4 banger. They add the complexity of the turbo to get enough power out of it, and then have to try and figure out how to address the fact that they usually sound like you have a Dyson under the hood.

bootman

Current emission standards is driving the move to the 4T.

As far as the video mentioned early in the thread, maybe this was the reference?
Its about the Highlander but that shares the same platform as the RX (and its happening there) and ES. (TNGA-K)
This platform is the bulk of the current corporate offerings so it makes sense that to meet the standards they would eventually put the lower emission engine across the line.


US vehicles using this platform (Taken from wiki)

• Toyota Avalon — XX50 (2018–present)
• Toyota Camry — XV70 (2017–present)
• Toyota Crown Crossover — S235 (2022–present)
• Toyota Venza — XU80 (2020–present)
• Toyota Highlander — XU70 (2019–present)
• Toyota RAV4 — XA50 (2018–present)
• Toyota Sienna — XL40 (2020–present)
• Lexus ES — XZ10 (2018–present)
• Lexus NX — AZ20 (2021–present)
• Lexus RX — AL30 (2022–present)

bc6152

My 2019 is the second ES and the third Toyota (Avalon) that I've owned with the V6. I can say that this engine is the smoothest and quietest running engine that I owned in any car.
Sometimes have to listen to know it's running...

Mike728

You won't be saying that once the ES-EV arrives!

mikemu30

But at what cost. The electrified Genesis G80 is more than $80K. So much for fuel savings.

Mike728

I think you missed my sarcasm.

bc6152

Hopefully I'll never own an electric car...

TechNut

Understand these numbers include the electric motor. When you are on a long steep mountain climb with an exhausted battery, you will be back to just the ICE engine. So it isn’t “always” going to be operating at the rated horsepower - although it will most of the time.

JamesAZ

Never said it'll be better, just that it'll have more power. I personally plan on driving my ES until there's an EV LS/ES that has been refined and has good charging times and range. So easily not until the next decade. But I agree, I refuse to own a turbo engine. But if for whatever reason if I had to buy a 2025 ES, the ES 500H wouldn't be as bad as people like to pretend it'll be.

LexFinally

Depending, of course, on whether it's a building-height humpbacked pseudo-SUV like the new Crown sedan.

JamesAZ

Haha don't scare me like that! I like my sedans too much!

Shaboom

I read Lexus is moving ES production back to Japan, probably for the 2025 MY. If that's correct, I would guess the new 350 ES will be a 2025 and if the 6 cylinder engine is going to be replaced, it would be in that new, re-designed model---model year 2025.
If so, I'll upgrade my 2021 and buy the last 2024 made. This 7 generation ES is just perfect for me.

703

it’s mainly due to the eCVT and not the engine.

BMGS

iTrader: (1)

The smoothness in my experience is subject to the packaging. My GS200t and NX200t both have the same engine, the GS feels smoother, is perfectly quiet and sounds pretty good, I love every aspect of it. The NX is a bit less smooth and more of that 4 cylinder noise comes through but still its a great car.

Both are our first 4 cylinder cars and no complaints at all. My wife replaced her ES350 with the NX and I haven't heard a complaint about lack of smoothness or noise. I went from a big V8 and my last turbo car prior to these was a 1995 Volvo 850 Turbo that lasted over 190K miles.

In terms of repairs or maintenance, I find the 4 cylinder easier in some respects. Spark plug changes are much easier on a I-4 than V6 or V8 and there's only one exhaust manifold to deal with and one set of cats, 02 sensors etc.. Many of the things that would go wrong aren't really the turbo or the associated charge piping and oil/water feeds. There definitely is more complexity when Lexus adds the water cooled system.

Turbo bearing and lubrication technology has come a long way as long as oil change intervals and driving habits are respected. I used to blow exhaust gaskets on the Volvo but now the manifolds are integrated into the heads, eliminating that weak point from the excess turbo heat. Turbos have never been inherently unreliable form my experience.