I have tried a couple of times to convince dealers to give me a new model service loaner for a day or two (even though I'm not getting my old ES330 serviced), without success.

However, I am undecided between getting an ES300h vs an RX450h and really wanted to have an extended time with each in order to assess long term comfort in each car. The standard 15 min salesperson test drive is just not adequate for me.

Luckily I came upon one of the new "peer to peer" car rental websites. I used Turo.com

These seem to be be set up only in certain cities, and tend to be larger cities. In the Los Angeles area, there are many cars listed, and most of the Lexus fleet is represented.

So I was able to rent a 2015 RX350 for 24 hours, and a 2016 ES300h for 24 hours. I picked days when I had a lot of driving to do, in order to get a lot of driving time in. It cost me about $100 for each day, but to me this was very worthwhile. The owners of each car were very pleasant and made the process easy.

 

I own a 2014 ES300h and a 2016 RX fsport. Both drive and ride great, it comes down to your preference if you like a sedan or suv. I have always been a suv guy so my preference is the RX, the ES is the wife's car. I really like the new RX look and bought it even tho I rarely drive it. Can't go wrong with either.

 

I should follow your lead and get one of each

I actually liked both in their own ways

I feared that the ES300h would be too cramped for long distances, but I remained comfortable for a return trip in traffic that was 60 miles each way.

The only thing I didn't like about the RX was that there is limited lateral support - on a tight turn I found myself leaning on the center armrest or door. But otherwise was super nice to drive.

 

Drove a new hybrid ES as a loaner and I was pretty bored with it in no time. Doesn't even come close to the RX.

 

All car dealers have "extended test drive", you just have to show that you are genuinely interested and ask about this extended thing. If it's late in the day they even let you keep it overnight. Just last week we had both Volvo XC90 and RX 350 for overnight!

 

Once they're cranking them out you can get one as a loaner no problem. Before we decided on more kids we were looking at small SUVs. The NX had just come out and they basically said I needed to all but buy the car to take it for the day. Now they give them out like candy as loaners.