Earlier generations of the ES have been sold in other markets, and it’s especially popular in the US. The Ghibli S gets to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. It’s a looker, and like the Alfa, it’s cool because you see fewer of them on the road. Lexus will be hoping the ES can repeat the success of the Lexus RX and NX, which came fifth and sixth overall in our 2018 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. The 2021 G80 is coming this summer, but for now we’re stuck with the almost-as-good-looking 2020 G80. I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. Stock photography by. The best one I drove was with the TT V6, black with bronze accents. A 10-speed automatic sends power to the rear wheels, and it can get to 60 mph in an estimated 4.6 seconds. The only other Cs to get a RWD configuration are the AMG C63 and C63S. Also, the 3-Series might be a little small for a family of four plus cargo, so this is where that family would start. The dash takes on a driver-focused look thanks to the center display screen, instrument panel and available heads up display all located in a tight cluster in the driver’s field of view. It’s a common theme. The latter dials things up on numerous dynamic elements including a system to enhance the sound of the engine. Its turbo-four makes 280 hp and 306 lb-ft of torque. The biggest Genesis is the G90. I just drove the 840i with the turbo I6 and found it plenty quick for everyday driving. F-Sport models also come with a Sport+ mode for the car’s drive mode system, along with the option of adaptive suspension similar to that on the Lexus LC coupe. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson PurePlay stereo is also offered. For more coverage, head to our dedicated hub. That starts at almost $60K. Rear passenger space has been prioritised, while high-quality materials, exotic wood trim and a range of colour combinations mean the interior should be a match for those of its main rivals. Furthermore to i… Mercedes leads the way in modern tech, and the S-Class is the top of that bunch. And feel free to step up to the 505-hp Quadrifoglio if your wallet allows. The Alfa Romeo Giulia is still the contrarian’s choice if you can afford one of the German sedans, but that’s what makes it cool. Pricing for the 2019 Lexus ES will be announced closer to the market launch this fall. Next-Generation Lexus ES to Replace the GS as Global Mid-Size Sedan? Case in point: The Lexus GS is dead. 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The saloon’s upmarket status is cemented with lashings of chrome detailing that surrounds the grille, front bumper lip and side windows. Unfortunately, most are of the luxury variety, which means higher prices than your average enthusiast can afford. I don’t think we’ve driven one without that option box checked. Above, you’re looking at 4Matic cars. No manual here, but Porsche’s eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is the best in the business. It’s surely the most luxurious rear-wheel-drive sedan you can buy. The E450 is next with a 3.0-liter I6 making 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. It's lower by a fraction of an inch, just 0.2 inches. Full details of the new Lexus ES saloon have been announced following its unveiling at the Beijing Motor Show. All Rights Reserved. The particular Lexus offers a significantly better estimated trustworthiness score, but the Audi has a much easier infotainment process. The Kia Stinger could follow the XJ into car purgatory after rumors of its demise were swirling this week. Both the middling AMG E53 and the top of the line E63S only come with 4Matic all-wheel drive. It's the third most popular after the after the RX and NX crossovers, with sales in the U.S. in 2017 totaling just over 50,000 units. It competes with full-sizers like the BMW 7-Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but for a lot less dough. The front-drive Lexus ES somehow beats the E-Class in sales by a wide margin, followed by the BMW 5-Series. You can get a RWD 540i for about six grand more. Lexus ditched its RWD GS sedan, but these 25 rear-drive cars are happy to take its place in the market. All get automatics and, like the CT4, Super Cruise is offered. The 3 is still one of the most fun sedans to drive fast, in any iteration. It comes in eighth in sales in the compact luxury segment. Base models get the 365-hp V6; top trims get the same 5.0-liter V8 offered in the G80 making 420 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. There’s a certain logic to the idea, in that the new Mirai, with its rear-wheel drive platform and advanced powertrain, should have always been a Lexus first and a Toyota second. There's no manual option, but you can always paddle your way through the gears. The better output is about a seven grand price increase. The 740i starts with a twin-turbo I6 making 335 hp. you can get with rear-wheel drive is the base model. The GTS version was added in 2015. Lexus is yet to announce if all-wheel drive will be available on either model. We expect an even more powerful model soon. That delivers 400 hp to the rear wheels through an automatic transmission. Lovers of the Lexus GS, we have bad news: The sport sedan appears to be dead, and Lexus has no plans to replace it. It’s also cheaper and you get more standard features than most of the German luxury cars. Faster models deliver 365 hp. Size is up compared to the outgoing model, with Lexus claiming an increase in length of 2.6 inches, an increase in width of 1.8 inches. That’s impressive considering the curb weight is almost 3 tons. The base price of a 3-Series seems reasonable. The XF was awesome when it came on the scene in 2007 and still looks good today, if a little aged after its 2015 refresh. This powertrain also spins the front wheels only. Here are 25 rear-wheel-drive sedans to replace your aging Lexus GS, or skip the list and get a 485-hp Dodge Charger Scat Pack for less than $40K. With 506 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque from a 6.75-liter V8, the Mulsanne can sprint to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. ), it’s gorgeous. Safety includes Lexus' latest electronic driver aids, including new bicyclist and enhanced pedestrian detection systems. Still, it’s every bit as impressive to look at as a BMW 7-Series or a Mercedes S-Class, possibly more so. Those are equipped with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 making 469 hp and 503 hp, respectively. The ES will sit on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) that underpins the Toyota Prius and C-HR, along with the forthcoming Lexus UX SUV. The newly designed Japanese model will replace the current GS in the range and aims to challenge the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Jaguar XF and Mercedes E-Class for customers when it arrives in January 2019. The bigger 5-Series gets the same 2.0-liter four as the BMW 3-Series, but with a few less horsepower at 248. The base car gets a 340-hp six, while upgraded models come with a supercharged V8 making 470 hp. The base SXT Charger sends 292 hp and 300 lb-ft to the rear wheels, and outputs and prices only go up from there. No manual transmissions, but these will carry your family in comfort with plenty of space for a week’s worth of camping. A pre-collision system that can detect oncoming cars, pedestrians and cyclists is a headline feature, along with sophisticated adaptive LED headlights that can avoid dazzling other drivers while maximising visibility. Safety is top of Lexus’ priorities and as such the ES will come as standard with its ‘Lexus Safety System +’ suite of active safety features. A nine-speed automatic sends power rearward with a limited top speed of 130 mph. In several ways, the Audi A6 and Lexus GS are equates to. If you start adding options, it quickly becomes less so. The 2021 Lexus GSdoes offer you a substantial edge: It expenses about $8,000 under a great E-Class. The C-Class is the sales leader in the class, beating the 3-Series, Audi A4, Infiniti Q50 and the rest. It will be available on the ES 350 and adds a rear spoiler, 19-inch wheels, adaptive dampers, and a Sport+ option for the driving modes selector. The XE is Jag’s recent foray into the 3-Series competitive class, and like the Genesis and Alfa options, it says something a little different about you when you buy one. Last Car Available Here With 4-Speed Manual Trans? Powertrain options include a 3.8-liter V6, a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 making 365 hp (the one we’d recommend) and a 5.0-liter V8 on the Ultimate trim. Autoweek may earn money from the links on this page. The Quattroporte was updated in 2013. The Lexus GS' annual sales in the U.S. market, where the Lexus ES is also sold, dropped 35.4% last year. It’s the newest Maserati and looks it. The first generation of the Panamera looked like an ungainly blob. Considering that each are very good cars, we advocate picking the one that meets your budget. The car is still based on a front-wheel-drive platform, in this case Toyota's GA-K modular design which has been crafted under the automaker's TNGA guiding principles of low weight and a low center of gravity. Sad to Say That the Rumor About the GT350 Is True, Petty Not 100% Sold on NASCAR Getting Dirty Again, Check out 20 Alternatives to the Late Focus RS, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. The designers have also pushed the wheels closer to the corners by increasing the wheelbase by 2.0 inches to give the car a stance of a proper sport sedan. Comparable to the GS, the particular E-Class comes with a remarkable set up of normal safety measures. The latest generation of LS came out in 2018 promising the bigness of the vehicle's original launch, which was huge.