Toyota’s luxury division is doing just fine. It currently sits at number three in the luxury sales chart, behind BMW and Mercedes. That’s a position most automakers probably envy. That doesn’t mean it’s smooth sailing for Lexus. They’ve lost quite a bit of ground since 2010, which was the last time they were the number one luxury brand in America. So what’s the problem? Product. And maybe a lack of vision.
Lexus could use some modern crossovers in its lineup. At the smaller end, the NX and UX have been doing just fine. They’re relatively fresh products too. It’s the mid-size and larger utilities that needed updating yesterday. The RX is nearing its expiration date, although it still sells pretty decently. Its main problem is the third row, which is considerably smaller than the competition. The body-on-frame models are perhaps the biggest problems in the lineup. The GX and LX, which are related to the 4Runner and Land Cruiser, respectively, were introduced at roughly the same time as the cotton gin. That’s obviously not true, but they are very old. And they look even worse when compared to the competition.
That being said, are they really doing that badly? Not really. As previously mentioned, they’re the number three luxury brand in America. Unlike some European luxury brands, their vehicles are actually reliable. And their resale value is hard to beat. Globally, they’re rapidly expanding, thanks to their small crossovers. Lexus also cultivated a superlative dealer network focused on excellent customer service.
The problem is there’s not much on the horizon. Aside from the Lexus LC and LS 500, their car lineup isn’t terribly exciting. There’s no EVs whatsoever coming to America anytime soon. And again, the crossovers are stale. Their market share stands at thirteen percent, which is five points lower than a decade ago. Luxury products are inherently ephemeral. And for luxury automakers, positive buzz is important for future success. A lack of investment from Toyota might spell trouble for Lexus in a few short years. Think about it this way: Lincoln sold about 111k vehicles in 2018. The Lexus RX matched that figure. And that’s just one product. But is anyone talking about Lincoln like they’re in some sort of funk? Not at all. In fact, if Lincoln plays its cards right, the Aviator could win over a lot of Lexus customers who want a modern three row utility vehicle. “Quiet Luxury” was basically the Lexus model before Lincoln adopted it. And it might just be what contributes to their decline, at least in America:
Lexus officials say the U.S. market has not been forgotten by executives in Toyota City. “Behind the curtain right now, what’s going on is that everything — all the attention — in Japan is to get Lexus back in the game with a tremendous lineup over the next few years,” said LaRochelle of the dealers’ council.
Lexus still tops reliability surveys, while the Aviator had quality-control issues right out of the gate just as Lincoln was finally getting widespread positive buzz (it still looks very promising though). Toyota/Lexus has defended being slow in EVs claiming widespread hybrid availability is a better use of scant battery availability until a better recharging infrastructure is in place. Agreed that a big three row crossover is a gaping hole in the lineup. Is Lexus alone in offering a crossover (RX) in two lengths?
Hyundai at least does with the Sante Fe, and thats before we get into debates about whether things like the X7 is just a long X5.
VW does so with their Tiguan at least in other markets, one for two row and a longer one for three row. I think over here we get both versions in the longer length chassis.
Correct. The Tiguan Allspace is the one we get in the US, which has a longer wheelbase and a longer cargo area than the ordinary ROW Tiguan.
Due to weird EPA loopholes, the FWD variants need 7-passenger seating to qualify as light trucks, so all of the FWD US Tiguans have the third row. AWD ones already qualify, and so the third row is a $500 option.
Now that the smaller and larger Hyundai crossovers are split up–yes, Lexus is the only automaker outright offering the same crossover in two lengths. Other than that, it’s basically products that are fundamentally different, but share the same platform (XT5 vs XT6, Murano vs Pathfinder, etc…)
What you see more of these days is, like the Tiguan, automakers selling only their longer-length variant in the U.S. Like I said elsewhere, the 7 Series, A8 and S-Class all have SWB variants, but you won’t see them in the US. And Volvo quietly started shipping us the S90L, instead of the S90. Since the LWB version of the S90 is primarily a Chinese-market product, all S90s we get are built in China and have L VINs.
What exactly is the relevant law that keeps the Tiguan FWD two-row from being a light truck? Similar vehicles from other brands offer a FWD two row crossover, like the Toyota RAV4. I pick that one because a previous generation offered either two or three rows of seating in FWD models. The lack of a two-row FWD Tiguan is unfortunately, because the third row steals both second row legroom and luggage space, and the third row is too small even for some kids.
I don’t know. I own one, though, with the third row and AWD, and it’s pointless.
Of course the X7 is a long X5. Likewise, the GL/GLS-Class is a long M/GLE-Class. And the XT6 is a longer XT5. But they still have vastly different designs, and aren’t the same as their shorter counterparts.
As for the Santa Fe, I wouldn’t count that one. When they were the Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe (from 2014 to 2018), yes…that qualified. But then the new 5-passenger model came out as the Santa Fe and the old 7-passenger Santa Fe soldiered on as the Santa Fe XL. So now, the Santa Fe and Santa Fe XL aren’t really the same product. And with the Palisade now out, the Santa Fe XL probably won’t carry into MY2020.
P.S. Hyundai had planned a diesel variant of the new Santa Fe for the US. That version was also supposed to come with a third row, and their original press release for the 2019 model made mention of that as an upcoming option. They wisely decided not to do that.
I hadn’t even noticed the 2 wheelbase choices were dropped with the redesign, and that the redesigned Sante Fe is now 2 row only and the XL is the old design. It makes sense with the Palisade I suppose, but in keeping the old XL they’re acknowledging there is some market for a lower cost 3-row option.
True, although I don’t think Hyundai has any interest in keeping that model around. Unlike Toyota and Lexus, Hyundai turns its lineup over quickly and doesn’t like anything that looks out of date. It is most definitely not going to soldier on as a cheaper alternative to the Palisade.
If reliability still ranks anywhere near the top of Lexus customer priorities, their fling with Lincoln may be short-lived given the teething issues of their Aviator and Navigator. However, if I were a lux-ute lessee, I’d give the Lincolns a whirl regardless–they look and perform like luxury vehicles rather than an exercise in how to crease sheet metal into origami around a competent but uninspiring chassis.
I agree that Lexus is lost right now. I had hope with their circa-2013 RWD GS and IS, but the market has moved on from that type of car and the product has grown stale. There’s not a single CUV or SUV that strikes me the way the new Lincolns do, and the GX and LX are so old now that even I think they need a serious overhaul–not least of which to remove the desperate half-assed spindle grill styling refresh they went through. Bad plastic surgery.
The cars that do strike me as legitimately excellent are in irrelevant segments. No one cares about the LS class. No one wants to buy a tactile V8 midsize sports sedan with a $90K price tag, so the GS-F is invisible. And the LC500 will get noticed everywhere it goes but that halo effect will only go so far.
Lexus had better hope the RX remains king and that the NX will continue to fill in where the ES is slipping.
Majority of luxury car drivers lease their cars not buy them. As long as their cars don’t explode before the lease ends, I don’t think they care too much about long term reliability.
Several luxury brands with dubious reliability and expensive repair reputations are doing fine sales wise.
The GX got a facelift for 2020, with new headlights and grille.
Lexus, like Toyota has a “problem” with being known as reliable, that is tied directly to their proven, but outdated, technology.
How long can they keep resting on the laurels of 10+ year old models? And even with those, they take a hit any time they try to remotely update them. Tacoma? Bulletproof. With the new 3.5? Ehh….
I don’t necessarily like Honda’s CVT/turbo everything approach, but that tech is almost perfected from a reliability standpoint, and one day when it is 100%, Toyota is still going be selling automatics that can’t pick a gear and NA V6s with worse MPGs than V8s.
While I generally agree with your sentiment, I wouldn’t say things are perfected. Honda has sullied their reputation quite seriously with the 1.5 GDI.
And while I love the performance and economy of my 2.7 F-150, I have no illusions about its long term prospects. There is simply too much cutting edge technology with the potential of catastrophic failure. The Tundra may be badly outdated, but if I needed a truck to last more than 10 years, it would be my first choice.
You’re not entirely wrong, but you are painting the entire lineup with the Tacoma’s brush and missing things while doing so. 10+ year old models? On the trucks. But the Highlander, RAV4, Camry, Avalon, Corolla, Prius have all been moved onto the new TNGA platform, their hybrid powertrains are very good, the new 2.5 liter 4-cylinder is advanced and efficient, the 3.5 is still competitive outside the Tacoma, the Corolla CVT has a cogged first gear to reduce lag on takeoff (my biggest complaint about belt-and-pulley CVTs), and many of their gas engines have dual direct and port injection to avoid the carbon issues in DI-only.
Toyota’s insistence on sticking with displacement and gears instead of forced induction and CVTs is an interesting one, and I respect it. I’ve tried their 2.5/8 speed and the Honda 1.5T/CVT in the Camry and Accord, respectively, and I prefer the Toyota approach there–and not by a small margin. Linear power delivery, no turbo lag, manual control over transmission ratios, and the same fuel economy. The 8speed can be a bit indecisive at times, but it is nothing compared to sluggish response of the Honda. Honda’s recovering from a bit of a black eye regarding oil dilution in the 1.5T as well, so I’m not sure I’d wager on it being almost perfected yet. They gave up a perfected 2.4 liter 4 for that 1.5T and it is going to take some time to determine if it will be equally long-lived.
Toyota was feeling extremely stagnant in 2016. There are signs of life there now, though.
I was definitely generalizing more on their truck lineup, but yeah, but current RAV4/Corolla/Camry are competitive currently.
It’s interesting, I’ve had a couple cars with bigger NA engines & CVTs, and contrary to what I would have assumed to prior to driving them, that seems to be my preferred setup.
I’ve driven a quite a few cars with 1.5-2.0 turbocharged fours, and while I think most drive better on the highway with the torque of the turbo, and can get good gas mileage cruising (Ford 2.0T aside, it gulps fuel everywhere), they tend to get much, much worse mileage around town when you dip into the throttle. By contrast, I put a lot of miles in a few 2.3+ NA four cylinders with CVTs, and I could beat them as hard as I wanted and never got under 35mpg.
And around town, IMO, is where CVTs really shine, not just for gas mileage, but just general smoothness and comfortable operation. I get into a car with a conventional auto now, and am very aware of gear changes and RPMs.
Especially if we’re talking any of the conventional automatic equipped Toyotas, even the new 8 speed, which across the lineup have terrible throttle tip in & downshifting behavior. The worst is slowing down from 40+ MPH, and turning onto a side road. Brake, turn, throttle…nothing, more throttle…still nothing, more throttle… ALL THE POWER! To be fair, I haven’t driven a Honda with a CVT/turbo combo yet, but so far the Toyota 2.5/8 speed is one of my least favorite powertrain combos, just for the shifting/throttle behavior.
Geared transmissions still hold an advantage in longevity & are more fun when pushed hard, but for everyday driving & getting good MPGs, CVTs are my favorite currently.
Agreed on NA engines and CVTs. If the transmission is programmed well, I like the smoothness and ability to gain just a few hundred rpms or a quick seemless slide into the powerband.
Also agreed on your description of the dead throttle response on the Toyota 8 speed when turning onto a side road. In my three days with that powertrain, that is the one situation where I couldn’t adapt my driving to compensate. However, the Honda was laggy from a takeoff, on the roll, anytime the engine fell below 2000 rpm or so. That one is probably more a function of turbo lag than the CVT; the VW 1.4T I tried had the same lag and it was a geared automatic.
As a former snowmobiler, I like CVT performance. I’m not too keen on their longevity though.
My 3.5 Tacoma isn’t the greatest powertrain for power OR economy OR refinement but after almost 70K miles (not much, I know) it’s certainly bulletproof. And I expect it will be after 170K and hopefully 270K.
I think “luxury” cars in general are in decline. They have shifted so far to the performance side of the spectrum that they are really not that luxurious to drive. Hard seats, cramped cockpits, stiff suspension, heavy steering, etc. That doesn’t appeal to me, at least not in a luxury car.
While I admire Lexus, I don’t feel that it offers something of value over other brands. It is a prestige brand, so it survives by being prestigious. I just don’t see anything prestigious in their line. Nice, but not worthy of the window sticker price.
Pretentious, I believe you misspelled pretentious.
FIFY
🙂
It’s that ugly grill which is why I refuse to part with my 2010 is250 until I find another vehicle that I really like.
I came here to say exactly that.
Beaten twice, damn got up late.
Does anyone really like the baleen whale look?
It seems like fixing this would be an easy win for them.
The 1961 Plymouth called; it wants its grille back.
Yes, people do. Lexus sales increased as they added the spindle theme grill across their lineup. This isn’t hard to find out, and is extremely contradictory to the whole “Lexus lost their way” narrative.
I think they’ll be just fine, Lexus (and Toyota) never really chase the latest trends and the Aviator is all new and getting almost as much bad press as it is good press.
RX – Three-row version was added last year (or two ago?), but with the new Highlander the whole RX will likely be updated in the next year or two, they usually lag the Highlander and stagger the release, that way in case there is any issue with the bread and butter it can be fixed before it sullies the more expensive model. That strategy would have been a good one for Ford to follow, BTW. I do think the Highlander will itself cut into RX sales, the interior pics I’ve seen look very good and the Highlander is increasingly seen as an upscale choice without the shouty baggage.
GX – While sales are pretty steady the whole line is pure gravy, it won’t get any big updates until the 4Runner does, which who knows when that will happen and 4Runner is selling better than ever even though everyone says it’s ancient – who cares about that if it sells and buyers love them. Check the resale value…Interestingly, off-roader GXs are not rare as that’s now the only way to effectively get a V8 4Runner, albeit mostly as well used models, not new ones, but still that demand helps to keep resale values up.
LX – Only exists because the Land Cruiser still exists over here, which apparently may not be for much longer. Again, pure gravy sales
Note that all three of the above DO in fact have a third row, albeit all compromised in some way or another, then again for the one time a month that most people use the third row it may still be functional enough.
Larger 3row Escalade competitor – I’d guess they and Toyota are working on a Sequoia replacement and could see two lengths, standard Sequoia 3row for Toyota and longer SX or whatever 3row for Lexus. It’ll likely be less competition for Cadillac but more against GMC Denali I think.
The NX and UX are the lower line 2-row “entry” level CUV’s, the NX is probably now the size the original RX used to be and some of those are replacing sedan sales.
So that’s FIVE Utility vehicles, quite a big variety there and a lot of the smaller ones are possible selling well outside of the US as well, unlike Lincoln and Cadillac Lexus actually has other real markets that add volume. Three of those five are available and sell well as Hybrids.
The sedans? The ES will keep selling in smaller and smaller volumes and fills up the Avalon line, the others are there for those that want them and the LS will always be sort of a flagship. The sportier coupes and other flights of fancy are Toyota/Lexus’s trial balloons for new tech etc.
Sure there isn’t a full EV, but there are multiple Hybrids, note that in Japan virtually every single Toyota or Lexus passenger vehicle including the new Century is available as a Hybrid and quite popular in that form. As of now Toyota hasn’t chosen to make a similar strategy move over here but they are no doubt ready and able to do so.
Lincoln may well see some prior RX owners defect to them but they’ll likely return. Lots of RXers are likely repeat lessees and Lexus won’t let them go without making them pay more to Lincoln for the option than if they stayed. I also think (and this is my personal view, others may well vary) that based on the last Lexus dealer I visited compared to the last Lincoln dealer I visited around here that there is still a lot of work to do in that regard – My Lincoln dealer is paired with a Ford dealer on the same broken tarmac parking lot stacked high with F150s around the Lincoln showroom whereas the Lexus dealer has their own large property that is properly landscaped and developed and looks more like you are going to a fancy hotel than a car dealer. The Toyota dealer is a couple of miles down the road, entirely removed. The buying experience DOES matter and sure it’s objectively irrelevant but does send a message. Lincoln needs to get past their self-inflicted launch foibles with the Aviator and invest more in the experience to have any hope of real and lasting success. And on that subject, since we are somewhat lambasting Lexus’ non-SUVs where are the competitive Lincolns in that area? The Continental is a failure and extremely rare in the wild, the MKZephyr is due to be cancelled (or is it already?) the MKT is dead and I think that’s it, right?
I wish Lincoln all the best but for the last thirty years we have seen nothing but extremely reliable and capable Lexuses quietly roaming the roads while Lincoln has come close to death several times. It’s too early to tell if Lincoln is back for good but Lexus is likely to be around for a long time. It’s interesting though that in this discussion Cadillac hasn’t been mentioned once so far.
I do agree that one of Lincoln’s biggest problems is that the majority of places to buy them are Ford dealers and most of those dealers treat the Lincoln brand as an after thought.
The GX did actually get a minor facelift for 2020. The front fascia, while similar to the old one, is completely new. Inside, it gets the three-spoke steering wheel from the RX, GS, LX and previous ES. It also received a redesigned instrument panel with the vertical color screen from most of the other non F Sport models. Sadly, Lexus did not update the infotainment system.
The 2020 4Runner, meanwhile, got an all-new tech stack, with a bigger infotainment system that matches the new ones in the Camry, RAV4, Avalon et al. There’s also a new gauge cluster, and a new steering wheel with buttons to accommodate that. I believe all the safety stuff is standard, too. Ye olde 4.0-liter V6 and 5AT remain, however—which I’m sure the 4Runner crowd is happy about, but I feel like they could stick an extra cog in that transmission.
From my non-scientific view from the streets and highways of SoCal, Lexus continues to do well. Here in Santa Monica the streets are loaded with Teslas, Mercedes, Audis, Range Rovers, et al but there are still plenty of Lexus models, especially the SUVs/CUVs. The NX is doing very well here, no doubt because it is about the same size as the original RX. One of my neighbors just bought one and loves it. Even the little UX is all over the place. The UX appears to be an example of how Lexus is adapting to the world market. I think it has some significant flaws but it does meet the need for a small urban car and probably didn’t cost much to develop given its common platform with the Corolla hatchback, et al. And its initial reliability rankings are great for a new model – the Lexus strong point.
I rarely see anything by Lincoln around here. I too hope to see that change but so far the brand doesn’t seem to be coming back in any significant way in SoCal. If sales figures differ from my street view I’d be happy to be proved wrong.
Austin (the best friend I always mention) has a 2016 Lexus RX 450h. He bought it from Carvana with 38K miles last year, but it was originally from Lexus of Santa Monica. It still says “Lexus of Santa Monica” on the infotainment system when you start it.
Here, In Pueblo, the Lincoln Dealer is paired up with the Ford dealership. Given that it’s now been about 30+ years of Lexus dealerships, you would think that Lincoln would get with it. They a marginally better prestige factor when it was Lincoln Mercury, but only Marginally. Cars like the Tracer didn’t help them back then though either.
Given the type of buyer they seek, it seems conspicuously tacky on Lincoln’s part at this point.
Pueblo doesn’t even have a Lexus dealership, which given the demographics of the town makes sense. You have to go to Colorado Springs, and when you do get there, it’s a gleaming, well landscaped luxury experience.
Part of the challenge Lexus faces is the unfortunate front-end styling theme.
Lexus reliability is definitely a plus, but with a large percentage buyers in this class leasing their vehicles and turning them in after 2-3 years, long-term reliability is less of a selling point. I’m thus not so sure that superior long-term reliability can overcome the controversial styling in this segment.
By all measures, the styling seems to actually be working. Take, for instance, the current GX 460. The 2010-2013 version, which was sedate and stayed as close as possible to the first-gen GX (470)–saw pretty miserable sales. As soon as Lexus did the 2014 facelift, sales rebounded, considerably, and have increased YoY. Ditto for the LX, although it also benefitted from a complete tech overhaul when it got the updated styling in 2016.
And the look is downright cohesive on cars that were designed for it, like the current ES, LS, LC, RX, NX, UX and even the RC and IS (which aren’t so new). It works decently enough for the GS, GX and LX.
Uh, spindle grill!
I rest my case.
Exactly. They need to make it bigger and bolder!
…Says the average modern product planner
More cowbell!
This article is silly.
Lexus US sales are about the same as BMWs.
Lexus sales are better than Audi, Mercedes is below both BMW and Lexus.
Their sales volume is up for SUVs. Lexus does have an issue with using old underpinnings for sure, but this business as usual and sales keep a solid trend. People love to hate Lexus/Toyota.
So Lexus is tied for the #1 spot or? The article says third behind MB and BMW. There may be different definitions or rankings at play here.
That poses the question as to which players are considered comprising the luxury segment being discussed here. I assumed (erroneously perhaps as compared to you) that it was MB, BMW, then Lexus in terms of volume followed by Audi and then everyone else. I didn’t even consider Tesla but a lot of people do, obviously.
What’s the actual list by market share if that’s where Lexus holds 13% share, as it’s clearly not 13% of the entire US market?
I recently purchased a 2015 RX350. I’m completely sold on the CPO value proposition, comfort, proven drive trains, and dealership experience. I’m not in love with the looks or the tech, but those aren’t that important to me as I wanted a bulletproof cruiser for the long haul.
I would say I’m a recent convert to the brand, but I do agree with the article and the comments presented here. The new models aren’t that alluring because they seem to be a generation behind the new, less refined Toyotas. The Lexus vehicles also seem to have small interiors for their size class. Case in point: NX Hybrid vs Rav4 Hybrid.
I’m more willing to accept these compromises when getting the discount of buying used. And I guess that’s the rub. Given that the models are always a little outdated, Lexus (to me) is really a used car brand, not a new car brand.
PS. I wish I had the need for a sedan. Dealership CPO inventory is loaded with some amazingly comfortable and capable vehicles for very little coin.
The LX and GX are the most capable in their class without Range Rover/Land Rover badges on them. Unfortunately most of the people who buy one new don’t care about off-road prowess.
Lexus continues to remind me of Buick back in that brand’s multi-decade successful heyday serving upmarket but conservative customers. Buick was not quite a true luxury brand, but still nice and upscale. They sold well and at higher prices than related “lesser” GM brands, making Buick undoubtedly quite profitable for The General. From a business perspective, this isn’t a bad place to be, and I’m sure Lexus brings home nice margins for Toyota.
However, despite some interesting models, for decades most of Buick’s line-up was stylish and competent but slightly boring, long before the brand fossilized into “crummy cars for old people” (a reputation that still lingers–brand damage is VERY hard to undo). Likewise, today’s Lexus offers products that just don’t really fire people up–but I don’t see Toyota squandering the brand’s goodwill and strong reputation like GM did with Buick.
So, I think Lexus will continue to steam ahead, adeptly navigating the sedate waters where many upper-middle-class buyers feel “safe” and “smart.” Audi, for one, would no doubt love to be in that position and enjoying the Lexus sales numbers.
Agreed. Because the other things that led to Buick’s demise were…
a) In the late 80s, the cars stopped meeting even the expectations of the brand’s conservative clientele. See, for example, the unsuccessful downsizing of the 1986 E-Bodies, including the Riviera, which has been accounted for here more times than I can count. Nobody wanted a PLC that looked stubby and indistinguishable from an N-Body…especially not when Ford was launching its alluring MN12/LN12 cars and even the K-car PLCs had become pretty cohesive.
b) build quality suffered immensely around that same time. Well, it was probably never great, but as a slew of foreign brands came in and showed Buick and the other premium GM brands up (including Lexus), the contrast was clear, and
c) Buick had a lot more internal brands with which to compete than does Lexus, and by the 90s, the traditional Alfred Sloan model no longer served anyone. Most of what GM was doing was cannibalizing its own sales and saturating the market with many-branded variants of not-so-good cars…and savvy customers started driving right past their dealerships altogether on the way to purchase Toyota, Honda, Nissan or even Ford and Chrysler products. They also somehow managed to spend a lot more money than their competitors to make mediocre and/or subpar cars (see the Saturn experiment or the ill-executed GM10/W-Body introduction).
So, no, I’m not seeing too many parallels between Toyota and Lexus now, and Buick/GM back then. Certainly their build quality hasn’t suffered. If anything, it seems to be on the rise.
My perspective is that Lincoln may be getting more press than Lexus for the same reason zombies are a more popular subject for movies than old people; coming back from the dead is more interesting than not dying. But I’d rather grow old than become a zombie.
Interesting article and observations, as is frequently the case on CC. GN, in particular, nailed it precisely.Lexus is, in many respects, the Buick of this era.
I’ve owned three, a 1995 LX (235 k miles when traded in) a 2000 RX (245 K miles, and still going strong – given to youngest niece, a college engineering student) a 2008 RX (165 K miles when traded in) and have just leased a 2019 RX 350 L. The third row of the 350 L is perfect for younger grandchildren, and it allows transporting 6 adults in a pinch. The machines are comfortable, quiet and reliable, and the dealer service is superb.
Over the years I’ve had Dodges, Fords, several sports cars (Porsche 911 and 914, 240 Z, RX 7) and Mercedes, Toyoda and other sedans. At 72, I’m much more interested in sitting upright, with a good view of the road ahead, than I am with carving corners (difficult to do anymore in urban SoCal anyway) or impressing other drivers.
Certainly, Toyoda must be quite aware of the trend to electric vehicles, and will probably transition carefully in that direction with the Lexus brand as the market changes. It would appear likely that they will make that transition in a manner acceptable to their target customers. In the meantime, they have a very desirable demographic pretty solidly in their camp.
To be fair, “Quiet Luxury” was the model of Lincoln for quite some time. It’s just substandard quality and lagging product development meant Lexus was eating it’s pie like it was going out of style.
Here in San Diego, I do see newer Lincoln products from time to time. But the majority of them are Navigators. I haven’t seen the crossovers yet, but maybe that’s just me not paying attention.
My biggest grip with Lexus is the God awful infotainment system. I test drove the 2020 RX 350, it’s nice decent ride, great space inside, excellent standard technology, but I cannot stand the touch pad. Sure I can touch the screen now but it’s still not 20% of the iDrive in a BMW. I ended up leasing a X5 40i.
I want to buy a Lexus, not lease, but for the love of GOD Toyota engineers, copy the iDrive, use the wheel to manage the screen, you will get new clients, I WILL buy a Lexus. You already use the Z4, now copy and paste the iDrive.
Toyota already uses the BMW Z4 as a “Supra”, they should borrow BMW’s infotainment system. The touch pad has prevented me from buying a Lexus vehicle for years now.
I’m a original IS owner, then a GS 350 then I went to test drive the RX because the family grew, and never until they change the infotainment.
I was thinking of buying one until that horrible grille made its appearance. When they come out with a decent front end I will darken their door.
The GX is related and an exact derivative of the LAND CRUISER PRADO, not the 4Runner
LX should be upgraded to a full size SUV just like Toyota Land Cruiser with bigger tyre wheels.
Anyone else have half the front camera’s view of a huge darkened triangle blocking the view? (why have a camera then block it out?!?)
The “heated” stearing wheel only heats from the 3:30 and 8:30 positions? Someone needs to buy the engineers a driver’s hand book on proper hand positions while driving: great for heating up your little pinkies, useless for the part you actually want heated.
We have recieved “I love it” many times from people admiring our 2020-RX350-F3. We love it ‘warts and all’
Lexus needs to do ONE simple thing to thrive instead of survive:
GET RID OF THE ANGRY CATFISH GRILLE!
If I was in the market for such a vehicle, that ALONE would stop me from buying a Lexus.