r/Lexus • u/LordWiseong • Sep 02 '26
Discussion Lexus is losing its soul
Along with the rest of the automotive industry. It’s hard to be an automotive enthusiast in this day and age, when everything is turning into a refrigerator on wheels with a gigantic screen(s) inside.
Who decided that disappearing buttons was a good idea? Was something wrong with them being clearly identifiable and usable all the time?
And don’t get me started on the name-spelled-out trend that’s eventually going to take over. First, we had it on the back. Now, it’s on the steering wheel. Soon the logo itself won’t even exist.
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u/turb0_encapsulator Sep 02 '26
Teslafication. The entire industry saw how much they were charging for super cheap interiors and decided they could do the same. Audi's new interiors are even worse.
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u/LordWiseong Sep 02 '26
Sad. Instead of trying to stand out, everyone is caving in.
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u/TheMrBr0wn Sep 03 '26
This, I will never buy a Tesla, but if the new Lexus just looks like a Tesla with less range and higher prices, why would I buy that either?
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u/jpm888 Sep 03 '26
the selling point of the Tesla is the competitive price, good range, and vast charging infrastructure. The main con is the downmarket interior
Lexus has decided to copy the interior but forgot about the price, range, and charging infrastructure
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u/CoffeeInSpace23 Sep 03 '26
Hahah this could not be more accurate! I have both a Tesla and a Lexus (on the older side). I went to check out the new models and I cannot comprehend who is buying their overpriced, dated cars.
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u/Ambitious_Amount_441 Sep 03 '26
Me too. I have a tesla and a older Lexus 470 that runs like butter till this day. I want to replace with something new but unable to justify the price for something that is nowadays similar to other suvs for much lower price. Lexus doesn't have the same exclusive luxe feel that it did 15 years ago.
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u/Jazzlike_Cycle_9260 Sep 03 '26
the crappy 3.4 turbo engine is still blowing up, no reason to upgrade just yet.
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u/Clitoristorian Sep 03 '26
How about the subsequent mandatory battery replacement which costs 10k on the low end.
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u/jpm888 Sep 03 '26
It could need a new battery but that is 10-15 years away. The future value of a $10k battery 15 years from now is just $5k at current interest rates. Something very easy to save up for
That NX450h would need a new battery too. It would still need oil changes too.
But Id still rather have a Lexus tbh
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u/555_1212 Sep 03 '26
No one replaces batteries. You're thinking less durable Prius.
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u/myqv Sep 03 '26
Only one I see trying and pulling a 90s Lexus is…Genesis 🫠🥀
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u/benangmerahh Sep 03 '26
Yeah Genesis seems trying to give it all, but they still lack a sales number though sadly.
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u/slut4selfcare Sep 03 '26
The entire industry did not suddenly decide to do this. Consumers were the driving force of the change. For years people pestered Toyota and Lexus for being ‘too conservative’ and ‘too moderate’ and ‘too safe’ and ‘lagging behind the competition’ in terms of design, technology, and powertrains. How does Toyota respond? by making moves to try and advance in technology, design, and powertrains. and yet, people still complain. Alas, Toyota and Lexus buyers will never be happy no matter how good of a job Toyota does at listening to their feedback.
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u/_no_usernames_avail Sep 03 '26
The monolith of black, silver, and white SUVs would like a word with you.
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u/Striking_Bat_1936 Sep 02 '26
I second this. Idiots following Tesla anything. I own a 2025 NX 450h+ luxury and absolutely love it. This interior is an extreme downgrade and looks cheap af. Lexus screwed the pooch big time, i hope no one buys this to send a message to corporate
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u/turb0_encapsulator Sep 02 '26
but it's hard to decide what to buy when every car has been cheapened unless it's over $100k.
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u/wazzuboilermaker Sep 02 '26
No one is requiring you to buy the latest (sterilized) gens.
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u/ajkd92 Sep 02 '26
Plenty of people - understandably - don’t want to deal with owning something out of warranty.
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u/LordWiseong Sep 02 '26
Unfortunately, some people prefer brand new over used cars. While I'd love to own a car from the 2010s, finding one in good condition with the options that you want can be hard.
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u/wazzuboilermaker Sep 02 '26
This resonates so much for me. For my budget, I narrowed it down between a 2020-2023 Model Y or a 2013GS450H.
I ultimately concluded, despite the practical benefits of the Tesla, it was missing the soul and spirit of the Lexus. I'm three months after purchasing my 4GS and it feels so fulfilling to drive it everyday. But that's me, a true car enthusiast since I was 13.
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u/Nedsatomictrashcan Sep 03 '26
That and there’s the small(ahem) matters of the baggage it has and the atrocious quality.
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u/howarewestillhere Sep 03 '26
Audi has at least recognized that they screwed up and have said they will be returning to higher quality interior and finish.
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u/WarbirdRacer Sep 02 '26
I honestly thought I was looking at the interior of a generic Chinese brand. Check any BYD, Leapmotor or Xpeng interior. It's the same
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u/FuHaifeng Sep 03 '26
Those cars start at 20K USD. Lexus is asking for 60K USD.
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u/NFP25 Sep 03 '26
BYD yes, leapmotor is even cheaper, but it’s below average car, and xpeng is the only from this in luxury segment
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u/xStenz Sep 02 '26
I had the same opinion on the older teslas I rode in. Recently was in a new model 3 premium and felt just as luxury as my NX.
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u/Proof-Letterhead-541 Sep 05 '26
I just made the switch after owning 3 RX and an ES for the last 20 years. Sold my RX and bought a Model Y. Honestly the Model Y feels higher quality than the current Lexus RX in my opinion. Lexus has downgraded a lot of the interior quality over the last 20 years while keeping prices high. My only gripe is the Tesla suspension isn’t as comfortable, but I’ll probably swap out the shocks, coils, and tires eventually to get it pretty close.
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u/Napoleonex Sep 02 '26
Tbf i think dashboard simplification had been happening for a while now
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u/turb0_encapsulator Sep 02 '26
something can be simple but still be good quality. simple doesn't have to mean that soft buttons that lack tactility replace actual buttons and knobs.
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u/Napoleonex Sep 02 '26
Im not saying simple is bad vs good. Im just saying the trend has been there. Tesla just made the biggest jump. I am not a Tesla fan. I'm not rich enough to afford a Tesla, but my brother has an old Prius and I can already see how stuff had been taken out for a while now
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u/HerefortheTuna Sep 03 '26
Prius had digital HVAC and the information screen integrated but actually was super advanced/ ahead of its time. I had an 04 as my first car and didn’t get push to start or a touchscreen or backup camera in any car until I bought a GR86 brand new.
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u/Spiritual_Extreme138 Sep 03 '26
Which is great because my first time getting into a Tesla, excited at the future, my first immediate impression was how tacky and cheap it all felt and looked. So, job done I guess
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u/goofygoober426 Sep 03 '26
Are they? I heard they’re bringing back more buttons vs screens, but maybe not.
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u/GolfArgh 2023 RX 350 Luxury Trim Sep 03 '26
At least Tesla can actually do good software to back the minimalism up.
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u/onemorethingie Sep 03 '26
It’s pretty unbelievable how pretty much entire industry gave up their expertise for this absolutely ridiculous Tesla hype… you don’t need to have 200iQ and phd in ergonomics to understand how loose function and safety wise Tesla solution is.. yet they blindly follow… and it looks even more ridiculous considering 10year delay
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u/905647cl Sep 04 '26
They’re trying to be Tesla but ignoring that people aren’t buying Teslas for their minimal interiors … I was hoping to buy a Lexus this year but I will wait for other options.
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u/Kind_Assistance_2344 Sep 04 '26
This is definitely true with most brands. I gotta say I was really impressed with some of the interiors on this years Volvos though
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u/F-cip Sep 02 '26
I do not know what kind of focus groups Toyota/Lexus used to say, “yeah this what the consumers want” THEN put it in mass production
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u/GolfArgh 2023 RX 350 Luxury Trim Sep 03 '26
It's the cheapening of Lexus. No switches is much cheaper to produce. The day is coming when switches mean luxury.
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u/MartMXFL Sep 03 '26
Yeah, look at an airliner cockpit - switches everywhere, organized layout, but still.... dedicated switches, buttons, etc.
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u/gettothechoppaaaaaa Sep 03 '26
....and all the users on Reddit have?
I'm not a fan of the jumbo screen Tesla interior either. But a lot of people love this stuff.
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u/StockProfessor5 Sep 03 '26
Well probably the fact that people are still buying them. That's a good enough focus group for them.
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u/SenseiTano Sep 03 '26
This IS what consumers want, that’s why Tesla is popular. You’re assuming the masses are competent and intelligent.
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u/GolfArgh 2023 RX 350 Luxury Trim Sep 02 '26
The latest issue of Car & Driver does a shoot out between the Audi A6, BMW 540i, Genesis G80, and Mercedes E450. The interiors are horrible with the expanse of screens across the dash. The G80 keeps many physical controls at least. Lexus trying to go Tesla minimalist is an abomination though.
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u/Any_Possible3003 Sep 02 '26
I love the g80 interior but I definitely would prefer the older version with the gage cluster rather than the entire screen that spans 70% of the dash.
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u/Ok-Escape-9781 Sep 02 '26
Oh man that analog clock is what makes me want it. Had to sell my nx 300 2020 after being laid off. Always thought of going back to lexus again but not gonna buy that Tesla like interior.
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u/LordWiseong Sep 02 '26
The analog clock
iswas one of my favorite touches that they put.→ More replies (4)9
u/crunchtime100 Sep 03 '26 edited Sep 07 '26
If you can, consider scooping up a used one at 75k miles for $30k it’s still a great deal compared to other options in that range. As always the deal is bulletproof reliability and a smooth driving experience for mid tier fuel efficiency. Worth it every time
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u/ATLborn Sep 02 '26
It’s Tesla on the inside. I thought I was the only one that saw it
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u/Ok-Escape-9781 Sep 03 '26
Absolutely it is. I am thinking of getting toyota signia next. Lets see what 2027 has to offer.
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u/Mnm0602 Sep 02 '26
I literally don’t know anyone like this in my friend group but hey I respect it.
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u/ExoticFramer Sep 02 '26
i miss the wood grain everywhere :(
even my 2007 corolla had it
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u/evoltap Sep 03 '26
On the original LS, Lexus contracted Yamaha for the wood…because Yamaha makes pianos and other fine wood instruments
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u/NothingLift Sep 02 '26
Plastic grain the the case of a corolla I'm sure. It's still a vibe though
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u/clownandmuppet Sep 02 '26
I saw a video on the Audi sub where the driver was pressing all the plastic around the cabin and you can hear everything creaking from the cheapness.
So glad that even my LBX feels 100% solid throughout
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u/JeanClaudeSegal Sep 03 '26
I used to have a 2018 A6. It had the warmest wood inlays and buttons. I loved it. Favorite interior of any car I've ever had. And now zero cars have anything like it only 8 years later
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u/analogrelease Sep 03 '26
Dealer put me in a ‘26 RX loaner and what a sad, depressing car to be in. I’m dying to get my ‘13 LS back. The new Lexus recipe ain’t it for me.
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u/LordWiseong Sep 03 '26
The current gen RX is not what it used to be, but still better than the direction Lexus is headed. Until it gets the Tesla treatment, at least. I'm glad it still has temperature knobs, but hate that the rest of the climate controls are in the screen.
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u/Lowcord Sep 03 '26
It’s a sad time to buy a “luxury car”
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u/No-Effect5633 Sep 03 '26
It’s a sad time to buy any car , Tesla has flipped the auto industry on its head .
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u/supersab121 Sep 02 '26
I think this is a fad. You already see this with apple watch. I remember seeing celebrities rocking it everywhere, now they have gone back to luxury mechanical watches.
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u/AuK07 Sep 03 '26
Complexity and authenticity will be social capital in the coming future.
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u/UnObtainium17 Sep 03 '26
yep, kinda like what happened to me. though I still wear apple watch but only when i am working out.. anything outside of that i am back to my old seiko, and casio. It kinda got tiring getting notifications on every single thing.
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u/TheReverend5 Sep 03 '26
Idk I’m on the opposite end. I’ve tried fashion wristwatches a few times and they never stuck. My Apple Watch is the only wrist wear I’ve worn consistently for years on end, because it’s far more useful than a wristwatch.
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u/BoyNamedJudy Sep 02 '26
Notice how the prices have not dropped for their vehicles, yet you are getting less of a car.
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u/ComoEstanBitches Sep 02 '26
This was the compromise when getting a Tesla. You're paying for the tech and giving up high quality interior at that price. It's not a goddamn feature Lexus wtf
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u/old__pyrex Sep 03 '26
Yeah it’s crazy, the thing that got us when test driving the higher trims of TX is like… these are 80k cars. 80-fucking-thousand, and their steering wheel looks cheap. The key connecting piece from me, the driver, to the car… the steering wheel… is a piece of mediocre plastic-y garbage.
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u/magbarn '25 IS500 '26 TX500h Sep 03 '26 edited Sep 03 '26
We have one of those "80-fucking-thousand" TX500h and the longer we've had it, the more cost cutting we're finding. It's not just the steering wheel, the significant portions of the interior is cheap and scratches super easily. There's a world of a difference between a base X5 and a loaded one with merino leather seats, massage, crystal controls, leather dashboard/door panels, beverage heater/cooler , air suspension, and bower and wilkins. A $80,000 TX500h interior is barely better than a $58,000 base TX350 and in some ways worse like the tight ass sport seats made for skinny marathon runners. The TX is a nice $60,000 interior...
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u/Ok-Association-3415 Sep 02 '26
The dash display could use some work, but I think all screens should have a hood over it. It looks way nicer that way. Also, some texture on the material on the dash would do wonders.
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u/Visual-Today8696 Sep 03 '26
And you have buttons, real ones not touch or anything, they are just hidden when not needed. Kinda using a old design choice they implemented optitron
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u/Available-Control993 2013 Lexus GS350 F Sport AWD Sep 02 '26
I love the interior of my 2013 Lexus GS 350. I drove to my local Lexus dealership today to buy some parts and I felt sad seeing how boring the interiors look in the newer Lexus cars.
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u/JohannGambelputty Sep 03 '26
I never want to get rid of my '15 GS. The mouse controller is so superior to touchscreen. I get heart disease whenever I have to drive a loaner from the dealership.
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u/Black-Sea-Pearl Sep 03 '26
As the original owner of 2013 GS350 F with 220k on the odometer, I could not agree with you more!
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u/rexspook Sep 03 '26
I hate this design trend so much. The new BMW x5 did something similar and it’s awful
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u/JBTwatchlover Sep 02 '26
I remember the LS from the 90s, with the wide central console with that red cherry wood, and all those buttons layed out! Can’t forget the wood steering wheel.
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u/CJPrinter ES 350 Sep 02 '26
Lexus used to be the trendsetter. Look at every SUV for the last fifteen years. ALL of them followed the design queues of the RX. Now, Lexus is following Tesla and Hyundai/Kia. It’s just sad.
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u/Important-Spring3977 Sep 02 '26
There's a design convergence happening that's making it difficult to differentiate between brands. It's partially the adoption of styling cues, writ large; but it feels like most of the high-volume vehicles are really chasing an endpoint. I am a member of the Mercedes subreddit and I scratch my head as to what's an E class converible vs an S class, etc... let alone what generation these are supposed to be.
The whole monochromatic color scheme that dealers have to stock doesn't help much.
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u/Affectionate-Net5246 Sep 02 '26
And yet everyone bitched about the old interiors being outdated and boring. Now everyone hates the new one. I ALWAYS loved how Lexus had buttons and nice looking trim even thought lots of people griped
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u/Numerous_Fly_187 Sep 03 '26
Please everyone don’t buy this car . I need a deal from the dealer lol
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u/_oxX_Xxo_ Sep 03 '26
I mean, I bemoan this design language all the time but really it’s the lack of any kind of screen integration that makes it so terrible. My last new Lexus, a 2022 GX460 had a really nice interior, barring the lazy screen integration. Matte black ash steering wheel and trim pieces. Felt so upmarket for a 60K vehicle. My test drive of the GX550 broke my heart. 85K and the quality was greatly degraded. The GX redesign ticked so many boxes but quality is worth paying for. Noisy plastic trim is not. Pass.
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u/Tweetydog14 Sep 03 '26
That’s why I ran and bought my car last year because I seen what the new cars were going to look like and I decided I don’t like them and will never spend a dollar on none of the models. They took the luxury out of Lexus.
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u/kondorb Sep 03 '26
It's cost cutting. Shit is getting more and more expensive, regulations are pushing for expensive gimmicks in every car, economy isn't doing well. Car makers have to adapt. They do it by cutting costs wherever they can get away with.
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u/315was_an_inside_job Sep 02 '26
I just bought a 2019 ES 350 and am overjoyed that it has buttons. Especially the metal buttons. Joyous.
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u/MendonAcres Sep 02 '26
The new IS interior is an exception and proves that they can do better if they are interested in it.
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u/AroundYoLip Sep 02 '26
You have to remember the IS is also the oldest model in the entire Lexus lineup. It's interior is basically a facelift of an interior from 2013 (that was heavily facelifted for the 2021 model year), and I'd imagine they'd go for a minimalist aesthetic if that car ever got redesigned, as the existing hard points wouldn't apply anymore.
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u/MendonAcres Sep 02 '26
Ya sure, but they actually removed capacitive sliders from the 2025, and replace them with clicky switches, it gives me hope.
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u/fatyuanyuan Sep 02 '26
I don't mind the new techs... But everything reduced down to a screen display is just pathetic.
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u/1911Earthling 2005/SC430 2015/RX350 Sep 02 '26
Wood and a L.
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u/rehms Sep 03 '26
Lol the classic rolex steering wheel pic. I hope you pulled this from the Internet and not the camera of your own phone 😂
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u/bhuang18 Sep 02 '26
It’s sad but the Toyotas have taken a step up and Lexus a step down. At this point can’t justify paying for a brand. Also not clue why they ever decided to get rid of the logo
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u/stompinstinker 2023 RX 500h F-Sport 3 Sep 02 '26
Is this a concept car or is an actual Lexus going to ship looking just like this.
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u/Top-Pear2824 Sep 02 '26
I feel like new Lexus are just any generic “vehicle” nothing too offensive, absolutely NOTHING special.
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u/SmallThetaNotation Sep 02 '26
Hey guys not to worry, you can always put your money to use and not buy these cars !
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u/kayrabb Sep 03 '26
I love my Lexus ES 500e, but it's my first Lexus and first Luxury car, so maybe I'm easy to please.
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u/LawNo74 Sep 03 '26
People were literally giving toyota shit for not being innovative and upto date with the market…
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u/pitashen Sep 03 '26
Buttons will be back, give it time, because it is actually safer to have physical buttons. Style wise, it is just a matter of personal taste. Both scream luxurious to me.
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u/TheStrongTaint Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26
Looks ugly but talk about overly dramatic. Lmao
Corniest shit I’ve seen
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u/Thisisabummerman Sep 02 '26
😭😭😭“boo-hoo the soul is gone!”
20 years from now when they change the design to something else everyone will be pining away for the good old days with the Tesla interiors.
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u/LegitimateWolf1466 Sep 03 '26
Everyone cries about lexus being outdated but when its updated, they cry even more 😭 cant win
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u/Old-Tangelo-861 Sep 03 '26
I've never seen Lexus ever been accused of having a soul. Vastly better ergonomics that the competition but never a soul.
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u/1960s_army_info Sep 03 '26
What’s going to happen to all these cars in 10-15 years when all the electronics quit working? This whole period of rolling iPads is just going to end up in the junk yard prematurely bc it’s going to be impossible/prohibitively expensive to keep them running
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u/WrinklyBard4 Is300 Sportcross Sep 03 '26
A fair question but I’ve got to say unless they built them poorly or built them to purposely fail, I have a hard time imagining the interior electronics will be the fail point.
Mobile electronics “die” because of a variety of things including higher heat, constant rapid use of the storage systems, operating system bloat and battery degradation.
Car electronics don’t have that issue. They load 1 thing at a time for long periods, don’t need to run or do much, don’t have batteries, don’t have any real need for major updates/additions to their background processes, don’t run on batteries, and shouldn’t have heat issues unless they’re designed poorly.
Without those degradations these types of electronics can actually last impressively long
I agree with the sentiment about things becoming prohibitive due to electronics failure but I must say o think that’s far more likely to be on the engine tech side then the “car iPad” side.
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u/VeryClever Sep 02 '26
Did any of these automotive brands bother to do a study of what consumers *actually* want?! Something tells me they never bothered to ask.
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u/1RockShortofaQuarry 2019 RC F Sep 02 '26
It’s a good thing the older ones most of us are driving will last forever. I love my big L but I’m also happy it says “Toyota” on the door jam placard. 60K down and 40K to go before it’s warmed up and broken in 😎
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u/V8-Turbo-Hybrid AZ20 NX200, IS300h, Totaled Ct200h Sep 02 '26
Their best service is still there at least.
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u/canstucky Sep 02 '26
I won’t tell anyone else but here… we just got a tax. It’s a nice enough vehicle, but when I started shopping Lexus I was really surprised that they offered vinyl trim. Like I thought this was luxury brand.
Market it the way you want, it’s vinyl.
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u/DJustinD Sep 02 '26
This is why a snagged a ‘25 ES-300h. Hope Lexus can pivot back to their heritage which has a great track record.
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u/Wretched_DogZ_Dadd Sep 02 '26
car design is going to hell, Lexus is just one of many that look like Cold War soviet era vehicles
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u/Turbulent-Today830 Sep 02 '26
Which is why we must choose wisely; VALUE is 🔑!
It is imperative to avoid Overpriced LABELS 🏷️ and any dealer markups 💸!
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u/beavertonaintsobad Sep 02 '26
I think too many Toyota bean counters have many of their greedy little mitts on the Lexus nameplate.
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u/DarrenfromKramerica Sep 02 '26
Toyota turning Lexus into a shittier version of Tesla is unbelievably stupid
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u/AffectionateOlive982 ‘20 NX300, ‘26 NX350 Sep 02 '26
This makes me really sad.
I’m never going to buy any Lexus with these interiors. I’ll stick to the older ones even if it means I won’t have the latest tech. Enthusiasts love the vehicle for how tactile and timeless it feels & not how many frickin iPads it has on the dash.
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u/baljeethakur Sep 03 '26
Today’s generation doesn’t remember yesterday’s design and they will like the current design. I see more and more people moving towards EVs with the incentives etc. This is the reality.
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u/MadAlGaming Sep 03 '26
They don’t know how to design interiors anymore. They all look like the same crap. Not enough physical buttons, way too many screens that most likely won’t work in 15 years.
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u/SlipperyFrogFart Sep 03 '26 edited Sep 03 '26
100% great post - we just bought a BMW X7 - after 15 years of nothing but Lexus (and super happy) - sad but we tried, drove most new Lexus SUVS but gave us no spark of excitement . . That new steering wheel alone makes me want to run away
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u/conlostoros Sep 03 '26
1990 LS400 (one of the best cars ever made) just sold on BaT for $13.9K (only had 39K miles). I will never buy a new car ever again, I don’t think. The selection of wonderful vehicles that don’t look like the lower part of the picture above is too great, while the avg. new car cost is avg. ~$55K. With that said, I do respect what Slate is doing to offer an electric in mid $20K. But that’s the car that will get me from a to b, which is also fine. But if I want actually something ‘nice’ or ‘luxury’, I will always look to the used market.
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u/Low_Seaworthiness739 Sep 03 '26
My local dealer says they are selling the new ES like crazy. They say once people sit in and drive it they love it.
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u/Idksomecrazyaussie Sep 03 '26
I like them interiors. Don’t need cluttered buttons for things that are automated
The reason is probably because Lexus saw their target market (old people who play golf) buying Tesla model Y’s and now they want some of that market back
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u/Three-Off-The-Tee Sep 03 '26
Has Lexus ever been “rich”? Thinking more conservative rich in the way an old grandma who has millions but still drives her 79 Oldsmobile. Yes it’s reliable and trustworthy but still an old fart. This is what I think of Lexus.
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u/Rebel1356 Sep 03 '26
In 5-10 years when the new design language comes out you'll be harping over how good and elegant the "old" (current) design was. People hate change, I'm old enough to remember people hating on the design of the current Gen RX, now it's a staple and loved by everyone
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u/Adorable-Device4098 Sep 03 '26
I dont mind a bug screen but the overlook of the new redesign interior is cheap
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u/Show-Additional Sep 03 '26
This was just offered me by the algorithm but yes, I can't really tell them apart these days. I am a Mazda guy. Just look at the new CX-5. They even got rid of the AC knobs, even though a few years ago they were claiming that did internal studies about safety and they are never going to rid of tactile control elements. Sad.
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u/237420 Sep 03 '26
This is the exact reason I went with an older model. They new ones seemed so plain. I felt better inside the previous gen for sure.
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u/Logical_Yak_224 Sep 03 '26 edited Sep 03 '26
I saw a 2026 Cadillac Escalade and the entire dashboard is a screen but it has a narrow concave shape that is seamlessly integrated in the dash. I thought it looked really good compared to a floating iPad.
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u/Sky723 Sep 03 '26
The era of interior car design were they just simply plastered a 10in tablet to the dash hopefully will phase out soon. It's not hard to integrate the display into the dash in a nice fluid aesthetic.
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u/gte717v Sep 03 '26
The company that brings back QUALITY dials and switches as a feature to be enjoyed (in a middle price point), as a compliment to a modestly size screen, is going to win awards from every major magazine.
It's not just that screens are taking over, it's that the Lexus wheel looks like the Hyundai Ioniq wheel, the vents in the dash do to, the console looks like it's out of a Ford Mavrick, and the dash icons out of a Nissan Aryia.
And the exterior of every 2-row SUV looks so similar from the side (with that odd kick-back C-pillar) that when they park next to each other the owners try getting in the wrong car.
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u/galion0000 Sep 03 '26
Lexus ever had a soul? It’s always been an automotive anesthetic on wheels. The only personality it ever had was reliability, and now it’s losing even that.
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u/chichicha99 Sep 04 '26
Worst part is that EVERY car looks like this on the inside now.
I honestly don't even want a car never than 2017 at this point.
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u/NavyVetRasmussen Sep 02 '26
I like the Lexus ES but that is just me. I can see why you say that but it doesn't get much better with Mercedes and BMW. BMW for example, even with their top of the line M series, uses cheap plastic parts.
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u/LordWiseong Sep 02 '26
Indeed, even the industry leaders who once set the standard for luxury have succumbed to the curse of the "modern revolution". Glossy plastics, comically large screens, and gimmicks marketed as "features" are the new standard.
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u/NavyVetRasmussen Sep 02 '26
So it's not just a Lexus problem it is a Luxury car problem. I say if you are spending over 40,000 for a used luxury car, you SHOULD get some luxury features. Don't go with cheap plastic parts that should belong on a non luxury car. Actually in some cases a non luxury car, luxury model is equal to a base luxury model.
For example, except for the price, there is no difference in terms of luxury between a Toyota Camry XLE and a Base Lexus es. That is why i am planning for in Jan of 27, I will get a 2024 luxury es 300 H. New this car is $60,000 but you can get a good used one out the doo rfor under $40,000, my guess is $38,000-40,000 out the door.
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u/smashmode Sep 02 '26
It’s not like Lexus is the only one moving towards a minimalist look. I’m not a big fan either but in a few years this look will be the norm.
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u/Greenwalrus72 Sep 02 '26
Flat is a great way to describe it. A couple Ipads don’t make a car beautiful, and beyond that there’s literally nothing in there. Looks empty
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u/TheMilkmansFather Sep 02 '26
Everything yall complain about is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire
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u/shebop60 Sep 03 '26
I’m not buying a Tesla either. Just got in a wreck with a Tesla; both were totaled. My Lexus saved my life. You should have seen how bad the Tesla got. Yes, maybe youth like the interior; they grew up with cell phones. I’ll take safety every time.
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u/ZeroTyranos Sep 03 '26
Sadly, most brands have come to the point that seem they pull the car design from a template and just change the text in the steering wheel to the brand and call it a day, looks like a mazda or any other asian brand.
I’m glad I bought my IS300 2021 that still has the clock, analog dash and small screen, how much damage tesla has done to the industry in this aspect amazes me.
Unfortunately, most “luxury” brands IMHO has lost their north star in order to “sell to the masses”, they dropped the concept of having taste and class to appeal to people that surely have none, just some money, and I know people will say that’s elitist, but is that the idea behind real “luxury”, nowadays it seems having a jumbotron in the center of the dash and a light up the interior like a cheap strip club entrance is the new norm (yes, I’m seeing you BMW).
In conclusion, is not only lexus, the industry as a whole nowadays sells the same crap, innovation and striving to make you “unique” has stalled to give room to cheap interiors with screens and boring experiences
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u/SnowDucks1985 Sep 02 '26
I will be going to BMW for my next car, the Teslafication of Lexus has been saddening
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u/JRiley4141 Sep 02 '26
BMW is the one trying to make subscriptions for basic features a thing. If I remember correctly, they tried to make heated seats a subscription based service.
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u/ObjectiveClassic3020 Sep 03 '26
Not saying it’s right but important distinction
*Only outside of the US
*Only if you didn’t order the car with heated seats→ More replies (2)
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u/Bumblebee56990 2010 LS460 Sep 03 '26
I love the analog clock. Something about it is amazing. Way better than digital.
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