Product homogeny is a funny thing. While it does offer a level of cohesion across a brand’s vehicles, sometimes increased unification isn’t an improvement if it isn’t a clear upgrade over what came before. For instance, the Lexus ES is about to receive a facelift in at least some markets, and a leaked owner’s manual scan reveals that tech updates might banish an excellent feature from the sedan’s interior.
The Lexus ES might be the best luxury sedan to buy if you just want a nice car. Sure, more expensive and more gadget-laden cars exist, but given the proven track record of the 3.5-liter 2GR-FKS V6 under the hood of the ES 350, this is a nice car you could buy and not have to worry about for 10, 15, even 20 years. There’s a certain luxury in that. Plus, the cabin’s filled with brilliant little details.
The interior door handles are pure LC 500, an idea cribbed directly from a six-figure flagship coupe. The temperature displays for the climate control system digitally flip through numbers like an echo of analog odometers, the extensive wood on luxury-oriented trims feels rich in an age of aluminum everything, and the little ears on the sides of the cluster hood are fun ways of changing drive modes. However, none of those are the best singular detail of the cabin. If you take a closer look at the dashboard, you’ll find something truly genius.
See that? It appears to be a knob but it’s actually two. Yes, what you’re looking at is a volume knob set concentrically inside of a tuning knob, and it’s glorious. Not only does it have an expensive-feeling resistance to it and a pleasing satin finish, it’s also an ergonomic masterstroke. The Lexus ES isn’t a small car, and as such, the far end of the dashboard can feel like a bit of a reach. By nesting the volume knob within the tuning knob and moving both close to the driver, Lexus made dialing a new station thoughtful and easy. It’s the sort of control implementation that makes you wonder why every car isn’t like that.
Unfortunately, it’s also the sort of setup that could be going away soon. A leaked drawing on social media that’s very much in the style of Lexus’ vehicle handbooks suggests that the 2026 Lexus ES will be getting the brand’s new larger infotainment screen, and the concentric volume and tuning knobs may be on their way out. While it makes sense from a cost amortization perspective to implement the same infotainment screen setup across as many vehicles as possible, it doesn’t always lead to the best user experience, especially when screen real estate isn’t everything it seems.
For instance, here’s the 14-inch infotainment screen in the Lexus TX. While it sounds plenty big, look at how much screen real estate is taken up by climate controls that really could’ve been buttons and switches. As a result, the space you get for maps and phone mirroring definitely isn’t 14 inches diagonally, so is it really an upgrade over the optional 12.3-inch infotainment screen in the current Lexus ES? Answers on a postcard, please.
It’s worth noting that this infotainment change might be for China only, or it might just be a concept. However, if it comes to existence in America, we’ll mourn the loss of the concentric volume and tuning knobs on the Lexus ES. It was an excellent idea that deserved more widespread adoption, as it really was a treat to use.
(Photo credits: Lexus, Thomas Hundal)
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Lexus interior design peaked with the Chronometer style gauge cluster of the 2001-2006 IS300.
This larger screen, frankly, is a waste. It it looks worse than the 12.3, the way the controls are currently integrated into the dash is great. The entire dash currently looks exactly like what I’d want from an ES, more of a balance between tech and ergonomics. The new design looks cheaper than the current one, because once you start removing so many components what differentiates it from a Toyota? Most of the buttons currently in the ES dash are fairly premium and pleasant- I love the knobs for the temp control and the metal media seek buttons.
The moving of the seat heater from buttons (that are very convenient to access) to the screen is stupid- too high up and no ability to turn them on by feel. And it’s harder to read the current seats status on a glance when it’s in the screen vs normal illuminated buttons.
And you are correct- we have another Lexus in the family with the 14” screen and I’m about 99.99% certain that CarPlay (and all other media that fill that portion) is indeed smaller on that screen because of the vertical height taken up by the climate controls.
The removal of those horns on the instrument cluster is a neutral change- ultimately we rarely touch them. It’s not as though we need to change drive modes or turn of TC regularly.
I knew this was coming ultimately, I’m glad we got our ES when we did. At least they kept the wood trim at least, it looks like? The ES is one of the few that still has lots of it and I was worried they’d “modernize” it like they have been their other cars.
Bummer. I use the volume knob and tuner in the ioniq 5 every time I drive. It’s so much easier to adjust the volume with a knob. Like when you are driving with the windows down and you park. Way easier to turn the volume down with a knob. Plus I scan the decades stations on SiriusXM with the tuner. One of the many things I love about the setup of my ioniq 5. My dad just got a new Model 3 and it is absolutely maddening using the touch screen for everything,
…and right after I use the radio I’ll tell the grandkids about when bread used to cost a nickel…
You’re older than I am.
I doubt it.
And you had to slice it yourself
You could bake your own bread. Last time I did the math maybe a year ago the cost of ingredients worked out to $0.25 for a 24 oz loaf. It tastes MUCH better than store bought too.
Great, removing it from the car with the oldest user base, when they should be adding it to the rest of the fleet. No reason why that knob couldn’t fit on the bigger screen.
And yet the thing still feels like a cramped coffin inside. The stupid center console is like a quarter of the width of the entire interior of the car. I should know, I have to daily drive one for like a week at a time every month.
This is annoying, especially since to turn off the traction control system for the entire time the car’s on and not just until it gets above 15MPH you have to sit there and hold the left dial all the way for five seconds. You drive an ES where you have to stop and turn it off every thirty minutes because of who you’re transporting and this becomes an actual literal pain because of the angle your wrist has to be at.
Psst, the top shot says “cocentric”
Honda had the marvelous camera based Lane Watch, but it went to boring BLIS and was no more. It was the best.
I don’t tune my radio, other than for initial setup of my presets. I know my stations, so a digital input would actually be more efficient.
For that matter, I don’t listen to radio anymore; not even for the late and insufficient traffic updates.
I don’t play music or listen to radio anymore. So it’s irrelevant.
It’s a Lexus ES, the average owner thinks Spotify is what happens when bread gets moldy
Hey, if they made cars more old people friendly, I’d buy one. Less tech is less distractions
Can’t edit my other post, but remembered to point out: the 23-24 ES has both a digital type-it-in option and the fancy tune knob. There is nothing gained here, only lost
My phat fingers would not be able to move one without moving the other.
Used to be an issue on the old radios that had balance and fade behind the tunning and volume knobs. I would essentially have to use my fingertips to turn the inner knob and try hard not to hit the outer back knob. This version looks even harder with the really shallow inner knob for the volume.
I had an ES loaner, and this was my least favorite part of the car.
Maybe I overlook most of them but it seems like every time I notice a Lexus ES it’s because it’s not keeping up with traffic and in everyone’s way, usually followed by the long line of vehicles it’s holding up.
I’m terribly curious what drivetrain the new ES will have. The Camry is full hybrid four cylinder, will the ES be Turbo-4 hybrid or V6 hybrid to create the step up? Will the ES get a plug-in option good for 300+hp? Will any of these go into making a GR Camry?
My guess is it will have the same options as the Crown. Base NA hybrid for fuel economy and turbocharged Hybrid Max for performance.
Toyota seems to be standardizing a lot of their mass market cars and CUVs around those two powertrains.
ES350 – great car. Pretty. V 6 is the way to go
Most older radios had these double knobs. Left was L-R balance and right was F-R fader if I recall.
I donno, I VASTLY prefer a knob for climate, and it appears that they have done that. Never liked stabbing at a button/rocker for temperature changes.
I would much rather have a knob for temp control than audio volume.
I’m changing the temp a lot more often than the volume and usually do the latter with steering wheel buttons anyways.
What about the climate sliders we used to get?
That’s my all time favorite. I have vehicles that feature all types of climate interface (except for touch only thank god). My mercury has only buttons, its annoying. Volt has an incredibly confusing set up, but at least it has a knob + buttons, and my tracker has three sliders that I know how to perfectly manipulate just by feeling alone.
Love the sliders! My Miata has the temp slider and a slider for where to point the vents. It’s perfect!
Am I the only one who really hated the sliders?
My sister and I liked to pretend the sliders in our Volkswagen van were transporter controls like the original Enterprise had.