So for years, my mother dreamed of owning a luxury car. So five years ago (after the Toyota Camry my father was driving was totalled), they bought a brand-new Lexus ES 350. I said to them that if they just bought a fully loaded Toyota Camry, they’d get basically the same thing.
So was that a valid argument? If you look at a Camry or a Corolla they look superficially similar to Lexus models. Are there substantial differences? What about a loaded Chevrolet versus a Cadillac, or a Nissan versus an Infiniti?
(Keep in mind that it’s a purely hypothetical question; they did buy the Lexus but being retirees in their 80s have put only about 40,000 miles on it in five years.)
i believe that Lexus, Acura and Infinitis are Japan built and provide a higher trim level than Toyotas, Hondas and Nissans built in the USA. Also they are made for export. In Japan they drive Japan built Toyotas, Hondas and Nissans. But come with higher level options than USA built versions.
I’ve never owned one, nor do I have any desire to own a luxury car, but I have heard some people claim that the Toyota Avalon is a better value than any Lexus. It’s supposedly just as nice as a Lexus, but you don’t have to pay for the Lexus brand.
Who remembers the Cadillac Cimarron? That car was pretty obviously just a loaded Chevy Caviler with some Cadillac trim pieces added. Maybe there there were some additional options one could get on a Cimarron that weren’t available on a Caviler, but in most respects it was a Cavalier.
As for Cadillac’s current lineup, one could probably say the same about the Escalade and the Suburban. Maybe the other SUVs/crossovers. Not sure about the sedans.
I think there was some lawsuit brought to Toyota/Lexus a while ago because the engines in the Avalon and Lexus equivalent were the same, exact engine, but the Lexus was a lot higher cost, with similar options. I cannot find that article, but there is this one…
The Toyota Avalon is a better value proposition than ever, because it shares a lot of the same components with the Lexus ES, while costing less. It has a good mix of high-tech and luxury features and comes off as a high-end sedan, which really makes it difficult to justify the ES’ higher price tag.
I probably would not buy a Lexus other than one of their sporty models that is not a replica of a Toyota. I know one family that ONLY owns Lexus vehicles but I think that is just for looks.
I think that the Lexus had options that were not available on the other brands (self leveling headlights?), and probably different seats. I’m not sure a direct comparison on handling is possible – I don’t think there was a real ‘sports’ model of the Lexus, and the RWD models would have handled like RWD, not FWD
I drive a Toyota Prius and my wife has a Lexus CT200h. While it’s not a perfect analog, the CT is based on the Prius platform and drive train. The two cars handle very similarly and the technology packages are nearly identical.
They are both fine cars, but the Lexus just seems to have that little extra notch of comfort. The ride is just a bit smoother, a bit quieter, a bit more solid. It’s not a huge difference, but it’s detectable.
Why would you do that? Do you think you’re being “helpful” or something, as if they’d say “oh dear, you’re right! We’ll take this back right away and get a Camry”?
The GS is rear wheel drive (the Camry is FWD,) has upgraded interior materials and is built more for a traditional luxury/comfort feel. Maybe they just wanted to treat themselves to a nice car and didn’t really need your unsolicited criticism.
To be clear, I told them this before they bought the car and also, to be clear, they bought an IS350, not a GS-whatever. I have no idea whether it’s front-wheel or rear-wheel drive, but I doubt it really matters, as my mother drives like an 83-year-old, which is what she is. And, yes, as I made clear in the OP, they wanted to treat themselves to a nice car and certainly they could afford it, which is why I didn’t press the point.
Thats an interesting article, but the cost difference is minor.
The most obvious difference between the Avalon and the ES is the price contrast between the two vehicles. Pricing for the 2019 Avalon starts at $36,830 (prices include destination), while the 2019 ES 350 is $4,095 more with a starting price tag of $40,925. That’s a large difference that could see you make the move up to the Avalon XSE trim, which costs $39,330, and still have a large amount of money leftover
Thats a pretty minor difference, about $1600 between an Avalon XSE vs a Lexus ES. Thats not a huge savings. Plus even the article mentions that the Lexus has advantages.
As a Lexus, the ES comes with more luxury features. A power moonroof, a 10-speaker sound system, a Wi-Fi hot spot system with 4GB of data, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, perforated NuLuxe interior trim, bi-LED headlights, and LED taillights are standard on the ES. The ES also has a more upscale list of available features over the Avalon.
The ES is backed by a more extensive warranty than the Avalon. Basic warranty for the ES is 12 months and 14,000 miles longer than the one Toyota offers for the Avalon. When it comes to the sedans’ powertrain warranty, Lexus backs the ES with a 72-month/70,000-mile warranty, which is 12 months and 10,000 miles longer than the Avalon’s. While both cars come with an unlimited-mile anti-corrosion warranty, the ES’ lasts 72 months, while the Avalon’s is for 60 months.
The article also says that before 2019, Lexus was worth the extra money.
Before the 2019 model year, there was a large difference between the ES and the Avalon. Lexus’ option was the clear winner, boasting nicer touches, more luxury features, and more high-tech goodies. But the new models are more competitive than ever,
So that article is interesting but not super persuasive. An extra $1600-4000 for a stronger warranty and nicer trim is worth it to some people.