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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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.
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!