6 days ago
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The six-year-old Lexus ES sedan has been facelifted in China – where it is popular – but a brand-new model with fresh bodywork is in the works.
The 2025 Lexus ES luxury sedan has received its second 'facelift' since the current model launched six years ago – but it may be exclusive to China and never see Australian showrooms.
The ES has been given a second styling revision in China – where it is popular, previously accounting for half of Lexus sales – with refreshed styling and new technology in line with newer Lexus SUVs.
It is expected to be marketed as a stop-gap measure until a new-generation ES – with DNA from the latest Toyota Camry – is introduced.
Japanese reports suggest the next-generation model is due in the second half of next year, with a choice of hybrid or electric power – and styling previewed by Lexus at a new-vehicle showcase three years ago.
Drive has contacted Lexus Australia to confirm local plans for the updated ES, which is offered in China in 2.0-litre ES200 petrol and 2.5-litre ES300h petrol-electric hybrid forms.
The Lexus ES for China is currently manufactured in the same factory that builds right-hand-drive examples for Australia.
The 2025 ES wears an updated front fascia with a new grille insert inspired by the 'spindle body' grille of the latest RX SUV – with body-coloured inserts along its upper section – and fresh dual L-shaped signatures for the matrix LED headlights.
New full-width tail-lights with four L-shaped signatures are fitted at the rear, with 'LEXUS' script replacing the 'L' badge.
Inside, the ES gains the 14-inch infotainment touchscreen from newer Lexus cars, incorporating the climate controls – and featuring two large dials that overlap with the screen.
It runs the latest Lexus software, including voice control claimed to feature "an optimised natural language understanding model".
The gear selector has been restyled, but contrary to leaked images, the part-digital instruments have not been replaced by a widescreen 12.3-inch cluster.
There are two new interior colour schemes – Snowy Night White and Cinnabar Snowy White Night Two-Colour – with the car pictured in these images optioned with red semi-aniline leather upholstery.
No changes are listed to the engines, which in China are focused on the same 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, electric motor and nickel-metal-hydride battery in the ES300h hybrid.
The ES has not upgraded to the fifth-generation hybrid technology in the Camry – with a lithium-ion battery and more power (170kW vs 160kW) – which is likely to be reserved for the next-generation model.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
