The new controller in the 2019 ES is different, that's for sure, but I personally don't expect any challenge in using it other than a learning curve.
After having a 2018 G80, and after test driving the 2019 G80 Sport and the 2019 ES350 Ultra Luxury while trying to decide between the two, I am finding that they are generally very similar vehicles both of which have their strengths and weaknesses, with the G80 Sport leaning towards more aggressive styling and driving and the ES350 leaning towards comfort. I appreciate the folding mirrors in the G80, for example, something that the ES doesn't offer in the US. The ES, however, has a thigh extension that rolls out from the seat so that there isn't any gap between the seat bottom and the extension, whereas in the G80, the thigh extension slides out and leaves a gap. Some other similarities and differences I noted:
- The G80 has heated back seats, the ES doesn't. However, the ES has automatic heated and cooled front seats and steering wheel that are tied to the automatic HVAC, whereas the G80 doesn't.
- Both have panoramic roofs. Both have electronic rear and manual side shades.
- Both have automatic headlights and windshield wipers.
- Both have remote start, lock and unlock, etc.
- The G80 has push-button exterior door handles while the ES has touch-sensitive door handles (touch the outside to lock and grab the handle to unlock).
- The G80 has an automatic trunk that opens after three seconds of standing behind the trunk, and the ES has an automatic trunk that opens and closes by a kick of the foot under the bumper. This one in particular is of interest to me as I disabled my automatic trunk on the G80 because I park backwards in the garage and every time I went to get in the car, the trunk would alert that it was about to open. That drove me nuts.
- Both have dual-screen setups (one in/on the dash and one in the instrument cluster). However, the one in the G80 is touchscreen and the one in the ES is not. The one in the ES, however, is a 12.3 inch widescreen display that looks incredible and Apple CarPlay specifically is excellent on the wide screen.
- The HUD in the ES is bigger and displays more information.
- The ES is able to read limited street signs such as speed limit signs (and displays the speed on the dash as a result), stop signs, yield signs, and do not enter signs (and warns of their presence).
- Both have lane keep functionality. The ES, however, seems to take it a step further by not only reading lane markings but, as necessary, locating the shoulder of the roadway and locking on to the vehicle in front. As I understand it, the preference is to read markings, but absent markings, the vehicle will look for the edge of the roadway and lock on to the vehicle ahead (but won't follow it off the road or into other lanes).
- Both have pedestrian detection, but the ES can detect pedestrians walking across the path of the vehicle (like the G80) and pedestrians walking in the same direction as the vehicle (unlike the G80). The same is true for bicycles, which I don't believe the G80 can detect at all.
- Both have tilt-down mirrors when in reverse, but the ES goes a step further by also turning the mirrors in when in reverse.
- The ES offers in-vehicle wifi, something that I can definitely use (and it's tied to Verizon, which is my carrier of choice).
Here's the kicker: both vehicles are proving difficult to buy. For the G80 Sport, there is limited stock in limited colors (unless I want black, or black, or perhaps black). For the ES, finding the Ultra Luxury isn't easy, although they are definitely out there (and I get to pay to ship them to me). Nevertheless I sent out feelers to get numbers from three different Genesis dealers and the responses I got were shockingly bad: they all landed in the $900 range. No way will I even consider that stupidity. I was able to get one dealer down to $771 with $2,000 down, which is still an abomination considering that I have the lease numbers for my area and the calculations work out to about $695. I sat down with a dealer yesterday afternoon on a black/black G80 Sport and they too started in the $900s. They ended in the $800s and gave up when I showed them the calculated lease numbers. "No way," they said. "Good bye," I said.
I will be happy with either vehicle, but I'm not going to be taken advantage of. I have been working with my local Lexus dealer to locate a vehicle, and it looks like today will be the day to move forward with signing for a 2019 Lexus ES350. The lease calculations are better (they are offering mid $600s but I will push them a bit lower), so I expect to end up in the Lexus. The last piece of the puzzle is what to drive while I wait for the ES to arrive? I am angling for a loaner, and they have agreed to giving me one as long as the vehicle I want is available, reserved, and can be shipped within a few days. If not, then I guess I'll continue renting for a little bit.
