2022 Lexus ES Changes Include Touchscreen Infotainment

In many ways, the 2022 Lexus ES competes in a class of one. Similarly priced luxury sedans are smaller and less accommodating, while equally sized luxury sedans are more expensive. It’s not surprising the Lexus ES remains a popular model.

Changes to the 2022 Lexus ES make it more appealing than ever. You may need to look closely to identify the minor changes to the outside of the car, such as a new graphite-finish grille pattern for all but the F Sport trim. New bi-LED headlights with dynamic auto-leveling also debut, and several models receive new wheel designs and finishes. Iridium and Cloudburst Gray are new paint colors, replacing Silver Lining, Atomic Silver, and Nebula Gray.

In selected regions, Lexus will also offer a new 2022 ES 300h F Sport model. It is mainly a design exercise but will give hybrid buyers a sportier alternative to the more luxurious versions of the car.

Inside, the 2022 Lexus ES gets a revised dashboard for what Lexus claims is “a more streamlined appearance.” With Luxury and Ultra Luxury trim with Palomino premium leather, new black open-pore wood accents add panache to the cabin.

The new dashboard design supports one of the significant changes to the 2022 ES. The standard 8-inch and available 12.3-inch infotainment displays move 4.3 inches closer to the driver and passenger and now offer touchscreen control. The Remote Touch Interface (RTI) touchpad on the center console remains, but now there is less reason to use it.

Another substantial improvement to the 2022 ES pertains to its advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). The car upgrades from standard Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 (LSS+ 2.0) to standard Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 (LSS+ 2.5).

With LSS+ 2.5, the 2022 Lexus ES features a substantial list of safety enhancements:

• Upgraded radar and camera lens for expanded ADAS responsiveness
• New intersection turn assistance
• New emergency steering assistance
• Faster overtaking of slower vehicles when using the adaptive cruise control
• New Curve Speed Reduction for the adaptive cruise control
• Upgraded lane-centering assistance system performance

Additionally, every 2022 Lexus ES comes with standard blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning systems.

Dynamically, Lexus revises the ES’s rear suspension for improved ride and handling traits, updates the braking systems in both gas and hybrid models for enhanced feel and response, and installs a larger brake pedal. A new Dynamic Handling Package is optional for the ES 350 F Sport, equipping the car with Sport+ and Custom driving modes and a continuously variable adaptive suspension.

“Our goal was to deepen the high quality of the ES and to add new value. In addition to further improving quietness and ride comfort, we pursued linearity in vehicle movement, in response to steering wheel operation, that is faithful to the driver’s intentions,” says Lexus International Chief Engineer Tetsuya Aoki.

The updated 2022 Lexus ES release date is fall of 2021. Prices will be available closer to the car’s arrival in dealer showrooms.

Lexus is the source of information for this article. It was accurate on April 19, 2021, but it may have changed since that date.