More safety and style for Lexus ES

Lexus Australia has released an upgraded ES large sedan line-up that brings a number of safety, design and chassis updates for $2000 extra at base level.

Now priced from $62,500 plus on-road costs, the revised ES range continues to open with the ES 300h Luxury hybrid, with the ES 350 V6 priced just $1000 higher and the Sports Luxury flagship commanding an $8000 premium for both powertrains.

Positioned just $5000 upstream of the mid-size IS sedan, which also increased in price but gained a new base engine this week, the bigger front-wheel drive ES continues as Lexus' fleet-friendlier sedan.

There is no F Sport version of the ES and Lexus Australia chief executive Sean Hanley said up to 60 per cent of ES hybrids -- which meet official hire-car requirements for size, boot space and fuel-efficiency in most states – are sold to non-private buyers.

However, with private customers accounting for 60 per cent of sales of the volume-selling ES 350, about 70 per cent of overall ES sales still went to non-business buyers.

"There's been a quick take-up of fleet customers for the ES, but we don't actively seek it and there are no big incentives," he said.

To better attract both private and business buyers alike, all ES models now gains LED headlight technology and daytime running lights, plus new fog lights in a revised front bumper with more aggressive Lexus 'spindle' grille with revised surround, better aligning the ES to the newer NZ and RC models.

At the rear there are new L-shape tail-lights and different exhaust outlets, plus new alloy wheels – 10-spoke for the 300h and 20-spoke for the 350.

There are four new paint colours and a panoramic glass sunroof is optional in the top-shelf ES 350 Sports Luxury for the first time in an Australian Lexus.

Inside, there's a new steering wheel, new 4.2-inch multi-information display, Lexus Remote Touch, new infotainment buttons, Shimamoky woodgrain trim from the larger GS sedan, seat trim quilting and colour-matched centre console trim.

Lexus says the midlife ES makeover also features improved body rigidity for better ride and handling, and a noise-reducing dashboard layer.

The 2015 ES is also the first model in Australia equipped with the latest Lexus Safety System+, which includes Pre-Collision Safety System (PCS), Active Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Automatic High Beam (AHB).

There are no other technical changes, the ES 300h continuing with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric drivetrain and the ES 350's 3.5-litre V6 remaining unchanged.

However, remaining standard in the base Luxury grades is blind-spot monitoring, a reversing camera with active guidance, embossed leather-accented trim, driver's seat memory, sunroof, satellite-navigation, DAB+ digital radio, auto headlight levelling and rain-sensing wipers.

The Sports Luxury flagships add semi-aniline leather accented trim, full LED headlights, Mark Levinson premium audio, three-zone air-conditioning, heated rear seats, passenger seat memory, rear-side sunshades and a powered boot lid.

Lexus returned the ES nameplate to its Australian line-up after a seven-year hiatus in 2013 and so far in 2015 sales are 39 per cent down on the new model's first full year of sales, with 282 registrations.