2023 Lexus ES Interior and Cargo

Base models are fitted with perforated NuLuxe upholstery in your choice of Black, Acorn, or Palomino, all with Striated Black trim. A Premium package upgrade makes Black and Acorn NuLuxe with Open-Pore Black trim available, as well as Rich Cream with Open-Pore Black trim, Palomino with Open-Pore Brown Walnut, and - new for 2023 - Macadamia with Ash Bamboo. Luxury and Ultra Luxury models get quilted and perforated semi-aniline leather in the four hues mentioned above, with the relevant trim. F Sport Design models get NuLuxe leatherette, only in Black or Palomino with the relevant trim. The ES 350 F Sport Handling trim boasts something unique - its interior colors include Black, Circuit Red, or White NuLuxe with Hadori aluminum trim.

A leather-trimmed steering wheel is standard, but Luxury trims on the Lexus ES get a wood-and-leather combination to make the interior feel even more plush.

Midsize executives are expected to offer a decent amount of cargo space, and the 2023 Lexus ES's offering is par for the course in the segment. Pop the power trunk lid, and you're greeted with 13.9 cubic feet of trunk space. The rear seat doesn't fold down, which makes things a little inconvenient if you need to transport more.

For small items, the Lexus ES offers its occupants front and rear door pockets, a glove box, a center console storage space, a sunglasses holder, a couple of cupholders, and a spot to store your phone - which is also a wireless charging pad on the Luxury trim and up.

The slick Japanese luxury exec is packed with premium features, even in base guise, and the higher one climbs up in the range, the better it gets. The base model features goodies such as dual-zone automatic climate control, ten-way power-adjustable front seats, SmartAccess with push-button start/stop, and Wi-Fi capability. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 is comprehensive and standard across the board, equipping a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane tracing, lane-departure alert, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, a backup camera, and a blind-spot monitor.

Moving up to Luxury models adds leather upholstery, a 14-way power-adjustable driver's seat, wireless charging, heating and ventilation for the front seats, ambient lighting, power adjustment for the steering column, a heated steering wheel, and intuitive parking assist with auto braking and rear cross-traffic alert. Ultra Luxury trims get a standard 10.2-inch head-up display and a surround-view monitor. F Sport models get these benefits, too.

Last year, Lexus gave the infotainment display touchscreen capability and moved the screen closer to the driver for easier accessibility. This year, the touchpad controller disappears and the new Lexus Interface infotainment system has the "Hey, Lexus" assistant, SiriusXM, Wi-Fi, Apple Music and Amazon Music streaming, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and cloud connectivity that can be expanded by optional subscriptions to add Drive Connect and cloud navigation. The screen measures eight inches.

Ultra Luxury models get a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen display with a three-year Drive Connect subscription with cloud navigation and an intelligent cloud-connected "Hey, Lexus" assistant. Lexus offers audiophiles a superb Mark Levinson 17-speaker, 1,800-watt PurePlay premium surround sound system, which sounds best when blasting Mr. Oizo's Flat Beat at high volume. It's a great option over the standard ten-speaker Lexus Premium sound system included across the lineup as standard.