2019 Lexus ES will be carmaker's first model to integrate CarPlay support

After Toyota unveiled its first CarPlay-compatible model, the Corolla Hatchback, last month, the Japanese carmaker on Tuesday announced plans to introduce Apple's infotainment system to its luxury division with the 2019 Lexus ES.

Revealed in a press release, the seventh-generation ES boasts the usual assortment of under-the-hood and aesthetic upgrades, but it's the cockpit where Lexus packed some of the most notable advancements.

Along with CarPlay and Siri Eyes Free voice control, ES models with navigation get a massive 12.3-inch dashboard display and onboard Wi-Fi powered by Verizon. Owners can also interact with Amazon Alexa, issuing car-to-home and home-to-car commands via voice. Models without navigation rely on a standard 8-inch display.

The setup is similar to Toyota's 2019 Corolla Hatchback, which offers standard CarPlay and Alexa integration, but foregoes Google's Android Auto.

Lexus opted to build the latest ES on Toyota's Global Architecture - K platform that underpins other new sedans like the 2019 Avalon. The new ES is slightly lower, wider and longer than its predecessor, giving the car a more aggressive stance while affording a bit of extra legroom inside.

Looking to enhance its image as a performance sedan, Lexus is offering an F Sport trim on ES 350 models. Aside from an Adaptive Variable Suspension, spoiler and Sport+ drive mode that selects the most aggressive engine, transmission and suspension settings, the package provides only aesthetic improvements.

Toyota first revealed plans to integrate CarPlay into select 2019 models in January, saying this year's Avalon and certain Lexus models would receive compatibility with the arrival of Entune 3.0. Last month, the company revealed CarPlay would also come standard in its UX crossover slated for release in December.

One of the last major CarPlay holdouts, Toyota just three years ago said it had no plans to support Apple's infotainment system and would instead concentrate on developing internal technology. Mazda was following a similar path, but last month announced CarPlay support in the 2018 Mazda6, as well as a retrofit kit for older vehicles with Mazda Connect.

The 2019 Lexus ES goes on sale in September. Pricing has yet to be announced.

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9 Comments

radarthekat 3902 comments · 12 Years

About 6 years ago

Finally Toyota and Mazda see the light. Cars need systems to seemlessky connect to the ubiquitous pocket supercomputers people carry everywhere they go. How long really would it have taken these global automobile manufacturers to figure that out? SMH

wood1208 2932 comments · 10 Years

Better late than never. Toyota also announced upcoming 2019 RAV4 SUV to support CarPlay. Hope, popular mid size family car like 2019 Camry supports CarPlay. Unless you are uninformed/ignorant, why anyone wants to buy(and drive next many years) new vehicle without such important phone connectivity in car like CarPlay ? Now a days, most car manufacturers support CarPlay or CarPlay and androidauto and has become biggest marketing/selling point.

MacPro 19838 comments · 18 Years

The 2019 Lexus ES goes on sale in September. Pricing has yet to be announced.

My wife will be thrilled. She's had two of these in a row and loved them and the dealership and only switched away from Lexus in 2016 because of lack of Car Play. I see a new Lexus in her future next year.

slurpy 5388 comments · 15 Years

MacPro said:

The 2019 Lexus ES goes on sale in September. Pricing has yet to be announced.

My wife will be thrilled. She's had two of these in a row and loved them and the dealership and only switched away from Lexus in 2016 because of lack of Car Play. I see a new Lexus in her future next year.

What did she switch to, out of curiosity?

slurpy said:

MacPro said:

The 2019 Lexus ES goes on sale in September. Pricing has yet to be announced.

My wife will be thrilled. She's had two of these in a row and loved them and the dealership and only switched away from Lexus in 2016 because of lack of Car Play. I see a new Lexus in her future next year.

What did she switch to, out of curiosity?

Well there's the irony, she switched to a Volvo which didn't have CarPlay either but her rational was it was a lot less expensive so if she couldn't have CarPlay on the car she wanted she may as well save money. I am still trying to figure out the logic. As it happened she likes the Volvo but misses the Lexus itself and especially the dealership where she got free car washes every week, great coffee / snacks when there and an office type area she could work from when in for a service and waiting. Plus of course anytime she ever needed a loaner it was a brand new Lexus ES not some junker or a cheap rental as with so many dealerships. I must say when I have been in the Lexus dealership with her it is a very impressive set up compared to my Jeep dealership.