Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

Join us and kick back in a luxury benchmark gone next-gen, the Lexus ES... Then, we'll see new efforts making headway against unnecessary idling... Our youngest tech preps a rusty pickup for a patch panel on "Your Drive."

Then, we'll see which compact cars are "Top of the Charts."

So, come drive with us, next!

Closed Captioning provided by Maryland Public Television.

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JOHN: Like most brands, Lexus sells far more SUVs than cars these days, but there was a time not too long ago when the ES sedan was their bread winner, and it remains their best-selling 4-door today.

Well, in order to keep that going in this new era, Lexus has made some big changes for the 8th gen ES.

So, let's find out what luxury-minded sedan buyers can now expect.

♪ ♪ JESSICA RAY: In the 1980s, Toyota thought the time was right to deliver something special for their U.S.

buyers, thus launching the Lexus brand.

The ES sedan was a big part of that original launch and remains an essential vehicle in their lineup.

For 2026, the Lexus ES is all-new, riding on a multi-pathway platform that allows for full battery-electric power or a traditional ICE setup.

Our focus this time around is the 350h hybrid.

Far from smooth, its new shape appears more segmented and disjointed; up front the spindle grille theme turns more into spindle face, taking inspiration from Toyota's recent EV offerings.

It has gotten a lot bigger, too: 6.5 inches longer on a wheelbase stretched by 3.1 inches.

It's also 2.2 inches taller and 4.5 inches wider.

The profile is similar to the Toyota Crown with a descending roofline that extends onto the trunk lid.

And despite the very hatchback vibes, there's still a traditional trunk here.

Opening that trunk reveals a cargo area with 13.3 cubic-feet of space, which is not quite as much as most midsize sedans these days.

As for the passenger portion of the interior, everything looks and feels very premium, perhaps even up a small notch from before, as the ES must also now attract full-size customers with the ceasing of LS production.

Like the Crown on the Toyota side of things, the ES is given a taller seating position to make SUV drivers feel a little more comfortable, and over here on the steering wheel "Lexus" is written out in new, classy-looking lettering.

But the biggest item inside is the 14.0 inch multimedia touchscreen.

It has the latest version of their Lexus Interface, and it is a lot nicer than before with big tiles and widgets to press, and a customizable home screen.

There's a tiny toggle shifter for gear selection, which opens up a lot more space on the console for the really important things these days, bigger cupholders and wireless phone charging pads.

Below the touchscreen is a volume wheel and a sleek-looking row of controls-- mostly climate.

Now, these appear haptic, but there are actual buttons behind the surface, so you get the modern look of haptics while having the feel of an actual button.

Two trims are available, Premium and Premium+, with the latter adding digital rearview mirror, 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio, head-up display, 360 degree camera display and the ability to use your smartphone as key for entry and operation.

GREG CARLOSS: For '26, the ES steps up to Lexus's 6th gen hybrid system; and by stepping up, we mean with both feet, as all ES models with a gas-powered engine are now hybrids.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 48 city, 44 highway, and 46 combined, both city and combined numbers up a bit over last year.

But the bigger news is that all-wheel-drive is available for the first time in the ES, with an additional motor added to the rear axle, but unlike other Toyota products, there's no power gain from it, as both are rated at the same 244 horsepower.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings for all-wheel-drive are 47 city, 42 highway, 44 combined.

Our test car is just front-wheel-drive, and we averaged a great 46.6 miles per gallon in our mixed-driving test loop, but as you can imagine, it's the ride quality that's the real highlight.

It is buttery smooth out here on the road.

The steering is light, making it easy to maneuver, and it's quiet.

Next, it was off to the test track to see how the bigger and more powerful ES performs.

This ES has 29 more horsepower than last year, but keep in mind this is a car that prioritizes poshness over performance.

Still, at launch there's enough torque for the front wheels to break traction and speed builds quickly, though the power does eventually level off for a nice, smooth ride down the quarter-mile.

Seven-point-one seconds to sixty is certainly adequate, with our best quarter-mile run coming in at 15.6 seconds at 88 miles per hour.

A CVT has been a staple of Toyota hybrids since day one.

It's not so noticeable on the street, but if you've got a lead foot, you'll certainly hear extended amounts of engine noise.

Through the cones, the suspension is soft.

You can definitely feel all the weight transfer, but it's not sloppy.

Stops from 60 were quite consistent at an average of 108 feet.

The brake pedal felt light and vehicle stability was good.

JESSICA: ES Pricing starts at $51,095; adding all-wheel-drive is just an additional $1,400, with Premium+ coming in at $55,895.

EV pricing is similar, but the base Premium 350e actually undercuts the hybrid, starting at $48,895.

While the 2026 Lexus ES features the brand's first flexible platform designed to accommodate both ICE and EV powertrains, it still has the same feel and presence it has had since the dawn of the Lexus brand.

And that's what will keep buyers coming back to the ES.

♪ ♪ JOHN: Reducing the time a vehicle spends idling when stopped not only saves fuel for the driver, but it also improves the air quality for everyone around it.

Now, nearly two-thirds of new passenger vehicles are equipped with an automatic stop-start feature, but for millions of drivers, the habit of shutting down when stopped for more than a few seconds needs to be a conscious decision.

So, forward-thinking communities are committed to reminding drivers of this through idle reduction campaigns, and they're getting the word out through many small voices.

♪ ♪ It's a scene that plays out five days a week in every neighborhood, in every corner of the country: Hundreds of vehicles converge on schools and daycares, line up across the parking lot and down the street... and they wait.

It's the afternoon pickup line, and more often than not, unfortunately, those vehicles are left idling-- for ten minutes, twenty, an hour-- while their drivers anticipate the school dismissal bell almost as eagerly as the students.

Now, think about how much time is spent idling in drive-thrus, at truck stops and during package deliveries.

In fact, idling vehicles in the U.S.

consume more than 6.0 billion gallons of gas and diesel every year, without even moving.

At two schools in Clark County, Nevada, a new pilot program is incorporating lessons on the benefits of idle reduction into the 8th-grade health curriculum.

This includes field trips to the county air quality lab to learn how pollution is measured and how tailpipe emissions affect the world they live in.

We visited the Lyle Burkholder Academy of Environmental Science, a magnet school where students are leading the charge to break the idle cycle, by creating informational posters, having parents sign anti-idling pledges, and even hosting podcasts on the topic.

(background chatter) LENICO: So, most of my friends, who I've told their parents, have told me that it's really not that big of a problem for them to stop.

So, they were onboard with it because it wasn't, like, a drastic, major change.

Of course, it could cause a major change within the atmosphere, but for them it didn't interfere in, like, their daily lives.

It was just something that you, like, do quickly and get it out of the way.

JOHN: It's no coincidence that the school system is prioritizing environmental education through initiatives like this.

DR.

JOANNE LEOVY: So, what we know from studies is that students who grow up exposed to a lot of air pollution on a regular basis actually have stunted lung growth, and that impacts them for the rest of their lives.

It triggers asthma, so it increases school absenteeism, and it's very important for brain health.

So, air pollution exposure reduces a student's ability to learn in a classroom.

So, we think it's really important that students themselves start to learn about this impact and, ah, are able to study it, and do something about it.

YOUSAF HAMEED: We find that engagement with students, especially at these middle schools and earlier ages, really helps develop them as good stewards of the environment as they continue to grow.

JOHN: Here's some points to keep in mind about idling your vehicle: If you are parked or waiting for more than 30 seconds, outside of active traffic, turning off the engine saves more gas than keeping it running.

A compact car burns about 0.3 gallons of gas-per-hour.

That climbs to 0.7 gallons- an-hour for large SUVs, and more than a gallon-per-hour for large commercial vehicles and trucks.

Prolonged idling can cause engine performance issues, increase maintenance costs and pose health risks for vehicle occupants and passersby.

It's great to see young students embrace this serious topic with such enthusiasm.

The Clark County idling reduction program will expand from two to three or more participating schools next year and will continue to grow.

This program, and others like it around the country, are encouraging our next generation of drivers to make smart choices behind the wheel, and that's a valuable lesson for all of us.

♪ ♪ JESSICA: If you drive long enough, chances are you'll eventually have a flat tire.

So, just change it out with a spare, right?

Well, did you know your brand new car may not come equipped with a spare tire?

Automakers have been eliminating spare tires for a number of reasons.

Cost savings is the most obvious one, but there's also weight savings to take into account, especially as carmakers strive for better fuel economy.

Electrification is another reason.

In a hybrid, that underfloor spare tire might be replaced by a battery.

And then, there's packaging.

Designers try to squeeze out every inch of legroom and cargo space until there's no room left for a spare.

Now, instead of a spare, you may find a tire inflator kit with tire sealant and a compressor.

But that's not going to fix every issue.

So, make sure you know what to do about a flat tire and spare yourself some roadside grief.

JOHN: A rusted fender on ol' faithful got you down?

Well, did you know it likely can be easily replaced by a custom patch panel?

Here's Giuseppe Iatarola with the first steps on MotorWeek's "Your Drive."

(car starts up) GIUSEPPE IATAROLA: If you've seen my segments on MotorWeek before, then you know my favorite cars are American classics.

I love restoring old cars and always have several projects in the works.

And one thing in common, I deal with a lot of repairing rust.

On most of my cars, I have to cut out the old rot and make a new patch panel myself.

But for many of the popular classic cars, muscle cars and newer vehicles, especially pickup trucks, the aftermarket makes ready-made patches for quarter panels, fenders, wheel-wells, and I'm going to show you how easy it can be done to install one on this 2004 Dodge Ram.

You can see here where the paint's starting to flake and the rust is starting to peek through.

The patch panel is shaped for this year and model to fit exactly up to the wheel-well, so alls we have to do is cut away the rust area, going a few inches beyond the damage so we have clean metal to attach it to.

You want to mark out a square or rectangle, and straight cut lines so it's easier for the new panel to fit.

Now, you don't want to use this entire panel if you don't have to, because heating up a large section of metal when you go to weld it on later can risk warping it.

You can cut the metal several different ways: You've got a whizzer wheel; a nibbler; a shawl, which is mostly used for straight edges; an air saw; and personally, me, I would use the electric wheel.

(sound of electric saw) I'm out of time for right now, but for the next part, my co-host Dan Maffett is going to show you how you how to attach the new panel and how to refresh the paint so everything matches.

So, be sure to tune in for that, right here at MotorWeek !

JOHN: We've got some seat time in something fresh, so join us for a new QuickSpin.

♪ ♪ JESSICA: The Volkswagen Atlas may be offered in select global markets, but it's always been a North American product first; and it's made here, too, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The same can be said for the all-new 2027 Atlas.

However, our First Drive brought us to Huntsville, Alabama, the city where Apollo's Saturn V rocket was designed.

The 2nd gen Atlas isn't exactly space age, but it is sleek, tech-forward and mission ready as a family hauler.

At 203 inches long, it's the largest in Volkswagen's fleet.

New bodywork sees a mostly hidden grille with embedded LED light bars.

With regular 87 propellant, this EA888 2.0 liter turbo-4 engine produces 13 extra horsepower, now 282 total, backed by a little less torque, now 258 pound-feet.

Good, upscale materials mask the practical nature of the cabin.

Up front, a 12.9 or 15 inch infotainment screen serves as the primary interface.

But not everything is left to cyberspace.

KYLE SCANLON: Volkswagen made my heart so happy because they no longer only have the touch slide for the volume control in the infotainment system.

There is actually a physical knob right down here that not only controls that, but it does control your drive modes as well.

So, you can turn the volume up, kick it into sport in the same dial and just take off.

JESSICA: The 2027 Volkswagen Atlas is cleared for reentry onto dealership lots this fall, starting around $41,000 up through the mid-50s.

GREG CARLOSS: Grand Junction, Colorado, once an epicenter of U.S.

uranium operations, was recently aglow with a different type of refinement: an updated 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Aglow, indeed, as the new bodywork radiates with a cosmos of Mercedes stars.

And inside, an array of three 12.3 inch panels lights up the massive digital interface, dubbed "Superscreen," under one pane of glass.

As for powertrains, the GLE's standard offering is a 255 horsepower 2.0 liter turbo-4.

Stepping up from the GLE 350 to the GLE 450 introduces a thoroughly revised and more satisfying 3.0 liter turbo inline-6, now rated at 375 horsepower.

More impressive still is the GLE 580, rocking a 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8, good for 530 horsepower and uprated with new internals, like a sweet flat-plane crankshaft.

And then, there's the plug-in hybrid GLE 500e, which partners the inline-6 with an electric motor and a 25 kilowatt hour battery for 429 horsepower.

Of course, efficiency is a huge deal with plug-in hybrids, but there are some performance benefits.

So, for that, we'll go into "sport" mode, and we'll drop a few gears and we'll get into it.

(engine revving) Now, that's a big difference from the 450 and even the 580 which has the V8.

And over on the AMG side, the GLE 53 Hybrid starts it off with 577 horsepower from its inline-6-led plug-in system, while the GLE 63 S borrows the 4.0 liter V8 for a total output of 603 horsepower.

The 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE starts around $64,000, working up to nearly $100,000 for a top-level AMG.

We covered them in greater detail in our First Drive.

Check it out online, and stay tuned for more QuickSpins, soon!

JOHN: Despite America's voracious appetite for SUVs and pickups, cars still make up about 20 percent of new vehicle sales.

They remain a true player by being more affordable to own and operate, and the fact that they are often more enjoyable to drive.

And these days you don't have to go big just so the family can ride in comfort.

So, here's a rundown of compact cars that buyer's think are "Top of the Charts."

♪ ♪ Acknowledging that compact cars have become the new family car for many households, and that sedan sales are on the rise here in the U.S.

mainly due to higher gas prices, here's a look at the top five sellers in the compact car segment.

And it should come as a surprise to no one that the top seller in the compact car segment is the Honda Civic.

This staple for first time car buyers continues to sell in big numbers and comes with a standard 150 horsepower 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine for a starting price of $25,990; $30,690 will get you a hybrid powertrain that delivers an additional 50 horsepower, as well as a boost in fuel economy from 36 combined to 49.

It's a big step up, but we feel the Hybrid delivers a much better overall driving experience, something to consider if you don't need an entry-level ride.

Also, no surprise, following the Civic is the Toyota Corolla.

Here, we feel the $24,620 base LE comes more than well-equipped enough to keep both new buyers and budget minded families well satisfied.

That includes its standard 169 horsepower 2.0 liter I4.

But, stepping up to the Corolla Hybrid costs less than two-grand, at $26,470, and boosts the combined fuel economy rating from 34 to 50; and all-wheel-drive is even available with the hybrid for another $1,400.

It's the only member among the list of top five sellers with available AWD.

Hyundai has made big strides in this segment over recent years, as their number three Elantra offers a lot of features for a starting price of just $24,120.

You can step up all the way to top Limited for only $28,670 and get bigger screens, luxury-minded synthetic leather upholstery, and additional active driving features.

A hybrid is available here too, starting at just $26,945 and boosts the combined fuel economy rating as high as 54; up from the 35 combined of the standard 147 horsepower 2.0 liter I4 engine.

Of course, Hyundai continues to attract buyers by delivering America's Best Warranty, 5-years/60,000 miles coverage for the whole vehicle, and 10-years/100,000 miles for the powertrain, while its top-five Japanese brand competitors provide a 3-years/36,000 miles vehicle warranty with 5-years/60,000 miles for powertrain.

The fourth bestselling compact car in the U.S.

is currently the Nissan Sentra.

It earned that by offering great comfort, more than capable handling, sporty style, lots of interior space, and comprehensive tech and safety features, including 12 inch touchscreen infotainment, lane departure mitigation and even adaptive cruise control, for a starting price of just $24,265.

Though, the fact that Nissan recently stopped selling their sub-compact Versa sedan has certainly contributed to Sentra's popularity as well.

The Sentra's 149 horsepower 2.0 liter I4 gets a combined rating of 33, but no hybrid is available.

For just $26,265, the sporty SR adds 18 inch alloy wheels, dark exterior trim, and sport seats with upgraded cloth and contrast stitching.

Rounding out our look at the Top five best-selling compact cars is the Kia K4.

It's a platform mate to the third place Elantra and shares its 147 horsepower 2.0 liter I4.

Replacing the Forte in the Kia lineup just last year, the K4 quickly built a following due to its dynamic style, spacious rear seat, and numerous tech features.

It also has the lowest starting price on the list at $23,535, and like the Elantra, comes with a 5-year/60,000 mile full vehicle warranty with 10-year/100,000 miles for the powertrain.

But unlike the Hyundai, there is no hybrid option with the Kia, and it comes with a combined rating of 33 miles per gallon.

EX grade would be our choice here, adding upgraded materials, a 12 inch digital driver display and 17 inch alloy wheels for $25,375.

Well, that's our look at the top five selling rides in the compact car segment.

We'll be back in a few weeks with a look at very popular compact SUVs.

Well, that's our show, I hope you enjoyed it.

Now, for more MotorWeek , including daily news updates, podcasts, and even complete episodes, cruise on over to PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

And I hope you'll join us next time for a spunky EV with a posh upbringing, the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250e, and our review of the new and very tech-forward Audi Q3.

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

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MotorWeek is proudly sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper, a nationwide network of stores and shops providing major brand auto and truck parts, and service from coast to coast, and in your local community.

Learn more at AutoValue.Com and BumperToBumper.Com.

We're Tire Rack.

We test tires, then share our results.

We stock over a million tires.

We offer multiple installation options.

We do this because we believe tires matter.

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