The Lexus LS sedan “sunsetting” and leaving the market makes more space for the Lexus ES, which is a good thing, as it has just got longer, wider, and taller. For 2026, the ES gets a new generation, gains an all-electric version, and becomes more luxurious at its higher trim levels. Perhaps most importantly, there’s no gas-only engine version, so the choice now is hybrid or all-electric.
The 11th generation of the ES sedan concentrates on space, technology, and efficiency. The all-electric versions use a 74.7-kWh lithium-ion battery pack with either one or two electric motors depending on the trim level, and 307 miles of EPA-estimated range for the entry-level ES 350e on its standard 19-inch wheels – and we’ll get to that. The hybrid version uses Lexus’ clever sixth-generation gas-electric hybrid system based around a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
An ‘e’ following the model number in the Lexus naming system denotes an all-electric drivetrain, while an ‘h’ denotes the vehicle is a gas/electric hybrid.
Base Trim Engine
2.5-liter inline-4 hybrid
Base Trim Transmission
e-CVT
Base Trim Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
244 HP
Base Trim Torque
175 lb.-ft. @ 5000 RPM
Segment
Midsize Luxury Sedan
Pros & Cons
- Electric drivetrains make the ES feel fully premium
- Interior design is top notch
- Quiet cabin and smooth ride
- Excellent interior space for four adults
- Mature and attractive infotainment software
- Hybrid is very fuel efficient
- Hybrid system gives a lesser driving experiance over all-electric models
- Some useful features will be paywalled after three years
Most interestingly of all this, however, is that the all-electric Lexus ES 350e Premium is the entry-level model in the entire lineup, starting the pricing ladder at $47,500, including delivery. We spent a day in San Diego, California, driving both versions of the car back-to-back to see what the new generation is like.
First Drive events provide our initial impressions of a vehicle in a restricted environment under certain time constraints. Keep an eye on CarBuzz for our comprehensive Test Drive review which will follow soon.
What’s Changed For This Model Year?
The Lexus ES is now Lexus’s biggest sedan and physically larger than the outgoing model. The new ES marks the shift where Lexus is leaving gas-only powered vehicles behind. It introduces the brand’s latest safety technology with Lexus Safety System+ 4.0, which is extensive, to say the least. It’s also designed to provide “more natural and human-like active safety interventions” when needed and is now one of the least intrusive systems we’ve used.
Another big selling point for 2026 is that the ES gets the latest infotainment software and technology, accessed through a 14.0-inch touchscreen – and the software is a big update in style and substance.
Design & Style: Bigger, Faster, Stronger
Strengths
Weaknesses
- Larger proportions mean better interior space
- Gets fastback proportions right
- 19-inch wheels standard
- 19-inch wheels require big tires
If you like Lexus’s design language, you’re going to like the new Lexus ES. The proportions aren’t classic, but they work. There are creases and lines in the right places, and it’s not overcooked; it has that coupe or fastback style, but it’s not a hatchback. Instead, there’s a generous-sized trunk.
You can quickly tell the difference between the all-electric version and the hybrid by looking at the nose of the car, as the hybrid has a slit across the grille for extra airflow. Lexus has bought wholesale into the idea of a single light bar across the rear of the car and has added an illuminated Lexus badge to the design. An illuminated front badge will be an option in the future.
All Lexus ES trims, or “grades” come with 19-inch wheels, but the all-electric ES 350e and ES 500e can be optioned with 21-inch wheels at the expense of range. For an idea of how much the ES has grown, the all-electric version has a 3.1-inch-longer wheelbase, an additional 2.2 inches in width, 6.5 inches in length, and is 4.5 inches taller than the outgoing model. All the lights are LED as standard.
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Interior: Not Minimalist
Strengths
Weaknesses
- Excellent use of design and materials
- Plenty of space for adults, front and rear
- High quality infotainment display and software
- Some useful features tied to a subscription
For some reason, Lexus describes the interior as minimalist, which it is not, and undersells how lovely a job the designers have done. While not maximalist by any means, there’s depth and texture with a cohesive and inherently Lexus feel. The Luxury trims are based around a bamboo theme, including an LED-backlit layered bamboo wood-trimmed door panel design with bamboo trim on the center console.
This reviewer rarely has strong opinions on steering wheels as something to look at, but the Lexus ES’s steering wheel is the perfect example of how the designers have enjoyed playing with layers and shapes. It’s a small steering wheel, but a pleasure to use – down to the smooth leather covering. I was not expecting to be impressed by a steering wheel, but it is a highlight in an interior that demonstrates Lexus at its best.
In terms of size, there’s plenty inside the ES with the new exterior dimensions translating into legroom in the rear and elbow room for everyone. Lexus was keen to tell us about its new Executive package, which adds power-adjustable seats in the back. The outboard rear seats are heated and cooled and even include a “deployable” ottoman, a massage function, and a multi-zone automatic climate
control system. Of course, I had to pull over for 20 minutes and test this all out, then carried on with my drive, nice and refreshed. And, at 6’1″ with long legs, I had plenty of legroom behind the driver’s seat without having to adjust my driving position.
Infotainment: All The Features
2026 Lexus ESIan Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet
Lexus has ticked off a long list of technology features a modern premium all-electric vehicle should have, including wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The infotainment system is based around an excellent, not-too-big-and-not-too-small 12.3-inch Multi-Information Display for the driver, and a centrally mounted 14.0-inch touchscreen. The touchscreen is thin, but the resolution is sharp, and the blacks are deep. The new interface is smooth and quick to respond, and pretty to look at. The menu system is well thought-through and includes a useful new home menu capable of displaying multiple widgets of information at the same time.
As lovely and feature-rich as the new system is, there are some caveats: A Drive Connect trial followed by a subscription is required for Cloud Navigation, Intelligent Assistant, Remote Connect, and Wi-Fi Connect. That means if you want to, for example, remotely lock or unlock the doors, remotely start your car, adjust the climate control, or check the vehicle’s health, then you have to have a subscription. A three-year Remote Connect trial is included, but after that owners have to pay for features on their car.
Premium trims include a 10-speaker Lexus Premium Sound System, while Luxury trims include a 17-speaker 1,800-watt Mark Levinson
PurePlay Surround Sound System. And the Mark Levinson system is wickedly good once you crank the volume up enough with stock settings – it’s a remarkably clean sound with crisp highs, clear mids, and well-controlled bass. It’s not a system I would describe as having personality, but leans into playing music as directly as possible from the file. As a result, you can clearly hear the difference between compressed files on Spotify and higher bitrate files from a phone’s storage or a high-quality stream.
Powertrain & Driving: Covering The Bases
Strengths
Weaknesses
- All-electric powertrain is strong and smooth
- Balanced and well-measured driving experience
- Cabin is well insulated
- Hybrid system feels less refined compared to all-electric
- Suspension is smoother on hybrid models
We spent quality time with both all-electric and hybrid models, and the short explanation is that the all-electric version is much more pleasant to drive. It generates either 221 horsepower (ES 350e) or 338 hp (ES 500e), but by nature of being electric, the torque is delivered instantly, and all of its power is delivered smoothly and quietly. The hybrid system is based around a 2.5-liter gas engine with an electric motor helping it to make a total of 244 horsepower.
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The all-electric 350e and hybrid 350h reach 60 mph in 7.4 and 7.3 seconds, respectively, while the 500e is brisk to accelerate and able to hit 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Accelerating quickly to freeway speeds in the hybrid feels labored and not the premium experience of a $50,000 sedan. The 350e makes up for a lack of overall power with its instant torque and smooth delivery. However, the ES 500e nails it with quiet but assured smooth power.
2026 Lexus ES Engine Options
350h
350e
500e
Engine
2.5-liter hybrid
All-electric (74 kWh battery)
All-electric (74 kWh battery)
Transmission
CVT (automatic)
Drivetrain
Front-wheel-drive (FWD, all-wheel-drive (AWD) optional
Power
244 hp
221 hp
338 hp
Torque
173 lb-ft (engine)
199 lb-ft (electric motor)
198 lb-ft
198 lb-ft (front)
125 (rear)
0-60 (seconds)
7.3 FWD / 7.1 AWD
7.4
5.1
Top Speed
124 mph
99
112
Fuel Economy/Range
46 mpg (FWD) / 44 mpg (AWD)
307 miles (EPA-Estimated)
276 miles (EPA-Estimated)
Out on the road, the all-electric ES has the typical Lexus somewhat heavily damped ride that means it’s lovely and smooth on average roads, but starts to feel bumpy on a road that needs the suspension to be busy or soak up a larger bump. The hybrid is tuned differently, and deals better with less-than-stellar California roads. The upside to Lexus’s approach to suspension is that the chassis is less inclined to lean when going around corners, which adds to the smooth feel, particularly with the all-electric model.
Around town, the lack of power from the hybrid didn’t matter, and the ES is one of those cars that is actually relaxing to drive. Noise coming from outside is minimal, and the steering and general demeanor of the ES is undemanding: It wants you to relax and enjoy the ride. While Lexus mentioned that the ES is in the same class as the BMW 5 Series, it really is only in size. The ES has no sporting pretensions, to the point where the non-all-wheel-drive versions are front-wheel-drive, not rear-wheel-drive.
Verdict & Pricing: The Best Of ES
2026 Lexus ES Lineup By Pricing
ES Trim Level
Powertrain
MSRP*
ES 350e Premium
Electric
$47,500
ES 350h Premium
Hybrid
$49,700
ES 500e Premium AWD
Electric
$50,500
ES 350h Premium AWD
Hybrid
$51,100
ES 350h Premium+
Hybrid
$54,500
ES 350h Premium+ AWD
Hybrid
$55,900
ES 350e Luxury
Electric
$55,900
ES 500e Luxury AWD
Electric
$58,900
*Excluding $1,395 destination
The electric version of the ES is the better version, while the hybrid version feels like Lexus is, understandably, hedging its bets. Electric power simply suits the aim of a car to be smooth, quiet, and move people around in a relaxing manner. For the full premium experience, the ES 500e gives the driver a reserve of smooth, quiet power when needed.
For $50,500 (excluding destination), the ES 500e Premium AWD trim makes sense, but we would also understand the more price-sensitive or more city-centric buyer going with the $3,000 cheaper ES 350e. For road warriors, the 47 mpg and 48 mpg figures for the hybrid models are attractive. Interestingly, the entry-level all-electric version of the ES ($47,500) is less expensive than the base hybrid ($49,700). However, the all-electric tops out with the ES 500e Luxury AWD at $58,900 while the ES 350h Premium+ AWD costs $55,900.
The new Lexus ES doesn’t fill the sunsetting Lexus LS’s shoes, but it does sit at a nice price point for a premium electric vehicle with plenty of Lexus flavor. It’s not a car for someone looking for performance, but it presents a compelling alternative to a Tesla as the world moves on and realizes that stark minimalism is boring, and brands like Lexus know how to build a satisfyingly premium sedan – and the ES is a satisfyingly premium sedan.
