Lexus has opened order books for the eighth-generation ES in the United States, but the bigger twist is that the electric versions arrive before the hybrid.
The new ES 350e and ES 500e reach dealers first, while the 2026 ES 350h follows later. All of them sit on Lexus’ new multi-pathway platform and get a redesigned cabin, a 12.3-inch driver display and a 14.0-inch touchscreen.
Both electric versions use a 74.7kWh battery. The ES 350e is front-wheel drive with 221hp and an EPA-rated range of 494km, on 19-inch wheels.
With 21-inch rims, that drops to 470km. The all-wheel-drive ES 500e makes 338hp and manages 444km, slipping slightly to 438km, on the larger wheels. Lexus said the 350e takes 7.4 seconds to get from 0-100kph, while the 500e does it in 5.1 seconds.
The charging setup is very much aimed at US buyers. There is a NACS port, a CCS-to-NACS adapter in the car, and DC charging of up to 150kW.
Lexus said a 10 to 80% charge of the global model can take about 28 minutes in ideal conditions, while 11kW AC charging takes roughly seven hours.
Lexus is also trying to nudge the ES further up the luxury ladder. The new car is bigger than before, its styling borrows cues from the LF-ZC concept, and the ES 350e Luxury can be fitted with an Executive package that turns the rear cabin into something closer to a chauffeured lounge.
That brings powered rear seats, heating, ventilation, massage and even a passenger-side ottoman. Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 is standard across the range.
Pricing starts at US$48,795 (RM192,155) for the ES 350e Premium and rises to US$60,195 (RM237,048) for the ES 500e Luxury AWD. The hybrid range starts at US$50,995 (RM200,818), which means the electric ES is not the costly outlier you might expect.
Lexus has not only added an EV to the ES line-up. It is that the brand is letting the electric version lead. For a nameplate long associated with quiet, sensible hybrid motoring, that says quite a bit.
