The ES is Lexus’s midsize sedan. It may not be as iconic for car enthusiasts as the brand’s flagship LS model. However, it is arguably the most important vehicle in Lexus history from a sales perspective. Lexus just unveiled the all-new 2026 ES model in Shanghai. It goes on sale in 2026. And it’s arriving with perhaps the most significant change in the marque’s history: not one but two all-electric versions.
Key Takeaways
- Lexus debuted the all-new 2026 ES sedan
- It will be available with hybrid and all-electric powertrains
- The hybrid model should get more power
- Lexus estimates up to 300 miles of range for the EV model
- The new ES will be longer, taller, and more luxurious than its predecessor
The 2026 Lexus ES Is Hybrid And Electric
The new Lexus ES comes in three versions on a modified TNGA-K platform. Lexus offers a base model ES 350h hybrid version. Like the outgoing ES 300h, it uses a 2.5-liter inline-four conventional hybrid setup. Lexus has not provided full specs. But the brand says the battery delivers more power in this version. That knowledge, plus the jump from 300h to 350h in nomenclature, suggests it puts out more than the current model’s 215 HP.
Lexus is selling two versions of the electric ES, a front-wheel-drive ES 350e model and an all-wheel-drive ES 500e. The latter features Lexus’s DIRECT4 AWD system (also used in the RZ), which can distribute 100% of the torque to either the front or rear wheels. Lexus estimates a top range of 300 miles for the ES 350e when fitted with the smaller 19-inch wheels.
The 2026 Lexus ES Is Larger And More Luxurious
The 2026 Lexus ES is bigger than the outgoing model. It’s 6.5 inches longer than the 2025 version with a three-inch longer wheelbase. It’s also growing taller by 4.3 to 4.5 inches, depending on the trim, to accommodate the underfloor battery pack. The new Lexus ES gets an upgraded multi-link rear suspension. The Luxury trim for the hybrid model has an Executive Package, offering reclining, heated, ventilated, and massaging rear outboard seats and an ottoman on the passenger side. The global ES release shows a panoramic glass roof and paint colors, which have not been confirmed for America yet.
TopSpeed’s Take
We haven’t driven the 2026 Lexus ES yet. But extrapolating from other Toyota and Lexus models, this should be a comprehensive and compelling upgrade. We expect the hybrid ES to track with the 2025 Toyota Camry and offer more engaging power delivery. Lexus handled driving dynamics well with the RZ, which should bode well for the electric versions. The key for the new Lexus ES will be delivering what the ES has always provided: value. We know Lexus can do that with its hybrid technology. But value is where Lexus has fallen short with its EV offerings to date.
Going electric with the ES is confirmation that Lexus is (finally) taking EVs more seriously. The new ES is the second EV reveal of the year for Lexus after the upgraded RZ. Lexus promised a third electric vehicle reveal in October. Judging from a leaked product roadmap, that could be the upcoming three-row crossover. The ES growing larger and receiving an Executive Package further begs the question about the Lexus LS’s future.
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