2026 Lexus ES EV shoots for BMW i5 with 338bhp and AWD
Lexus has introduced its all-new ES saloon, offering an all-electric drivetrain for the first time in its 30-year history.
This electric version of the Japanese luxury car maker’s executive saloon returns 338bhp in all-wheel drive ES 500e guise, while a front-wheel drive variant badged ES 350e produces 221bhp.
The 2026 Lexus ES EV is built upon the brand’s new K platform, which allows for the integration of lightweight eAxles, plus battery electric and self-charging hybrid powertrains. Both the ES 500e and 350e come with a 77kWh battery. The former manages 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, while the latter achieves the same run in 8.2 seconds.
Lexus has yet to announce any official consumption figures for the UK. However, the ES 500e is targeted to deliver 250 miles worth of range from a single charge, while the less ES 350e is set for a 300-mile range.
As well as ushering in all-new electrified architecture, this eighth-gen Lexus ES has undergone a complete interior overhaul. It’s the first Lexus model to benefit from a fully digital driver’s cockpit, bringing together multimedia, the instrument display, and various functions from the Lexus Link+ app.
In line with Lexus’ principal of Japanese ‘Omontenashi’ hospitality, the haptic-touch cabin switches are hidden beneath the dashboard’s upholstery when the car is switched off to provide an unintrusive touch-panel appearance. When the car is switched on, the buttons light up.
The exterior continues the new Lexus ES’s fuss free aesthetic thanks to the the newly-introduced “Clean Tech x Elegance” design language. Alongside a more angular design than previously, the ES 500e and ES 350e both feature L-shaped front lights. The inner section of this new Lexus design signature features daytime running lights, while the outer section houses the indicators.
Around the back, the L-shape is carried over to the tail lights, which are joined by a boot-wide lightbar with a centrally-positioned Lexus logo. Overall, the car’s general aesthetic is lower and more flowing than its predecessor, and has a fastback silhouette despite being a saloon.
The all-electric Lexus ES will arrive in the United Kingdom in spring 2026, with prices and a confirmed launch date yet to be announced. Alongside the ES EV, a hybrid version powered by a a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine will also be part of the new Lexus ES line-up.
