Why does this car matter right now?
For years, the Lexus ES has quietly chugged along, reliable, refined, and about as thrilling as a warm scone. But the 2026 ES breaks that mold with something radical: a pulse. Revealed at Toyota’s HQ Confidential event (in a Texas hotel ballroom, naturally), the eighth-generation ES brings electrification to the nameplate for the first time, and not just in the hybrid sense. We’re talking full battery-electric variants, including the new ES 350e and 500e.

It’s Lexus finally treating the ES like it matters, which it does. The brand claims up to 300 miles of EV range, 30-minute fast charging via a NACS plug (the swanky Tesla connector), and a redesigned silhouette that finally says “executive sedan” instead of “mid-tier airport shuttle.” For those who’ve long dismissed the ES as a luxury Camry with delusions of grandeur, this is a moment of reckoning.

How does it compare to rivals?
On paper, the ES 500e stacks up surprisingly well. With 338 horsepower, a 0-60 sprint in 5.4 seconds, and Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 included, it offers something rare in the segment: performance without shouting about it. Compare that to the BMW i5, which is pricier and more button-happy, or the Mercedes EQE, which often feels like it was designed by a committee with three different visions for the future.

Then there’s the 14-inch touchscreen, responsive, split-screen capable, and mercifully functional. Lexus finally figured out that people want a home button and wireless CarPlay, not some abstract joystick interface. The ES now also has legroom fit for actual humans in the back, with a wheelbase stretched three inches and 6.5 inches of added rear-seat space. Your Uber Black just got a glow-up.

Who is this for—and who should skip it?
This is for buyers who’ve outgrown the bro-y performance chase and want luxury that doesn’t scream. People who want a proper sedan that doesn’t look like it’s trying to be a spaceship. Think business executives, quiet millionaires, and anyone tired of paying German luxury premiums for the privilege of riding stiffly over potholes.

That said, if you’re the sort who still tears up over the loss of V8 growls and needs tailpipes to feel alive, this isn’t your car. Lexus has leaned hard into comfort, class, and quiet, and if you think speed should always come with noise, the ES will feel like a sedative.

What’s the long-term significance?
The 2026 Lexus ES marks a major pivot not just for the model, but for Lexus. With hybrid and BEV options sharing the stage, this is no half-hearted compliance car. It’s the start of Lexus delivering real electrification at scale, without giving up what makes the brand work: understated quality, thoughtful design, and obsessive comfort.

Design-wise, the new “spindle body” replaces the dated grille-heavy look with something more sculpted, more futuristic, and less polarizing. It pulls cues from the LF-ZC concept but lands in the sweet spot between conservative and cool. The new color, “Wavelength,” isn’t just marketing fluff; it looks good. And the twin L-signature headlamps? Surprisingly assertive for a car that used to resemble a bar of soap.

Underneath, the GA-K platform gets serious with multi-link rear suspension and MacPherson struts up front, giving the ES the kind of ride quality that makes long drives feel like spa treatments. You can spec it with massaging rear seats and a passenger ottoman, because Lexus remembered that real luxury includes your knees.

No pricing yet, but expect the ES 350e to undercut Euro rivals. And if Lexus keeps its quality promise, the total cost of ownership could be miles lower.

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