2026 Lexus ES price and specs: New-generation luxury sedan brings EV power for a small premium

There's a new-generation Lexus ES hybrid arriving in Australia, but the even bigger news is the arrival of new electric versions of the Japanese luxury brand's large sedan.

Not only is this the first electric ES, it's the first electric sedan from Lexus.

The new eighth-generation ES is being launched in Australia imminently, with Lexus saying it's arriving "in the middle of this year". Electric variants will be available first, with the hybrid ES300h following later in the year.

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Pricing for the base ES300h Luxury is up by $9460 compared with the outgoing model, at $75,000 before on-road costs, but surprisingly the electric ES350e Sports Luxury has been priced just $2000 higher than the entry-level variant despite its electric powertrain and a wealth of extra standard equipment.

The dual-motor all-wheel drive ES500e Sports Luxury – the first all-wheel drive ES ever offered in Australia – is priced at $84,000 before on-road costs.

The new ES rides an updated version of the GA-K platform used by the outgoing model, with various enhancements made to increase rigidity.

The trailing arm rear suspension has also been swapped for a multi-link setup that's said to improve ride comfort and refinement.

Lexus engineers have also improved the soundproofing to make the cabin even more serene.

The new ES is the first Lexus with the new Arene software platform, which promises improved processing power and expanded over-the-air software update functionality.

The touchscreen has grown from 12.3 to 14 inches, and now incorporates the climate controls. It also features a new cloud-based satellite navigation system, customisable widgets, embedded Spotify, and an improved voice assistant.

An Embedded Drive Recorder allows the vehicle to capture and save footage from its exterior cameras, supporting continuous loop recording, manual recording, and incident-triggered clips. Footage can be accessed, reviewed and exported using the touchscreen.

The digital instrument cluster adopts an unusual shape, but now allows you to choose between six different layouts including a full-screen map view.

'Hidden' switches can be found on the steering wheel and on the centre stack, illuminating when your finger approaches them.

The safety suite has been expanded, with front cross-traffic alert joining the equipment list and the rear cross-traffic alert now able to detect crossing bicycles.

The list of safety upgrades also includes the introduction of a brand-first emergency driving stop system, which issues audible and visual warnings if it doesn't detect any driver inputs for a certain period of time while the adaptive cruise control and lane-centring functions are active.

If the driver remains unresponsive, the system can bring the vehicle to a gradual halt with the hazard lights on and the doors unlocked, and use the automatic SOS emergency call function to alert authorities.

The emergency call function is part of a suite of features under the Lexus Connected Emergency banner, with functions like this, remote viewing of the battery charge, fuel level or vehicle location, and automatic collision notification remaining complimentary for the life of the vehicle or until the sunset of the 5G network.

Other features are available under a five-year complimentary subscription to Lexus Connected+, including remote control of the locks, climate control, lights and horn, as well as stolen vehicle tracking. This suite of features is available for $9.95 per month following the end of the complimentary period.

This is the eighth generation of the ES, but only the sixth to be sold here since the nameplate debuted locally in 1992. Australia skipped the first-generation model, a rebadged Toyota Camry Prominent sold in the US market, plus the left-hand drive-only fifth generation.

Pricing

Drivetrains and Efficiency

All Lexus ES sedans are based on Toyota's TNGA-K platform, and feature MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension.

The ES300h features two-piston front brake calipers with 328x28mm ventilated discs, and single-piston rear calipers with 317x18mm vented discs. EV variants step up to larger 340x38mm front and 338x18mm rear rotors.

The flagship ES500e features the DIRECT4 all-wheel drive system, which by default has torque distribution of between 80:20 and 25:75 per cent front/rear during cornering. However, drive torque can be distributed between 100:0 and 0:100 per cent.

It also features Interactive Manual Drive, which simulates the gear shifts of a combustion-powered vehicle. You can shift between eight simulated gears using the paddle shifters that are usually used to adjust regenerative braking, and there are synthetic sounds and a simulated tachometer.

Dimensions

Depending on the variant, the new Lexus ES is 170mm longer, 55mm wider and up to 115mm taller than its predecessor, which was classified as a mid-size sedan, while the wheelbase has also grown by 80mm. It remains to be seen whether the new ES, which now spans more than five metres long, is classed as a large sedan.

Servicing and Warranty

Lexus backs its vehicles with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. It has yet to announce service pricing for the new ES.

Safety

The Lexus ES has yet to be independently tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• • Vehicle, pedestrian, motorcycle and bicyclist detection
  • Intersection assist
  • Low-speed acceleration suppression
  • Emergency steering assist
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver monitoring system
• Emergency driving stop system
• Front cross-traffic alert
• Front and rear parking support brake (AEB for low-speed collision detection)
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane-centring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Safe exit assist
• Traffic sign recognition
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera

All bar the base ES300h (without the Enhancement Pack) also feature a surround-view camera.

Standard Equipment

There are four members of the new-generation ES lineup.

The ES300h Luxury comes standard with the following equipment:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Tyre repair kit
• Panoramic glass roof with power sunshade
• Power boot-lid
• Automatic LED headlights
• Automatic high-beam
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• Proximity entry and start
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation
• DAB+ digital radio
• Embedded drive recorder
• 5 x USB-C ports
• Lexus Connected Services
• 10-speaker sound system
• NuLux leatherette upholstery
• Heated front seats
• 8-way power-adjustable front seats with 2-way driver lumbar
• Heated, NuLux-wrapped steering wheel
• Power tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
• Dual-zone climate control
• Single-colour ambient lighting
• Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
• Stainless steel scuff plates
• Rear centre armrest with cupholders

The ES300h Luxury with Enhancement Pack adds:

• Semi-autonomous parking assist
• Auto-dimming driver's exterior mirror with rear link and memory
• Digital key with NFC card
• Head-up display
• Digital rear-view mirror
• Perforated NuLux upholstery
• Ventilated front seats
• Driver's seat memory
• 2-way power passenger seat lumbar adjustment
• 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system with illuminated speaker grilles
• Wireless phone charger
• Multi-colour ambient lighting

The ES350e Sports Luxury adds:

• 21-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive suspension
• 'Easy close doors'
• Active sound control
• 'High-grade' LED headlights with cornering and 'multi-weather' lights
• Adaptive high-beam
• Semi-aniline leather-accented upholstery
• 10-way power driver's seat with memory
• 8-way power passenger seat with memory
• 4-way front lumbar adjustment with driver calf length adjustment
• Multi-colour interior illumination with 'surface emission lighting'
• Rear door sunshades
• 2 x front wireless phone chargers

The ES500e Sports Luxury adds:

• Interactive Manual Drive

Colours

The ES can be had with a choice of Black, White or Hazel upholstery.

There's a choice of seven exterior paint colours. These are:

• White Nova
• Sonic Iridium
• Sonic Titanium
• Sonic Chrome
• Graphite Black
• Sonic Copper
• Wavelength

The latter is a new finish for Lexus, which the brand describes as "a blue hue with a solid look that shimmers in the light".

MORE: Explore the Lexus ES showroom