This week I am behind the wheel of the all-new 2026 Lexus ES 350h, and the big news is that Lexus has completely redesigned its long-running midsize luxury sedan for 2026. This is the eighth-generation ES, and it is a major change from the outgoing model. Lexus says the new ES rides on a multi-pathway platform developed to support both hybrid and battery-electric powertrains, and for the first time, the ES lineup includes fully electric models along with the ES 350h hybrid, which is what I have now. The new ES also brings fresh styling inside and out, a 14-inch Lexus Interface touchscreen, a 12.3-inch driver display, Lexus Safety System+ 4.0, and for the first time on an ES hybrid, available all-wheel drive.
Exterior
My test vehicle is the 2026 Lexus ES 350h Premium front-wheel drive in Iridium silver with a Palomino and Black Cascade interior, and this is a very attractive color combination.
The exterior is a dramatic departure from the previous ES, with a much sleeker, more futuristic look, a lower nose, thin lighting, a fastback-style roofline, flush-looking body lines, a strong side character line, and a full-width rear LED Blade taillamp with an illuminated Lexus logo.
The previous ES was handsome but conservative; this one has presence, and whether you love every angle or not, nobody can accuse Lexus of mailing this one in.
Performance
Under the hood is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid system with 244 combined horsepower and an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission. Lexus says this is the first Lexus model to use the brand’s sixth-generation hybrid system. Front-wheel drive is standard, which is what my test car has, and all-wheel drive is available with an additional rear electric motor that powers the rear wheels when extra traction is needed. Lexus says the 2026 system has more output than the previous ES 300h, and the electric motor is larger and more powerful, allowing the car to rely more on electric assist and keep engine revs lower and quieter in everyday driving.
The ES 350h is not a plug-in hybrid, so there is nothing to charge and no cord to mess with. The system uses a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gas engine working with an electric starter-generator and an electric motor-generator built into the electronically controlled CVT. In simple terms, the electric side helps get the car moving, assists the gas engine under acceleration, and allows the engine to shut off when it is not needed. When you slow down or brake, the system captures energy that would otherwise be wasted and sends it back to the hybrid battery. The beauty of the system is that the driver does not have to do anything differently; just put it in Drive and let the computer decide when to use gas, electric power, or both. It is one of those rare pieces of technology that actually makes life easier instead of requiring a 42-minute YouTube tutorial. Really trying, I got over 50 MPG in town, and almost 47 on the highway, exceeding EPS estimates.
Interior
From the driver’s seat, the ES feels much more modern than before. The dashboard is wide and clean, with a 12.3-inch digital driver display directly in front of you and a large 14-inch center touchscreen that handles audio, navigation, phone, vehicle settings, the drive recorder, and other functions. I liked the screen layout and found it easy to use.
The center console is nicely laid out, with a short toggle-style shifter, a Park button, electronic parking brake, Brake Hold, cupholders, wireless phone charging, and a padded center armrest. Lexus still gives you enough real controls to operate the car without having to tap through a touchscreen maze, and I especially like the horizontal soft-touch climate-control panel below the screen. The old Lexus touchpad is gone, thankfully, and the newest Lexus Interface is much easier to live with.
The Palomino NuLuxe interior is one of the highlights of this car. The seats are heated, ventilated, power-adjustable, and very comfortable, with driver’s seat memory on my test vehicle. The cabin has a calm, upscale look, with nice stitching, attractive door panels, and a good mix of colors and textures. The steering wheel has LEXUS spelled out across the center, and the driver display gives you hybrid power information, speed, safety-system status, and trip information in a clear layout. The whole interior has a quiet confidence to it, which is exactly what an ES should have.
The back seat is roomy, and the redesign pays off there. Lexus says the 2026 ES hybrid has a wheelbase that is 3.1 inches longer than before, and the car is 6.5 inches longer, 2.2 inches wider, and 4.5 inches taller than the previous-generation ES. Lexus also says rear-seat legroom increases by 1.4 inches. Adults will be comfortable in the second row, and rear passengers get good foot room, rear air vents, and a fold-down center armrest. In a market obsessed with SUVs, this car is a good reminder that a well-designed sedan can still deliver excellent passenger comfort without sitting up like a mailbox on wheels.
Ride and Drive
On the road, the ES 350h is exactly what an ES should be: smooth, quiet, comfortable, and easy to drive. This is not a sport sedan, and Lexus is not pretending that it is. Power is more than adequate for everyday driving, the hybrid system moves the car away from a stop smoothly, and the transition between gas and electric power is seamless. If you push it hard, you will hear the 4-cylinder engine, which is normal for a hybrid with a CVT, but driven the way most ES owners will drive it, this car is relaxed and refined.
Ride quality is excellent. Lexus says the new ES uses a MacPherson strut front suspension and, for the first time on an ES, a multi-link rear suspension. The body feels solid, the cabin is quiet, and the steering is light but accurate. The ES is not trying to carve corners like a performance sedan, but it feels composed and confident. The main drive mode screen on my tester showed Normal, and honestly, that is where this car belongs most of the time. Normal mode fits the personality of the ES perfectly: no drama, no nonsense, and no need to prove anything to the guy in the BMW next to you at the light.
Standard Equipment
Standard equipment on my ES 350h Premium is strong. The build sheet shows 19-inch alloy wheels with aero covers, Bi-LED headlights, LED Blade taillamps with illuminated logo, NuLuxe-trimmed heated and ventilated power front seats with driver’s memory, thematic ambient illumination, a huge power moonroof, Lexus Safety System+ 4.0, blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Assist. Lexus also lists wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, wireless phone charging, dual Bluetooth phone connectivity, an integrated Drive Recorder, over-the-air update capability, SiriusXM with 360L trial, and a 10-speaker Lexus Premium Sound System on the ES 350h Premium.
Safety
Safety is a major part of the 2026 ES story. Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 is standard and includes a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Intersection Turn Assist, All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Eco-Run Mode, Lane Tracing Assist, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Road Sign Assist, Intelligent High Beams, and Proactive Driving Assist. Additional available safety and driver-assist features include Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Change Assist, Rear Pedestrian Detection, and Front Cross-Traffic Alert, depending on trim and options.
What You'll Pay
Pricing on my tester is simple. The base MSRP is $49,700. The only listed option is premium paint at $500. Delivery, processing, and handling adds $1,395, bringing the total MSRP to $51,595. Given the size, technology, comfort, hybrid system, and Lexus reputation, that strikes me as a reasonable luxury-sedan price in today’s market, where $50,000 somehow became the new $35,000 and nobody asked my permission. I do question in my mind if this car is priced too closely to a loaded Camry hybrid.
Verdict
What I liked most about the 2026 Lexus ES 350h was the overall serenity of the car. It is quiet, comfortable, roomy, easy to operate, and unmistakably Lexus. The hybrid system is smooth, the interior is beautiful, the seats are comfortable, and the redesigned body gives the ES a much stronger personality than before. My dislikes are fairly minor: the exterior styling may be polarizing, the glossy touchscreen can show reflections in bright sunlight, there is no conventional spare tire, and I still prefer a few more physical buttons for frequently used controls. Still, the 2026 ES 350h does exactly what Lexus sedan buyers want it to do. It delivers comfort, technology, refinement, and smooth hybrid operation without drama, and for a lot of people, that is not just good enough; that is the whole point.