Lexus ES Goes Hybrid or Electric: A Premium Sedan That No Longer Forces a Choice

Lexus has rolled out a completely new generation of its ES sedan, and the headline isn’t a single powertrain — it’s the menu. Buyers can now pick between a hybrid and two fully electric versions, which turns the perennial hybrid-or-EV question into a matter of taste rather than sacrifice.

We sampled the whole family on a bright day along the La Jolla shoreline near San Diego, driving the hybrid ES 350h alongside the electric ES 350e and ES 500e. All three share the same sleek body and cabin, and the difference between them comes down to what’s under the floor.

Three Flavors, One Shell

Lexus keeps the trim walk simple but model-specific:

• ES 350h (hybrid): front- or all-wheel drive, offered in Premium or Premium+ trim
• ES 350e (electric): single motor, front-wheel drive, Premium or Luxury trim
• ES 500e (electric): dual motor, all-wheel drive, Premium or Luxury trim

Step up to Premium+ or Luxury and the equipment list fills out with a Mark Levinson 17-speaker surround system, parking assist with automatic braking, a digital rearview mirror, and a panoramic monitor that renders a 360-degree overhead view for tight parking spots.

Every car we drove carried the 14-inch Lexus Interface touchscreen, heated and ventilated front seats, a power tilt-and-slide moonroof, and the Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 bundle. NuLuxe synthetic leather is standard on Premium and Premium+, while Luxury swaps in semi-aniline leather. Frankly, both felt good underhand — the synthetic doesn’t read as a downgrade.

The Rear Seat That Steals the Show

On the electric ES 350e Luxury, an optional Executive Package turns the back bench into something closer to a lounge. Heated and ventilated outboard seats, a massage function, multi-zone climate control, and a power rear sunshade all come along, plus an ottoman on the passenger side.

That ottoman is the party trick. It slides forward while the front passenger seat automatically moves out of the way, opening up serious legroom. We tried it from the back with a colleague driving: seat reclined, feet up, massage running. Lexus has pushed rear comfort a long way in this generation.

Key Specs: ES 350h — 244 hp system output · 46 mpg FWD / 44 mpg AWD · ES 350e — 221 hp, 307 mi range · ES 500e — 338 hp, 0-60 in 5.1 s, 276 mi range

Hybrid Numbers and Electric Punch

The ES 350h looks set to be the volume seller. Its 244-horsepower hybrid setup returns a combined 46 mpg with front-wheel drive, or 44 mpg with all-wheel drive — the kind of figures that make a premium sedan easy to live with.

Go fully electric and the front-drive ES 350e pairs a single 221-hp motor with 307 miles of range. The all-wheel-drive ES 500e adds a second motor for 338 hp and a 5.1-second run to 60 mph, giving up some range in the process at 276 miles.

We had several chances to lean on the 500e’s power, and it delivers. Quick, yes — but never jumpy.

Quiet Confidence on Back Roads

The drive route took us through residential streets, busy freeways, and a stretch of back roads we used to put the 500e through its paces. The cabin stayed serene throughout, quiet enough that the Mark Levinson system had room to work — 80s hits, if you’re curious.

Corners came and went without drama, and braking felt precise when we asked for it. A gray morning gave way to proper Southern California sun, which only improved the mood.

What sticks with us is how little the ES asks you to compromise. Choose the hybrid and you get efficiency without giving up refinement. Choose electric and you get instant torque without a punishing range penalty. The styling is sharp, the tech is well integrated, and the ride is exactly what a luxury sedan should deliver.

In a segment where electrification often means settling for something, the new ES makes it a straight preference call. That’s a harder trick to pull off than it sounds.