New Underpinnings And Hybrid System Make The ES Better

6/2/2026 

The 2026 Lexus ES 350h Hybrid is more efficient, powerful and is offered for the first time with an all-wheel drive option than the ES 300h it replaces. It is now the only ES with any type of gasoline engine. 

Greener & Faster 

Available in two trims; Premium and Premium+ the 2026 Lexus ES 350h is powered by a 2.5-liter, 16-valve 4-cylinder engine. There are two electric motors for the front wheel drive (FWD) or three motors for the all-wheel drive (AWD) grade. 244 horsepower and 173 pound-feet of torque gets to the wheels through a continuously variable transmission, or CVT. 

The CVT has driver selectable drive modes of Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom and a Manual mode to use with the paddle shifters. The ES 350h Hybrid with FWD is rated at 48 city/44 highway and 46 combined mpg while the AWD is rated at 47/42/44. 

ES Has A Fun Side 

Car-Revz-Daily had the opportunity to drive the ES 350h at the media introduction in La Jolla, California.The ES 350h has stellar performance, as was expected, considering Toyota, the parent company of Lexus, has been offering hybrids since 1997 when they introduced the venerable Prius. The linear throttle response delivered smooth acceleration all the way through the power band. Choosing Sport mode delivered the best performance where the steering stiffened and the CVT was held in a power range just a bit longer. 

The paddles have a dual use of shifting (even though there are no gears on a CVT) and also for setting the three levels of regenerative-braking that slow the car without tapping the brake pedal for deceleration and energy recovery. The paddles gave crisp shifts and added a level of control and fun. Overall, our take is the Lexus CVT is one of the best we have driven. 

The premium Lexus ride continues with a MacPherson front and rear multi-link suspension. The ride, which is a significant reason to consider a Lexus, was smooth and comfortable. The handling was responsive and predictable. The electronic power steering had good road feedback and is programmed with a neutral feel. The steering weight provided a good connection with the road. 

Aerodynamics Core Pillar In Design 

Now in its sixth generation (first launched in 1989) Lexus says the 2026 ES “is the next era of personal luxury.” Highlighted by complementary multiple angles which blend together to form a sleek and aerodynamic exterior. The twin-L LED head and daytime running lights frame a mere slit of a cooling opening and are sleekly integrated into the fenders. 

The nose, front bumpers, and hood are smooth and, when looked at from the side, form one continuous line front-to-back. The sides have a character feature and flush door handles. All this is designed to direct air flow down the sides and over the roof. The trunk lid has an upsweep, forming an integrated lip spoiler that sits just above the full-width tail lights. 

The bumpers, door handles, power and heated exterior mirrors and shark fin antenna are color-keyed to the body. Brightwork is kept to a tasteful minimum only found on the lower corners of the rear fascia. Exterior pallet options include Ultra White, Cloudburst Gray, Iridium, Caviar, Copper Crest and Wavelength. 

Comfort Above All Else 

Front visibility is excellent due to the rake of the hood, narrow A pillars, hidden rain sensing windshield wipers and the front seat ride height. The cleanly designed dash is covered in soft touch materials and Ash Bamboo trim.  

Color choices of White, Black or Palomino are for the interior trim and the heated and ventilated perforated seats that were covered in NuLuxe, a synthetic leather. The front seats provided good support across the entire body, with the driver and passenger having plenty of options to find a comfortable driving and riding position. 

The cockpit design is driver friendly with a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 12.3-inch multi-information display with customizable gauges and a configurable head-up display. A 10-speaker Lexus audio system is standard with an available 17-speaker (with a sub-woofer) Mark Levinson 1,800-watt surround sound premium audio system. The touchscreen handled satellite-based navigation and the rear view camera. For  entertainment there is AM/FM HD radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 60-watt USB-C ports, front and rear. There is also full suite of advanced safety systems. 

The Bluetooth with voice recognition worked very well, as did the steering wheel mounted audio controls and the Qi wireless phone charging. 

How Much? 

The 2026 Lexus ES 350h Hybrid sedan comes in two trim levels with the choice of FWD or AWD. Prices include the $1,295 destination and handling charge. 

Premium FWD $52,290 

Premium AWD $53,680 

Premium + FWD    $57,090 

Premium + AWD     $58,490 

Observations: 2026 Lexus ES 350h Hybrid 

Sedans serve a purpose for many people with a premium sedan even more so. The 2026 Lexus ES 350h Hybrid is refined and feels premium and will be something loyal Lexus owners will be looking at but should be on the shopping list for those new to the brand. 

Cynthia Tenhouse, vice president Lexus marketing, told us “We still believe there are customers, even young ones who love sedans and want to drive a sedan. The U.S. is skewed towards SUVs for sure but I think once you sit in the ES the craftsmanship and refinement comes out.” She continued “We have the Monogram sales and service program where buying and servicing a Lexus is a really seamless and transparent experience.” 

The ES can seat up to five passengers, but when only two are sitting out back they get a reclining rear seat, that does not fold flat but does have a pass-through, and a passenger-side ottoman leg extender. The trunk can handle gear for a long, fuel efficient road trip.

When viewed by the sum of all of its parts, the 2026 ES 350h Hybrid offers a comfortable ride, a quiet cabin, good handling characteristics in a well-built midsize sedan. This is the best ES ever with great looks, all the technology you would want, and is amazingly efficient. It is just an excellent sedan. Yes, even sedans can be great in a world of trucks, crossovers and SUVs. 

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Story and photos by John Faulkner. 

John Faulkner is Road Test Editor at Clean Fleet Report. He has more than 30 years’ experience branding, launching and marketing automobiles. He has worked with General Motors (all Divisions), Chrysler (Dodge, Jeep, Eagle), Ford and Lincoln-Mercury, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota on consumer events and sales training programs. His interest in automobiles is broad and deep, beginning as a child riding in the back seat of his parent’s 1950 Studebaker. He is a journalist member of the Motor Press Guild and Western Automotive Journalists.