Hybrid, electric for next-gen Lexus ES

A BOLD new design atop a stretched wheelbase, higher-end cabin inclusions and the addition of fully electric powertrains atop familiar hybrids headline the debut of the eighth-generation Lexus ES.

Unveiled at Auto Shanghai 2025, the new Lexus ES range is due to arrive in Australia next year with at least one hybrid and one electric option for local sedan buyers.

A staple of Lexus’s portfolio, the ES has undergone a transformation in form and function.

Lengthened proportions now measuring 5140mm (+165mm) place it closer to large sedan territory, while the ES stands 110mm taller than the outgoing XZ10 ES in order to accommodate the large battery used by electric variants.

While the midsize car market has drastically shrunk in recent years, the ES remains a moderate success for Lexus locally. Australian buyers took home 1025 examples in 2024 (down from 1727 in 2023). That number accounted for 7.5 per cent of total Lexus sales in Australia.

While the sedan retains a conventional boot, a fastback-style silhouette, sculpted flanks, and prominent hockey-stick crease signal a more assertive design direction.

This new language debuts on the ES, characterised by thin LED headlights, a low-mounted front apron inspired by the LF-ZC concept, and a full-width LED tail-light bar integrating LEXUS script.

Underpinning the dramatic design overhaul is an equally substantial update to the ES’s architecture. Lexus has re-engineered the TNGA-K platform (previously used by the outgoing ES and currently by other Toyota-Lexus hybrids) to support larger battery packs for single- and dual-motor electric configurations.

The move comes as Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) responds to divergent trends: surging demand for EV sedans in China and more hesitant take-up of fully electric models in Western markets.

The Japanese luxury marque now joins rivals in offering battery-electric options within a traditional sedan body, albeit with a flexible powertrain strategy dubbed “multi-pathway” that retains petrol-electric hybrid variants, analogously to BMW’s similar “Power of Choice” concept.

Inside, the ES marks a clear departure from the flowing curves of the outgoing model.

In their place is a modernised and horizontal layout built around a shelf-like dashboard. A 14.0-inch central touchscreen anchors the fascia above a physical volume roller and climate shortcuts, while a cowled 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster displays a new operating system.

Interior finishes include patterned bamboo trim and new colour options such as pale green, light grey and tan. A longer wheelbase (2950mm, +80mm) liberates more space in both rows, with available comfort upgrades like a rear seating package offering massage functionality and a front passenger seat ottoman.

While detailed Australian specifications will be held until a time closer to the ES’s 2026 local launch, Lexus has confirmed four propulsion options globally – two hybrids and two EVs – with front- and all-wheel drive configurations available from both energy sources.

The new entry-level hybrid wears the familiar ES 300h but is in fact not the carryover option: it instead features a smaller 2.0-litre petrol-electric four-cylinder, producing 145kW. This variant could effectively replace the discontinued ES250, which was last priced at $62,140 plus on-road costs.

A more powerful ES 350h carries a revised version of today’s ES 300h motor (a 2.5-litre petrol-electric setup) now set to produce 182kW (+22kW). Lexus has not disclosed combined torque outputs, but all-wheel drive becomes available for the first time on hybrid variants.

Pure-electric models are badged ES350e and ES500e.

The former is a front-wheel drive EV rated at 165kW, while the latter is a dual-motor, all-wheel drive flagship with 252kW. Lexus claims a 0–100km/h time of 5.9 seconds for the ES 500e, making it the quickest ES ever produced, while the ES 350e has a considerably more modest 8.9sec claim.

Battery specifications have yet to be confirmed, but both EV variants appear to share the same pack. For models focussed on China, TMC typically sources lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs from rival manufacturer BYD.

Claimed range under the CLTC test is 685km for the ES 350e and 610km for the ES 500e – expected to translate to approximately 550km and 490km respectively under the WLTP cycle. Peak DC charging rate is 150kW, with a 10 to 80 per cent charge achievable in around 30 minutes.

Fuel tank size for hybrid versions is likely to remain at 50 litres, though fuel economy data has not yet been published. Based on the existing ES300h’s 4.8 litre per 100km rating, a range of more than 1000km is possible.