The redesigned 2026 Lexus ES 350h goes on sale in June with a base price of $49,700 before destination, marking the end of the gas-only ES engine. The eighth-generation sedan now offers only hybrid power or battery-electric drivetrains, a split Lexus has deployed across several Toyota-branded models in recent product cycles.
The ES 350h uses Lexus’ sixth-generation hybrid system for the first time in the brand’s lineup, pairing a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric motors for 244 combined horsepower. That is up from 215 hp in the outgoing 2025 ES 300h, which used the fourth-generation hybrid system. Front-wheel drive is standard and delivers an EPA-estimated 46 MPG combined. The new all-wheel-drive option, a first for the ES hybrid, adds a rear-mounted electric motor and drops the combined rating to 44 MPG.
The new platform is the first multi-pathway architecture for Lexus, meaning it supports both the ES 350h hybrid and the battery-electric ES 350e and ES 500e models that share the same body shell and interior design. The platform is an evolution of the previous-generation ES’ TNGA-K underpinnings, stretched to accommodate a 74.7-kWh battery pack in the floor of the electric variants or a fuel tank and hybrid battery beneath the rear seat in the ES 350h.
Dimensionally, the 2026 ES is larger than the seventh-generation model it replaces. The wheelbase stretches 3.1 inches, overall width adds 2.2 inches, length grows by 6.5 inches, and height increases by 4.5 inches. Rear-seat legroom gains 1.4 inches, and the higher hip points for both rows are intended to make entry and exit easier. The styling takes cues from the Lexus LF-ZC concept, with L-shaped LED running lights, a pinched front surface that evokes the spindle grille, and an angular character line along the bodyside.
Inside, the ES 350h shares the 14.0-inch Lexus Interface touchscreen and 12.3-inch Multi-Information Display standard across the ES lineup. NuLuxe-trimmed seats are eight-way power adjustable with heating and ventilation on both trims, Premium and Premium+. The Premium+ trim adds a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, Advanced Park with Remote Park, and Digital Key 2.0 capability. Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 is standard.
The ES 350h competes in a segment anchored by the Acura TLX, Cadillac CT5, and Jaguar XF at similar pricing, with the BMW 5 Series and Genesis G80 positioned nearby. The ES 350h ranges from $52,495 to $55,895 including the $1,395 destination fee. For context, the ES 350e Premium starts at $48,895, and the ES 500e Premium AWD starts at $51,895, both figures including destination.
The shift to hybrid-or-electric-only mirrors Toyota’s broader strategy, eliminating the middle ground for buyers who were content with a naturally aspirated V6. The ES has historically been a high-volume model for Lexus, and the decision to abandon gas-only power assumes the sixth-generation hybrid system’s efficiency and output gains are enough to hold those buyers in the fold. June will clarify whether 244 horsepower and 46 MPG are sufficient substitutes for the choice that no longer exists.
Source: Lexus. Images courtesy of Lexus.
