For over 35 years, if you were a sensible person with an aversion to excitement, you bought a Lexus ES. It was comfortable, profoundly reliable, and offered all the pulse-pounding drama of a wet Tuesday afternoon in a public library. However, times have changed. Lexus has taken its most overwhelmingly sensible executive sedan and done something entirely unexpected: they have unplugged the internal combustion engine and replaced it with a pack of lithium-ion batteries.
Notice that small letter on the tailgate badge? That “e” does not stand for “extra sensible.” It stands for “electric”. The eighth-generation ES has gone fully electric, though traditionalists can still get a hybrid. Taking the engine out of an ES makes complete sense because executive cars are meant to isolate you from the outside world. Without an internal combustion engine beneath the hood, there is no powertrain noise or unwanted vibration to disrupt your serene commute.
Performance
Motor – The ES is available with two electric powertrains: a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup or the front-wheel-drive single-motor variant tested here. This front-motor model produces 221 horsepower and 198 pound-feet of torque. On paper, 221 horses sounds a bit lean for a car weighing 2.1 tonnes (4,630 lbs), and in truth, it is. Zero to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) takes roughly seven seconds, and the top speed is electronically capped at 160 km/h (99 mph).
However, these figures are completely adequate for what this car is designed to do. It is not a sports sedan meant to set hair on fire; it is a relaxed luxury cruiser. Should you require a bit more getup and go, the dual-motor ES 500e delivers a healthier 338 horsepower. Even so, this front-wheel-drive ES 350e feels entirely effortless when you depress the accelerator. It easily scales steep inclines and merges onto fast-moving highways without breaking a sweat.
Battery, Range, & Charging – Tucked neatly in the floor sits a 74.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. On a full charge, the front-wheel-drive ES 350e offers a usable driving range of up to 481 km (299 miles), while opting for the more powerful ES 500e reduces that range to 444 km (276 miles).
Plugging into a DC fast charger allows the system to draw up to 150 kW of power, taking the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent in roughly 30 minutes. On a standard 240-volt Level 2 home setup, a full charge requires between 7 and 8 hours. While these are not class-leading rapid-charging numbers, for 95% of daily driving, you will simply plug it in overnight and awake to a full 481 km of electric range every morning.
Braking – The ES 350e features regenerative braking, but Lexus has deliberately opted against a true one-pedal driving mode. Drivers can tailor the level of regenerative deceleration using the paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. To bring the car to a complete stop though, you must depress the brake pedal yourself.
Handling – Historically, the Lexus ES has never been a driver’s car, and this new version makes no attempt to rewrite history. It does not invite you to attack a winding mountain pass with aggressive speed, which suits its character just fine. The driving experience is completely unhurried.
Selecting Sport mode involves navigating through menus on the central touchscreen rather than flipping a dedicated console button, further proving that Lexus does not expect you to drive this car in anger. The electric power-assisted steering is light, fluid, and heavily isolated from road surface chatter. At low speeds, such as navigating tight city streets or maneuvering into parking spots, the helm turns with minimal effort. However, this light tuning comes at the expense of feedback.
Pushing the ES hard through a tight turn produces predictable front-end understeer. The vehicle’s electronic stability control steps in unobtrusively to tuck the nose back inline long before tire squeal occurs. Thanks to electronic torque metering, hard acceleration from a stop generates virtually zero torque steer through the steering wheel, even on wet road surfaces.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Providing uncompromised comfort is where the ES 350e truly excels. The suspension setup glides smoothly over rutted tarmac without crashing over harsh road imperfections. The thick tire sidewalls absorb secondary impacts effortlessly, creating a floating, carpet-like ride quality.
Interior Space – Cabin space is generous throughout. A taller driver standing 6’4” (193 cm) can sit comfortably in the front seat, then step directly into the rear seat behind their own driving position with adequate legroom. Headroom in the back is slightly tighter, with taller passengers finding their hair brushing the headliner, but it remains accommodating. Out back, the trunk offers 377 litres (13.3 cubic feet) of cargo space—not the largest capacity in the class, but more than sufficient to hold a couple of full-sized golf bags.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – NVH levels are exceptionally low. Cruising down the highway at 100 km/h (62 mph) feels remarkably like sitting inside a library. The combination of the silent electric powertrain and thorough acoustic insulation seals the cabin off from road and wind noise.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – In Canada, the 2026 Lexus ES 350e starts at $62,525 CAD, which represents solid value given the standard comfort features and equipment. Upgrading to the dual-motor all-wheel-drive ES 500e adds $3,000 CAD to the bottom line. For those seeking ultimate luxury, the Executive VIP package, available exclusively on the ES 350e for now, adds $15,445 CAD to the invoice.
Gadgets – The dashboard is dominated by a massive 14-inch touchscreen mated to a digital driver instrument display. The infotainment software mirrors Toyota’s latest system and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The built-in native navigation system requires an ongoing subscription, though most owners will simply rely on smartphone mapping apps.
Standard amenities include heated and ventilated front seats, a power-operated heated leather steering wheel, a wireless phone charger, a power sunroof, a power trunk lid, and radiant knee heaters that wrap a blanket of warmth around front passengers. Higher trim levels add a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, soft-close doors, and three-zone climate control. Ticking the box for the Executive VIP package adds power-reclining rear seats with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions.
Interior Design – The overall fit and finish reflect traditional Lexus build quality. While higher trims offer “bamboo layering” designed to replicate natural wood grain, even base trims feature well-executed interior accents. The optional dual-tone interior color adds visual warmth compared to the plain all-black cabin. Crucially, Lexus has implemented climate controls that look like sleek touch panels but depress with physical tactile feedback, avoiding the usability pitfalls of capacitive setups.
Exterior Design – The exterior design retains the familiar proportions of an executive commuter sedan while incorporating modern EV styling cues. Aerodynamic efficiency is prioritized, featuring subtle body cladding, streamlined lower air intakes, and aero-optimized alloy wheels with black covers. The rear profile remains subtle, distinguished primarily by its clean lines and updated electric badging.
Safety – The sedan comes standard with Lexus Safety System+ 4.0, a comprehensive suite of active driver assistance technologies. Key systems include a Pre-Collision System with left-turn intersection support, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.
Warranty – In Canada, the ES 350e includes a 4-year / 80,000 km basic warranty alongside 6-year / 110,000 km powertrain coverage. The EV-specific traction battery and electric drive components are backed by a dedicated 10-year / 240,000 km warranty. For more information on Canadian Lexus warranty, click here. For information on American warranty, click here.
Conclusion – The 2026 Lexus ES 350e avoids unnecessary gimmicks and focuses on what the model line has always done best. By pairing quiet electric propulsion with exceptional ride comfort and strong build quality, Lexus has delivered one of the most sensible executive luxury commuters on the market.
Thank you to Lexus Canada for providing the 2026 ES350e. www.Lexus.ca
2026 Lexus ES 350e Gallery
