Lexus has revealed the latest ES saloon with sharp styling and a choice of hybrid and electric power.
The brand makes no secret of the fact that this car is primarily aimed at the Chinese and North American markets, where luxury saloons still have a strong sales base. Despite this, Lexus does intend to launch the car in Europe and the UK in early 2026.
While the ES hasn't always been offered in the UK, it's one of the original Lexus models that launched alongside the brand itself in 1989. Just like the latest ES, the original '80s model was based on the Toyota Camry.
2026 Lexus ES styling
From the side, the new ES's profile is very similar to the outgoing model but you might spot the extra 165mm length over the old car. It might be a 'three-box' saloon in theory, but its long flowing lines are more reminiscent of a four-door coupe. There's a long, low front end, followed by a gracefully curved roofline that tapers all the way to the car's rear end.
It's clearly been modernised over the old ES, however, with ultra-thin daytime running lights and a shark-like nose. Lexus's distinctive 'spindle'-shaped front grille is less prominent, now mostly implied by the shape of the front bumper – no doubt making the car more aerodynamic at speed.
The new car also wears a rather rakish side vent, which breaks up the bodywork and helps it look a little more sporty. Lexus has fallen for the oh-so-popular rear light bar trend, which lumps the new ES in with cars like the new Audi A6 e-tron, Honda Prelude and Hyundai Ioniq 6.
2026 Lexus ES interior
A common theme among Lexus models we've reviewed is that their cabins don't always feel as modern as traditional German rivals like BMW and Audi. The brand was the last to adopt the massive infotainment touchscreens common in most competitor cars, and the materials used weren't always the most up-to-date.
Lexus is clearly keen to shake off that image with the new ES's cabin, which has gone all minimalist, echoing rivals like the Tesla Model 3 and BMW 5 Series. There's a fairly simple dashboard defined by horizontal lines and a monolithic touchscreen in the centre.
Beneath the screen, you'll spot what Lexus is calling 'Hidden Tech' dashboard switches. These are touch-sensitive switches that appear embedded in the dashboard, very similar to those found in the Nissan Ariya. These 'hidden' switches control key climate settings, with a physical volume control in the middle.
2026 Lexus ES engines and performance
There's a fairly simple choice under the bonnet with either a full-hybrid option or a pair of fully electric models. The former is the ES300h with 201hp, which is actually a slight downgrade on the current ES and its 218hp output. Despite this, Lexus says the hybrid battery has been upgraded for more output, which means the electric motor should be able to take over more frequently.
The entry-level electric model is the ES350e with a single front-mounted electric motor and 224hp. You also have the option to upgrade to the dual motor ES500e, which should be much punchier with 343hp. There's no word on the range figure yet, but we don't expect the electric ES to really challenge the longest-range EVs.
2026 Lexus ES price and specs
Lexus hasn't announced any prices for UK models so far. Looking at the competition, the BMW 5 Series starts from around £52,000, with the new Audi A6 saloon expected to be in a similar ballpark. As a result, we'd expect ES pricing to start in the low £50,000 range, rising higher for electric versions and high-spec trims.
Standard equipment across the Lexus range is usually generous, with range-topping models usually just gaining extra luxury touches. All cars will be covered by Lexus's excellent 10-year service-activated warranty.
2026 Lexus ES release date
Lexus expects to start sales in the UK and Europe in Spring 2026. Exact pricing and specifications for the British market will be announced before then.
It can take anywhere between 12-24 months for new models to start appearing in Motorpoint stores. If you don't want to wait that long, you could always check out a choice of nearly new and used Lexus ES cars for sale at Motorpoint.
Say yes to a used Lexus ES
You don't need to wait for the new car – check out a selection of used Lexus ES cars at Motorpoint, with big discounts on the brand-new price. For more options, take a look at the best saloon cars on sale.
