2026 Lexus ES350h First Drive: Better Tech, Better Ride, Same Relaxed Personality
Key takeaways
- The new hybrid ES has made strides in comfort, tech, and refinement—just don’t expect a sports sedan.
- More than 600 miles of range is the kind of number that gets your attention.
- As for the hybrid, it gets a new name—ES350h—and an updated powertrain as its means of motivation.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
The new hybrid ES has made strides in comfort, tech, and refinement—just don’t expect a sports sedan.
More than 600 miles of range is the kind of number that gets your attention. In the 2026 Lexus ES350h, both front- and all-wheel-drive versions of the new midsize luxury sedan are estimated to handily clear that mark, meaning you could drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back and still have fuel left in the tank.
The hybrid’s improvements in overall range and efficiency are byproducts of a nearly ground-up rethink of the ES lineup, which has sprouted hybrid and EV branches built on the same platform and wearing largely the same fresh exterior and interior styling. As for the hybrid, it gets a new name—ES350h—and an updated powertrain as its means of motivation.