2026 Lexus ES Goes Electric and Must Play a New Role
Key takeaways
- The Lexus sedan lineup has shrunk, so this new electric ES attempts to take over the departing LS's flagship duties while maintaining a surprisingly low price point.
- View exterior photos Lexus When Lexus first launched as a brand in 1989, it offered two sedans: the ES and the LS.
- In a testament to its increased importance, the ES gets a comprehensive overhaul that reflects the larger role it now must play in the Lexus range.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
The Lexus sedan lineup has shrunk, so this new electric ES attempts to take over the departing LS's flagship duties while maintaining a surprisingly low price point.
View exterior photos Lexus When Lexus first launched as a brand in 1989, it offered two sedans: the ES and the LS. The full-size LS flagship quickly came to define the Lexus ethos, but 37 years later, it's the mid-size ES nameplate that persists. Lexus is going back to having just two sedans, and the LS will not be one of them, as it's bidding farewell with just a 250-unit run of Heritage Edition models for 2026. The compact IS is still around, but it's getting long in the tooth as the third generation has just received its third facelift.
In a testament to its increased importance, the ES gets a comprehensive overhaul that reflects the larger role it now must play in the Lexus range. Here, we're focusing on the new electric version of the ES; there's also a hybrid version of the ES, which we review separately. This eighth-generation ES—the EV in particular—represents the most radical change for this model since its inception more than three decades ago. Not only does it offer this new powertrain configuration, but it also grows in size and attempts to capture some of the LS flagship's duties with some upscale new options unique to the electric model.