Lexus ES (2026) Launch Review

The 8th-generation Lexus ES has gone on sale in South Africa, featuring a plush cabin, huge space in the rear and, for the first time, an all-electric powertrain. We take it for a drive through the Winelands.

The Lexus ES now waves the flag as the sole sedan offered by the premium Japanese brand in South Africa, as both the sporty IS and LS limousine have been withdrawn from our market. Now in its 8th generation, the Lexus ES takes the fight to the Audi A5, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and, for the new ES battery electric vehicle (BEV) derivative, the BMW i4 and Volvo ES90.

The sedan market has seen a massive decline, both globally and locally. This author can remember the days when the 3 Series and C-Class were consistently selling over 1 000 units each more than a decade ago. Then the SUV revolution began, and if you look at premium brand portfolios, SUVs outnumber sedans by some margin.

It’s not a good starting point for the new Lexus ES, so it had better put on a good show – the answer is yes, it certainly does.

Read more: Lexus ES (2026) Price & Specs

What’s new?

This new 8th-generation Lexus ES is larger in every metric, offering more cabin space as well as greater luggage capacity. The length and wheelbase have grown by 165 mm and 80 mm respectively, and in the metal, Lexus’ entry-level sedan suddenly appears far more substantial and, dare we say it, luxurious.

There are three derivatives and two powertrains on offer. Lexus continues to focus on petrol-hybrid engines and the ES 350h is powered by a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol-hybrid setup. For this 8th-gen model, outputs have increased from 160 kW to 182 kW, with total torque output moving from 221 Nm to 235 Nm. The vehicle rides on the TNGA-K platform (the same as the impressive Toyota RAV4), is front-wheel-driven and features a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

While many petrolheads loathe the non-interactive CVT, it’s worth pointing out that this transmission setup best complements the Toyota hybrid system, as it keeps the engine in that sweet spot, balancing performance with efficiency. Speaking of which, Lexus claims 4.4 L/100 km and a total range of more than 1 200 km between fill-ups. This vehicle is not marketed as a straight-line sprinter, but for interest’s sake, Lexus reckons 7.7 seconds is how long the ES will take to get to 100 kph.

Lexus ES BEV

And now, for the first time, the Lexus ES has gone all-electric. For our market, we get a single-motor ES 350e setup with 167 kW and 268 Nm. It has a battery capacity of 77 kWh (74.69 kWh usable), giving it a claimed range of up to 615 km based on the NEDC test. The 400 V platform supports DC charging up to 150 kW and AC charging up to 22 kW.

You can spot the ES 350e by its charging flap located behind the front wheel on the driver’s side, the subtle ‘e’ badge on the rear and the fact that this derivative exclusively rides on 21-inch wheels wrapped in 235/45 rubber. In terms of performance, it’s a tad slower than its petrol siblings, with a 0-100 kph claim of 8.0 seconds.

Trim levels

ES 350h EX

• Lexus Safety System+4 (Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane-keeping assist, Pre-collision system, Blind spot monitoring, Front cross-traffic alert, Driver monitoring, Parking support braking, Road-sign assist)
• Adaptive high-beam headlights
• 14-inch infotainment screen
• 10-speaker audio system
• Synthetic leather seats
• 8-way adjustable driver’s seat
• Sunroof and moonroof
• Wired Android Auto/Apple CarPlay (wireless coming soon)
• 18-inch alloy wheels

ES 350h SE

• Synthetic leather steering wheel with heating functionality
• Perforated synthetic leather seats with heating
• Digital inner mirror
• Auto climate concierge
• 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system
• Active Noise Control
• Auto-parking function
• 19-inch alloy wheels

ES 350e SE

• Active Sound Control
• Easy-close doors
• Cornering lamps
• Rear sunshade
• Semi-aniline leather seats
• Ventilated front seats
• Dual wireless phone chargers
• 21-inch alloy wheels

What is the new Lexus ES like to drive?

First impressions count for a lot, and visually, the new ES is a treat. Photographs can’t really convey how interesting the design is. Typical booted sedans can be predictable from a visual point of view, but like the Volvo ES90, the Lexus ES adopts a sporty fastback shape. From pretty much every angle, this is a car that effortlessly turns heads.

Read more: Volvo ES90 (2026) Review

Climb inside and the visual treat continues. This is a beautifully finished interior with plenty of interesting nuggets. Take the steering wheel, for example: the buttons are darkened until you need them, at which point they illuminate. The same is true of the temperature buttons, where the blue and red arrows light up only if your fingers are in close proximity. When not in use, they add to the minimalist experience.

It’s the choice of materials that really impresses, however. The trim on common touch surfaces both looks and feels high-end, but it doesn’t stop there. Less common areas feature plush materials, too, and suede trim around the instrument cluster is a first for us.

Like the majority of Lexus and Toyota hybrids, the ES350h starts up in silence and will run on electric power at low speeds, with the petrol engine stepping in as the pace increases or when sudden bursts of acceleration are needed. You can change the driving modes, but we preferred to leave the car to its own devices, and the transition from electric to petrol is imperceptible. The driver-monitoring system is overly sensitive right from the get-go, but it’s pretty straightforward to switch that off.

See how they compare using our handy tool: Lexus ES vs Audi A5 vs BMW 4 Series

Our launch route took us across the Cape Winelands with plenty of open-road cruising. We came away recording a consumption figure of 7.4 L/100 km, which is impressive considering we overtook a great many slower cars at full throttle. Some colleagues saw as low as 5.5 L/100 km, and if you’re driving in traffic, we reckon you’ll get close to the claimed figure.

The ride quality is superb, with the suspension tuned explicitly for comfort, and we suspect those tyres are working hard at soaking up the road’s imperfections. Given its positioning as a luxury cruiser, don’t expect anything in terms of excitement if you throw it into some bends.

We also had a quick drive in the battery-electric ES 350e. The electric powertrain is unlike other BEVs in that it doesn’t deliver that instant, aggressive shove, opting instead for a more measured and relaxed approach. Because there is a complete lack of internal-combustion engine noise, the cabin could be deathly quiet thanks to Lexus’ fantastic insulation and refinement, but there is an artificial sound to gently remind you there is some powertrain life beneath you.

Spec comparison: Lexus ES 350e vs BMW i4 eDrive35 vs Volvo ES90 Single Motor Core

The biggest takeaway for us is that it doesn’t drive too dissimilarly from its hybrid-powered siblings, and with the price of fuel constantly increasing, it may be well worth considering for a lower cost of ownership.

How much does the new Lexus ES cost in South Africa?

The new ES is sold with a 7-year/105 000 km maintenance plan, a 7-year/105 000 km warranty and an 8-year/160 000 km battery warranty. At the time of writing, there are 14 Lexus dealerships across South Africa.

Summary

The new 8th-generation Lexus ES continues right where the previous model left off. All the positives – quietness, stellar efficiency and class-leading build quality – have been retained, and are now wrapped in a strikingly attractive package.

If you had to look up “refinement” in the dictionary, a picture of the ES should appear. It genuinely is one of the most comfortable, refined and plush driving experiences available, but given how much space is in the back, it begs the question: would you like to drive, or be driven?

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