What the ES 350h hybrid’s MotorTrend-tested performance says about its place in the midsize luxury sedan segment.
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Comfortable ride
Big back seat
Reasonably priced
Low-speed brake feel
Bulky design
Some vibration through pedals
A BMW 5 Series pulls up next to you in your 2026 Lexus ES 350h at a red light. You exchange glances. As the light turns green, the BMW rockets away—and you couldn’t care less. Because the hybrid version of the new Lexus ES is for people who aren’t bothered that the BMW will reach the next red light three seconds quicker. It’s a car for drivers who would rather turn rush hour into a more relaxing hour.
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After putting the 2026 ES 350h through our full battery of MotorTrend tests, it’s clear that a couple things keep this unhurried and unworried Lexus sedan from being even more compelling than it already is, but its 0–60-mph time isn’t one of them. Here’s what we found.
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Bigger! Better?
As it has for decades, the latest and greatest Lexus ES offers comfort and space at a lower price than its rivals. Hybrids and EVs are now the only powertrains available; the conventional gas V-6 is gone. Lead-footed drivers should stick with the ES 500e, the AWD EV model with the quickest 0–60 time. The FWD EV model and both hybrids accelerate at a more sedate pace.
That’s reflected in our ES 350h test car’s 244 hp, which is less standard power than every direct competitor. Again and again, the ES reminds you it’s a practical luxury sedan, not a powerful one.
Trust us, you can still move with authority if you plan your passes a bit and don’t mind a slightly grainy sound coming from the hybrid system. The four-cylinder hybrid setup is a version of the well-worn, dependable, and highly efficient powertrain we’ve seen in numerous Toyota and Lexus models over the years.
Here, it propels an ES sedan that’s much taller than before and carries an unapologetic big-car style—there’s nothing subtle about how it carries itself