2026 Lexus ES Customers Can Go Hybrid or All-Electric

Lexus took the wraps off a new, next-generation ES sedan that will allow owners pick their level of electrification at the Shanghai International Industry Exhibition today. Set to make its way to Canadian dealer showrooms next year, the new model can be equipped with either a hybrid or an all-electric powertrain.

Toyota stans will be familiar the Lexus ES 350h’s hybrid powertrain, as it is shared among many of the automaker’s vehicles. It combines a 2.5L engine with an eAxle at the back that will provide the vehicle with all-wheel drive power. Lexus has not revealed power figures for the Canadian market at time of writing, but in the RAV4 hybrid, the powertrain makes 219 hp and consumes 6.0 L/100 km.

Meanwhile, the all-electric ES 350e will use a single motor at the front axle. Power output for the unit has not yet been revealed by Lexus Canada, but in China it will make 221 hp. The manufacturer estimates that, according to Canadian range measurements, the new model will be able to go as many as 480 km per charge when it's equipped with 19-inch rims.

Finally, Lexus has announced that the ES 500e will sit at the top of the range. It has not yet revealed how far it believes the car will be able to go in Canada, nor how much power it will make (though it will make 338 hp in China), but it will feature an AWD powertrain that will actively manage torque between the front and rear axles based on the road conditions to enhance acceleration and handling stability.

The 2026 ES will also get Lexus’ latest safety technology and the driver will be treated to an impressive tech suite. In the centre of the dash, they will find a 14-inch infotainment screen with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Behind the steering wheel, a 12.3-inch instrument screen is designed to allow the driver to easily keep the road in their line of sight.

The ES isn’t just for drivers, though. For the first time in Canada, Lexus will offer the Executive VIP Package for people who prefer to be chauffeured. Available on the ES 350e FWD Luxury model, it allows rear seat occupants to recline their seats, and provides the person sitting behind the passenger seat with an ottoman. In addition, the rear outboard seats are heated, ventilated, and feature a massaging function.

Even if you aren’t fancy enough to have a driver, you’ll be comfortable inside the 2026 ES. The new model is 165 mm longer than the 2025 model, and has an 80 mm longer wheelbase, which results in a larger cabin. Lexus says it has also worked to make the seats and trim elements as thin as possible in order to increase the cabin’s sense of airiness. As with many electric vehicles (EVs), the seating position will be higher than in traditional sedans (likely due to the battery pack that is hidden under the floor), but the automaker is spinning this as a positive that provides drivers with a more commanding view of the road — not to mention it makes entering and exiting the vehicle easier.

From a design standpoint, Lexus is using new materials for the interior, including a new 3D printing technique to create bamboo trim that feels like the real deal. Embossed synthetic leather and carefully measured interior lighting help round out the experience.

Outside, the 2026 ES is inspired by the LF-ZC concept that was first shown in 2023. The sharp lines and the faux spindle grille are recognizably Lexus. The low nose and the rounded rear speak to the pursuit of aerodynamic efficiency that has defined recent EVs, as automakers look to squeeze every km of range they can out of their battery packs.

Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a little longer to find out exactly how big the ES’s battery packs are, how much the new model will cost, as well as the entirety of what Lexus Safety System 4.0+ entails. All will be revealed closer to when the 2026 Lexus ES goes on sale, next year.