Review: The Redesigned Lexus ES Hybrid Is in Its Soft Era
If you’re looking to swap angst for serenity, this laid-back hybrid is a worthwhile alternative to sportier sedans from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, and almost as excellent as the all-electric ES
• The hybrid powertrain offers high mpg and is only slightly less serene than the electric Lexus ES. The gas-only version is gone.
• A totally redesigned interior is roomier, but more minimalist than its predecessor.
• Ride quality and comfort are superb, and the ES is an ideal road trip car.
A plumber is currently clearing the sewer line that backed up into our kitchen this morning. Every post I doomscroll past says that AI is coming for my job and, maybe, everyone and everything I love. On top of all that, my favorite pizza place closed after 62 years in business.
But this week, all is right with the world. This week, I’m driving the new Lexus ES 350h Hybrid.
Lexus totally redesigned the ES for 2026, and Consumer Reports just purchased one (anonymously, as always, from a local dealership) for our auto test program. It’s the second new ES we bought. Earlier this year, we picked up an all-electric ES 500e, which is nearly identical to the hybrid in every way except for its power source. Where the EV has an EPA-rated 276-mile driving range, the ES Hybrid uses a gas pump, not a plug, and can go on a 600-mile road trip between fill-ups thanks to its EPA-estimated fuel economy of 44 mpg combined with our test car’s optional all-wheel drive. There is no longer a gas-only, nonhybrid version.
The all-electric ES broke new ground in the Lexus lineup, but the revamped ES Hybrid is at its heart. Sure, SUVs are more popular, the Toyota Crown is a better value, and the Audi A6 is more engaging to drive. But the ES Hybrid represents what I think is the true essence of luxury: Freedom from stress. That’s because it’s a hybrid, a Lexus, and a luxury car.
Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports
