Big news from Lexus Australia. A new-generation ES hybrid is coming. But the real headline? The first-ever electric ES is hitting the market.
In fact, it is the brand’s first electric sedan period.
The eighth-generation ES arrives “in the middle of this year.” EV variants lead the charge. The hybrid ES300h trails behind.
You might expect an EV to cost more. It doesn’t.
The base ES300h Hybrid Luxury sits at $75,000 before on-road costs—a steep $9,460 jump from the old model. Yet the electric ES350e Sport Luxury is only $2,000 more expensive. Just two grand extra for battery power and extra kit.
The top-dog ES500e? It hits $84,000. First AWD ES for Australia. Ever.
Under the skin
It rides on the GA-K platform. Stiffer now. Better.
The trailing arm rear suspension? Gone. Swapped for multi-link. Lexus claims this fixes ride comfort and refinement. Engineers also bulked up the soundproofing. The cabin is meant to be serene.
Tech-wise, the ES debuts the new Arene software. More processing power. Over-the-air updates become a real thing. The screen grows from 12.3 inches to 14 inches. It eats the climate controls too. Cloud nav is here. Spotify is embedded. The voice assistant gets smarter.
There’s also a Drive Recorder built-in. It films you. Loops constantly. Saves incident clips. You watch it on the dash.
The instrument cluster looks weird. Unusual shape. Six layouts though. Full-screen map available if you need it.
Hidden switches hide on the wheel and stack. They light up when your finger gets close. Creepy or convenient? You decide.
Safety with a side of panic buttons
Safety lists are long now. They get longer with the ES. Front cross-traffic alert joins the party. Rear alert now spots bikes.
Here’s the kicker. A brand-new Emergency Driving Stop System.
You zone out. Or pass out. While cruise control and lane-keeping run the show. The car notices. It beeps. Flashes lights. If you don’t react, it stops. Gradually. Hazards on. Doors unlocked. SOS calls authorities automatically.
Scary. Smart? Probably.
This falls under Lexus Connected Emergency. Free forever (or until 5G dies). You can see fuel/battery levels remotely. Auto crash notifications. Standard stuff now?
Other toys cost money. Lexus Connected+ costs nothing for five years. Lock doors. Blast the AC. Honk the horn via app. Find your stolen car. After five years, it’s $9.95 a month.
It’s getting bigger
This is generation eight. But only the sixth sold here. Australia missed gen 1 (that Camry cousin). Missed gen 5 too.
Size matters now.
The new ES is 170mm longer. 55mm wider. Up to 115mm taller. Wheelbase gains 80mm.
It crosses the five-meter line. Is it still mid-size? Debatable. Likely large.
The ES500e uses the DIRECT4 AWD system. Torque splits dynamically. 80/20 usually. But it can go 100/0. Or 0/100.
It also fakes manual shifting. Fake. Synthesized engine sounds. Fake tachometer. You shift via paddles. It simulates gears. Some people will love it. Most won’t notice.
Brakes get beefy. EVs carry bigger rotors. Fronts hit 340mm. Rears stay 338mm. Hybrids lag behind at 328/317mm.
What’s inside
Warranty remains five years/unlimited km. Service prices? Silent so far. Safety ratings? ANCAP hasn’t touched it yet.
Standard safety is deep.
- Adaptive cruise
- AEB (pedestrians, bikes, motorcyclists)
- Intersection assist
- Blind spot monitor
- Emergency steer assist
- Driver monitor
- Parking support brakes front and back
Four variants. Four flavors.
The base ES300h Luxury gives you:
- 19-inch wheels
- Panoramic roof with shade
- LED heads (auto high beam)
- Rain wipers
- 14-inch screen + Nav
- Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto
- Heated seats
- NuLux leatherette (not real leather)
Add the Enhancement Pack and you get:
- Park assist
- HUD
- Digital rear mirror
- Ventilated seats
- Mark Levinson sound system (17 speakers)
Step up to the ES350e Sport Luxury (the entry EV) and you trade NuLux for semi-aniline leather accents.
You also get:
- 21-inch wheels
- Adaptive suspension
- Active sound control (more fake engine noise)
- “High-grade” LEDs
- 10-way driver seat with calf support
- Multi-colour lighting
- Two wireless chargers
The flagship ES500e Sport Luxury adds the Interactive Manual Drive gimmick. Same chassis as the ES350e otherwise. Just more power.
Colors run seven choices. Black. White. Grey. Copper.
One new one: Wavelength. Blue with a shimmer. Lexus says it has a “solid look.”
Looks are subjective. Prices aren’t. You pay premium for electric. But here the premium is small. Suspiciously small.
Is this enough to pull buyers away from Tesla or Audi? Maybe. If they want quiet. If they don’t mind fake shifter sounds.
What’s your move?
