A Broader Approach
Lexus says the hybrid version of the eighth-generation ES is on track for its expected June arrival, when it will join its all-electric variants and give the nameplate a multi-powertrain approach on a single platform – a first for the brand. That creates a unique proposition in the luxury segment, giving buyers a broader range of electrified options within a single model line.
The hybrid ES 350h sits in the middle of the range, between the all-electric ES 350e and ES 500e. It also gains the automaker’s sixth-generation hybrid system and, for the first time, is offered with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) option – an addition that could prove important as the nameplate effectively becomes the brand’s flagship sedan with the LS set to be discontinued after the 2026 model year.
What’s Under the Hood
The hybrid system consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric starter-generator and a motor-generator integrated into an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) driving the front wheels – a layout similar to the previous ES 300h. For this model year, however, output rises to a combined 244 horsepower for both FWD and AWD models, despite the latter adding a 54-hp motor at the rear axle.
In terms of fuel efficiency, the hybrid powertrain, which benefits from a new multi-hole direct fuel injector and variable cooling system, returns an EPA-estimated 46 mpg combined. That figure drops to 44 mpg with AWD due to the added hardware and weight, but the numbers remain competitive for a midsize sedan, especially amid elevated gas prices.
The all-electric variants, meanwhile, offer EPA-estimated driving ranges of 307 miles for the ES 350e and 276 miles for the ES 500e.
Pushing the ES Forward
The ES 350h may share the same platform as its EV counterparts, but it features subtle design differences, including an upper front air intake in the bumper that directs airflow to the combustion engine. The EVs, meanwhile, add a power-opening charge port door on the front passenger-side fender.
Lexus offers the ES 350h Premium with a starting price of $51,095, including destination, while the range-topping ES 350h Premium+ AWD begins at $57,295. It is now assembled at Toyota Motor Kyushu in Japan, as Toyota’s Kentucky plant shifts its focus to producing hybrids like the RAV4 Hybrid and future all-electric models.
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