Image Credit: Lexus.
The world has officially gone mad. Lexus, a company known for making world's most sensible cars, has done something really baffling. They've released the new 2026 ES, and the fully electric version is actually the cheapest model in the lineup. I know, I nearly choked on my shortbread.
Buying an electric car is like buying a bespoke suit; it fits perfectly, but you have to sell a kidney to afford the buttons. Not this time. The base electric Lexus ES350e starts at a shockingly reasonable $48,795. That includes the $1,295 "destination charge," which I assume covers the cost of a man in white gloves driving it to your house very slowly. That makes it $2,200 cheaper than the hybrid version. Honestly - it's like finding out the steak is cheaper than the salad.
Image Credit: Lexus.
What do you get for your hard-earned copper? The ES350e is a front-wheel-drive affair with 220 horsepower. It'll lumber from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.7 seconds. In the world of EVs, that's not exactly "ludicrous speed" - it's a "brisk Sunday stroll to the pub." But it comes with a 77-kWh battery that promises 300 miles of range. That's plenty of distance to find a charging station that actually works, which has become a bit of a national sport these days.
If you're the sort of person who thinks 7.7 seconds is long enough to grow a beard, you can opt for the ES500e. This one has dual motors, all-wheel drive, and a much punchier 338 horsepower. It'll whisk you to 60 mph in a far more respectable 5.4 seconds. The price jumps to $51,795, and the range drops to 250 miles because, as we all know, speed costs electricity. A simple way to explain it is to compare it to a dram of fine whiskey - the faster you drink it, the sooner the bottle is empty.
Image Credit: Lexus.
Lexus says this all-wheel-drive system is clever enough to send 100% of the power to either the front or rear axle. In normal driving it stays front-heavy to keep things civil. If you want to feel truly posh, the "Luxury" trim will set you back $60,195. That's a lot of money, but consider this: the new ES has grown significantly. It's longer than a BMW i5 and costs nearly $20,000 less. It's basically a budget limo for people who find German cars a bit too... German.
Inside, you get a massive 14-inch infotainment screen - it's essentially a small television glued to the dashboard. It's got all the wireless phone wizardry you'd expect. When the juice runs low, you can supposedly blast the battery from 10% to 80% in 30 minutes. Lexus hasn't confirmed the peak charging speed, but it'll likely top out at 150 kW.
Image Credit: Lexus.
The real surprise here is the size. Lexus killed off the big LS flagship, so they've stretched the ES to fill the void. It's a massive slab of Japanese engineering designed to glide over potholes as if they don't exist. Since it's built on the same bones as the RZ crossover, we have a rough idea of what to expect. The RZ was a bit of a mixed bag - brilliant in spots, but occasionally as confused as a tourist in New Orleans.
Will the ES be any better? I haven't driven it yet, but Lexus usually listens to complaints. Eventually. For $48,795, you're getting a lot of car for the money. Big, quiet, and cheaper than the hybrid. It almost makes sense, which is the most terrifying thing of all. If you see me silently wafting down the road in one of these, please don't tell my friends. I have a reputation to uphold.
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