Tested: 2026 Lexus ES 350h Outshines Its EV Twin Big Time

• What's new: After putting the new all-electric ES through its paces earlier, it was time to give the hybrid version a spin.
• Why it matters: With gas prices up in the stratosphere, efficiency is at a premium for all vehicles — luxury ones included. But electricity is even cheaper, so the hybrid really needs to shine to beat its EV twin.
• Edmunds says: Adding more powerful electric motors has changed the way the ES hybrid drives, for the better.

This added electric oomph to the hybrid (the old ES hybrid's electric motors made about 100 hp less) also makes it drive just like an EV much of the time you're at city speeds. The gas engine kicks in gently, and only when it's needed, unlike Lexus hybrids of old, where it would burst into the cabin with its rattle and gargle with zero warning. The new ES has been blessed with a very well-sorted and smooth hybrid system; Lexus' (and Toyota's) know-how in building these powertrains really shines through — and the added refinement here is palpable.

I also found the hybrid version to ride more comfortably. With its big battery lying underneath, the electric ES was sabotaged by stiffer suspension to better handle the extra weight. As a result, it gets a bit chattery and unsettled on the road. The hybrid is noticeably smoother and quieter, two attributes we think shoppers are going to want if they're looking for a Lexus.

Even though comparing range between a hybrid and an EV isn't quite apples-to-apples, with its 44 mpg combined and a 14.5-gallon fuel tank, the hybrid should give you well over 600 miles on a single tank of gas. That's not just significant in its own right; it more than doubles the 293 miles the ES 350e covered in the Edmunds EV Range Test. Your mileage will vary based on how heavy your right foot is, but there's no doubt the hybrid will take you farther between top-ups.

The hybrid also won out on all of our other testing metrics, giving it a clean sweep. The dual-motor electric version of the ES will certainly blow both of these sedans out of the water. But until it arrives, the advantage lies with the 350h.

Stretched out

The ES' added length (it's now somehow a hair longer than the Toyota Grand Highlander) bestows it a truly gigantic back seat. It offers more rear legroom than the defunct LS flagship, and it's a great place to stretch out while being driven around. Unfortunately, the executive seating package that adds heated/ventilated/massaging rear seats and a fold-out footrest on the passenger side isn't offered on the hybrid, which is a bit of a bummer.

It also doesn't offer the same Luxury trim level you can get on the electric versions; it tops out at the Premium level, which means the materials aren't quite as nice. You can only get synthetic leather instead of the real stuff, and you're also missing out on the dual wireless charging pads and the bamboo trim pieces that help to class up the EV's cabin a bit. 

The synthetic material around the steering wheel is a real letdown; it feels downright rubbery, which is probably great for durability but makes me miss the old wood-and-leather steering wheel from the last-generation ES. The last-generation ES also had an easier-to-use cabin and more traditional exterior styling, and it is now a great value on the used market. We recently compared the old ES to the new one, and the results might surprise you. 

All that said, I still prefer the hybrid to the electric version when it comes to the current-generation car. It's better to drive, more affordable, and still provides excellent fuel economy. Toyota's core competency for a long time now has been hybrids, and that shines through more than ever in the new ES.