Lexus Finally Fixed Its Tech Problem

• What's new: Lexus has completely overhauled its infotainment system, and the tech debuts in the new ES hybrid and EV sedans.
• Why it matters: The leap to a high-def 14-inch touchscreen with 5G connectivity brings this tech out of the dark ages.
• Edmunds says: The 2026 Lexus ES finally has the brain to match its brawn.

Overall, the interface is very intuitive. The ES is the first Lexus to utilize 5G, which should enable faster cloud-based navigation, over-the-air updates and easier music streaming. However, connecting to the ES' Bluetooth lagged a bit. And my experience with the vehicle's Ask Lexus voice assistant (which now has a male voice option) was hit-or-miss. 

On my first request, "Hey, Lexus, play Madonna," the interface quickly opened Spotify (a newly added offering along with SiriusXM 360L) and played a Drake song. OK, not the Madonna I wanted, but it still did what I asked, sort of.

On my second ask, it took three times to acknowledge my request and another two to understand my pronunciation of "Torrey Pines State Beach." Once we connected, it provided directions without a problem. 

An interface aimed to educate 

Lexus is known for safety, but let's be honest: acronyms like "LDA" or "PCS" don't mean much to most people. To eliminate the pain of acronym soup, Lexus added a vehicle icon that opens up an education center. So, you know what the safety features actually mean and how to customize them.

For example, the lane departure alert vibration was a bit aggressive. Before I toggled the sensitivity alert to beep rather than vibrate, an animated text snippet appeared on the screen, showing me exactly how LDA works. The more you know, right?

The built-in dashcam 

The ES also has a new dashcam recorder. It uses its four external cameras and comes standard on all ES models. It records from the front, rear and both sides of the mirrors only when the vehicle is powered on. Additionally, to put it in a set-it-and-forget-it mode, you will likely need to navigate to this feature to turn it on initially. Once on, the cameras can capture 91 minutes of continuous footage. 

I saw the cameras in action. And while it may seem gimmicky to some, they can be hugely beneficial if you are ever in a fender bender, especially because hard braking, sharp steering and even a collision will trigger the cameras to automatically save that footage. But you can also manually record up to four specific clips if you see something interesting on the road. You can plug a USB-C drive into the center console and download the footage instantly, complete with timestamps, GPS location and speed.

Range anxiety? Not on Lexus' watch 

The fully electric ES 500e and 350e now come standard with range maps, route planners and charging station filters. I put this to the test and mapped out a drive from La Jolla to Bakersfield, California. The map showed a blue-shaded area indicating how far I can drive on the battery’s current charge. From there, it suggested charging stops along the way, the charger type at each stop, and the time it will take me to charge at each stop. 

While not a new concept, since it is already available on many other EVs, I do appreciate the option's usability.

Actually, the new Lexus ES system as a whole is pretty intuitive and should appeal to most audiences. Whether you're a tech-savvy early adopter or someone who just wants to find the radio station without a headache, this system is a massive leap forward.