2026 Lexus ES 350h Brings Sixth-Generation Hybrid and First-Ever AWD Option
The eighth-generation Lexus ES arrives with a substantially revised hybrid model, marking the first time the long-running luxury sedan has offered all-wheel drive. The 2026 ES 350h adopts Lexus’ sixth-generation hybrid system, a new multi-pathway platform shared with the all-electric ES 350e and ES 500e, and a larger body with a higher seating position than its predecessor.
The powertrain numbers reflect meaningful gains over the outgoing ES 300h. Output rises from 215 hp to 244 hp on both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations, driven by increases to both the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine — now rated at 186 hp and 173 lb-ft — and a substantially more powerful front motor generator producing 201 hp and 199 lb-ft. The AWD variant adds a 54-hp rear e-Axle that can shift torque distribution from 100:0 front-to-rear all the way to 20:80 on demand.
Fuel economy remains a headline strength. The front-wheel-drive ES 350h earns an EPA-estimated 46 MPG combined — 48 city, 44 highway. The AWD model gives up two MPG across the board, landing at 44 combined.
Sixth-generation hybrid refinements extend beyond raw output. The system favors the larger electric motor more aggressively during everyday driving, keeping combustion engine revs lower. Lexus has also addressed NVH at the hardware level: a microfiber sound-absorbing layer in the air intake box, a larger muffler, a flexible exhaust coupler, and Active Noise Control through the audio speakers all work in concert to suppress intrusions into the cabin. The new multi-axis transaxle layout produces a more compact and rigid casing while the electronically controlled variable oil pump and revised cooling circuit contribute to efficiency gains.
Dimensionally, the new ES is noticeably larger. The wheelbase grows by 3.1 inches and overall length by 6.5 inches, with an additional 2.2 inches of width and 4.5 inches of height. Interior beneficiaries include 1.4 additional inches of rear seat legroom, 0.8 inches more front headroom, and meaningfully wider shoulder and hip room. Both front and rear hip points are higher, improving ingress and egress without requiring a full SUV posture.
The interior centers on a 14.0-inch Lexus Interface touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch driver Multi-Information Display. Dual Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an integrated drive recorder, and OTA update capability are standard. Premium+ trims swap in a 17-speaker, 1,800-watt Mark Levinson PurePlay Surround Sound System in place of the standard 10-speaker Lexus unit.
Active safety advances under the Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 banner, which debuts on the ES. Additions over the previous generation include Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Intersection Turn Assist, and an Eco-Run mode for Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Traffic Jam Assist and Lane Change Assist are standard on Premium+ trims.
Pricing opens at $51,095 for the ES 350h Premium FWD and runs to $57,295 for the Premium+ AWD, inclusive of a $1,395 delivery fee. The car is assembled at Toyota Motor Kyushu in Japan and is expected in dealerships in June 2026.
The ES 350h has long been a volume driver for Lexus in the luxury sedan segment, and this generation makes a credible case for continued relevance — broader interior, more power, cleaner efficiency, and an AWD option that removes a persistent competitive objection. Whether the segment itself sustains that relevance is a separate question.