During its 37-year lifetime, Lexus has produced some superb saloon cars. The original LS 400 famously outshone the benchmark Mercedes-Benz S-Class, while the stylish and dynamic IS 300 proved a worthy rival to the contemporary BMW 3 Series. Today, however, Lexus is almost exclusively an SUV company. Its UK range stretches from the compact LBX to the luxurious and long-serving RX, with only two outliers breaking the SUV-shaped mould: the LM, an ultra-plush people carrier costing nearly £100,000, and the new ES tested here – the only saloon left in the Lexus line-up. That shift mirrors the wider market: buyers across Europe and the US have increasingly traded saloons for SUVs, prompting most premium brands to winnow their saloon line-ups, so Lexus's decision to persist with – and electrify – the ES is a notable commitment to the bodystyle.

The ES is now in its eighth generation since 1989, though this is only the second version offered in the UK. The previous car, sold here from late 2018, is easy to forget. With its angular contours and sleek, coupe-like profile, the new ES should be more memorable. In a break with the past, it is also fully electric, pairing a 77kWh battery with a 224hp motor and front-wheel drive. The move is part of Toyota and Lexus's broader multi-pathway strategy, which continues to back hybrids heavily while steadily expanding a bespoke-EV line-up – a contrast with the pure-EV-only approaches of some rivals.

Priced from £59,345, or around £659 per month on PCP finance, its EV rivals include the Audi A6 E-Tron, BMW i5, Volvo ES90 and the outgoing Mercedes-Benz EQE. So can Lexus win the battle for saloon supremacy once again?

Getting the Lexus look

At the new Toyota and Lexus Media Experience Centre near Gatwick, the display of classics – from a perfectly preserved Mk1 Toyota Yaris to the V10-powered Lexus LFA supercar – provides stiff competition for attention. Among such company, the new ES still stands out with some striking design details. The familiar Lexus 'spindle' grille is reinterpreted by the pinched shape of the bonnet, framed by lightning-bolt daytime running lights, with the main headlights semi-hidden inside the air intakes underneath.

From the side, a bold black crease carves down the car's flanks, while the elongated roofline makes the ES look more like a hatchback than a saloon. The rear is more generic, with a full-width light bar and illuminated 'LEXUS' lettering – both bang-on-trend for 2026. Overall, it doesn't look particularly premium, but it is distinctive, especially in a class dominated by heavy-set German cars.

What doesn't come across in photos is the car's size. At more than five metres long, the ES is longer than the first LS 400 – ostensibly a car from the class above. Those dimensions pay dividends once you click open the solenoid-style door handles and step inside.

Inside the 2026 Lexus ES

Start in the back, because these really are the best seats in the house. The slim front chairs and long wheelbase create limo-like legroom for passengers to stretch out, although headroom isn't quite so generous. Choose the top-spec Takumi and the nearside occupant gets a reclining backrest with an extending ottoman cushion, plus a remote control to fold the front passenger seat forwards. Subjecting the driver to your smelly socks is all part of the luxury experience.

Up front there's a minimalist dashboard with a 14-inch touchscreen and neat hidden switches that illuminate only when the car is switched on. Premium Plus and Takumi versions get real leather seats in cream, tan or black at no extra cost. Bamboo trim on the doors looks fantastic – especially at night, when backlit by the new 'surface-emitting illumination' technology.

Luggage space is a useful 512 litres, though bulky loads are hampered by a typically narrow saloon-style boot opening and rear seats that don't fold forwards. Perhaps Lexus should have built a big hatchback after all.

Lexus ES specifications

Elsewhere in the world, the ES is available with two different hybrid powertrains, plus a more powerful electric version with 342hp and four-wheel drive. All of these are denied to UK buyers, leaving the 224hp EV in a choice of three trim levels.

The base ES 350e Premium (£59,345) comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, the 14-inch touchscreen, heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof and 64-colour ambient interior lighting. Stepping up to Premium Plus (£68,245) adds leather upholstery, bamboo trim, cornering lights, a head-up display, automatic parking, an extra wireless phone charger and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. The flagship Takumi (£72,545) gets 21-inch alloys, three-zone climate control, heated and ventilated rear seats, tinted windows and the ottoman-style recliner behind the front passenger.

The key numbers are 0-62mph in 8.0 seconds, a maximum charging speed of 150kW – allowing a 10-80 percent charge in 28 minutes – and 361 miles of range. Note, though, that the larger 21-inch rims (a £1,600 option, or standard on the Takumi) slash the official range to 326 miles. It's a heavy price to pay for style.

Calm and comfortable

Settle into the ES and your whole body seems to exhale. The driving position may be higher than expected – thanks to the 'skateboard' EV platform with batteries stored beneath the floor – but it is very calm and comfortable. The slimline seats are supportive and the thin-rimmed steering wheel is wrapped in buttery-soft leather.

Maintaining serenity in any modern car means switching off the ADAS 'driver aids', such as lane assist and speed warning bleeps. The Lexus won't allow you to deactivate these while in motion, but you can create a shortcut on the home screen, saving time at the start of each journey (as per EU rules, the systems reactivate every time the car is switched on again).

There are four drive modes – Range, Eco, Normal and Sport – plus a pair of paddles behind the wheel, not for changing gear but to adjust the level of regenerative braking. Unlike some EVs, there is no option for true one-pedal driving.

Driving the Lexus ES

With 224hp to shift a chunky 2,245kg, the ES certainly won't be drag-racing any Teslas on YouTube. Performance is brisk enough, but overtakes require a bit more planning than in some rivals, and a top speed of 99mph won't earn much kudos on the German autobahn either.

This is an easy car to drive smoothly, with linear throttle response and a consistent brake pedal. You might feel an occasional scuffle from the front tyres, but only if you try too hard. The ES prefers not to be rushed.

It is also impressively hushed on the move. While some carmakers give their EVs a carefully curated soundtrack – from orchestral swells to a simulated V8 snarl – Lexus uses Active Noise Control to cancel out motor whine, wind whoosh, tyre rumble and other disruptive sounds, similar to the technology in noise-cancelling headphones.

Best experienced in the back

The ES's desire to take it steady is reinforced in corners. Its suspension is tuned for ride comfort rather than attacking apexes, exactly as most Lexus buyers would expect. Even so, being front-wheel drive robs the ES of the dynamism of some rear-driven rivals; a BMW i5 is certainly more engaging on the right road. Once again, it's hard to escape the feeling that the best seats are in the back, where you can fully relax and let the chauffeur take the strain. Just keep your shoes on, please.

I sampled the ES in middle-rung Premium Plus spec on both the 19-inch and 21-inch alloys, and there wasn't much discernible difference in ride quality. Still, the 35-mile penalty in range makes the smaller wheels the obvious choice – and reason enough to avoid the Takumi, which is available on 21s only.

Verdict: Lexus ES 350e

The ES isn't a class leader in many respects. While its 361-mile range is the longest of any electric Lexus to date, it falls short of its rivals: the Audi A6 E-Tron, Volvo ES90 and Mercedes-Benz EQE can all exceed 400 miles, depending on the model chosen. The Lexus also offers modest performance and isn't exceptional to drive, despite being very comfortable. It seems a car your passengers will enjoy more than you will.

There are, however, two further reasons to consider the ES. The first is Lexus's reliability record, regularly ranked among the best in surveys worldwide. The second is an industry-leading warranty covering the car for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles if serviced each year at a Lexus dealer. That peace of mind counts for a lot, particularly when the typical premium-brand warranty is only three years or 60,000 miles.

Easygoing and easy to live with, the ES sees Lexus playing to its strengths. Unlike several Lexus saloons of the past, though, it doesn't do enough to upset the established order, so it is likely to remain a niche choice – albeit one that suits certain buyers very well.

Tim Pitt writes for Motoring Research