AN ES-SENTIAL LEXUS (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

In eighth generation form, the Lexus ES full-Executive-class saloon becomes an EV. This resulting ES 350e model could be the most important car the Lexus brand has yet brought us. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 84

The Lexus ES is a full-sized Executive saloon that might get forgotten in a segment dominated by German premium brands. Yet it doesn't deserve to be. In this all-new MK8 form, this model comes to UK customers with just a single full-EV drivetrain, but the value proposition remains as strong as it's always been with the ES, when you compare against Teutonic competitors. If you want to spoil yourself in this class, but at sensible money, the ES 350e could be an appealing package.

Backgroundword count: 155

Europe likes to think it's the world's most important automotive market but in truth, that honour now belongs to China. Increasingly then, we're going to get global brands creating cars prioritising the Oriental customer. Here's a good example, the eighth generation Lexus ES. We've only had the ES in Europe since 2019, when it replaced four generations of the brand's GS model in the full-executive segment dominated by European players like the BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6 and the Mercedes E-Class. The first six generations of ES weren't sold on our continent - but we didn't miss much as they were broadly just rebranded versions of the Toyota Camry saloon which this model line has always been based. The MK7 ES, a full-Hybrid, was a bit less a Camry clone. This MK8, only offered here in ES 350e form as a full-EV, gets even more of its own identity. Let's take a closer look.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 278

Thanks to this eighth generation model's redesigned Lexus Global Architecture-K platform, ES customers now get a full-EV drivetrain, initially offered here in the form of one model, the ES 350e. This variant is front-driven with a single motor offering 221bhp, enabling 0-62mph in 8.2s. That motor's mounted on an eAxle and energised by a 77kWh lithium-ion battery offering a range of between 292 and 329 miles, depending on whether you choose 19 or 21-inch wheels. Other markets get a top ES 500e flagship variant featuring DIRECT4 all-wheel drive via two electric motors which together put out a combined 338bhp. There's no word yet on whether that version will be offered here. Or whether Lexus will also offer UK customers the 2.5-litre full-Hybrid 300h version of this MK8 ES, which has a much bigger battery than the MK7 ES Hybrid and comes in front or four-wheel-driven forms, putting out either 199bhp or 245bhp. That GA-K platform sitting beneath the swoopy bodywork is more rigid here than it is in a Lexus NX SUV, resulting in what the company calls an 'agile, responsive feel that belies its size'. Nevertheless if you know the brand, on the move in as ES 350e you still won't be expecting pin-sharp handling, but Lexus says that's also been improved by a new variable gear steering rack and a redesigned multi-link rear suspension layout. As a result, the Japanese maker claims that this eighth generation ES makes significant 'advances in ride quality, comfort and quietness' over its predecessor, which was already impressively silent and supple. You can expect refinement to be as quiet as anything in the class. And there's a paddleshift-controlled brake regen system.

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