New Lexus ES: stylish saloon gets electric power for £59k

On sale June | Price from £59,345

Just as little Simba took over from Mufasa to take the leading role in The Lion King, the all-new Lexus ES will take the place of the now-discontinued LS luxury car and crown the firm’s saloon car line-up. And it’s going fully-electric for the first time.

Fitting with its push to fill the gap left by the LS, the new Lexus ES has grown to be slightly larger than the BMW 5 Series that it has traditionally rivalled.

In pushing the ES further upmarket, Lexus’s engineers have placed a renewed focus on comfort – something which will receive a further boost with the introduction of new electric models, plus a full hybrid model.

However, the most obvious departure from the current ES is the new car’s styling. It’s clear the new design is far more minimalist and is something we can expect to see for future electric Lexus models. 

Out does the old, upright front end, and in comes a sleek look, a less pronounced grill, and headlights which include L-shaped daytime running light and indicator signatures. The L-shapes continue into the rear lights, which form part of a single light bar with illuminated Lexus lettering, and sculpted lines across the doors.

Just one version will be available at launch, badged the ES 350e. It will be powered by a 77kWh battery and a front-mounted electric motor, pumping out 221bhp. That's enough juice for a 0-62mph sprint in eight seconds. Official range figures have yet to be revealed, but the ES 350e is tipped to manage more than 300 miles on a single charge. For reference, the BMW i5 can travel 380 miles in its most efficient form.

It's expected the 350e will be joined by the four-wheel-drive 500e variant later on. That version will split its 338bhp across all four wheels using the same Direct4 system as the Lexus RZ SUV — there’s no shortage of grip in that car. It's 0-62mph time stands at 5.7sec, and it'll have a slightly smaller 74.6kWh battery.

Some clever packaging means neither the underfloor-mounted batteries, nor the axle-mounted motors will encroach significantly on interior or boot space. The position of the batteries contributes to a low centre of gravity, which should deliver gains in agility and stability.

With the ability to charge at speeds of up to 150kW, a 10-80% top-up of the ES 350e's battery should take around 28 minutes.

A full hybrid – or ‘self-charging’ hybrid in Lexus-speak – that pairs a 2.5-litre engine with an electric motor for a combined power output of 244bhp will be offered in some markets and be badged as the ES 350h. However, this isn't coming to the UK.

The new ES’s chassis is stiffer than before, which should deliver improvements in vibrations and contribute to sharper steering, smooth acceleration and greater braking response. This is designed to narrow the gap to the 5 Series when it comes to agility and the Mercedes E-Class with regard to comfort.

It’s longer and wider than both the BMW and Mercedes, but while the distance between the front and rear wheels has grown, pointing to an increase in passenger space, it’s still slightly less than its German rivals. Our testers found the seating position of the current ES was a little too high, but it’ll be loftier still in the new car.

The minimalist design philosophy adopted for the exterior extends inside, with a simple and clean design. While most of the controls will be operated via the touchscreen, others are operated by haptic ‘Hidden Tech’ buttons which are disguised from view when the car is switched off, and illuminate when the car is on. They give the look of a touch panel but provide “tactile feedback” when pressed, according to Lexus.

The devil will be in the detail here; there’s no doubting the elegant design, but flush, digitally-operated buttons are often more fiddly to use than physical buttons and knobs. 

A new infotainment system features, sporting a 14in touchscreen and LexusConnect navigation which, for electric versions of the ES, can monitor the car’s charge and automatically include charging stops on your route. The system can even monitor the car’s state of charge and adapt the route to take in more or fewer charging stops as needed.

The new infotainment system works alongside a 12.3in digital instrument screen and the LexusLink+ app which, like that offered in the Audi A6 e-tron, allows access to a range of services, including remote charging and interior pre-heating.

The system is backed by Lexus’s new Arene operating system which uses AI to learn a driver’s routine and regularly-used apps to activate them automatically. 

From the official photos, it appears the ES will follow the usual high standard of Lexus’s interiors, with a pleasing mix of materials. One finish, called Bamboo Layering uses sophisticated printing to create a textured surface that creates patterns in the internal illumination. As with other Lexus models, a Mark Levinson audio system will be available as an option.

The front seats have been designed for good posture with shoulder-blade support, while rear passengers can sit on optional reclining pews and use an ottoman leg support for a limo experience. The front passenger seat can fold forward to maximum leg room and improve the view out; it’s a feature that will appeal to chauffeur drivers in particular.

The appeal to chauffeur drivers is stronger when you consider the saloon boot configuration, one that is preferred because it means the occupants won't get cold when luggage is being loaded, and it's a similar approach taken by the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. However, it's a configuration that isn't as practical as a wide-opening hatchback.

Three trim levels will be available: Premium, Premium Plus and Takumi. Entry-level Premium trim comes with power-adjustable and heated front seats with a memory function, a heated steering wheel, USB charging ports at the front and rear, wireless phone charging, adaptive cruise control, a 10-speaker sound system, a heated windscreen and a panoramic roof.

Stepping up to Premium Plus trim gets you an electronic rear-view mirror, leather upholstery inside, a 17-speaker sound system and a head-up display.

Top-spec Takumi trim adds heated and ventilated reclining rear seats, tinted rear windows and 21in alloy wheels.

The new Lexus ES 350e will arrive in the UK in June. Prices start at £59,345, making it cheaper than a BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE.

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