New Lexus ES to be electric-only with sub-£60k price tag when UK orders begin in May
The new Lexus ES will be priced from £59,345 pricetag when UK order books open on May 1, 2026.
While Lexus will offer its new ES with a 199bhp hybrid powertrain in Western Europe, UK-bound cars are exclusively EVs as the eighth-generation of Lexus’ executive saloon seeks to compete with the likes of the Audi A6 e-tron and the BMW i5.
The decision to offer the ES as an electric-only model in the UK was driven by the number of EVs sold here compared to mainland Europe.
UK buyers will be offered just one electric Lexus ES variant from launch, the 350e. With a front-mounted electric motor, it has 221bhp and can achieve the 0-62mph run in 8.2 seconds.
Riding on a reinforced version of Lexus’ modular GA K platform, the electric Lexus ES e50e comes with a 77kWh lithium-ion battery. Peak DC charging speed is 150kW, translating into a 28-minute 10%-80% recharge time.
Lexus has yet to confirm any official range figures, but the electric ES is expected to return around 329 miles on a single charge.
UK-bound versions of the electric Lexus ES come in three trim levels: Entry-level Premium kicking things off at £59,345, mid-tier Premium Plus starting from £68,245, and the £72,545 Takumi flagship.
The new Lexus ES’ minimalist cabin is a radical departure from the outgoing car’s intricate offering, and all models come with a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 14-inch infotainment screen in the centre of the dash.
The Japanese luxury brand largely eschews physical buttons in favour of ‘Hidden Touch Switches’. These are haptic buttons behind the instrument panel upholstery that light up when the car is switched on.
A heated steering wheel finished with ‘Lexus’ wording is standard across the range, as are steering wheel-mounted regenerative braking paddles, along with front and rear USB-C charging ports, a front console wireless charging pad, and a 10-speaker stereo system.
Premium Plus cars build on this generous standard kit with cornering lamps, an electronic rear-view mirror, and hard-wearing, semi-aniline leather upholstery. Further highlights include a Mark Levinson stereo, a driver’s head-up display, twin wireless charging pads, easy-close doors, and bamboo-effect inner door layers.
The range-topping electric Lexus ES Takumi introduces heated, ventilated, and reclining rear seats with an ottoman-style leg rest and a centre console control panel for seat and ventilation adjustment. Meanwhile, rear side and back windows are fitted with sunshades, and lightweight, 21-inch alloy/resin aero wheels mark the Takumi from the rest of the range.
UK deliveries for the Lexus ES 350e will start in June this year. A twin-motor, 338bhp Lexus 500e will go on sale in Europe from launch, and is widely expected to go on sale in the UK at a later stage.
