2026 Lexus ES 350h AWD Hybrid First Test: What’s the Big Rush?

A BMW 5 Series pulls up next to you in your 2026 Lexus ES 350h at a red light. You exchange glances. As the light turns green, the BMW rockets away—and you couldn’t care less. Because the hybrid version of the new Lexus ES is for people who aren’t bothered that the BMW will reach the next red light three seconds quicker. It’s a car for drivers who would rather turn rush hour into a more relaxing hour.

After putting the 2026 ES 350h through our full battery of MotorTrend tests, it’s clear that a couple things keep this unhurried and unworried Lexus sedan from being even more compelling than it already is, but its 0–60-mph time isn’t one of them. Here’s what we found.

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Bigger! Better?

As it has for decades, the latest and greatest Lexus ES offers comfort and space at a lower price than its rivals. Hybrids and EVs are now the only powertrains available; the conventional gas V-6 is gone. Lead-footed drivers should stick with the ES 500e, the AWD EV model with the quickest 0–60 time. The FWD EV model and both hybrids accelerate at a more sedate pace.

That’s reflected in our ES 350h test car’s 244 hp, which is less standard power than every direct competitor. Again and again, the ES reminds you it’s a practical luxury sedan, not a powerful one.

Trust us, you can still move with authority if you plan your passes a bit and don’t mind a slightly grainy sound coming from the hybrid system. The four-cylinder hybrid setup is a version of the well-worn, dependable, and highly efficient powertrain we’ve seen in numerous Toyota and Lexus models over the years.

Here, it propels an ES sedan that’s much taller than before and carries an unapologetic big-car style—there’s nothing subtle about how it carries itself

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0–60 or Range: Which Is More Important?

At the track, the 2026 ES 350h AWD manages a 7.2-second 0–60 mph time, consistent with the outgoing model’s hybrid variant but noticeably slower than every major competitor we’ve tested. The base-model Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, and Genesis G80 all outsprint the Lexus to 60 mph by more than a second.

In the real world, the ES’ acceleration comes on smoothly and steadily, which we think is a real plus. Yes, some engine noise makes it into the cabin, but not a ton. Braking from 60 to 0 mph—the kind of stop you hope never to have to make but prefer to know your car can handle—takes an unimpressive 126 feet. The Genesis we tested stopped 10 feet shorter, and an E350 AWD needed just 102 feet.

But the real problem with the brakes isn’t necessarily with the track performance; it’s more about how they feel just before you come to a stop. From about 2 mph on down, the brakes sometimes clamp down more forcefully than you expect, resulting in a tough-to-modulate, less-than-smooth stop. Although we didn’t experience this in our First Drive, extended testing revealed this unfortunate trait remains on the 2026 model just as it did on the last ES hybrid.

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By no means is this a deal-breaker—this ES hybrid has too much going for it—but it’s one of those seemingly petty things that you can’t unfeel once you feel it. When you make a hybrid the only available gas model, we hoped for better with the new car.

On the track, the ES hybrid predictably felt soft and floaty. The ES hybrid tolerates a curvy road, but it’s clear this car isn’t made for that type of driving. We’re not talking about jack-of-all-trades luxury sport sedan here.

There is one major metric where this Lexus is a top performer, however: driving range. The ES 350h AWD can travel 638 miles in mixed city and highway driving before needing to refuel, besting the competition and even the last ES hybrid.

This is about the luxury of time and spending less of it at gas stations filling up. Of course, EVs win here with the ultimate luxury of home charging, but electric cars don’t work for everyone.

Why the ES Hybrid Remains a Good Choice

We’ve now established that the 2026 ES 350h hybrid is slower than its competition, that it has a low-speed brake-feel issue, and some may find it overstyled.

Despite all this, the 2026 ES 350h hybrid is a good choice. Its comfortable ride, long range, and big back seat combine to make this Lexus a real contender for pragmatists. The new ES hybrid may look different than before, but its place in the market remains exactly the same.