About a month ago I got to check out the new ES 350e staged at the Lexus Racing USA booth at Sebring. My videos are below. This was in Caviar and a loaded luxury model with the reclining rear seats.

My history. My first Lexus was an ES 300 manual back in 1996 (I still have it). My wife had a loaded 2019 ES 350 F SPORT which we modified. If you don’t know me, I’ve owned or driven them all the past 30 years. So I will admit this change to the ES also is a lot for me to absorb. I didn’t get to drive it yet.

Caviar is the color to get, it better hides the weird lines. It sits high like the Crown so getting inside was easier. The materials used inside are well done, it surprised me. I’m not a fan of iPad dashes, this wasn’t too bad. Front and rear seat room is absolutely massive, larger than the LS 500 to me. I did like the black/bamboo touches. The trunk is also massive and I fit inside lol. The interior lighting is cool.

This vehicle isn’t for me or most people I know but I’m sure there is a target for it. Keep that in mind before just bashing it.

 

 

The tires are massive. The 19" are bigger (higher and wider) than the tires on my 2022 RAV4.

 

Yes same size the Crown and Crown Signia have. 245/45/21

 

I personally saw it when it hit a display in Washington DC! I sat in. It was able to really take my time and look at it. I am interested in the hybrid version myself, and originally hated the way it looked. I currently do not have any Lexus, but I am in the market for one. I was very pleasantly surprised with what it looked like in person. It is not as bad as everyone keeps saying. The seats were way more comfortable than what I test drove in the 2019 and 2025 versions that I’ve looked at. I am a huge fan of buttons on cars and was sad that this doesn’t have any, but these weren’t super terrible. Once the hybrid is out all the test, it is starting to be a front runner for me especially with all cars I’ve tested lately in the Toyota Lexus family. I think everyone needs to keep their mind open, especially since most haven’t seen it in person. Is it a departure from previous years? Yes is it as elegant as the last couple years probably not but the design is not super far off from other brands in the luxury space

 

Props to ya on keeping it together and keeping it on brand lol

 

If I posted my struggle the internet would crash for 30 seconds lol…

 

I would consider this car if it wasn't so long. I can get past the horrible design. I can't get past the fact it literally won't fit in my garage.

 

The ageing Corolla is 182.3" long.
Ageing IS is 185.8" long.
Ageing 3 Series is 185.4" long.

Hence, the 5 Series is 199" long.
Hence, 8ES 202.4" long.

Most of the extra length in modern cars is lost due to the more and more rounded corners!
I used to think the 7ES had very rounded corners - the 8ES makes 7ES corners look flat and square.

Surely your garage is typical 20 feet long to fit?

 

I got more coming

 

EV shoppers are used to EVs having frunks. They ask "what can this car do for me." They will ask to see the frunk and be greeted with this.

At best the electric version of this car will be a "protest buy," but honestly there's a lot of better protest buys.

More EVs generally are good and i'm glad there's options but really i dont see many buying the electric version. 0-60 in 7.7s is also like wat. the shopper is also going to look at that and wonder why EV X or Y will get the same range as this ES350e, but said EV X or Y will achieve a much faster 0-60 AND with a frunk.

 

A few years ago, the original bZ and RZ had a very poor debut with mediocre battery technology.
However, the midlife refresh of bZ and RZ, and the new 8ES has significantly improved Lexus EV's.

Despite the bZ and RZ using dedicated EV platforms, the e-TNGA is still not truly dedicated because it shares many FWD components with GA-K, and that's why bZ, RZ and 8ES are still FWD-based with cheap single lower link MacPherson strut suspension at the front.
I'm sure the next generation models will be more genuinely dedicated with RWD and front double wishbones to help keep the front tires perpendicular to the road surface to maximize adhesion.

TMC provides superior battery warranties to Tesla, hence TMC is extremely conservative with their batteries; thus TMC does not drive their batteries as hard with superfast rates of charging, nor discharge their batteries as hard with 0-60 mph acceleration times, nor drive their range as hard either.
On paper, rapid charging, rapid discharging to accelerate hard, and long range sounds great, but in reality, most commuters do not need superfast charging, nor fancy 0-60, nor very long ranges.
Unlike traditional fossil fuel vehicles which are filled once a week etc, EV's are often topped up daily etc.

Only a minority of buyers demand hi performance, premium handling and long range driving.
Historically, the ES has been very successful with FWD and simple lower link front MacPherson strut suspension with modest handling.