The all-new, all-electric Lexus ES has interior space to rival luxury limousines like the BMW i7, yet it’s priced closer to a BMW i5. The trouble is, it’s priced too close to the i5 and other large executive saloons given that its performance, range, recharging times, and interior design fall well short of segment norms.
The Lexus ES is a relatively new name for the US, having replaced the GS as the brand’s large executive saloon back in 2019. But while the GS was a rear-drive saloon in the mold of a BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class, the ES, by contrast, was based on the same platform as most front-wheel-drive Toyotas and came only with a modest, 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain.
In the US, where seven generations have been on sale since 1989, the ES has occupied a more entry-level corner of the market, and it’s with that context that a completely redesigned Lexus ES arrives in the US. While the hybrid car survives elsewhere, the US will only get the all-new electric model (badged ES 350e) with a single motor mounted to the front axle.
It’s certainly a bigger competitor. It’s a whopping 6.7 inches longer overall with an extra 3.1 inches in the wheelbase. It’s also 2.2 inches wider and 4.5 inches taller, which helps disguise all that extra length. Proportionally, it doesn’t look that big – at least until you park it next to something. It’s 3.1 inches longer and 1.8 inches taller than a BMW i5; the Audi A6 e-tron and Mercedes EQE are smaller still.
The gains inside aren’t as grand, but the boot is a decent 18.3 cubic feet and the back seat should make the executive in question extremely satisfied when it comes to space to stretch out. As well as having more legroom than the i5, A6 and EQE on paper, the raised seat height increases comfort and space beyond what the simple specs say.
Once in the driver’s seat, though, the ES 350e starts to reveal its shortcomings. The materials and build quality are appropriate for the price and much better than what you’d find in a Tesla. But the design seems as if Lexus is deliberately trying to court those tired of owning something reeking of (Elon) Musk. It’s a minimalist aesthetic that’s new to Lexus, and even if you get a two-tone color scheme or the optional bamboo-looking trim, it’s rather drab and anonymous.
Source: autoexpress.co.uk
