2026 Lexus ES 500e Australian Version
By Lorenzo Bianchi October 5, 2026
Dual motor all wheel drive produces a combined 252kW, making it the most powerful ES to date.
A 74.7kWh battery supports 150kW DC charging and 22kW three phase AC charging.
ES 500e Sports Luxury is priced at $84,000 before statutory and on road costs.
The 2026 Lexus ES 500e Australian Version will lead the eighth generation ES into territory the sedan has never occupied before. Battery electric power is available for the first time, and the ES 500e sits at the top of that initial Australian BEV range with dual motor all wheel drive and 252kW.
It arrives alongside the front drive ES 350e, while the ES 300h hybrid follows later. The ES 500e is offered exclusively in flagship Sports Luxury specification.
Larger Body Introduces A New ES Shape
The new ES adopts Lexus's "Clean Tech x Elegance" design approach and is larger in every dimension than its predecessor. The proportions use what Lexus calls a golden ratio relationship between wheelbase, length, width and height, with the aim of creating more interior room.
Photos in the release show a noticeably stretched sedan profile, a low flowing roofline and heavily defined lower body surfaces. At the front, the familiar spindle theme has changed substantially. Rather than relying on a conventional spindle grille, the shape extends from the bumper into the bonnet.
The ES 500e receives unique 21 inch alloy wheels and AWD badging, separating it from the ES 350e.
Cabin Introduces Hidden Controls
Inside, Lexus has simplified the dashboard while adding more screen area. A 12.3 inch multi information display sits ahead of the driver, complemented by a 14.0 inch central touchscreen running the Arene operating system.
More unusual are responsive hidden switches on the dashboard and steering wheel. They react to hover and touch, becoming visible when needed while retaining tactile feedback.
The new steering wheel replaces the traditional Lexus "L" emblem with an embossed LEXUS wordmark. Bamboo layering ornamentation combines printed woodgrain patterns with surface emitting illumination.
Sports Luxury specification brings semi aniline leather accented seats, two wireless phone chargers, rear sunshades and Adaptive Variable Suspension.
Dual Motors Produce 252kW
The ES 500e AWD develops 252kW, making it the most powerful ES Lexus has produced. The supplied Australian release does not specify torque, acceleration or maximum speed.
Its lithium ion battery has a 74.7kWh capacity. Maximum DC charging is 150kW through a CCS2 connection, with Lexus quoting a 10 to 80 percent charge in as little as 28 minutes. Three phase AC charging reaches 22kW.
Driving range is not stated in the supplied Australian material.
Sports Luxury Sits At The Top
The ES 500e also gains Interactive Manual Drive, a feature not listed for the ES 350e. Fourth generation Lexus Safety System+ is standard across the new ES range, bringing new and revised driver assistance functions.
Australian pricing is $84,000, excluding statutory charges and other on road costs. That places the ES 500e above the $77,000 ES 350e Sports Luxury and establishes it as the flagship of the new Australian ES line-up at launch.