2026 Lexus ES: Missing features, quirks and... a gearbox in an EV? (ENG) - Test Drive and Review

Lexus ES 2026 has finally received a fully electric powertrain. For better or for worse. The eight generation of the premium sedan is also available as a "self-charging" hybrid, but there is no PHEV variant. Does a luxury sedan with a traction battery hidden under the floor still possess the traditional soul of the brand? Here is what I will look into and show you in this review: The Paradox of Size: Why did this model have to grow so drastically, and what does that mean for everyday city maneuvering? Hidden Switches: Where did the designers hide the dashboard buttons, and is it actually a practical solution? The Big Mystery Under the Bonnet: What did the clever minds at Toyota decide to put in the space where EVs usually have a front boot? A Gearbox that... Isn't There: How does the manual mode with paddle shifters, a simulated tachometer, and a rev limiter work in an electric car? Real-World Battery Capabilities: How much of the official range claims are left in reality, and how does the car perform at fast chargers? Engineering Pitfalls: What went wrong with the emergency door-opening system, and why might the configurator for this model leave you deeply puzzled? Is the new Lexus ES a better choice than its German premium competitors? Let’s find out! ↔ 2026 Lexus ES dimensions: ✔ length: 5140 mm ✔ width: 1920 mm ✔ height: 1560 mm ✔ wheelbase: 2950 mm ✔ boot/trunk: 517 L 💲 Lexus ES 300h starting price: 61 000 euro 💲 Lexus ES 500e AWD price as tested: 70 000 euro 🎯 Do you like my channel? Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/SubMarekDrivesENG 💥 Follow me here: https://www.wieruszewski.com   / marekdrives     / mwieruszewski     / marek_drives   📢 I started a new channel - https://bit.ly/MareksGear, where I'm talking about the gear I use to make my shoe-string budget car reviews. Check it out, and please consider subscribing: https://bit.ly/SubMareksGear 🚙 Also watch: Audi A6 Sportback e-tron    • 1000 km EV Roadtrip - Audi A6 Sportback e-...   BMW i5    • BMW i5 eDrive40 - Sustainable and Vegan (E...   Lexus ES    • Lexus ES 2020 (ENG) - Test Drive and Review   Mercedes-Benz EQE    • Mercedes-AMG EQE 43 4MATIC - Not Quite EQX...   Toyota Camry    • Toyota Camry 2025 - Where Have All The Cam...   #MarekDrivesENG #Lexus #LexusES #ES500e #Sedan #CarReview #EV #Motoring2026 📌 Thanks for watching Marek Drives reviews. If you liked it, here are several other channels you may enjoy: Autophorie, Autogefühl, Bob Flavin, Carfection, Carwow, Doug DeMuro, Driven Car Reviews, Fully Charged, TheSmokingTire, TheStraightPipes, VINwiki. 💲Transparency note: 💲 Marek Drives reviews are independent and based on personal experience with cars provided by car manufacturers for media to review. No carmaker has any influence on what is being said in the review, nor are they given a preview. No carmaker pays me to do these reviews. My sponsors are you - the viewers, Channel Members, and occasional non-carmaker entities, whose sponsorship is always clearly marked. Chapters: 0:00 intro 0:20 EV or Hybrid? 1:00 dimensions 2:05 design 3:25 charging port 3:47 frunk 3:54 boot 5:06 rear seat 5:55 cockpit 10:35 soundproofing 11:13 fake engine sound 11:53 recuperation 12:10 driving impressions 12:45 range 13:20 charging 13:50 performance 14:08 driving impressions cont. 15:05 pricing 15:45 conclusion