Lexus Did the ONE Thing Nobody Expected! — 2026 ES 500e

Lexus invited us to drive the all-new 2026 ES 500e — the first-ever all-electric Lexus ES sedan. This is our real-world look at whether it delivers on what Lexus has always been known for: long-term reliability and refinement. The question is whether those qualities hold up in a ground-up EV. Our tester: 2026 Lexus ES 500e Premium AWD in Cloudburst Gray. As-tested: $56,205. Three questions we answer in this video: → Does the bold new design actually work in person? → Is 272 miles of AWD range and 150 kW fast charging enough for real life? → At $54,910 to start — with zero federal tax credit — does this beat the Tesla Model 3 Premium AWD or is the extra money actually justified? Specs on this car: 338 hp / DIRECT4 AWD 74.69 kWh battery 272 miles EPA range (21-in. wheels) / 276 miles on 19s 5.1 sec 0-60 (Lexus) 150 kW DC fast charge, ~28 min 10-80% 112 MPGe combined Annual fuel cost: $750 (window sticker) If you watched our Polestar 4 review, the comparison in the back half of this video is going to answer the question a lot of you left in the comments. 00:00 Lexus Invited Us to Drive the 2026 ES 500e — Here's What Happened 00:34 What Does the 2026 Lexus ES 500e Look Like in Person? 01:40 2026 Lexus ES 500e Interior — First Impressions On Camera 03:35 Seats, Steering, and Front Cabin Details on the 2026 Lexus ES 500e 04:38 Is the New 13th-Generation Lexus Interface Actually Better? 05:14 How Fast Is the 2026 Lexus ES 500e? 0-60 and First Performance Feel 05:31 Does the 2026 Lexus ES 500e Have Good Regen Braking? 06:11 2026 Lexus ES 500e Driver Assist — Does It Handle Lane Changes? 08:17 Charging, Storage, and Package Features on the 2026 Lexus ES 500e 08:51 How Much Rear Seat Space Does the 2026 Lexus ES Actually Have? 09:34 2026 Lexus ES 500e Powertrain — 338 HP and DIRECT4 AWD Explained 11:06 2026 Lexus ES 500e Battery, Range, and Curb Weight — Real Numbers 12:08 How Does the 2026 Lexus ES 500e Handle on Real Roads? 13:18 Is the 2026 Lexus ES 500e Interior Worth the Money? 13:51 2026 Lexus ES 500e MPGe, Annual Fuel Cost, and Charging Speed 14:50 How Much Does the 2026 Lexus ES 500e Cost? 15:04 OSR Final Thoughts — Is the 2026 Lexus ES 500e Worth Buying?