Lexus Built 3 ESs. Only 1 Makes Sense.

Lexus built one ES body around three very different answers: a 244 hp hybrid, a 221 hp front drive EV, and a 338 hp all wheel drive EV. They share the name, the shape, and the luxury promise, but not the same weight, handling behavior, or reason for being here. So which 2026 Lexus ES still makes sense once the road stops reading the brochure? In this first drive of the 2026 Lexus ES, Brian drives the ES 350h, ES 350e, and ES 500e to see which version best fits the ES brief. The ES 350h uses a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid system with 244 hp, the ES 350e is a 221 hp front wheel drive battery-electric sedan, and the ES 500e uses dual motor AWD with DIRECT4 and 338 hp. We cover drivetrain response, CVT behavior, regen paddles, braking, steering, ride quality, cabin noise, electronic door handles, Lexus Interface, trunk space, and the missing frunk. Viewer questions also pushed this drive toward the V6 debate, the Camry comparison, ride over broken pavement, and whether the 500e is worth the extra weight. Cross shoppers may also be looking at the Toyota Camry, Toyota Crown, Acura TLX, Genesis G80, BMW i5, Mercedes-Benz EQE, and other luxury sedans. Why The Lexus ES Black Line Is A Luxury Car Worth BUYING https://youtu.be/vCMRB7BJ38c Chapters / Timestamps 00:57 350h hybrid powertrain and performance 01:35 350e and 500e EV drivetrain differences 02:43 Handling, braking, suspension, and ride quality 05:27 Interior features, seating, tech, and cargo space 07:16 Viewer questions on ride comfort, noise, and driving feel 09:17 Pricing and verdict: 350h vs 350e vs 500e 11:02 Final recommendation ——————————————————————— // MY AMAZON STORE with my favorite things for drivers https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-4cc174af (this is an affiliate link) /// MERCH Pick up some sweet merch in our store! https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com/ /// SUBSCRIBE Subscribe NOW to Brian Makse's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=brianmakse /// SOCIAL Instagram: http://Instagram.com/BrianMakse Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BrianMakse Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MakseAttack Spotify: https://sptfy.com/brianmakse Link In My Bio: https://makse.com/linkinbio/ /// MORE About Brian: http://makse.com/about /// WHAT I'M LISTENING TO Real AF With Andy Frisella https://andyfrisella.com/blogs/realaf-podcast Be sure to let us know what you think about this video and smash the subscribe button if you haven’t already! Test vehicles are provided by the respective manufacturers for review purposes, unless otherwise noted, and all opinions are our own. Music © 2026 Russell Soares (russellsoares.com), used with permission, all rights reserved. #LexusES #Lexus #BrianMakse #CarReview #Hybrid