Lexus ES 350h

The Lexus ES 350h is the strong hybrid version of the ES series, which has just been launched, and it undercuts the ES 500e (electric version) by a fair margin. It looks the same inside and out with minimal styling differences and packs the same feature list. However, what’s different about the 350h is what it houses under its bonnet. Here is a quick overview of the Lexus ES 350h and what it has to offer.

Up front, the design is much like any other Lexus model. You get sharp lines on the bonnet which converge into the nose. The grille is closed off except for a small open part at the bottom. The DRLs are sleek, the headlamps are vertically stacked in large triangular housings, and this sharp look is completed by a slim bumper.

In profile, you get 19-inch alloy wheels (smaller compared to the 21-inch ones offered with the electric version).

There is a coupe-like design, flush-fitting door handles, and black aero inserts which span from the front door to the rear fender.

The rear profile looks the simplest out of the three. You get an end-to-end connected lightbar, flared wheel arches makes it look muscular, there are vertical lighting elements placed on either side and here too you get a small bumper.

For colour options, the ES 350h is available in six shades: White Nova, Sonic Titanium, Sonic Chrome, Graphite Black, SOU, and Sonic Copper.

Inside, you get a dual-tone black and brown cabin theme, and the design has a focus on minimalism. The dashboard is almost flat with two layers; you get a three-spoke steering wheel, some ambient lighting on the dashboard, and soft-touch materials on all surfaces.

The seats are finished in brown leatherette padding, there is a massive central tunnel, slim AC vents, and a touch-based climate control panel.

The ES series is a 5-seater sedan, and it is widely considered a good chauffeur-driven car.

In the feature list, the main attraction is the 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which grabs all the attention on the dashboard.

It gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, and it’s placed next to a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display.

Other features include dual-zone climate control, dual wireless phone chargers, powered, ventilated and heated front seats, and a heads-up display.

Safety is taken care of by 8 airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESC), a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), ISOFIX child seat anchors, electronic parking brake and a 360-degree camera with a blind view monitor.

It also gets Level 2 ADAS features like adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, and high beam assist. 

The hybrid version of the ES series is available with only one engine and one transmission option. Here’s a look at the specifications:

The Lexus ES 350h, while more affordable, offers the same level of premiumness and features as its more expensive electric twin. This is nothing short of a luxury sedan with what it has to offer, and all the niceties are packaged with a strong hybrid powertrain for those who don’t want to move to electric.