Lexus ES Electric

The new-generation Lexus ES has been introduced in the Indian market and compared to the outgoing version, there have been significant changes to the luxury sedan. It gets a brand new design, a completely revised interior, and a lot of new features, and the biggest talking point - the introduction of an electric version.

It continues to rival the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6, and the Volvo S90.

The biggest change in the design has been made to the face where the large grille has now been replaced by a smaller and sleeker one. The grille also has diamond-shaped design inserts on the sides. The nose is as sharp as it used to be, but the face is now more closed off and the smaller grille is closer to the bumper.

You also get sharp looking L-shaped DRLs and indicators, which are stacked in a Z-shaped formation, and below the DRLs you’ll find the LED headlamps fitted inside a black triangular housing. Lastly, the sporty and somewhat menacing look is completed by the scooped out bonnet which has some sharp cuts, giving it a distinct look. In profile, the ES is now longer, and design is much flatter. Here, the most noticeable design element is the L-shaped gloss black strip that runs from the top of the front door to the bottom of the rear one.

The door handles are also flush fitted, which provides a cleaner look. The Lexus ES sits on 21-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, and while there is no cladding on the wheel arches, the doors do get slim cladding to add some contrast.At the back, the ES now gets a connected LED tail lamp setup that wraps around to the side profile. This setup also houses the “Lexus” lettering in the middle. There are more cuts and sharp lines near the edges where the reflectors are placed, and you get a fairly slim bumper.

As for colour options, you get to choose from 5 hues with some quirky names: Sou (Light Blue), White Nova, Sonic Titanium, Sonic Copper, and Graphite Black. 

Inside, the dashboard has a minimal and futuristic design. The dashboard is made up of two layers, where the top one is finished in black and bottom one changes based on the cabin theme you pick (either white or tan). In the middle of these layers is a glossy strip, which protrudes slightly outwards.

It is on this strip where you’ll find controls for the AC,  however this is a touch based panel and there are no physical controls. You also get a new steering wheel design with flat buttons, behind which is a quirky shaped driver’s display, and in the middle of the dashboard is a free floating 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

The seats are wrapped in leatherette upholstery, and you’ll find similar soft touch padding on the doors and on the centre armrest. A little more contrast is added by silver door handles and the black centre console, but what grabs the most attention is the wooden finish on the doors. The seats themselves have a very distinct design as the top-half which provides support to the upper back and shoulders have additional padding.

Features

As mentioned above, the new Lexus ES comes with a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This screen supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and is paired to a Mark Levinson sound system. There is also a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, a panoramic glass roof, powered front seats, rear seats with massage function, multiple wireless phone chargers, three-zone climate control, front seat ventilation, and ambient lighting.

In terms of safety, it gets multiple airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), all wheel disc brakes, hill start assist, ISOFIX child seat anchors, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, and Level-2 ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) with features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and autonomous emergency braking.

This is the biggest talking point about the new Lexus ES as it comes with an electric powertrain. Detailed specifications can be found here:

Lexus says this powertrain is capable enough of sprinting from nought to 100 kmph in just 5.5 seconds. 

The Lexus ES is a good option for those who want a luxury sedan with the reliability and build quality that comes with a Toyota/Lexus product. The luxury experience offered here is unique and different from the European manufacturers. And if you’re someone who wants that experience, the ES won’t disappoint in any regard.