The Lexus ES has been given a new look for the Chinese market. The model that will be sold in the US in 2026 may also get these changes. The vehicle’s headlights and taillights now incorporate updated LED elements, while the interior is enhanced with a 14.0-inch touchscreen display. From the 2026 model year on, the ES might only come with a hybrid drivetrain, just like its Toyota Camry sister. The Lexus ES has mostly been the same as the Toyota Camry. The Toyota Camry was completely redesigned for 2025 with a standard hybrid motor, a new cabin, and sharper front and back styling. Lexus has changed the mid-size luxury car for the Chinese market. This gives us a taste of what we can get in the years to come. The ES would also get a similar makeover. The ES’s front and back fascias have been changed, but the general shape of the car has stayed the same. Along with the changed checkmark symbol for the headlights, which are now upside down, a new V-shaped LED element sticks out from the main unit. The new grille design consists of several ovoid shapes that flow down to the bottom edge of the car. The backlights also have a new look. They have L-shaped LEDs under a thin light strip that goes all the way around the car. The headlights were more complicated than the bumper on the back, which was simple but had chrome trim and red reflectors. The Lexus logo has been changed to etched “Lexus” letters, and the exhaust pipes have been hidden. The present 8.0-inch and optional 12.3-inch displays will be replaced by a main touchscreen that is 14.0 inches wide. Like the climate control buttons on other new Lexus cars, these are built into the bigger screen and have a volume knob below them. The air conditioning pipes have also been moved lower. A real clock is still on the left side of the ES’s screen. A panoramic sunroof, bulletproof glass with multiple layers, and semi-aniline leather seats are just a few of the high-end features. A Mark Levinson sound system with 17 speakers is also there. The ES sold in China comes with two different types of engines. With its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the ES200 has never been sold in the United States. The ES300h will also be made. It has a permanent-magnet synchronous motor and a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with the Atkinson combustion cycle. We’re sure that there will be an update for the 2026 model year, but it needs to be clarified how similar the changes will be for the US market compared to the ES. The ES comes with three engine choices in the US: the ES250, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 203 hp; the ES350, a 3.5-liter V-6 with 302 hp; and the ES300h, a hybrid with 215 hp. Like the Camry, we wouldn’t be surprised if, in 2026, the ES got rid of the V-6 and the base ES250 and only offered hybrids.
