Lexus ES 500e Dynamic review: electric usurper

The 8th-generation (yes, really) ES is in serious danger of justifying a claim made 37 years ago by Lexus: that it's a true sister sedan to the flagship LS.

We've covered this quite recently, so we won't go on. But essentially, when Toyota created its Lexus luxury brand in the 1980s, there was a US$1bn research and development budget to create one of the world's best luxury cars from the ground up: the LS, which was launched in 1989.

But Toyota also thought it unwise to launch a whole new brand with just one high-end model. So it popped out the back and whipped up the ES, which was a heavily reworked, super-luxury Camry. Job done and to be fair, it's always earned its keep (3 million globally). But it's never really been regarded as a top-shelf Lexus, thanks to the C-word.

There's still some Camry under there, because this new ES comprises both hybrid (situation normal) and battery electric (a first) powertrains. But the new ES is also stepping up and taking the the lead for Lexus, with new design and technology, and completely rethought interior ergonomics.

Our test model is the most interesting and forward-looking version: the flagship pure-electric dual-motor 500e Dynamic. At $109,900, it's only $5k more than the top hybrid version.

On the outside: what are the Lexus ES 500e Dynamic's main design features?

The ES owes a lot to the radical LF-ZC concept car of 2023, which was pitched as "Lexus's vision for the future of BEVs". The new styling theme is called "Clean Tech x Elegance" if you want to bore your friends.

The 500e as tested embraces pure-electric power for the first time and employs it to enhance everything that's supposed to be important about a Lexus.

The ES is a sedan with a conventional boot, albeit one with a fastback profile, including tiny buttresses on either side of the rear window.

A sedan in an SUV world? It it wasn't that, the new ES wouldn't really be an ES. It's getting towards SUV-tall anyway, with a height of 1560mm for the BEV - just 45mm less than the RZ. 

There are visual techniques employed to make it look lower than it really is. A reinterpretation of the classic Lexus "spindle" grille shape now reaches to the outside of the front bumper and the rear width is emphasised by the full-length light bar (with illuminated Lexus-wordmark), and combination lamps pushed right out to the lower corners of the rear bumper.

The black side moulding, perhaps the most polarising styling aspect of the ES, takes an angular journey down the side of the car and is also there to visually lower the profile. You can tone that down a bit with a darker body colour.

It's also a matter of proportion, because the ES is a large car any way you look at it: 165mm longer (5140mm) and 55m wider than the previous model.

The BEV version is identifable by its flush front; the hybrid models have extra cooling apertures, while stopping short of an actual grille. Our 500e Dynamic is also distinguished by 21-inch grey metallic alloys with matte black aero wheel covers (tap 'em, they're plastic) and a more slippery styling package incorporating a front spoiler, side skirts and lower bumper.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Lexus ES 500e Dynamic cabin like?

Stunning quality of materials and fit/finish in the cabin, as always with Lexus. The ES 500e Dynamic punches well above its $110k price for interior ambience, which is saying something. There are very few luxury cars at any price that present such a soothing cabin environment.

Of note in our 500e Dynamic are backlit bamboo panels on the door cards that are used to diffuse the ambient lighting.

Lexus has moved a long way beyond the dreaded remote-touch controllers of past ES models. This car relies on a combination of menus within the 14-inch infotainment screen and the ES party trick, Responsive Hidden Switches. Essentially, there are physical controls present on the dashboard and steering wheel, but they're invisible until you reach towards them. Then they illuminate, ready to go.

Pretty slick, and a neat way of having a minimalist dashboardboard without alienating owners with too much reliance on infotainment menus.

It's not quite as clever as it sounds: reach towards the console and everything lights up rather than just the buttons you want: climate temperature and demisting, camera view and automatic parking. But that does make it easier to find what you want.

Also of note in our 500e Dynamic are backlit bamboo panels on the door cards that are used to diffuse the ambient lighting.

The rear seat is vast, with more than 1m of "couple distance" (let's just call it legroom) to the front seat. There's certainly a sense of luxury back there, although it's not quite as lavishly equipped as you might expect. No separate climate or seat controls, for example.

You can rectify that in some markets with a rear comfort package that adds rear-seat recline, heating, ventilation and massage functions. There's an extending ottoman-style support and the centre armrest includes a control panel for all of the above. The unit includes dual mobile-phone viewing stands and there are twin rear USB ports with 45W charging.

That package is not currently offered in NZ, but it's a possibility if there's demand, says Lexus.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Lexus ES 500e Dynamic like to drive?

The 500e is the most powerful ES on sale and the only AWD model. It's brisk enough, with 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds, but don't let any of that fool you into thinking it's a sports sedan.

The most remarkable thing about the ES 500e Dynamic's, um, dynamic package is the ride. It's sublime, compliant but also controlled.

The ES is luxury through-and-through. The powertrain is calibrated for smooth takeoff rather than traffic-light antics, and the car is astonishingly refined at any speed. Not just because it's electric: there's also active sound control at work to cancel out unwanted noise.

It can still handle corners, with AWD traction and adaptive variable suspension (AVS). You can dial the level or regen up or down with the steering wheel paddles, but there's also some (perhaps uncharacteristic) sportiness on tap with the interactive manual drive function that made its debut on the RZ 550e.

Click the gear selector to M and you have 8 virtual gears, which you must use like a manual: let the fake ratio run out and the "engine" will hit an imaginary limiter; click a paddle to change up and you'll get a little kick, just like a conventional transmission. Fake sporty noise, too. It's all bit weird in a car like the ES, but fun all the same. And not compulsary of course.

The most remarkable thing about the ES 500e Dynamic's, um, dynamic package is the ride. It's sublime, compliant but also controlled. That's a notoriously difficult thing to achieve in an EV in our experience, but this mush be one of the most comfortable EVs you can buy.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Lexus ES 500e Dynamic warranty and servicing situation?

The car is covered for 4 years/unlimited km new vehicle warranty. The high-voltage battery is covered for 8 years/160,000km.

Service intervals are 12 months/15,000km.

On the whole: what do we think of the Lexus ES 500e Dynamic?

It's not quite correct to say that the ES is now a true sister model to the LS. It's now surpassed the most expensive Lexus model in terms of design and technology.

It won't stay that way of course. The future of LS as we know it is uncertain: it's been discontinued in North America, the very market it was created for, and there's even been a "Heritage Edition" to send it off. But there will surely be some kind of full-size super-luxury Lexus to come, sedan or SUV. Or 6-wheeled surreal express.

Point is, the ES is something of a reboot for Lexus and signals a whole new future. The 500e as tested embraces pure-electric power for the first time and employs it to enhance everything that's supposed to be important about a Lexus: a sense of quality, unruffled performance and extreme refinement. We're intruiged to try the hybrid version, but even the flagship 500e represents something of a luxury-car bargain.

Lexus ES 500e Dynamic FAQs

What kind of car is the Lexus ES 500e Dynamic?

A large 4-dooor sedan.

Does the Lexus ES 500e Dynamic have hybrid or EV technology?

It's pure electric.

What’s the efficiency of the Lexus ES 500e Dynamic?

The WLTP range is 465km, or 17.9kWh/100km.

Is the Lexus ES 500e Dynamic safe?

The ES has not yet been tested by ANCAP. 

What safety and assistance features does the Lexus ES 500e Dynamic have?

What are the Lexus ES 500e Dynamic's main rivals?

• Lexus RZ 500e ($109,900): Same money gets you the SUV equivalent: smaller but sportier.
• BMW i3 50 xDrive ($128,900): BMW's new-gen EV sedan: much smaller, much faster.
• Dongfeng 007 AWD ($57,990): Similar concept, nearly half the price, half the car.
• Tesla Model Y L ($83,900): You could buy a Model 3 sedan, but the Y L is by far the most luxurious-feeling Tesla.
• Toyota Camry ZR hybrid ($58,190): Just for old time's sake. And Polished Bronze is quite similar to Sonic Copper.