2026 Lexus ES breaks cover with sharper styling and better looks

Lexus has unveiled another facelift of its ES midsize sedan in China, which could hint at a 2026 update for the U.S. model. The Toyota Camry’s luxury sibling benefits from minor visual updates and a larger infotainment system, although there are no exterior changes.

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The China-spec Lexus ES made its debut at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show alongside the SUV LX700h. The most notable change to the sedan is its redesigned exterior. Slightly tweaked Matrix LED headlights are combined with a new spindle grille that fades into the hood, similar to the Lexus RX.

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Apart from the LED taillights, the rest of the body remains largely unchanged. They get more modern graphics and are connected by a full-width LED strip that fits current design trends.

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Inside, the highlight is a new 14-inch touchscreen display, which replaces the predecessor’s 12.3-inch display. As is the case with the Lexus RX, two knobs are mounted on the display, integrating climate and media controls. Other changes include a redesigned gear knob, an improved voice control system and new color options for the interior.

Powertrain options are carried over from its predecessor, meaning the China-spec Lexus ES misses out on the improved hybrid powertrain recently introduced in the US-spec Toyota Camry.

The base ES 200 is equipped with a non-electrified 2.0-liter engine producing 170 hp (127 kW / 173 PS), while the ES 300h has a self-charging hybrid unit with a 2.5-liter engine and a single electric motor producing a combined 215 hp (160 hp). kW/217 HP). In both cases, power is sent to the front axle via a CVT.

The updated Lexus ES is already available to order in China, with the first examples arriving at local dealers. Pricing starts at 299,900 yen ($41,492) for the entry-level ES 200 Premium Edition and 488,900 yen for the flagship ES 300h Executive Edition.

The seventh-generation Lexus ES was launched in 2018 and will receive its first facelift in 2021. While it’s unclear whether the updates rolling out for the China-spec model will be the same as the U.S.-spec model, another facelift for the 2026 MY will keep the Lexus ES going for a few more years.

Early teasers and patent filings suggest Lexus is already working on a broader redesign of the ES without the spindle grille. The overhauled look may be reserved for the rumored all-electric version, or appear later as a new-generation model.

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