The ES 350h might be the mainstay of the ES brand, but having an all-electric version certainly allows Lexus to get a larger share of the market. Can the 500e help Lexus against the ever-rising EV onslaught?
Lexus ES 500e Exterior Design and Engineering
Lexus has taken a much cleaner approach with the eighth-generation ES, moving away from its traditionally prominent styling cues. The oversized spindle grille has disappeared, replaced by a largely closed-off nose that gives the sedan a more understated, contemporary face. The ES sits on Toyota’s TNGA GA-K architecture, which has been designed to accommodate both hybrid and fully electric powertrains.
The lighting signature is one of the more distinctive elements. The split LED daytime running lamps (DRLs) give the front end a sharp appearance, with the lower section doubling up as the turn indicator. Below them sit the main headlamps, framed by piano-black trim, while the small, body-coloured rhombus-shaped elements further down add some visual interest without making the design too busy.
This generation is larger than its predecessor, measuring 5,145mm in length and edging past the long-wheelbase E-Class, despite having a similar wheelbase. Lexus has also increased ground clearance for India by 20mm, which should make dealing with our roads considerably easier.
The 500e gets 21-inch wheels that suit its proportions well and give it a sportier stance than the 350h. The gently tapering roofline further enhances that impression, while a prominent character line runs along the flanks and stands out particularly well in this colour.
The rear continues the restrained theme, with slim LED taillamps linked by a full-width light bar. The AWD badging is another differentiating detail, while the overall treatment remains clean and sophisticated rather than overtly flashy.
Lexus ES 500e Interior Space and Comfort
The ES’s larger footprint translates into a genuinely roomy cabin, particularly for those seated in the back. Lexus has taken a minimalist approach to the dashboard, with physical controls pared back and most functions channelled through the large 14-inch central touchscreen. The clean design is complemented by tan-and-black upholstery that gives the cabin a suitably premium feel, while an all-white finish is available for those feeling adventurous.
The front seats strike a good balance between comfort and support, and come with heating, ventilation and three memory settings. The low dashboard and window line also give the driver good outward visibility, even with the seat set at its lowest.
There’s no shortage of quality, either. The cabin may not deliver a huge visual wow factor, but the materials feel upmarket and even the harder plastics are well finished, with soft padding wherever your hands are likely to rest.
Rear-seat passengers get plenty of legroom, and the seats themselves are nicely shaped. However, the raised floor leaves you sitting with your knees higher than ideal, while the lack of a backrest recline function is a noticeable omission.
Lexus has also skipped a panoramic or split-pane sunroof, which would have added some much-needed airiness to the cabin. More surprisingly, there are no rear sunblinds on the ES350h; the 500e gets them, but only as manually operated units.
Practicality is decent, with a small opening behind the centre rear-seat backrest providing access to the boot from the cabin. At 377 litres, boot space is adequate, and the spare wheel is neatly housed beneath the boot floor.
Lexus ES 500e Features and Safety
Like the ES350h, most of the 500e’s features are accessed through the 14-inch touchscreen. The interior is near identical. Outside, you get LED DRLs, LED headlamps and fog lamps, along with an electrically operated boot and exclusive to the 500e are soft close doors for some more luxe appeal.
Inside, it would take a Lexus expert to spot the difference. The screens, layout, materials, tone and evem the hidden buttons are all carried over. However, on the 500e, you get open-pore wood on the door cards with ambient lighting and two wireless chargers on the centre console..
The digital driver’s display is sleek, uncluttered and easy to read, showing only the information you need. The touchscreen is the star of the show, controlling everything from the blower and drive modes to navigation and driver-assistance functions. The large fonts make it easy to operate on the move, too.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work seamlessly, while the 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system delivers impressive sound quality.
Compared to the 350h the 500e offers a slightly better rear seat experience thanks to manual sunblinds. There are no seat controls, panoramic sunroof or media controls here too, making the rear seat experience rather dull.
Safety, however, is well covered, with eight airbags, the usual suite of electronic aids and Level 2 ADAS. The 360-degree camera is particularly impressive, offering an underbody view that displays what’s happening beneath the car at speeds below 10kph.
Lexus ES 500e Performance and Refinement
With 343hp on tap the ES 500e isn't outlandishly powerful and the driving impression only proves that. There is a linearity in the power delivery and while the response is quick, there is no element of surprise. Power comes in one long swoop and no matter the drive mode you’re in, you can always predict the surge. In Eco and Normal it is restrained but Sport mode is a lot more enthusiastic. There is also a neat trick where you can slot the shifter in M mode and the car uses regen to react like a gearbox. Tug on the left paddle and it will mimic a downshift by adding a shot of regen and the soundtrack also supports this. It’s all very fascinating, but one cannot image using it seriously, especially if you are a keen driving enthusiast.
Refinement though, is very good. Wind buffeting, road noise and tyre noise are taken care of by the cabin insulation and even at high speeds there is nothing but a faint whoosh over the ORVMs which will likely be muted by the 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.
Lexus ES 500e Range and Efficiency
The 74.68kWh battery pack claims a range of 580km on the WLTP cycle but real world numbers hover around the 380km mark. This limits it to city use only as a long trip would require serious planning. The battery runs on a 400V system and recharging on a 150kW DC charger takes 22min from 10-80%. 0-100% on a 22kW AC charger will need around 4 hours. There are five levels of regen and the paddles can swiftly alter between them.
Lexus ES 500e Ride Comfort and Handling
The ES 500e has a similar setup as the 350h but changes have been made to compensate for the extra weight from the battery and motor. The setup is a tad firmer and when you pair that with the larger 21-inch wheels with a smaller tyre profile, low speed bumps do crash into the cabin a lot more than on the 350h. On the highways the added weight offers better stability, but over expansion joints, you do miss the extra cushion provided by the tyre wall. What it loses in ride it makes up for in handling. A large reason for this is the AWD setup. Grip levels are impressive and for a car that has to lug around all this weight, it does corner well. Still, being a large, luxury sedan, you wouldn’t rank that too high up in the priority list.
Lexus ES 500e Value for Money
At Rs 89.9 lakh the ES 500e is available in a single variant. It is better equipped than the 350h and has better performance, but its firm ride and the range that limits to city use put it on the backfoot. There are EVs that offer more for the same money and that will be its biggest challenge. If you like the subtlety of the new design and prefer the reliability and longevity that comes with the Lexus brand, the 350h would be a much better choice. You get almost the same kit for a whole lot less.
Gavin DSouza
Lenny D'sa
Sergius Barretto
Saumil Shah
Nikhil Bhatia
