Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.A Daring New Chapter for the Once Vanilla ESThe 2027 Lexus ES 350e and 500e represent a turning point for Lexus, and the all-electric models best capture the ES's new direction, largely because they manage to provide all-electric propulsion without losing that special Lexus flavor. The more powerful 500e pairs the brand's traditional strengths—quietness, comfort, craftsmanship, and low-effort ownership—with an all-electric, all-wheel-drive powertrain and a more expressive interpretation of the longstanding but rather conservative near-luxury sedan.So, what's the best expression of the model, and how would I configure it? Rather than treating the ES 500e like a sport sedan in disguise, I would configure it as a properly elegant electric grand tourer with bold coloring, slick wheels, a sporty and inviting interior, and festoon it with the best the model has to offer.My Choice: the 500e Luxury AWDThe electric ES is compelling in any trim. The base price starts at $48,895 for the ES 350e in Premium trim, and you get a single electric motor with 221 horsepower to the front wheels and 307 miles of range. If you move all the way up to the 500e top trim Luxury AWD, the ES 500e is packed with significantly more, including dual-motors for 338 horsepower to all four wheels and a lower 276-mile range. The 500e Luxury AWD adds the instant response, smoothness, and all-weather confidence expected of a dual-motor electric sedan.It also adds a ton of standard features such as auto/power-folding/heated outside mirrors, power charging door, power trunk, LED headlights with cornering lamps, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, acoustic front and rear side glass, thematic illumination with 3D printed Bamboo Layering door trim, 14-way power front seats, semi-aniline leather seats, a radiant knee heater, manual rear sunshades, a head-up display, a panoramic rearview monitor, a 17-speaker 1,800-waatt PurePlay Surround Sound system, Advanced Park w/ Remote Park, Lexus Safety System+ 4.0, and DC Fast charging capability.AdvertisementAdvertisementFully loaded with all of these standard features, the 500e Luxury AWD is a remarkably well-appointed vehicle. It is, by far, the best feature set available in the ES 500e stable. Thankfully, the price remains at $60,295, the original base price. There's not much that's missing. In fact, in Luxury AWD trim, the 500e isn't lacking luxury features you would expect. That said, I would add the following options:Copper Crest exterior paint – $59521″ alloy wheels with Gray Metallic finish and Matte Black aero covers – $2,315Dual front wireless phone chargers – $75The Copper Crest paint makes the bold ES 500e stand out even more. Why stay with a conservative color when you're choosing one of the brand's most expressive designs? The larger 21″ wheels might diminish some ride comfort, but they look much better than the samller 19″ wheels and match the exterior better. Dual wireless chargers make life more convenient. The 500e Luxury AWD already has a single version, so an extra $75 for two is a bargain. The price increases to $63,205, just a little more than the base price.Final ThoughtsThe ES 500e's bold design might not be for everyone. Trust us when we say it's much more appealing in person than in photos. It is, in fact, a very attractive vehicle whose departure from past generations marks a fresh pivot. But it's also an EV that's very easy to live with. My configuration throws the full beans at it with the top trim, largely because so much standard equipment is already present.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe ES 500e Luxury should not be configured to mimic German sport sedans. It should capitalize on what Lexus does best: refined comfort and original styling. The 500e Luxury AWD expresses that best, and it still feels like a bargain.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
+5 others
