Lexus 2027 ES Battery-Electric Version Starts Below ¥500,000, Targets Premium Mid-Size Luxury Sedan Segment

The all-new Lexus battery-electric mid-size luxury sedan — the 2027 ES — will begin arriving at dealerships nationwide this September. This second-generation model follows last year's debut of Lexus's first fully electric ES, featuring a comprehensive redesign of both exterior and interior. With a starting price below ¥500,000 (including ¥13,950 delivery fee), it is poised to become one of the most competitively priced entries in the premium mid-size BEV sedan segment.

Built upon the LF-ZC concept car, the new ES adopts Lexus's latest Spindle Body design language. Its dimensions measure 5,140 mm × 1,920 mm × 1,480 mm, with a wheelbase of 2,950 mm — placing its overall footprint close to that of BMW 5 Series. Compared to the previous generation, both front and rear legroom have been increased, clearly positioning the vehicle within the mainstream premium mid-size luxury sedan market.

Inside the cabin, every trim includes a standard 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 14-inch central touchscreen, powered by the latest Lexus Connect intelligent cockpit system. Wireless smartphone charging, SmartAccess keyless entry, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are all standard features.

The 2027 ES offers two powertrain options: the front-wheel-drive ES 350e (single motor) and the all-wheel-drive ES 500e (dual motor). Both variants use the same 74.7 kWh battery pack. The ES 350e delivers a maximum output of 221 hp (~165 kW), while the ES 500e combines outputs from front and rear motors for a total of 338 hp (~252 kW), paired with the DIRECT4 electronic AWD system — enabling an estimated 0–100 km/h acceleration time of 5.1 seconds.

In terms of range, the ES 350e achieves up to 494 km under CLTC conditions (307 miles EPA) with 19-inch wheels; this drops to 470 km (292 miles EPA) with optional 21-inch wheels. For the ES 500e, the corresponding figures are 444 km (276 miles EPA) and 438 km (272 miles EPA). All trims come standard with North America's NACS DC fast-charging port, supporting up to 150 kW peak charging power — enabling a 10%–80% state-of-charge replenishment in approximately 28 minutes.

Official Chinese pricing and trim nomenclature have yet to be announced. However, based on overseas MSRP conversions (using a rough exchange rate of USD 1 ≈ ¥7.2), the ES 350e Premium starts around ¥353,000, the ES 500e Premium AWD around ¥374,000, the ES 350e Luxury around ¥413,000, and the ES 500e Luxury AWD around ¥435,000. Against rivals such as BMW i4 and Audi A6 e-tron, this pricing strategy could significantly reshape the competitive landscape of premium mid-size BEV sedans. Note: These figures represent only indicative conversions — final domestic pricing and launch timing remain subject to official confirmation.