Which 2026 Lexus ES trim should you buy?
$48,795 to $60,195. What each step up the ladder costs and what becomes standard for the money, cheapest first, from Lexus's own press kit — so you can see where the price goes before a dealer walks you up it.
Most standard equipment per dollar: ES 350e Premium FWD → ES 500e Premium AWD, +$3,000 for 13 features made standard.
Thinnest step: ES 350e Premium FWD → ES 350e Luxury FWD, +$8,400 for no added standard equipment in the press kit — the difference is in the specs below.
Cheapest all-wheel or four-wheel drive: ES 500e Premium AWD at $51,795.
ES 350h Premium $51,095
+$2,300 over the ES 350e Premium FWD.
Standard here, not on the ES 350e Premium FWD: 19-inch alloy wheels w/ aero covers, 2 rear 15W USB-C ports, 8-way power-adjustable driver seat w/ memory and 2-way lumbar adjustment, Lexus 10-speaker Premium Audio System, Paddle shifters, Power trunk
HP 221 hp → 244 hp · Torque 198 lb-ft → 173 lb-ft
ES 500e Premium $51,795
+$3,000 over the ES 350e Premium FWD.
Standard here, not on the ES 350e Premium FWD: Advanced Park w/ Remote Park feature, Digital Key 2.0*, Digital rearview mirror, Driver Monitor, Driver head-up display (HUD), Front Cross Traffic Assist, Head-Up Display, Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, Lexus 10-speaker Premium Audio System, Panoramic View Monitor, Rear Pedestrian Detection, Traffic Jam Assist
HP 221 hp → 338 hp
ES 350h Premium AWD $52,495
+$1,400 over the ES 350h Premium FWD. No added standard equipment listed in the press kit.
MPG comb 46 mpg → 44 mpg
ES 350h Premium+ $55,895
+$4,800 over the ES 350h Premium FWD.
Standard here, not on the ES 350h Premium FWD: Advanced Park w/ Remote Park feature, Digital Key 2.0*, Digital rearview mirror, Driver Monitor, Driver head-up display (HUD), Front Cross Traffic Assist, Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, Rear Pedestrian Detection, Traffic Jam Assist
ES 350e Luxury $57,195
+$8,400 over the ES 350e Premium FWD. No added standard equipment listed in the press kit.
ES 350h Premium+ AWD $57,295
+$4,800 over the ES 350h Premium AWD AWD.
Standard here, not on the ES 350h Premium AWD AWD: Advanced Park w/ Remote Park feature, Digital Key 2.0*, Digital rearview mirror, Driver Monitor, Driver head-up display (HUD), Front Cross Traffic Assist, Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, Rear Pedestrian Detection, Traffic Jam Assist
ES 500e Luxury $60,195
+$8,400 over the ES 500e Premium AWD. No added standard equipment listed in the press kit.
Each trim is measured against the nearest cheaper trim with the same drivetrain and powertrain, so a step shows equipment rather than the price of all-wheel drive. "Standard here" means the press kit lists it as standard on this trim and not as standard on the one below — it may have been an option there. MSRP excludes destination. Confirm a specific car against its window sticker.
Common questions about the 2026 Lexus ES trims
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich 2026 Lexus ES trim is the best value?
On standard equipment per dollar, the step from the ES 350e Premium FWD to the ES 500e Premium AWD: $3,000 more for 13 features the press kit lists as standard on the ES 500e Premium AWD and not on the ES 350e Premium FWD. Whether those features are worth it to you is the real answer — the list is on this page.
How much do the 2026 Lexus ES trims cost?
8 trims, from $48,795 for the ES 350e Premium FWD to $60,195 for the ES 500e Luxury AWD. Manufacturer MSRP, excluding destination, options, taxes and dealer fees.
What is the cheapest 2026 Lexus ES with all-wheel drive?
The ES 500e Premium AWD, at $51,795 MSRP.