Let’s be honest. If you are dropping ₹90 lakh on a luxury car today, you are probably bored of seeing the same old German badges at every traffic light. Lexus knows this, and they’ve finally brought their A-game to the electric segment in India. I just checked out the brand-new 8th-generation Lexus ES 500e EV launched in India, and it is a massive statement piece. It’s not just a regular ES with a battery swapped in; it’s a whole different vibe.
Battery, Power, and the Real Range
I know the first thing you want to ask about is the range. Lexus hasn’t played it safe by bringing a base model to India. We are getting the top-tier ES 500e All-Wheel Drive AWD. Under the floor, there’s a solid 75 kWh battery pushing out 338 brake horsepower.
Lexus claims you will get 580 km on a single charge. Now, keeping our traffic and heavy AC usage in mind, realistically, you are looking at a real-world range of about 450 to 480 km. That is plenty for your daily commutes and weekend highway runs. Plus, if you find a 150 kW fast charger, it takes just 28 minutes to go from 10% to 80%.
Looks Massive, But Did They Keep That Huge Grille?
Walking up to this car, the sheer size hits you. It is over 5 meters long. I was actually wondering what they would do with that massive signature ‘Spindle’ grille, considering EVs don’t really need big air intakes.
Surprisingly, they completely closed it off but kept the aggressive shape alive with some sweet diamond inserts and sharp L-shaped LED DRLs. It looks mean. Add those dark aero wheels and soft-closing doors, and the whole car feels incredibly premium.
Inside the Cabin: The Buttons are Gone
Open the door, and it feels like stepping into a sci-fi movie. Lexus is calling this a Clean tech interior, which is basically their way of saying they killed off the physical buttons.
Usually, I absolutely hate touch controls in cars, but Lexus did something incredibly smart here. They used illuminated tactile sensors that stay completely hidden until your hand hovers over them. It is super satisfying to use. You also get a massive 14-inch main touchscreen and a proper 12.25-inch driver display, no cheap glued-on iPad look here.
The Boss Seat Experience With Two Big Flaws
Let’s face it, if you are buying a Lexus ES, you are probably going to spend most of your time in the back seat. Thanks to a wheelbase of almost 3 meters, the legroom is ridiculous. It is insanely comfortable, and the Mark Levinson sound system is just brilliant.
But… I have to point out two things that really annoyed me:
- Because this car shares its platform with the Toyota Camry, there is a huge transmission bump right in the middle of the floor. For an EV, you expect a flat floor.
- You have to manually pull up the rear window sunblinds. In a ₹90 lakh car? Come on, those should definitely be electric.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?
Lexus has officially priced the ES 500e at ₹89.99 Lakh (ex-showroom), and deliveries kick off around mid-2026. They are also bringing a cheaper hybrid version later on. But honestly? If you want bulletproof reliability, insane backseat comfort, and an EV that makes people look twice on the road, this should definitely be on your shortlist.
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