See Every Photo We Took of the 2026 Lexus ES' Interior

What Car Shoppers Need to Know

• The Lexus ES is all-new for 2026.
• Available as a hybrid or all-electric vehicle
• The new ES is larger than its predecessor but offers similar cabin space.

As the lone car in Lexus’ SUV-heavy portfolio that sells in any meaningful volume, the ES is both a ripe subject for experimentation and a safe one. If a risk pays off, there’s a nice bump in revenue; if it flops, well, the brand has a handful of SUVs that outsell the ES (or come close enough).

All-new for 2026, the eighth-generation ES marks a bold new powertrain strategy for Lexus, offering a choice of hybrid and EV options. It also debuts the brand’s new design language, which it calls “Clean Tech x Elegance.” Defined by flatter surfaces and sharper creases on the outside, the look inside is less of an overhaul than a refinement of past styling. Lexus interiors tend to be rather conservative, and the 2026 ES’ modern, minimalist interior is a focused evolution of that conservatism. Check it out in the gallery below.

Related: Hybrid, All-Electric 2026 Lexus ES Is the Most Significant Lexus of the Decade: Review

Familiar Space and Comfort

The 2026 Lexus ES is significantly larger than its predecessor, in part because the underfloor space reserved for the battery pack pushes the roofline nearly 5 inches higher. It’s also more than 6 inches longer and 2 inches wider. Inside, though, front- and rear-seat dimensions are little changed. There’s about an inch more headroom upfront than there was in the 2025 model and more than an inch of additional legroom in the back. More room is always welcome, but the ES was already an exceptionally spacious car for its class.

What the photos don’t show is how plush everything in the new ES’ cabin feels. The new look may rely heavily on hard, straight lines and flat surfaces, but the look is rendered in quality soft-touch materials.

Upgraded Tech, Satisfying Controls

Lexus’ new interior technology combines a central 14-inch infotainment touchscreen with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. The former integrates capacitive-touch climate controls — a frequent source of annoyance in new cars — but here, the haptic screen deforms slightly under your finger, giving positive physical feedback absent from other systems that feel no different when poking at a tablet. Elsewhere, the textured roller for the audio volume, push-pull shifter and buttons for other secondary controls make for satisfying physical interactions with the car.

Lexus is also pushing the ES upmarket by debuting a new interior material in the 2026 model, as well as offering an option that was previously reserved for the brand’s pricier vehicles. The new Bamboo Layering option recreates the look and texture of bamboo with 3D-printed synthetic material for the door and console trim, giving the interior a unique look. And for the first time, Lexus is offering its Executive Package in the ES, which takes advantage of that additional rear-seat legroom with power-reclining backseats featuring heating, ventilation and massage.

More Lexus News From Cars.com:

• How Much Is the 2026 Lexus ES?
• Toyota, Lexus Debut Upcoming GR GT, LFA Concept Supercar Duo
• 2026 Lexus RZ to Have Tesla Supercharger Access, Plug & Charge Capability
• 2026 Lexus LS 500 Takes Last Spin With Special AWD Heritage Edition
• How Much Is the 2026 Lexus LX?
• Add Cars.com as a Preferred Source on Google

Related Video:

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.