The eighth-generation (XZ20) Lexus ES has finally been launched in Malaysia, just over three months after the sedan was teased back in mid-July this year. Unlike neighbouring markets like Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia that get both fully electric and petrol-hybrid variants, we’re only getting the latest ES with the latter here.
That variant is the ES350h Luxury priced at RM366,888 on-the-road without insurance, which is the same as the estimate Lexus Malaysia announced earlier. For the money, you’re getting an ES with a A25A-FXS 2.5 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine making 189 PS (186 hp or 139 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 235 Nm of torque from 4,200 to 5,000 rpm.
This is paired with an E-CVT driving the front wheels and augmented by an electric motor rated at 204 PS PS (201 hp or 150 kW) and 270 Nm. The latter draws power from a 68-cell lithium-ion battery, with the total system output being 247 PS (244 hp or 182 kW).
