For more than two decades, Lexus has been steadily introducing Canadian drivers to electrification through hybrid technology. For 2027, one of the brand’s most familiar nameplates takes its biggest step yet.
The completely redesigned Lexus ES arrives with a new exterior, updated cabin technology and, for the first time, a choice of hybrid and fully electric powertrains. At Tony Graham Lexus, however, introducing that technology is as much about understanding the person behind the wheel as explaining what is underneath it.
David Tran has spent 16 years at Tony Graham Lexus and has watched what guests expect from their vehicles change considerably.
“When I started, guests were focused on the qualities Lexus has long been known for: comfort, quality, reliability and a refined driving experience,” says David, General Sales Manager. “Those things still matter, but today people also ask about connectivity, technology, efficiency and powertrain choices.”
The new ES gives considerably more choice.
The ES 350h pairs a 2.5-litre gas-electric hybrid system with standard all-wheel drive, producing 244 combined horsepower without requiring drivers to plug in. For those ready to go fully electric, the front-wheel-drive ES 350e produces 221 horsepower and offers an estimated range of up to 481 kilometres. The ES 500e moves further toward performance, producing 338 horsepower with DIRECT4 intelligent all-wheel drive and an estimated range of up to 445 kilometres.
The redesigned 2027 Lexus ES introduces hybrid and fully electric options for the first time, with three models offering different approaches to efficiency, range and performance.
For David, those differences make the conversation with guests more important, not less.
“I would start with their actual routine: their commute, longer journeys, winter driving priorities and access to charging,” he says. “It is not about pushing one technology. It is helping the guest make a choice they feel confident about.”
That guidance continues after a Lexus hits the road.
Service Manager Chris Carey has been with Tony Graham Lexus since 2008, long enough to see vehicles become increasingly connected, computerized and electrified. The dealership’s technicians have spent years working with Lexus hybrids, experience that provides a foundation as fully electric models arrive. The team now includes five Lexus Master Technicians.
“Fully electric models have distinct maintenance and diagnostic needs, so ongoing technical training and equipment matter,” says Chris.
The technology may be evolving, but Chris says the fundamentals of the dealership experience have remained remarkably consistent. Service advisors get to know the people who drive the vehicles, while technicians become familiar with the vehicles themselves. Conveniences including a temperature-controlled service drive-through, courtesy vehicles and Express Check-Out have been added along the way, but that continuity remains important.
At Tony Graham Lexus’s showroom, the guest experience is built around straightforward advice and long-term relationships, helping drivers understand their options and choose the vehicle and powertrain that best fit their needs.
It’s a similar story in sales. David has guests who return for multiple vehicles and, in some cases, members of the same family return years later.
That may ultimately be the best way to understand the arrival of the 2027 ES at Tony Graham Lexus. The cars are changing. The questions drivers are asking are changing with them. But the value of having someone you trust help answer them hasn’t.