Lexus revives the IS 350
The luxury compact market still exists, even 22 years in.
Lexus’ IS 350 F-Sport is still a segment power. As sporty as it comes, Lexus has had a sneaky-good history of manufacturing performance sedans, and the IS 350 fits the bill.
The third-generation IS 350 has spruced up the existing model, adding a larger body, full-width tail-lamps, an updated dashboard and a larger oversized grille. On our F-sport model, it came with Adaptive Variable Suspension, 19-inch BBS black alloy wheels, multiple sport drive modes and a carbon fiber rear spoiler. While Lexus makes the IS 500F-Sport Performance, its V8 version; our IS350 F-Sport came with a 3.5 liter V-6 engine, providing 311 horsepower. It was torquey in Sport + mode and comfortable in normal drive modes.
On our weeklong test, we noticed great ability for the IS 350, but the inside certainly fits its classification as compact. It is a bit on the tighter side for a full-size person, which did not compromise on the leg room or seat comfort, which is great. The sunroof and red F-sport interior were great features as well as the easy to use 10.3-inch infotainment system aligned on our tester with a Mark Levinson Audio package fit for a concert. Triple beam headlights and premium Iridium Silver paint were additional options.
The rear-wheel-drive compact cruiser was smooth in its shifts, thanks to the eight-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The seats hugged you firmly keeping you right in the seat as you accelerated.
Safety features for Lexus are always top-notch as parent company Toyota has pursued being a leader in that department. Blind-spot monitoring, lane-tracing assist, lane-departure alert and all-speed dynamic radar cruise control were just a few features we enjoyed on our test.
For Lexus, it’s important to cover the market with upscale luxury vehicles in every category. The RX350 is a great example of that, as it has been a trendsetter in the SUV market for many years. The IS isn’t far back.
Lexus IS 350
MSRP: $42,900
As tested: $55,050
MPG: 20 city, 28 highway, 22.3 as tested
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