2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport - Review by David Colman

2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport

Scintillating Performance Paired with Brilliant Interior

David Colman

Story and Photos by David Colman
Special Correspondent
THE AUTO CHANNEL

The Lexus IS 350 F Sport enters its sixth year of production with a new look, a revised interior, and a new lease on life. When Lexus announced that 2025 would mark the last year of production for the V8-powered version of the IS, driving enthusiasts feared that the discontinuance of the entire model line would soon follow. So the retention of the IS 350 for 2026 - in 311hp V6-powered form - gives a new generation of sporting drivers the opportunity to experience sport sedan perfection, Lexus style. It also gives new impetus to the factory-backed Vasser-Sullivan Lexus racing team, which fields a top echelon contender in IMSA's GT D (GT Daytona) PRO racing series.

2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport

The concept of a stripper Lexus may be difficult to comprehend, since all products from this company seem to offer maximum enhancement in every way, from unexpected cabin ingenuity to comfort tweaks galore. So it came as something of a rude awakening to discover that our test IS 350 lacked a couple of features we have come to expect as standard on any vehicle bearing the Lexus nameplate. For example, if you buy a model "9504A" F Sport identical to the one we tested, you will not find pre-set buttons for your seat/steering wheel preferences. You will also search in vain for a steering wheel heater. But if you're willing to put up with such negligible oversights, Lexus will sell you this otherwise handsomely equipped five-passenger sports sedan for a very un-Lexus price of $49,703. That's less than the average new car retail price these days.

The best part of the deal is that the IS 350 F Sport's 311hp motor will rip this 3,800 pound sedan from zero to sixty in 5.6 seconds. This revamped Lexus will also sprint through the standing start quarter mile in 14.2 seconds at 100mph. Turn the wick to full burn and this sprinter's all-aluminum V6 will top out at 143mph. As an added benefit, the classic gasoine fired engine issues a lovely exhaust warble. But really, the IS 350 is more about handling finesse than bullish acceleration. This is a beautifully balanced package, especially if you choose the rear-wheel-drive model I tested, rather than the available, but heavier all-wheel-drive version.

2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport

Part of the F Sport's athletic finesse is attributable to its staggered-size wheel and tire combination. Up front, Lexus mounts 235/40R19 Bridgestone Potenza SOO1L radials on 8.5-inch-wide Dark Gray F Sport alloy rims. On the rear axle, you'll find a wider set of 265/35R19 Bridgestones mounted on 9.5 wide alloys. This pairing does wonders for the agility of the sedan. Since the Bridgestones carry a near-autocross competitive treadwear rating of TW 280, the generous amount of sticky rubber on the road ensures the IS will hang onto your chosen line without deviance. The F Sport's predictability makes it a blast to drive fast.

2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport

Backing up the scintillating performance is an interior layout that puts everything important just where you need it. The front seats are without question the best designed sports buckets I have enjoyed in years. From the instant you slide into them, your butt and back are fully locked into place. Likewise, the smooth leather-wrapped steering wheel is thumb-notched for better grip, evidence of its hard-won racing heritage. Ditto for the sizable, easily triggered shift paddles that flank the wheel. The console mounted shift lever makes it easy to select manual mode, which puts you in instant control of all shifting activity undertaken by the 8-speed automatic transmission. Lexus also provides a prominently located Drive Mode dial atop the center console, just where you need it when making quick decisions. Twist this dial into its Sport setting, and you'll find yourself in total control of the sizeable contact patches those Bridgestones are laying down. If you want to go fast, this Lexus will help you do so. But the speed of this steed is a product of the Lexus creed: performance tempered by elegance. It's one hot car, but never a hot rod.

2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport

If you're willing to spend a bit more capital on your IS 350, Lexus will sell you a collectible "Special Appearance Package" version of the newly revamped sedan that adds forged black BBS alloys instead of cast rims, a Mark Levinson surround sound stereo system, a striking black/white NuLuxe interior, and Triple Beam LED headlights for $61,385. If I were ordering any level of this outstanding sport sedan, I would make sure to include the $1,090 F Sport handling package which includes Drive Mode elect, Adaptive Variable Suspension, and a Torsen Limited Slip Differential. You couldn't buy those parts for that money, let alone have them installed.

To top it off, legendary Lexus reliability is yours at no extra charge! Consumer Reports (May 2026) awarded the Lexus IS its "Luxury Small Cars" highest "Reliability Prediction." The Lexus scored 84 points, 25 more than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which finished second with 59 points.

2026 LEXUS IS 350 F SPORT

HYPES: Sneaky Quick, Seamlessly Made

GRIPES: V6 Needs High RPM for Max Torque

STAR RATING: 9 Stars out of 10