We live in a world where we are told that new is always better. And in the world of cars, the more electronics, gadgets and gizmos the car has, the more improved it is, so they want us to believe. In fact, cars are so electrical these days, many don't even use an internal combustion engine anymore. And the cars that still do use a gas engine, most are small four-cylinder engines with a turbocharger slapped to them, with efficiency and emissions being their top priority.
So, when a car that has an old-school six-cylinder gas engine, a traditional six-speed automatic transmission (when most cars have at least eight speeds, a CVT, or no transmission at all) and an interior that still uses physical buttons to control things like a radio or air conditioning, it's like turning its back to modernism by rejecting the industry trends. And that's exactly what the Lexus IS350 does.
The Lexus IS has been around since 1999 when it was introduced as a compact sports sedan in the otherwise all-luxury Lexus lineup. It was offered in rear-wheel drive (or all-wheel drive) and up until 2012, it could still be had with a manual transmission. Now, nearly 27 years and two generations later, the IS is still around albeit as a rare, old-school car.
Despite its age, the IS still looks as good now as it did when this third generation first appeared more than 10 years ago. I recall Lexus referring to the design as aggressive elegance - and that still holds true today. There are large air intakes up front along with a pronounced spindle grille as well as spoilers at both ends of the car. Sporty, yes, but the lines of the car and its attention to detail give it a very luxurious presence.
For 2026, the IS lineup has dwindled down quite a bit. Gone is the V8 powered IS500 and the IS300, leaving only the V6 powered IS350 as the sole IS available.
And while there is only one IS model, it is offered in three different trim levels. Base is the F Sport Design which features 19-inch wheels, synthetic leather interior, a 12.3-inch touchscreen and heated and power front seats. Move up to the F Sport and the IS gets red painted brake calipers, a sport tuned suspension and heated and cooled sport seats. The F Sport Special Appearance is a limited-production package that swaps the regular 19-inch wheels for forged BBS style wheels with summer tires, a unique matte colored exterior, adaptive suspension dampers and a limited-slip differential. Only 350 units will be made.
The tester is an IS350 with the F Sport Special Appearance trim level. It carries an MSRP of $60,473.
The V6 used in the IS350 is naturally aspirated and comes in at 3.5 liters. It makes 311 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. It's not crazy fast, but it still can manage to reach 60 mph in just under 6 seconds - and sounds good doing so. And while it's not the most powerful engine around, this V6 is known for its longevity and reliability - with many easily surpassing 200,000 miles. The engine is mated to a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission, and in this case, sends power to the rear wheels, however, all-wheel drive is available. Fuel economy is rated at 19 mpg in a city and 27 mpg on the highway, with a combined average of 22 mpg.
Inside, the IS features soft touch surfaces, aluminum accents and airtight panel gaps showcasing the refinement Lexus is known for. Yes, there is an infotainment screen, but it doesn't dominate the dash like many others. And, most importantly, not everything is dependent on it. The climate control, for instance, is all controlled by physical buttons located under the screen.
Other noted features are the sport seats that keep the driver and passenger better planted during hard cornering and the thick rimmed steering wheel that feels fantastic in the driver s hands. There is also a moonroof, push button start, dual zone air-conditioning, rear sunshade and a Mark Levinson speaker audio system. Sadly, the CD player, which was available last year, is gone. I'm sure it will not be missed.
While the interior of the IS is impressive and nice, there are some shortcomings. The backseat is tight - especially when it comes to legroom and trunk space is limited to 10.8 cubic feet the smallest in its class. The back seats do fold down (although not flat) to provide extra room if needed.
Driving around town, the IS350 delivers a smooth comfortable ride. It absorbs bumps nicely and the sport seats further aid the comfort. The double wishbone front suspension with independent multilink rear suspension, like those found in sports cars, allow the IS to handle very well yet be able to take you to where you need to go daily, in total comfort. But when the roads do get curvy, the IS takes it all with confidence. The steering is direct, and while it is electric, for 2026, it has been recalibrated to feel heavier, which makes the driver feel the tires more. All in an effort to make the car feel more mechanical.
And the mechanical feel is the biggest takeaway I get from spending time in the Lexus IS350. Today, most cars are becoming more like gadgets - like an iPad on wheels. There is nothing wrong with that since most of us love our iPads. But the Lexus IS brings us back to a time when we actually drove cars, rather than us being assisted in driving, or in some cases, have the car drive entirely for us. Cars like the IS are unashamedly old-school, and there will soon be a time when we will be remembering luxury cars that had gas-powered engines, that didn't need turbochargers or any other power assistance and drove the rear wheels using a transmission with gears. Cars like the Lexus IS350.