2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review

There are not many compact luxury sport sedans left that still stay true to the original formula, but the 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport is one of them. While much of the industry continues chasing turbocharged four-cylinders and oversized touchscreens, Lexus sticks with something enthusiasts still appreciate: a naturally aspirated V6, rear-wheel drive, sharp handling, and a cabin that puts the driver first. The IS has been around for more than two decades now, and this latest version keeps the formula alive with aggressive styling, strong acceleration, and Lexus reliability wrapped into one very attractive package.

Exterior 

I love the looks of this car, its sharp lines, long hood and short rear end, and it looks great in this gray color Lexus simply calls Wind.

19” black BB forged wheels really set this thing off, and all the accents, mirrors, the large spoiler on the rear, it’s all black, too.

Out of the rear dual exhaust pipes that are part of the Performance Exhaust system comes an outstanding sound, especially when you slam the accelerator. It sounds fantastic.

Performance 

Under that long hood is a 3.5-liter naturally-aspirated V6 engine putting out 311-horsepower, paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Lexus also includes paddle shifters and Drive Mode Select, allowing you to tailor the driving experience depending on your mood or road conditions. You can choose from Eco, Normal, Sport, and my go-to Sport+.

Interior  

First glance inside was a bit of a shocker. I wasn’t really expecting a whole lot of red, but I embraced it immediately. The F Sport treatment continues with NuLuxe-trimmed F Sport heated and ventilated front seats, an F Sport heated steering wheel, aluminum sport pedals, and an F Sport instrument cluster.

The cabin has a cockpit feel to it, especially from the driver’s seat, and the materials throughout are exactly what you expect from Lexus: tight, upscale, and extremely well assembled. The beautiful front seats are red and black and they are pretty heavily bolstered, but extremely comfortable.

The driver’s gauge cluster in the 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport is one of the highlights of the interior. Directly in front of the driver is a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster with sharp graphics and multiple display layouts. The layout is clean, sporty, and very easy to read at a glance. The main speedometer and tachometer dominate the screen, while additional information such as fuel economy, navigation prompts, safety alerts, audio information, and trip data can be configured around them. Drivers can also customize portions of the display depending on what information they want prioritized.

Unlike earlier IS F Sport models that used Lexus’ famous sliding “LFA-inspired” tachometer ring (which I liked), the 2026 model moves to a more conventional full digital setup. While some Lexus enthusiasts may miss the old moving gauge design, the new cluster looks modern, crisp, and upscale, and it fits the updated interior nicely. In Sport modes, the graphics become more aggressive and performance-oriented, emphasizing the tachometer and performance information, while ECO and Normal modes use calmer, simpler layouts. The overall effect is very driver-focused without becoming cluttered or overly flashy.

At the center of the dash is Lexus’ 14-inch touchscreen display with Lexus Interface. The system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, cloud-based navigation capability, and voice controls. The touchscreen also handles audio, phone connectivity, vehicle settings, and climate functions. A wireless phone charger is also standard equipment.

The center console is clean, sporty, and very driver-oriented. Lexus redesigned portions of the interior for 2026, giving the console a more modern appearance while still keeping physical controls where they matter most. The overall layout flows naturally from the dashboard into the console, creating a cockpit-like feel around the driver. The gear shifter sits prominently in the center, surrounded by a clean trim finish and easy-to-reach controls. Just behind the shifter is the Drive Mode Select controller, allowing quick access to driving modes. Nearby are the electronic parking brake controls and the wireless charging pad for compatible smartphones.

One of the nicest upgrades for 2026 is the revised trim material Lexus uses on the center console. Depending on trim and interior color, Lexus now uses a textured “Forged Bamboo” style finish that replaces the older piano black surfaces that I detest because they show fingerprints and scratches. The new finish gives the cabin a richer, more upscale appearance while also adding texture and contrast. The center armrest is nicely padded and opens to reveal a useful storage compartment large enough for phones, wallets, charging cables, and other small items. Cupholders are positioned conveniently beside the shifter without interfering with elbow room, something Lexus has always done well in the IS.

The overall design of the center console matches the personality of the car itself: sporty, upscale, and functional without feeling cluttered or overly dependent on touch controls. It still feels like a proper driver’s car inside, which is becoming increasingly rare in modern luxury sedans.

Back seat passengers in the IS 350 F Sport get a cabin that is comfortable and upscale, although this is definitely a sport sedan first and a family sedan second. Rear seat room is adequate for adults, but taller passengers may notice the tighter quarters compared with larger luxury sedans. Rear legroom measures 32.2 inches, while rear headroom comes in at 36.9 inches. Rear shoulder room measures 53.4 inches. The sloping roofline does cut into rear headroom slightly for taller passengers, but the seating position itself is supportive and comfortable. Once seated, rear passengers will find the seats nicely contoured, especially for shorter trips and daily commuting. The rear seat includes a fold-down center armrest that adds comfort for two passengers and gives the cabin a more upscale feel. Materials in the back closely match the front seat area, so rear passengers do not feel like an afterthought.

Amenities for rear passengers are straightforward but functional. The rear seating area benefits from the dual-zone climate system up front, rear air vents, USB charging capability, and rear seat pass-through access to the trunk through the fold-down armrest. The quiet cabin and high-quality interior materials help make the rear seating area feel refined even if space is not overly generous.

Overall, the back seat is best suited for two not overly large adults or three children on a regular basis. It works well for occasional longer trips, but this Lexus clearly prioritizes the driver and front passenger experience over maximum rear-seat space. For buyers wanting a true sport sedan feel without completely sacrificing rear seat usability, Lexus strikes a nice balance here.

Standard Equipment

Standard features are generous. On the exterior, you get LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, heated power outside mirrors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a power moonroof. The aggressive F Sport exterior treatment also includes unique front and rear fascias, black trim accents, and 19-inch F Sport alloy wheels.

Standard equipment inside includes heated and ventilated F Sport front seats trimmed in NuLuxe material, a heated F Sport steering wheel, aluminum sport pedals, dual-zone automatic climate control, SmartAccess keyless entry with push-button start, and a wireless phone charger. Ambient interior lighting is also part of the package and gives the cabin a richer feel at night. Technology features include the large 14-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, multiple USB ports, voice controls, cloud-based connected services capability, Bluetooth audio streaming, and Lexus Interface. The cabin also benefits from active noise control, which helps keep interior noise levels impressively low.

Other standard convenience features include paddle shifters, Drive Mode Select, an electronic parking brake, power front seats, auto-dimming mirrors, and a fold-down rear center armrest with trunk pass-through access. One thing Lexus continues to do extremely well is balancing sport and luxury. The IS 350 F Sport has enough comfort and convenience features to feel premium every day, but it never loses the focused, driver-oriented personality that makes this car special.

Safety      

On the safety front, Lexus includes the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite. Standard safety equipment includes a pre-collision system, lane departure alert, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, and adaptive cruise control. Blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert is also included.

Options  

The 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport had a base manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $47,950. Added options began with the Panoramic View Monitor with Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking and Rear Cross-Traffic Braking for $1,100. It also had 19-inch black BBS forged alloy wheels for $2,450, a power rear sunshade for $210, and the F Sport Handling Package for $1,090, which includes adaptive variable suspension, and a Torsen limited-slip rear differential.

Other factory options included Triple-Beam LED headlamps for $1,250, the Mark Levinson premium audio system for $1,120, and a power moonroof for $1,100. The Technology Package was $620 and includes front cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, and traffic jam assist. The sticker notes this package requires a Drive Connect subscription and includes a three-year trial. The IS 350 F Sport also had a performance exhaust for $1,975, plus a trunk mat, key glove, cargo net, and wheel locks for $313. Delivery, processing and handling was $1,295, bringing the total sticker price to $60,473.

Ride and Drive

Driving impressions are where this Lexus really shines. The naturally aspirated V6 delivers smooth, immediate power without waiting on turbochargers to spool up, and the 8-speed automatic transmission shifts quickly and predictably. Steering feel is sharp, body motions are controlled, and the suspension strikes an excellent balance between sporty and comfortable. The IS 350 F Sport feels athletic without beating you up on rough pavement, which is harder to find these days than you might think.

Verdict   

This sport sedan proves there is still room in today’s market for a traditional luxury sport sedan that focuses on driving enjoyment instead of gimmicks. It blends performance, luxury, reliability, and timeless styling into a package that feels increasingly rare in the automotive world.