2026 Lexus IS 350 F-Sport Design - Latest Updates Review

AGING ENTHUSIAST PRESTIGE: Against the river rapids of Urban Active lifestyle SUVs, the waning compact luxury sport sedan swims upstream, seeking the ever rarer Young Upwardly Mobile enthusiast driver.

BREATH OF NEW LIFE FRESHNESS: At an advanced eight model years of age, but one remaining Japanese model remains to duke it out with established European performance saloons. Marked by trim paring and subtle revisions, both inside and out, the 2026 Lexus IS 350 F-Sport Design AWD continues the hard to die ritual.

2021 Lexus IS 350 AWD - Bottom Line Review

ACHIEVING ENTHUSIAST PRESTIGE: Back when the lifestyle Young Upwardly Mobile Professional was coined in the mid 1980s, it was hip to make a statement of trickle down financial success. With no premium sport activity vehicle in sight, the archetypal “Yuppie” mobile was the prestige sport sedan. RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF ANTI-

RoadBlazingGeorge Straton

2026 LEXUS IS 350 F-SPORT DESIGN AWD DIFFERENCES FROM LAST TESTED 2021 LEXUS IS 350 AWD:

• F-Sport Design (standard) elements:
  • Revised front gloss black, abbreviated upper section, lattice lower section spindle grille
  • Ellipse "L" badging relocated from middle grille to leading edge of nose
  • Body color lower front valance
  • Ellipse "L" middle trunklid badging replaced by wide-spaced"LEXUS" lettering
  • 19" inch wider split, five-spoke gloss black allow wheels
• New variable 12.3" TFT color instrument cluster replaces motorized sliding gauge cluster, with navigation map projection

• F-Sport Handling trim (optional - NOT INCLUDED in test vehicle)
  • Adaptive e-variable performance damping suspension
  • Sport Plus drive mode (in addition to Eco, Normal, Sport Custom)
  • Aluminum pedal covers
  • F-Sport 1st Row seats, power lumbar adjust

2025 LEXUS IS 350 F-SPORT CARRIED OVER / SHARED WITH 2021 LEXUS IS 350 AWD:

Segment, Style & Finish:

• Luxury four-door compact sedan, 5 occupant seating
• 2nd update, 3rd generation Mk. 3 AVE30 Lexus IS, launched in 2019 MY, based on N platform.
  • Sensuous, parabolic fastback silhouette, layered flanks hood, wrap around lighting, outboard L shaped DRLs, emphatic fender flaring.
  • Revised slanted upper nose, black shortened upper spindle/ lattice lower section grille.

Performance:

• naturally aspirated longitudinal DOHC V-6 petrol engine
• 6-speed automatic torque converter transaxle
• steering wheel dorsal shift paddles
• all wheel drive (rear wheel drive standard configuration)
• Silky power, torque peaks late
  • rated power - 311 horsepower, 280 pound-feet
• 22 miles per gallon, 452 miles highway driving range
• Fully independent sport suspension
• Large vented four wheel disc brakes, monoblock front calipers
• Quick ratio steering, heavy weighted resistance

Safety:

• IIHS - Top Safety Pick (2024 MY)
  • 10 SRS airbags, surround cameras
  • Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 Level 1.5 advanced driver assistance
    • Blind spot warning & avoidance, Forward vehicle, pedestrian & cyclist avoidance, adaptive cruise control - full, lane tracing, rear cross traffic braking
  • Panoramic outward visibility

Comfort & Convenience:

• Seating for 4 (plus 2nd Row middle position child)
• F-Sport Bucket power front seats
• 12.3" Multi-information Display configurable TFT instrument cluster, including panoramic navigation map projection
• 2-zone automatic climate control, automatic heated front seats, power tilt/ telescoping steering wheel, power folding wing mirrors, wiper de-icer
• Keyless entry, push-button ignition, Digital key (via phone app)
• Power windows, full express x 4

Utility:

• Power trunklid, approach activated
• Proximity entry access
• 60:40 split folding 2nd Row seatback trunk capacity expansion
• Doughnut spare tire

Infotainment:

• 12.3" Lexus Human Interface touch LCD landscape media display (in place of std. 8.0" touch screen)
  • Drive Connected cloud navigation with Google Points of Interest (by subscription)
  • "Hey Lexus" wake-up phrase intelligent voice interaction & Google query
• USB-C , 2 x Rows 1 & 2
• 10-speaker, 500 Watt Pioneer streaming audio, HD radio
• Bluetooth hands-free communication, SMS
• wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay projection
• Subscription features: ATT 4G Wi-Fi, Sirius XM satellite radio (90 day trial); Safety & remote connect (1 year trial); Drive Connect (3 year trial)

2026 LEXUS IS 350 F-SPORT AWD PRICING:

• $51,844 price, as tested 2026 LEXUS IS 350 F-SPORT AWD in Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 ( Lexus IS 350 rear-drive from $48,290)
• 4 years / 50,000 miles bumper to bumper; 6 years / 70,000 miles drivetrain, 2 years / 25,000 miles scheduled maintenance warranty

LIKES ABOUT THE 2026 LEXUS IS 350 F-SPORT AWD:

• Legitimate luxury compact sport sedan value
• Refined atmospheric V-6 powerplant & silky-in house six-speed automatic gearbox suit the grand touring mission
• Controlled body motion matched with absorbent ride
• Naturally returning steering wind + nimble turn-in
• Superb Lexus precision build
• Premium business class cabin, ample amenities
• Long-haul comfortable seat cushions
• Hammered metal barrel audio volume control
• Refined new climate control toggle style switchgear
• Palpable fidelity from standard Pioneer audio

NOT PREFERRED ABOUT THE 2026 LEXUS IS 350 F-SPORT AWD:

• Mostly carried-over overall package, power & drivetrain since 2019 launch
• Gone is the glorious V-8 powered IS 500
• Narrow cowl cockpit seating
• Stingy 2nd Row space, where driveshaft tunnel renders middle post useless
• All-wheel drive mandates 2 fewer transmission gears, skips Torsen limited slip rear differential
• Drive-line hesitancy, with lazy transmission downshifts
• Base F-Sport Design trim lacks driver seat, wing mirror memory
• Closed platform infotainment is application impoverished