On paper, a sedan like this one shouldn’t even exist anymore. A naturally aspirated V-6 with an eight-speed automatic that only sends power to the rear wheels. Look far and wide across the entire automotive market, and you will only find one option offering this exact layout: the 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport RWD. Considering its relatively archaic approach to the sports sedan formula, is there a reason to still buy the Lexus IS as it reaches the end of its production cycle? I recently had the distinct privilege of driving this exact vehicle, and my experience behind the wheel shows me why Lexus is still keeping this old-school sports sedan alive.
The first time you see the 2026 Lexus IS in person, you get an immediate feeling of both aggression and refinement. Yet, once you get behind the wheel, the intention of this luxury sedan becomes very clear.
First Impressions And The Feeling Of The Cabin
The front interior view of a 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport.Daud Gonzalez | TopSpeed
The absolute first thing you will notice about this particular IS 350 F Sport is the optional $595 Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 paint, which is gorgeous. It is a deep blue color that shines brilliantly in the sun and has a more subdued yet elegant aesthetic in the dark. One of those colors you have to see in person to appreciate, it’s arguably the IS 350’s best color.
The front seats of a 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport.Daud Gonzalez | TopSpeed
Stepping into the cabin, you are greeted by the F Sport heated and ventilated White and Black NuLuxe and Satin trim front seats, which look great as well. The contrast stitching is a nice touch, despite being quite subtle. Soft-touch leathers adorn the entire interior, and you never doubt the quality of the fit and finish of trim pieces. Everything in the interior looks and feels good, which at this point is the expectation of a new Lexus sedan. The F Sport seats are nice and bolstered without being aggressive. As far as comfort goes, they contour your body in a satisfying fashion and are well-suited for road trips.
The N/A V-6 Is Still Special
The engine bay of a blue 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport.Daud Gonzalez | TopSpeed
An engine bay close-up of a blue 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport.Daud Gonzalez | TopSpeed
The IS 350’s most enduring mechanical component is also the most important: the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter 311-horsepower 2GR-FKS. This legendary Toyota V-6 engine may have old bones, but it has not lost any of its character. Is it fast? Not exactly. It is plenty quick for the street, however. What’s more important is the sound and the feeling of the engine. Give the IS 350 a firm stab of the throttle, and you’ll be delighted by its responsiveness.
As you climb through the revs, the intake sound of the engine is intoxicating to the point where an upgraded exhaust system doesn’t even feel necessary. All the sounds you want from this platform are already present in 100-percent stock configuration. If you really do want more sound, your best bet is an aftermarket intake system, if anything. If there is any aspect of the drivetrain that disappoints, it is the eight-speed automatic’s responsiveness. Compared to a dual-clutch, there’s no contest—the dual-clutch is noticeably more responsive. However, experiencing the linearity of the power band is enjoyable on its own and gives the sports sedan a distinct character.
It’s Not Fast—And That’s The Point
The side profile view of a blue 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport.Daud Gonzalez | TopSpeed
Simply put, if you’re buying a Lexus IS 350 and hoping it will be a fast car, you are buying the wrong car. This car has a different emphasis, one less about drama and outright speed.
Steering Feel, Suspension Tuning, Ride Quality
A close-up shot of the optional 19-inch BBS wheels on a blue 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport.Daud Gonzalez | TopSpeed
Performance figures alone don’t tell the story of what it feels like to drive an IS 350 F Sport. The steering feel of this Lexus sedan has a great weight to it, clearly electronic but still satisfying to experience. What elevates its handling prowess is the $1,090 F Sport Handling Package, which includes the F Sport-tuned Adaptive Variable Suspension and the Torsen limited-slip differential.
Ninety-five percent of the time, you drive in a more comfort-oriented mode for daily commuting or the like. However, turn it up to Sport+, and you feel as if the entire car tightens up and becomes a more precise tool for driving excellence. The IS 350 is not a light vehicle, but it shifts its weight with confidence. As far as ride quality goes, even in a more aggressive mode, the IS 350 cabin is impressively quiet and provides a true luxury experience.
Comparing An IS 350 To A BMW M340i
Front 3/4 shot of 2026 BMW M340i parkedBMW
Despite the 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport being a direct competitor to the 2026 BMW M340i, these two vehicles have very different personalities. The BMW equivalent is certainly more expensive, and if you were to option them similarly, the 3 Series would cost about $10,000 more.
Shot of 2026 BMW M340i interior showing cabinBMW
What are you getting with the BMW for that extra cash? Well, the defining difference is the powertrain, comprised of the mild-hybrid 386-horsepower 3.0-liter B58 turbocharged inline-six mated with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. The M340i’s power band isn’t linear at all. You feel the full torque output the moment you put your foot down, and it doesn’t relent all the way up to 5,000 rpm. The IS 350 isn’t fast, but the M340i is. Shifting is also rapid in the M340i, despite it also offering an eight-speed automatic.
The Last Of Its Kind
The front-end view of a blue 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport.Daud Gonzalez | TopSpeed
Once you comprehend the Lexus IS truly is the last product of a bygone era, you understand this is your last chance to experience an old-school sports sedan. Another question worth really considering is why and how we got to where we are today.
Sports Sedans Have Moved On
The headlight of a blue 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport with the triple-beam LEDs on.Daud Gonzalez | TopSpeed
The reality is that naturally aspirated V-6 platforms like those featured in the Lexus IS have largely disappeared due to tightening emissions regulations. Indeed, the IS 350 RWD only achieves 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, not exactly cutting-edge figures. As a reference point, a 2026 M340i RWD achieves 27 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, a significant improvement all around. Whatever engine will feature in the next-generation Lexus IS, it certainly won’t be a naturally aspirated V-6. If the Lexus IS does have a new generation at all, it will likely feature a turbocharged hybrid powertrain, as with the majority of Lexus’s current vehicle lineup.
The IS 350 Has Stayed True To Its Roots
The F Sport badge of a blue 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport.Daud Gonzalez | TopSpeed
The automotive industry is one defined by trends, and remaining relevant depends on how dynamic and flexible your product can be. While this might be a relevant rule of thumb, it is not true in all cases. For example, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, despite not changing its fundamental architecture in decades, is currently outselling newer-generation vehicles such as the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86. The Lexus IS is a similar kind of vehicle to the Miata in this sense.
The Lexus IS isn’t pretending to be something it isn’t. It has a strong foundation, and its success comes from incremental improvements, not drastic generational redesigns. This third-generation Lexus IS has been around since the 2014 model year, and it continues to see sales gains after all these years. The 2026 model year refresh has been a success so far, with 5,045 examples sold year-to-date compared to 2025’s 4,779 copies year-to-date.
Who This Car Really Is For
The rear 3/4 view of a blue 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport.Daud Gonzalez | TopSpeed
Who is this IS 350 F Sport really for, knowing what I know now about how the car drives and feels? Well, the experience is something that goes beyond what you can understand from the spec sheet.
Not Built To Win Comparison Tests
The steering wheel view of a 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport.Daud Gonzalez | TopSpeed
On paper, the Lexus IS 350 F Sport cannot beat a BMW M340i or an Audi S5 in terms of performance. Yet, its intention was never to be the fastest in the segment. The Lexus IS knows what it does well, and it sticks to that winning formula with impressive dedication. While the IS sedan may not provide you with the best fuel efficiency, and it lacks low-end torque, it certainly offers the lowest upkeep costs of anything in its segment. In terms of reliability and cost of ownership, the IS’s naturally aspirated V-6 is in a class of its own. Ten years from now, the IS 350’s powertrain is likely to be more reliable and less costly to maintain than its BMW counterpart.
The Biggest Takeaway After Driving The 2026 IS 350 F Sport
The illuminated rear taillight of a blue 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport.Daud Gonzalez | TopSpeed
Is the 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport the perfect sports sedan that would make every driving enthusiast happy? No, not even close. However, I walked away wishing that more automakers still had the boldness to build cars like the Lexus IS. What the IS 350 offers is a distinct character with no direct equivalent on the market. That is its greatest strength. The 2GR V-6 engine makes all the right sounds, the cabin’s refinement is stunning, and the car is absolutely gorgeous to look at. It is not perfect, but considering what you are getting, it is worth every penny.
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