We all love a German sedan for the looks, the power, the feel, and the badge, but is it always necessary when you think about the typically German costs associated with keeping them and the generally more involved maintenance schedules?
There are plenty of performance sedans around that offer the sporty guts we want without having to spend more time in the garage than on the road. This 2026 Lexus sedan is the epitome of that, offering the athleticism of a German vehicle and the reliability of a Japanese one.
Performance Cars Are About More Than Just Power
Red 2001 E46 BMW M3BMW
Big horsepower numbers make for great talk at the track, but they don’t always make for great cars. Today, making a sedan that can blast to 60 mph is a lot easier than it has ever been. The trick is making one that feels alive when you’re nowhere near the throttle. That’s why so many people still rave about the E46 BMW M3 or the first-gen Cadillac CTS-V. Neither is the fastest thing on the road, but both have the uncanny ability to make an ordinary road feel like the Nürburgring.
The sweet spot has always been balance. A chassis that you can feel through the steering wheel, brakes you can lean on corner after corner, and an engine that rewards you for chasing the redline rather than dumping off its torque at 2,000 rpm. That’s also why naturally aspirated models like the Lexus LFA, the 992 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and the Audi R8 have earned such a following—not because they are defined by numbers, but because every input feels connected.
Handling, Comfort, And Everyday Usability Define A Great Driver’s Car
A 2019 Kia Stinger GTS in orange sending up smoke from its rear tiresKia Media
The real test of a performance sedan isn’t what it does on a perfect stretch of tarmac on a Sunday morning. It’s what it feels like on the weekday stuck in traffic, crawling over potholes, and then blasting it onto a highway on-ramp for a little excitement. The best performance sedans don’t make you choose between fun and usability; they deliver both without breaking a sweat.
With the Audi S4 and BMW M340i doing so much so well, they have become benchmarks. They can hustle through a series of bends with real composure, then settle into quiet, refined highway cruising without rattling you out of your seat or making you wish you had an SUV.
A detailed interior shot of the 2026 Hyundai Sonata N-LineHyundai
They both feature plush cabins, refined suspension tuning, enough power, and enough sporty additions to make things interesting when you want them to. A great driver’s car shouldn’t punish you for using it every day. You want a sedan that fades into the background when you’re commuting and comes alive the moment the road starts to get emptier and twistier.
The 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT Is The Japanese Take On A German Performance Sedan
Front 3/4 shot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT parkedLexus
This is what you get courtesy of the 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT. This is Lexus’ compact luxury sport sedan, and it delivers nearly everything you could ask for from such a model: performance grit, a refined cabin, sleek design, and reliability.
There are two grades of the new Lexus IS 350 F SPORT: the 350 F SPORT and the 350 F SPORT AWD. Starting prices for the F SPORT are $49,345 and $51,345 for the AWD version. There are also two lower trims, the 350 F SPORT DESIGN and the 350 F SPORT DESIGN AWD, but you do miss out on some of the features of the two F SPORT trims.
A Perky V6 Engine Delivers The Kind Of Performance Turbo Rivals Don’t
Close-up shot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT front endLexus
There is just one engine option for the new IS 350 F SPORT: a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated 24-valve DOHC 2GR-FKS V6 with VVT-i good for 311 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Lexus says the RWD IS 350 F SPORT can hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, and the AWD version can do it in six seconds.
Around six seconds to 60 mph is not particularly difficult to achieve in 2026, but that is not the point of the 2GR-FKS V6. Unlike turbo-fours that dominate the modern sedan market, the 2GR-FKS builds power progressively all the way to its 6,600 rpm power peak, and rewards stretching its legs rather than riding the wave of low-end boost. Throttle response is immediate with no turbo lag, while the engine’s smooth, mechanical growl only gets sweeter as the revs climb.
A Driver-Focused Cabin Built For Enthusiasts
Shot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT interior showing front cabinLexus
Something that is becoming rare in the sports sedan segment is happening in the new IS 350 F SPORT: the cabin is designed around you behind the wheel, not the infotainment screen. The seating position is low, the steering wheel feels nicely planted in your hands, and every major control is where you’d expect it to be. There are still physical controls for climate, and you don’t have to hunt through endless menus to turn down the temperature.
The F SPORT treatment adds plenty of substance beyond a few cosmetic flourishes as well. You get heavily bolstered front seats that grip you at speed without becoming uncomfortable on longer trips, while the thick leather-wrapped steering wheel and aluminum pedals remind you that it isn’t just another luxury sedan.
Close-up shot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT center consoleLexusShot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT front passenger cabinLexus
Front and center sits a 12.3-inch Lexus Interface touchscreen, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. What really gives the new IS an edge, though, is that it feels engineered by people who really enjoy driving. Visibility is reported to be excellent, the switchgear has the reassuring feel Lexus is known for, and the build quality is as vault-like as ever.
Owners who left a review on Kelley Blue Book rated the new IS 4.4 out of 5 for quality and 4.5 out of 5 for comfort, while 83 percent of the 50 current reviewers (at time of writing) say they’d recommend buying one.
Why We Called The IS 350 The Last Of Its Kind After Our Test Drive
Our team had the opportunity to test drive the 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport, and we thoroughly enjoyed just about every aspect of it. From the supple cabin to the smooth, linear torque of the old-school V6, there were few things we could gripe about. That said, we noted that the eight-speed auto transmission was noticabley more sluggish than teh dual-clutch units found in German rivals, like the M340i. Still, it’s plenty fast around town, and it deliver the sound and grunt you want from a sports sedan.
We also pointed out the fact that a similarly-specced BMW 3 Series would cost roughly $10,000 more than the IS 350 we tested, which makes the long-term value proposition even more enticing. Inside, the cabin is plush and well-equipped and refined, even if not as tech-heavy as some of its top rivals. On the road, it’s grunty and smooth, with ride comfort being of high quality, despite its sporting intentions.
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.
Where The IS 350 F SPORT Makes Compromises — And Why They’re Worth It
Close-up shot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT front cabinLexusShot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT rear seatsLexus
The new IS 350 F SPORT gets a very generous 44.8 inches of front legroom, so if you have only one passenger with you, it is very roomy for long trips. Rear legroom is a little cramped at 32.2 inches, and you only get 10.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity, but you do get 60:40 split-folding seats for longer items.
A modest-sized center console is also included, along with a rear fold-down center armrest with cupholders, rear seatback storage pockets, and rear air vents.
The IS 350 F SPORT Gives You Speed And Luxury Without The German Ownership Costs
Profile shot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT parkedLexus
According to Edmunds, the five-year cost to own an IS 350 F SPORT ranges from $68,354 to $75,504, depending on whether you opt for the rear-wheel-drive model or the all-wheel-drive model. These costs include up to $10,322 for insurance, $8,814 for maintenance, $1,243 for repairs, $17,377 for depreciation, and $19,773 for fuel.
This may sound like a lot of money, and it is in the grand scheme of things, but Edmunds also says that it will cost you up to $81,375 for the 330i xDrive, up to $88,005 for the M340i, and between $74,060 and $81,063 for the 2025 Audi A4 sedan.
Lexus Engineered The IS Chassis For Stability First — And The Suspension Proves It
Front shot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT parkedLexus
There are plenty of fast sedans that feel brilliant at 40 mph and strangely nervous once the speedo starts to climb. The IS 350 F SPORT isn’t one of them. Lexus engineered it around body rigidity just as much as outright performance.
Additional weld points, structural adhesive throughout the chassis, reinforced radiator side supports, and strong suspension points all contribute to a shell that feels very sorted. It is designed to track arrow-straight on the highway, shrug off crosswinds, and feel composed over mid-corner bumps that might unsettle less rigid rivals. On top of that, there is only 5.5 inches of ground clearance, and decent track width at the front and rear, at 62.2 inches and 63.2 inches, respectively.
2026 Lexus IS front 3/4 viewLexus
Then there’s the suspension. Every IS rides on a double-wishbone front and a multi-link rear, a layout that is becoming rarer in the segment. You get good wheel control at speed, thanks to the tires staying in better contact with the road, and a composed ride on rough roads.
The F SPORT also has Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), which adjusts on the fly to road conditions. This is why, if you are looking for a little more, you should choose the F SPORT over the F SPORT DESIGN. It is designed so you don’t necessarily feel it happen, but a lot of owners have praised it for staying flat in fast corners and comfortable on pot-holed roads. Owners on Kelley Blue Book rate performance 4.5 out of 5, with one owner saying the following about the ride quality.
It’s low to the ground, which many people wouldn’t like, but if you’re buying a sports-type car, you should expect as much. Extremely smooth ride while still feeling the excitement of the road.
A Torsen Diff And Rev-Matched Downshifts Keep The IS 350 Honest On A Twisty Road
Front shot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT parkedLexus
Rear-wheel-drive models are paired with Lexus’ Sport Direct-Shift eight-speed automatic, which features paddle shifters, rev-matched downshifts, and Drive Mode Select with Eco, Normal, Sport S, Sport S+, and Custom modes.
For a more responsive and engaging ride, the transmission holds gears longer in sportier settings and responds swiftly to manual inputs, making the most of what the NA V6 has to offer. AWD models get a six-speed automatic to better suit the all-wheel-drive system’s packaging, but it is still described by owners as being responsive and fun to use.
Front shot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT parked in studioLexus
You also get 19-inch Enkei alloys and available high-performance brakes, while rear-wheel-drive models are equipped with a Torsen limited-slip differential, which helps tidy up stability when you power out of a corner or are driving in the wet.
The IS 350 Outlasts The BMW 3 Series By Nearly 60,000 Miles, According To The Data
Close-up shot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT rearLexus
Then there is what Lexus is truly known for in the luxury sedan market: dependability. According to the 2026 U.S. Dependability Survey, Lexus has the fewest problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) out of any marque. The market average is 204 PP100; Lexus experiences 151 PP100.
Also, iSeeCars rates the new IS 350 8.9 out of 10, and says it has an average lifespan of 16.8 years, or 180,628 miles, with a 38.7 percent chance of reaching 200,000 miles. To put into perspective how good that is, iSeeCars says the 2026 3 Series has a reliability rating of 7 out of 10, a 5.6 percent chance of reaching 200,000 miles, and an average lifespan of 120,850 miles, or 11.2 years.
The Lexus Proves You Don’t Need A German Badge To Build A Serious Sport Sedan
Front 3/4 shot of 2026 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT parkedLexus
The sports sedan segment has become a numbers game. Every new model arrives with another 50 horsepower, another tenth shaved off its 0–60 mph time, and another drive mode that promises to transform the car’s personality. Somewhere along the way, though, many brands forgot that the best driver’s cars are the ones you look for excuses to drive, not the ones that win spec-sheet arguments.
That’s where the new IS 350 F SPORT feels proper. It doesn’t rely on gimmicks or too much software to create character. The engine encourages you to use the whole rev range, the transmission keeps you involved, the chassis can be pushed, and the cabin isn’t built to distract you. None of these qualities stand out on their own, but together they create a sedan that is getting harder to find.
Front 3/4 shot of red 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport parkedLexus
While the IS 350 F SPORT’s rivals carry on reinventing themselves in pursuit of the next trend, Lexus has spent years refining a formula that already worked. It’s a sports sedan that is designed to work within its limits, and one that never forgets why many of us first fell in love with the segment.
Base Trim Engine
3.5-liter V6
Base Trim Transmission
8-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
311 HP @6600 RPM
Base Trim Torque
280 lb.-ft. @ 4800 RPM
Make
Lexus
Model
IS
Segment
Compact Luxury Sedan
Sources: Lexus, iSeeCars, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarEdge, FuelEconomy.gov, and Edmunds
