Lexus IS 350 F-Sport

In the 2014 model year, when it was brand-new, the Lexus IS compact luxury sedan gave class rivals such as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class something to think about. But despite a substantial update two years ago, the 2023 IS is essentially still the same 2014 car under the skin - and now a decade old. In the meantime, tough new rivals such as the Genesis G70 have arrived, so the little Lexus is fighting an uphill battle against fresher talent, and its age is really starting to show in terms of space utilization and powertrain tech. On the positive side, the latest IIHS review of the Lexus IS puts it right at the top of the class in terms of safety, while it drives comfortably, handles surprisingly well, is superbly built from top-class materials, and still looks sharp and stylish. But is this going to be enough to sway buyers from better rivals? Lexus is hardly making any worthwhile improvements to the IS this year, so it's not going to be easy.
2023 Lexus IS Changes: What’s The Difference vs The 2022 IS?
The 2023 Lexus IS range gets a new IS 350 F Sport Design trim level between the IS 300 and IS 350 F Sport. It essentially combines the standard features of the IS 300 with the engine and exterior appearance of the IS 350 F Sport, but is just over $1,000 cheaper than the latter. An optionally available F Sport Handling package replaces the old Dynamic Handling package. It comes with adaptive suspension, custom Sport S and S+ driving modes and, on RWD models, a limited-slip differential. All F Sport trims now get 19-inch Enkei alloy wheels.