2027 Lexus IS

Name: 2027 Lexus IS
Brand: Lexus

Release Date: Fall 2026

Estimated Price: Starting around $47,000

Average

5.7

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

A smooth V6 and athletic handling make the 2027 Lexus IS an invigorating luxury sport sedan. But its aging platform, cramped rear seats and storage, and unpolished tech can't compete with quicker, more fuel-efficient rivals. While the price is nice, we recommend looking around for better performance and more modern utility.Read full review

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Pros

Smooth ride quality and comfortable front seats
Nimble and secure handling
More features for the money compared to German alternatives

Cons

Back seat is tight for the class
Lackluster acceleration
Limited storage and cargo space

Overview

Written by automotive expert Dan Frio

8/3/2026

Stylish, athletic and comfortable, the 2027 Lexus IS is a decidedly old-school oddity among today's compact luxury sport sedans. That's no surprise when you consider the IS platform hasn't changed in 13 years, a geological era in automotive terms. Its distinctly Japanese design is complemented by a naturally aspirated V6 — no turbochargers here, as in most rivals, including the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class — and the available adaptive suspension and limited-slip differential make it a joy to drive on winding roads. Inside, an intuitive cabin layout and ultra-supportive front seats also make it easy to cover long stretches. The aging platform shows its limitations, though. The rear seats are cramped, the trunk is small, and the active driver aids feel unpolished compared to those of rivals. The IS has a certain analog charm, though, and it's still relatively affordable.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Average

5.7

out of 10

We drove the Lexus IS on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Driving experience

6.4/10

How does it drive? We tested the Lexus IS 350 F Sport. Not only does it deliver the comfort expected of a Lexus, but it is surprisingly athletic and nimble, with responsive steering and a suspension that's firm enough to keep the car planted without feeling so stiff that midcorner bumps unsettle it. Our test vehicle included the optional adaptive suspension and limited-slip differential, both must-have options if you want to maximize the sportiness of your IS 350.

Unfortunately, the engine is underpowered. Our rear-wheel-drive IS 350 went from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, which is well off the pace of even the base four-cylinder variants of the class leaders. On the upside, this naturally aspirated V6 is silky smooth and builds power evenly from idle to redline. The transmission shifts gears a lot, but at least it's quick and smooth while doing it.

The IS 350's age shows itself in the subpar number of available driver assistance features. It offers only what we'd consider the basics (lane keeping, adaptive cruise control) and what's there lacks the polish of the class leaders. Adaptive cruise, for example, is slow to respond and leaves large gaps between the Lexus and the car in front.

Comfort

5.6/10

How comfortable is it? The driving position and front seat comfort are excellent. The seats don't have as many available adjustments as those in rivals, but the basic shape is so good that you settle in quickly. They are a highlight of the IS 350. Things are worse in the rear, as the IS has a cramped back seat that is one of the smallest in the class. Getting in and out is a squeeze for adults, and passengers of average height or taller will feel claustrophobic.

It's bad news for child safety seats too. There's not much space to move around when you're anchoring a seat or putting a kid into it, and larger rear-facing seats will likely force front passengers to scoot forward.

In-cabin tech

7/10

How’s the tech? The graphics on the 12.3-inch touchscreen look sharp, and the screen responds quickly to your inputs. In our testing, we've found that the factory navigation system isn't quite as useful as using map apps from your phone, and it's only available by subscription after three years. Thankfully, connecting and integrating your phone wirelessly through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are pretty easy. Every IS comes standard with four USB-C ports (two in front and two in the rear) and a wireless phone charger.

Storage & cargo

4/10

How’s storage and cargo? The IS' trunk space is near the bottom of the class for volume, but it is wide and tall, making it more usable than the cargo areas in some rival sedans with superior on-paper specs. The rear seats fold in a 60/40 split, so you can expand the space if you don't need the rear seats. Storage inside the cabin is really lacking. There's no good place to set your phone or sunglasses besides under the armrest.

Value

5.9/10

Is it a good value? The Lexus IS costs less than rivals, but its significant drawbacks in terms of space, tech features and performance need to be factored in. There are also a few buttons and controls inside that feel a bit cut-rate, but most of the car is solidly constructed.

Lexus' warranty and ownership experience are slightly above average. Lexus includes a class-standard four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, but powertrain coverage is more generous than usual, at six years/70,000 miles.

MPG

5/10

How’s the fuel economy? We tested a rear-wheel-drive Lexus IS 350 F Sport. This model gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in combined city/highway driving. This isn't great for a small luxury sedan. The BMW 330i, for example, was quicker from 0 to 60 mph in our testing and yet it gets an EPA-estimated 31 mpg combined.

X factor

7/10

The Lexus IS has a distinct Japanese flair that helps it stand out in a crowd. The grille is still divisive, but we think it works well with the other design updates to the car's front and rear. The F Sport's styling does enough to give the IS some purpose without looking gaudy or overwrought. The interior, too, features a design that you won't find on anything coming out of Germany. The design is backed by a generally fun-to-drive nature. Yes, it's slower than most rivals, but the IS is pretty enjoyable on a winding road where raw horsepower is less of a factor.

2027 Lexus IS trim level differences

[Editor's note: The following unofficial information is based on last year's IS. We expect the 2027 model will have a similar lineup and we'll update this section once we have complete information.] The Lexus IS 350 comes in three trim levels: F Sport Design, F Sport and F Sport Special Appearance package. All trims use a 3.5-liter V6 (311 horsepower, 280 lb-ft of torque) paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional for all trims; opting for AWD swaps the transmission for a six-speed automatic.

Which IS trim does Edmunds recommend?

Lexus hasn't released official information on the 2027 IS as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's IS, we think most buyers will like the base IS 350 F Sport Design model. Since all IS trims come with the same 311-horsepower V6, you get the same power and performance as the pricier F Sport trim, only without that model's stiffer, sportier suspension settings. The F Sport Design also comes well equipped with navigation, adaptive cruise control, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

What else is out there?

With only minor updates since its 2014 redesign, the IS feels frozen in time compared to its luxury sport sedan rivals. The BMW 3 Series has long set the benchmark for the class with its impeccable balance of performance, comfort and efficiency. Its roomy cabin, big trunk and impressive fuel economy beat the IS in any meaningful comparison. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class trades some of the BMW's outright performance for more luxurious cabin materials and advanced tech, including excellent infotainment and voice-command capabilities. There's also the recently redesigned Audi A5 (which replaced the A4 a couple of years ago), which features a useful hatchback body style with more than double the cargo capacity of the IS. The Genesis G70 offers sleek, classy styling, lively performance, and loads of standard features.