2022 Lexus IS Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Nearly 15 years ago, the original 2008 Lexus IS F debuted. It had a normally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine good for 417 horsepower and 371 pound-feet of torque, fed to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Now, the 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance arrives with essentially the same recipe. Its normally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine cranks out 472 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, which also flows to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic. The base price is $72,900 Canadian (plus a $2,145 destination charge).

As they say, the more things change…

We have fond memories of that original Lexus IS F on a long, lonely stretch of desert road. Similarly, a day spent hot-lapping in the Lexus GS F forever reserved a place for that grossly under-appreciated car in our driving enthusiast hearts. Now, a rowdy and raucous run demonstrates that the IS 500 F Sport Performance is cut from the exact same cloth, even if its comparatively modest mechanical upgrades don’t qualify it for full “F” status.

No matter, because this fantastic new version of the already impressive IS satisfies both the left and right hemispheres of your brain. An emotional thrill ride when driven hard and with enthusiasm, yet docile and obedient in daily driving situations, the IS 500 F Sport Performance delivers fun when you want it and, the rest of the time, the comfort, quality, and dependability you’ve come to expect from a Lexus.

But it doesn’t come cheaply, commanding a $12,700 premium over the Lexus IS 350 F Sport model, which is a satisfying sports sedan in its own right thanks to a robust 311-hp 3.5-litre V6 engine. And, compared to the Lexus IS 300 RWD and its standard turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, the IS 500 is a whopping $28,800 more expensive.

Our IS 500 F Sport Performance test car came with a single option: Iridium (silver) paint for $500. Before fees, the price as tested is $73,400 (Canadian, estimated). At this price, standard equipment includes triple-beam headlights, a navigation system, a surround-view monitoring system, and an impressive 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system.

The IS 500 F Sport Performance doesn’t vary much in exterior styling from lesser IS models. Like the original IS F, the hood is raised to clear the V8 engine, and angled quad exhaust outlets are tucked under the back bumper. The car rides on exclusive 19-inch lighter-weight alloy wheels and features minor trim modifications for a more stealthy and toned-down look. If you need more to draw attention to yourself than its distinctive V8 tenor and subtle styling tweaks can supply, this isn’t the right ride for you. The IS 500 is all about speaking softly but carrying a big stick.

Inside, the IS 500 F Sport Performance is identical to the IS 350 F Sport, aside from a different animation within the instrumentation when you push the engine start button. This means you benefit from an intimately sized but comfortable interior for four people, constructed of quality materials. And because Lexus added a wide touchscreen display for the infotainment system for 2021, the controls are easy to find and use. Unfortunately, the Remote Touch Interface touchpad remains on the centre console, taking up valuable real estate that could be used for additional storage.

Lexus says the IS 500 “ushers in a new era of F Sport Performance models.” The way the automaker explains it (and we paraphrase here) the formula for F Sport Performance is F Sport plus more power.

Undoubtedly, the rear-wheel drive (RWD) drivetrain IS 500 meets that standard by a long shot. The 5.0-litre V8 engine Lexus bolts into the new IS 500 F Sport Performance is the same one it used in the gone-but-not-forgotten GS F (and currently employs in both the RC F and LC 500). The 472 hp arrives at a lofty 7,100 rpm while the 395 lb-ft of torque is available starting at 4,800 rpm.

The IS 500 weighs 5 kilograms (11 pounds) less than the RC F coupe, roughly 65 kilograms (143 pounds) less than the dearly departed GS F sedan, and roughly 65 kilograms (143 pounds) more than an IS 350 F Sport. The added curb weight compared to the IS 350 is nearly all engine, and it does alter the weight distribution a bit, with 56% over the front wheels and 44% over the rear wheels compared to a 55:45 distribution for the IS 350.

The RC F also donates its eight-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission, and a limited-slip differential is standard. Driving modes include Eco, Normal, Sport S, and Sport+, each producing expected powertrain, steering, and suspension damping results. Additionally, drivers can program a Custom mode to mix and match preferred settings. Set the car up for maximum acceleration, and Lexus claims it will hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. (0 to 100 km/h times are not published.)

In addition to its standard adaptive variable suspension, the IS 500 F Sport Performance comes with a Yamaha rear performance damper that “reduces dynamic structural distortion” for a more comfortable ride at lower speeds and greater stability at higher speeds. Bump isolation is remarkably good, the suspension providing a deft blend of compliance and communication without feeling too soft or firm. Lexus also upgrades the car’s brakes and improves brake cooling, and they withstood abuse in triple-digit heat.

The IS 500 growled its way down city streets, wide boulevards, fast-moving highways, and desert side routes. Comfortable and easy to drive, it feels just like the IS 350 F Sport except for the plateau of the hood bulge just beyond the windshield and a throaty, seductive engine note rumbling within your eardrums. On the highway, though, the amount of road noise is unexpected (and unbecoming) of the car.

The 5.0-litre V8 is a terrific engine, and you won’t find an eight-cylinder engine in most competitors at all, let alone at this price. But in the Normal driving mode you’ll need to wait for a moment or two for revs to build before the IS 500 begins its relentless rush to speed. Switching to Sport S or Sport S+ quickens response, but not to the expected degree.

Put the IS 500 F Sport Performance on a writhing road with either of its Sport driving modes engaged, switch to manual mode, use the paddle shifters, and prepare to fall in love.

Despite the extra heft over the front axle, this Lexus feels every bit as capable on public roads as its German-bred counterparts. Beyond that, it is just as much of a thrill ride as the GS F, but without that bigger car’s subtle loosey-goosey sensation accompanying power out of corners. And the soundtrack when you’re exploring the IS 500 F Sport Performance’s dynamic talents is utterly intoxicating. You won’t be able to get enough of it.

Our experience, brief though it was, leaves us thinking the new 2022 Lexus IS 500 is an absolute bargain. And for free thinkers willing to try something different for a change, it’s a refreshing departure from the same Audi S/RS, BMW M Sport/M, and Mercedes-AMG that everyone else either wants or already drives.

But there is something to be said for the early and broad plateaus of torque supplied by turbocharged and supercharged engines. And the IS 500 isn’t particularly fuel-efficient, averaging 13.3 litres per 100 kilometres during our evaluation. That figure fell short of the official Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption rating of 11.9 L/100 km in combined driving.

When it comes to comfort in summer heat, ice-cold air conditioning is a must, and the Lexus IS 500 delivers. Despite soaring temperatures during our test drive, this car’s climate control system kept the cabin mighty chilly and the seat ventilation system proved effective. For colder climates, the IS 500 also comes with seat heaters and a heated steering wheel.

The front seats are snug but quite comfortable. Equipped with bolstering that cradles your body without pinching you, the seats supply excellent thigh support and a driving position that fosters intimacy with the controls and immediacy to the task at hand. The rear seats are just accommodating enough for adults of average height. Lexus included rear air conditioning vents, but this car lacks smartphone charging for rear passengers.

Storage is good, but it could be better. The centre console still has a touchpad controller taking up a bunch of space. Now that the IS has a touchscreen infotainment system, this feature is wholly unnecessary. Trunk space is small, even among compact cars. It measures just 305 litres.

It's worth noting here that the IS has an excellent control layout. With its redesigned NX SUV, Lexus is minimizing controls and using sometimes-unclear markings for them. The IS has buttons, knobs, and clear lettering identifying their purposes. This approach, combined with the touchscreen infotainment system, is preferable.

Lexus switched to a touchscreen infotainment display for the 2021 model year, solving a serious ergonomic flaw with the IS. With separate climate and stereo controls reducing the need to interact with the system, and a home infotainment screen displaying two different kinds of content, the new arrangement makes perfect sense and also makes driving this Lexus far more satisfying.

Not only are the controls and touchscreen logical and intuitive to use, but the IS 500 Premium’s dynamic voice command system is also outstanding. It quickly and accurately handled voice queries and commands without a problem, and when we asked where the nearest hospital was, it filtered out unwanted results such as those related to veterinary facilities and general practitioners.

Standard features include an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The car also includes connected services related to safety, a Wi-Fi hotspot connection, and more.

In addition to the impressive voice recognition technology, the IS 500 adds a 10.3-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system. With all settings centred, it delivers impressive sound quality.

Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 (LSS+ 2.5) is standard on all 2022 IS models. It is a comprehensive package of Toyota and Lexus safety features including a wide range of driving assistance, collision warning and emergency braking, lane keep assist, and collision-prevention technologies. As is common, some of them are helpful, some of them are irritating, and some of them are waiting in the wings to avert catastrophe.

For the most part, LSS+ 2.5 is an agreeable collection of technologies. On this particular drive, we liked the lane-departure warning system’s subtle steering wheel vibration, and the adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assistance worked well on highways. When you change lanes to pass slower traffic, the IS 500 responds quickly to accelerate back up to speed. Blind spot monitoring is also standard.

Prior to our IS 500 drive, we spent some time evaluating a Lexus IS 350 F Sport (seen in some of the accompanying photos). This experience with LSS+ 2.5 revealed that the Curve Speed Reduction function is not predictive and can react too aggressively on tighter S-curves. On a stretch of rural highway without much traffic, exit ramps and on ramps confused the lane-centring system.

We also discovered that the low-speed automatic braking technology is aggravating in heavy city traffic, and specifically in situations such as when creeping forward closer to a vehicle ahead in preparation to turn left as the traffic light changes and oncoming traffic stops. On a couple of occasions, in this exact situation, the IS slammed on its own brakes surprising not only its driver but also motorists behind the car engaged in the same behaviour.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Lexus IS earns the highest overall rating of “Top Safety Pick+.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the car an overall rating of five stars. And while it earns a high five-star rating for rollover resistance, the IS receives a four-star frontal-impact collision rating for the driver and front passenger.

With the IS 500 F Sport Performance, Lexus can compete with rivals that offer more power and additional tuning yet are not outright performance cars. Essentially, F Sport Performance equates to Audi S, BMW M Sport, and the first layer of Mercedes-AMG models.

As such, the IS 500 F Sport Performance competes against the sporty Audi S4, BMW M340i, and Mercedes-AMG C43. You can throw the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing onto this list, too, as well as the Acura TLX Type S and Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400. Nearly all of them are less expensive than the Lexus, and some include all-wheel drive, but not one of them offers the sonorous sound and ferocious fury of a V8 engine.

“It is so capable that it’s a little scary,” read our post-drive notes. Of course, that’s true of a few of the IS 500 F Sport Performance’s rivals, too. And, transcribed, it means this new version of Lexus’s compact sports sedan is a fantastic driver’s car.

So crank up the Vanilla Ice and let this Lexus 5.0 roll… and roar.

Note: Images show a US model.