Quick Highlights:
- Third facelift extends the Lexus IS’s 11-year run
- New fascia, sharper cabin with dual 12.3-inch screens, and Forged Bamboo trim
- IS500 and its V-8 are gone; only the 311-hp IS350 survives
- Steering and suspension tweaks improve feel and responsiveness
Lexus will keep the IS alive for another year in the U.S., but the lineup has been trimmed to just one model. For 2026, the sport sedan returns exclusively as the IS350, with buyers able to choose between rear- or all-wheel drive. That may sound like a narrow offering, but it’s more than many expected after the IS500 Ultimate Edition seemed like a farewell act.
Instead, Lexus has given the car a third facelift, stretching the life of its long-serving compact luxury four-door in an SUV-dominated market.
New Face, Same Bones
The 2026 IS hasn’t changed its stance much—it’s still the same low-slung sedan that’s been around for more than a decade—but Lexus has done just enough at the front to make you look twice. The grille is taller now, stretching up into the hood line, and the trim walk brings some subtle differences. F Sport models pick up a small decklid spoiler and red brake calipers, while the F Sport Design trim gets a new set of 19-inch wheels.
Paint choices are broader too. Buyers can pick from Ultra White, Iridium, Cloudburst Gray, Caviar, Infrared, Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0, and a new addition called Wind. That last one is a light gray with metallic highlights meant to suggest motion—marketing-speak aside, it’s a clean shade that fits the IS’s sporty vibe.
Cabin Tech Finally Modernized
The bigger story is inside. Lexus has finally binned the tiny 8.0-inch screen and gone with a proper setup: a 12.3-inch infotainment display paired with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. It instantly makes the cabin feel a decade newer. The dash has been cleaned up, too, with slimmer trapezoidal vents and a row of straightforward climate controls instead of the old cluttered layout.
Material quality is sharper across the board. A new Forged Bamboo trim runs across the console and switchgear, giving the interior a modern but slightly organic feel. Buyers of the F Sport get a more playful option in Radiant Red upholstery, while tech-minded drivers will appreciate the upgrades: USB-C ports front and rear, a wireless charging pad, and two audio setups to choose from — the standard 10-speaker Lexus Premium or the punchier 17-speaker Mark Levinson system.
Goodbye to the V-8
And here the punchline: the IS500 and the fantastic 5.0-litre V-8 are dead. That naturally aspiring holdout in a turbocharged world installed real muscle and a personality that few other competitors could match to the IS. As it goes, the 2026 line is reduced to one option, the IS350.
It has a V6 3.5 litre with 311 hp (232 kW / 315 PS) and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque. Front and rear drive models are coupled with an eight-speed automatic, and all-wheel-driven models remain with a six-speed. It is not the fireworks display that the V-8 it delivers but Lexus has not left enthusiasts entirely on the out. Electric power steering has been fitted to the car in rack-parallel, with the suspension having been reworked, both to tighten responsiveness and provide the feedback that earlier models were sometimes short of.
Still Holding the Line
The IS has been around since 2013, making it one of the longest-running sedans in the luxury segment. While SUVs dominate Lexus’s sales, the IS remains a symbol of resistance—a traditional sport sedan with just enough updates to keep it in the conversation. Lexus hasn’t revealed pricing yet, but expect the 2026 IS to arrive in dealerships early next year.
For fans of low-slung four-doors, the IS is still here, still relevant, and still fighting.
2026 Lexus IS Changes Compared to 2025
| Feature | 2025 IS | 2026 IS (Updated) |
| Front Fascia | Previous spindle grille | Wider grille reaching hood edge |
| Trims | IS300, IS350, IS500 | IS350 only (F Sport, F Sport Design) |
| Engines | 2.0L turbo I-4, 3.5L V-6, 5.0L V-8 | 3.5L V-6 (311 hp) only |
| Transmission | 8-speed (RWD), 6-speed (AWD) | Same as before |
| Interior Screens | 8.0-inch infotainment, smaller gauge cluster | Dual 12.3-inch displays (infotainment + digital gauges) |
| Interior Materials | Standard trim options | Forged Bamboo accents, Radiant Red interior option |
| Tech | Limited USB, old trackpad controller | Wireless charging, USB-C ports, simplified climate controls |
| Audio | Lexus Premium standard, optional Mark Levinson | 10-speaker Premium or 17-speaker Mark Levinson |
| Exterior Options | Standard palette | New “Wind” metallic gray paint, fresh 19-inch wheels |
| Performance Upgrades | Standard steering/suspension | Electric power steering, revised suspension tuning |
Source: Lexus
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