2026 Lexus IS350 Tested: Once More, with Feeling
Key takeaways
- Lexus tweaks its compact sports sedan yet again.
- View exterior photos Marc Urbano|Car and Driver Sedans are down—but maybe not out.
- The current-generation IS rolls into its 12th (!) model year, burnished by yet another mid-cycle update, its third.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
Lexus tweaks its compact sports sedan yet again.
View exterior photos Marc Urbano|Car and Driver Sedans are down—but maybe not out. Sure, there's been a sea change toward SUVs, but sales of traditional four-doors have seen a blip in recent months. At Lexus, the brand-defining LS is being ushered offstage, but the ES was just redesigned. Meanwhile, the IS sees a reduced lineup for 2026 but also gains some worthwhile improvements.
The current-generation IS rolls into its 12th (!) model year, burnished by yet another mid-cycle update, its third. (Does that make it a late-mid-cycle update?) There's new front-end styling that looks contemporary and manages to play nicely with the rest of the exterior design.