The more new cars I drive, the more appealing cars from about 10 years ago get. After all, they’re still quiet and comfortable and safe, and they generally don’t have pervasive subscription services for features that really should be built-in. Someone at Lexus must feel the same way because even though the third-generation IS sedan launched for the 2014 model year, it’s getting yet another big round of updates for 2026 instead of being replaced by an all-new model. However, something’s missing. The powertrain lineup at launch is looking rather slim indeed.
For the third-generation IS’ third facelift, Lexus has decided to shrink the grille a little bit, at least in height. It’s grown a bit wider and more complex, and a new front bumper has sprouted jowls, but the shorter spindle grille has let Lexus move its emblem up onto the painted bumper surface in front of the hood. Admittedly, the new schnoz has just a hint of pre-facelift GR Corolla from the front, and while that probably isn’t a parallel Lexus is looking to draw, it’s hard to unsee once you see it.
As for other exterior tweaks, a wordmark replaces the old rear Lexus emblem, the trunk lid gains the sort of spoiler it’s always needed, and you can get some spindly new Y-spoke BBS forged alloy wheels, but that’s about it. Side skirts and rear valence are the same, hood’s the same, lights are the same, and so on. The real changes here are inside, which makes sense considering it’s the area where the IS arguably needed the biggest lift.
The downside of the revised cabin? The amazing LFA-style digital instrument cluster with the motorized physical bezel is gone. The upside? A modernization of the center stack while maintaining a whole bunch of physical controls. While the outgoing model’s dashboard had plenty of physical controls, it was a bit busy and not always perfect. Climate control temperatures were adjusted using capacitive-touch sliders, the infamous trackpad maintained a presence in the console, and some of the radio buttons were sized for people with toothpicks for fingers.
For 2026, Lexus has replaced the temperature sliders with actual toggle switches, got rid of the trackpad entirely and used that space for at-hand volume, track, and climate conditioned seat controls, carved out the lower portion of the dashboard enough to fit a large wireless phone charger there, added two USB-C ports on the face of the dash, and deleted the analog clock, tuning knob, and CD player. Oh, and because the entire dashboard is new, the interior now looks just about perfectly up-to-date. We’re talking sculpted HVAC vents, plenty of stitched surfaces because so much of luxury is material spend, a new steering wheel to match the look, and the use of compressed bamboo fibers on the console and around the start-stop button.
Of course, Lexus hasn’t just fiddled with the sheetmetal and interior and left the bits underneath alone, so the updated IS gets new dampers and steering. While the old car’s electric power steering setup consistently provided above-average feedback for the segment, Lexus is now going with a quicker, variable-ratio rack with an electric assistance motor on a parallel pinion. At the same time, the available adaptive dampers now feature linear solenoids that should smooth out transitions between damping profiles, although it’s not like this was an area in which the old IS lacked.
So far, so good, but I spot one thing that could be a big mistake. From launch at least, the powertrain lineup has some significant gaps. When Lexus’ updated compact sport sedan goes on sale early next year, you’ll only be able to get it as an IS 350 with a 311-horsepower 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6. A great engine, sure, but nowhere near as biblical as the five-liter 2UR-GSE V8 in the outgoing IS 500, nor a detuned entry level lease special like the outgoing IS 300. At the same time, the only transmission option available with all-wheel-drive is a six-speed automatic which, given experience with that transmission in models as old as the second-generation IS, is at least ten years out of date. There’s an eight-speed automatic on rear-wheel-drive models, but if you live in Canada, no rear-wheel-drive for you.
For now at least, launching a sports sedan with no entry level lease-friendly model, no performance engine option that enthusiasts actually want, and an ancient six-speed automatic on the all-wheel-drive models people in the snow belt will buy doesn’t seem like a recipe for immediate success. While the new interior seems like a welcome addition to the Lexus IS, it really needs a more modern automatic transmission on all-wheel-drive models at the minimum, and ideally a broader range of available powertrains now that the V8 IS 500 and the IS 300 base models are dead. It wouldn’t be surprising if more options appear eventually, but in the meantime, can I get a 32-valve salute for the 2UR-GSE V8? There we go, that’s better.
Top graphic image: Lexus
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Oh yeah bring back old school 6-speed automatic transmission!
More gears doesn’t mean more better, the transmission will seldom choose the right gear, less gear means less mistakes, and if you’re only driving on the road, not trashing your car on the track, it’ll be more than enough anyway
i would unironically drive a lexus IS hybrid.
I’ll wait for a better engine, but ditching the touchpad has me eager to start shopping.
I’ll miss the V8, that engine is fabulous in every sense of the word. But honestly the 3GR V6 is vastly under appreciated. It’s been around for nearly 20 years, which means it’d be proven and reliable even if it wasn’t a Toyota engine (other manufacturers tend to sort out problems eventually…), so as is they’ll last till the heat death of the universe. 300hp is and has long been more than enough for any road car that doesn’t weigh in like an EV. Plenty to have fun with but not get into crazy trouble (I’d argue 200hp is better still). The transmission options could be better but sales are low enough to not be worth updating, and most buyers won’t care. Honestly I’m just shocked and pleasantly surprised Lexus is keeping the car alive at all.
Put a V8 in it, or at least add a turbo to that absolutely lethargic V6, AND offer a proper manual transmission. Otherwise it’s just a snoozefest appliance Camry with an L badge.
My first thought was why didn’t Toyota just kill it, but with almost 20k units sold last year it still offers decent numbers for a low-priority product. Most of its customers don’t care that much that there are fewer gear ratios. And they apparently don’t have taste either because this is one hideous LCI. That’s okay, the LC and the SUVs look pretty good.
That is a really fugly Corolla right there. I didn’t know they even still sold IS’s.
And whatever that bamboo stuff is on the console, it just looks like somebody spilled something, didn’t clean it up, and let it dry. At least it sounds like they made the controls marginally better. That trackpad thing Lexus used was horrible, and touch sliders are the Devil’s work. Volume rollers are better than nothing, but not much better.
Came to say the same thing – Corolla-Face isn’t a good look on a Lexus.
Nor is “Dried-Snot on Piano Black” console.
Without even reading the title, I thought this was the new corolla
My first thought was similar. Way too much Toyota in the overall look.
Exactly. I wouldn’t think twice about it if I saw it come up behind me at the light.
The front bumper from the side profile is so wonky. It’s even more predator-esque because it looks like there’s a smaller bumper coming out of a bigger bumper. It’s like it was designed on Windows 95 and this happened.
The thing that I STILL can not stand about Toyota is their cookie-cutter buttons. A completely flat surface that looks like the button was cut from the same sheet of material as the surroundings, like a sheet of cookie dough. It looks cheap, has no aesthetic merit, and is unhelpful for trying to find the buttons without having to take your eyes off the road.
I really like the 3rd gen IS, and the revised styling is generally fine, but there is something about the black on the underside of the little spoiler that bugs me…
I will say I am glad they kept the V6, as it is still a good engine, even if not quite the gem the V8 was. But as you say, that 6-speed auto should have been gone years ago. The 6-speed was fine for the GX460 and Tundra, but it was not up to snuff for the sporty intentions of the IS. I don’t know if it was the gear ratios, the sluggish response times, or the slow shifts (or a combination of all three), but it just sucked the fun out of the power train. The 8-speed is better, but that sucks for the AWD models.
Since it seems to be living on borrowed time, and I’m wondering how long they will keep the ICE is350 going. Will it go all electric in a year or two or go with the Hybrid Max 2.5L with dual electric motors from the Crown Platinum?
The braking and handling will go weird when they add the hybrid system, I’ll bet.
I had expected it to go hybrid with the refresh, so keeping the V6 was a surprise to me. What I wasn’t sure about was what hybrid setup it would go with – a revised version of what they put in other Lexus models adapted for RWD or something new designed specifically for the IS? Given how iterative Toyota/Lexus is, I am guessing when it goes hybrid it will be something adapted, but hopefully it will still be designed to be engaging and sporty (and not saddled with the eCVT).
I believe the reason why the is350 updates were delayed so long is because they were waiting to see if the US would back electrification or not. Since penalties for internal combustion seems to be loosening, they can push a refresh and spend more time exploring their options.
Our Crown Limited has a RWD bias in Sport Mode. I figured they’d do something similar. (I kicked-out the rear-end a bit with 5 passengers and a spirited takeoff.) The great thing about hybrids is the ability to offer AWD by just adding electric motors to the rear. I don’t know exactly how they manage the rear bias on a front engine car. Extra torque in the rear with the extra HP in the front?
Interesting about the Crown having that ability. I just bought a FWD hybrid for my new, lengthy commute and I am really liking it, but it is clearly not designed for sporty intentions. But I do think if Lexus could figure out some way to make the IS a hybrid while keeping the driving feel dynamic, it could be a winner.
6AT in the AWD? What is this, 2005?
Yes, it is a 2005 chassis, and that seems to be what fits in there.
If it helps, the Crown Platinum also uses a 6AT. There seems to be something about AWD that spurs this decision at Toyota. I wonder if there is some kind of torque distribution that requires 6 speeds with beefier gears?
No idea about fitting, but doesn’t the AWD LS500 get a 10 speed? I think the 6-speed is more about Toyota being hesitant to innovate their drivetrains (outside of hybrids). It’s not the first time in history that they go with the path of least resistance when it comes to picking drivetrains.
I mean, why else did the old Tacoma get that horrible V6 and even worse 6AT.
It’s just crazy that Lexus thinks this is acceptable. BMW is largely just as reliable these days, but they offer a heck of a lot better drivetrain options as far as excitement goes.
The LS500 is a larger car, so the packaging must be easier.
We’ll see if Lexus makes changes in the next couple of years, or if they just like their known quantity 6 speed.
Hey, at least we didn’t lose the V6.
I have been WAITING for info about next year’s is350!!! I don’t need a car this year but am so close to placing an order over the next week or two. Knowing the V6 will still be offered is excellent! Now, can the pricing stay down? I don’t mind dated interiors, but the charging pad will be really nice. Also, they had BETTER offer a nice blue paint!
My patience may pay off. I’ll just need to put up with my economy car ride quality for another year.
We don’t have info on pricing yet, but I can confirm that Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 will be available!
Fabulous! Thank you, Thomas!
Since it is still the legacy platform, I’m hoping Lexus still prices it below the competitors.
May I tap into your winter automotive experience? (Or any other Autopian reading this.) Would I be silly to choose this RWD platform on all season tires in the snow? Not the worst stuff, since it would not be a commuter car for me, but it would still be driven year-round in the Midwest, rustbelt winters. The car has a winter mode and a Torsen differential, so I could probably stay straight but might struggle in dense, wet snow.
Background: I fearlessly drive a FWD economy car in the snow with good all season tires and a shovel in the back. Been doing so for over 30 years.
I was perfectly happy driving RWD BMWs, Volvos, and Peugeots in Maine winters with snow tires. Useless with no seasons. There are winter-biased all-seasons, but then they are less good in the hot and dry and they wear really fast. Two sets of tires lets you have a better compromise in both seasons, and assuming you are going to own the car long enough to wear out two sets of tires anyway, the extra cost is minimal. And a set of winter tires is generally cheaper than the insurance deductible from an accident…
In fact, on identical Dunlop performance snows, I preferred my 328i wagon in snow to the Saab 9-3SC it replaced. I’ll take better steering and braking over slightly better acceleration every time.
And note – not that you asked, but AWD is no substitute for the correct tires. You can GO really nicely in an AWD car on no seasons in the snow – but you can’t stop or steer worth a damn. I like having more stopping power than going power – keeps one honest as to what the road conditions really are.
Thank you for taking the time to share. None of my friends or acquaintances drive RWD cars, and the internet is so polarized. I buy my tires based on rain and snow ratings, figuring I can better adapt for summertime performance losses. I don’t really have space for storing a spare set of wheels, especially 265’s, and our local tire companies haven’t had storage space whenever I asked.
I have always laughed at the AWD commercials showing the car doing maneuvers that a FWD economy car on good tires would do better than their SUVs. Advertising seems to work, though, as those AWD customers still put their cars into the ditch when it snows.
Woof, the mug on that thing.
Just looking at the front corner, I do see my GR-C. But that grill itself is huge.
You and me both. I clicked on the pic without reading the headline and I thought for a split second that this was a story about the GR-C. Talk about copy-cat styling. I mean it looks great on the Prius and GR-C, but I think Lexuses shouldn’t look like Toyotas.
Recently dumped my 2015 IS350 after almost 7 years of ownership. That 6-speed trans was one of my major complaints with the car. That, and it chewed through tires like crazy.