I was going to start this review of the latest Lexus IS 350 by pining about my lust for the original IS 300, but then I remembered something. I already wrote about that back in the Autotrader dot com slash Oversteer days. In fact, that article was inspired by a then recent purchase of a (quite used) manual IS 300 that I intended to make into a project car. I got somewhat into that, just, and then realized daily driving an older car isn’t that enjoyable. What’s all this have to do with a 2023 IS 350?

Absolutely nothing. So let’s get started with the review shall we?

2023 Lexus IS 350 Overview

The IS lineup has expanded a bit over the years, the IS 350 that we just spent a week with shares the showroom floor with the base IS 300 and the big dog IS 500. I’ve driven all of them, and the IS 500 is obviously the one you hoons should want, but if the extra $11,000+ tacked on the MSRP of the top trim IS 350 is too steep, then the 350 is a great “just right” option in the IS lineup.

With a substantial 51 more horsepower than the top spec IS 300, the 350 is worth the slight price difference. Starting at just over $44,000 for RWD and just over $46,000 for AWD, the IS 350 is positioned well in the sporty sedan market. The full F Sport version, which actually only adds a handful of standard features and unlocks some optional equipment, will cost you just a little bit more.

Out AWD tester starts at $47,310 and is the top spec IS 350 you can currently get. Let’s get into some details about what the IS 350 F Sport AWD is like out on the road, and pulling daily driver duties.

2023 Lexus IS 350 AWD F SPORT Inside & Out

The IS 350 has actually aged really well, at least on the outside. Considering the third generation (XE30) came out nearly a decade ago for the 2014 model year, the exterior of the IS 350 looks muscular and athletic, particularly in F Sport guise. It foregoes a mismatched menagerie of design elements for some purposeful bulges and character lines. The profile in particular looks fantastic, while the rear has a nice simplicity to it. The front, well it doesn’t bother me (anymore) but Lexus is probably due for a grille update. If Acura can shirk the beak, Lexus can ditch the aging Predator look. I particularly like the multi-split-spoke wheels on our test car, they looked great in a gloss black and complement the “Atomic Silver” paint color nicely.

Inside, this IS 350 is no shrinking violet. Appropriate for Valentine’s Day, the “Circuit Red NuLuxe” paired with “Black Geometric trim” is about as extroverted as they come. The NuLuxe-covered seats are absolutely fantastic. As you can see by the pics above, the bolsters are just right, giving the driver and passenger some solid lateral support when things get hoon’y.

As well as the exterior has aged, the interior…has not fared as well. Just about the entire interior is dated, the actual buttons in-particular just look old. However, the setup is laid out fairly well and from an ergonomic perspective, it’s pretty easy to use. The trackpad still exists, but mercifully the screen allows you to touch it, softly, respectfully. Oddly enough the buttons on the steering wheel are not backlit, so it is hard (impossible) to see them at night.

The only other criticism I logged I’ve seen on a lot of new cars I’ve tested recently. I love a heated steering wheel, but this phenomenon of heating some portions of the steering wheel isn’t all that great. As I shuffled my hands around the wheel, the top bit from 11 to 1 is cold, 1-4 is warm, and then 5 to 7 goes back to cold at the bottom, and so forth. When it’s really cold out, as it was when I had the IS 350, that transition from cold, warm, cold, warm cycle isn’t ideal. I think I have to pee just thinking about it.

However, I still think the circular vents are cool. 

Out on the road, the IS 350 is pretty fun to drive. While it doesn’t have the dramatic change from normal to Sport and Sport + that you find in the full “F” models, it still makes for a fun experience. The engineers also updated the handling for the 2021 model year, and this version seemed more planted than the last IS I drove, and was willing to dive deep into corners without a lot of drama. The 3.5L V6 puts out 311 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque which is plenty for most driving situations, but does fall behind a lot of the German (and even South Korean – Hi Genesis!) competition. At 3,880 pounds, it’s not especially heavy though, particularly for a four-door luxury car.

It’s a super comfy cruiser, I even love that there is a leg rest situated just near your ankle near the gas pedal. I haven’t seen that on may cars, and I tend to rest my leg in that exact spot, so for longer drivers it was great.

Summary

The last Lexus IS review I can find is from 2019 (during the Right Foot Down era) where I noted that the IS 350 was “still good, but showing it’s age“. Unsurprisingly a full four model years later that is even more pronounced. Lexus has done an admirable job of updating bits here and there, including adding a much-needed new infotainment system for 2021, but as I said it still feels incredibly dated on the inside. The outside has aged well though, with incredibly good proportions and an aggressive look from bumper to bumper.

So, those looking for a sporty luxury sedan with a high likelihood of Toyota/Lexus reliability should definitely check out the IS 350. Or wait for the new one. Yeah, maybe that makes sense.