Summary
- As governments enforce stricter emissions regulations, the internal combustion engine (ICE) is gradually being replaced by electric vehicles (EVs).
- The Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance is one of the few remaining sports sedans with a V-8 engine, making it unique in its class.
- While the IS 500 offers a powerful V-8 engine, it falls short compared to its rivals in terms of handling and refinement, and its outdated interior design may not appeal to everyone.
On the path toward electric vehicles (EVs), the internal combustion engine (ICE) is facing a slow and gradual death. We can't just eliminate it in a snap because the infrastructure and the tech behind EVs have to reach parity with ICEs in terms of flexibility and price. Therefore, governments around the world are keeping ICEs in check with ever-stricter emissions regulations.
That meant the death of large engines, with V-12s being extremely rare in new cars now. As of the moment, there's still a decent number of V-8 cars, though even that is already on its decline--even more so in sedans. This is why this sports sedan is very much worth taking a look at as it's one of the few remaining models in its class with such an engine.
Say Hello To The Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance
The Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance (which is quite a mouthful of a name) is the highest-performing version of the IS that you could buy. The IS, mind you, isn't a new car. It's been around since 2013 for the 2014 model year, and then received two facelifts for its 2018 and 2021 model years respecively. But to first understand where it also sits in the Lexus lineup, we have to talk about the brand's F division.
Not dissimilar to BMW's M, Lexus's F division focuses on sporty cars, and just like how the German automaker made its M division sound confusing, Lexus has also done something worse. F now has four tiers: F Sport Design, F Sport Handling, F Sport Performance, and F. F Sport Design and Handling are your most basic F Sport trims that you can select in a brand-new Lexus.
Basically, F Sport Design is just purely aesthetics, while F Sport Handling adds upgrades such as their Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) or in some models, a limited-slip differential (LSD). F Sport Performance is similar to BMW's M Performance cars such as the M340i and M550i.
Do you understand the Lexus F hierarchy now? Great. So while the IS 500 F Sport Performance uses the same 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V-8 as the RC F, it's not a full-fledged F car because it's merely an IS 350 but with a V-8 and a couple of minor chassis and handling upgrades that aren't enough to merit it the full F moniker.
Speaking of that V-8, it's single-handedly the car's selling point. Being free from any forced induction means that power delivery is linear and the sound it emits is mechanical and raw. The M340i's inline-six sounds pretty nice too, but apart from that, everything else in its segment sounds less raucous or uninspiring.
But It Isn't Perfect, Though
The IS itself is a 10-year-old car at this point, and while more modern cars like the M340i offer better handling and refinement, there will be a percentage of the population who will seek the IS solely because of its V-8. At the same time, that V-8 isn't without fault, either.
The engine also isn't new (it also powered the 2007 Lexus IS F) and while it produces 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, an M340i and Mercedes-AMG C43 can sometimes feel more lively when overtaking due to the broad torque curve provided by their turbocharged engines. The IS 500 F Sport Performance, being naturally aspirated, has all of its torque in the higher rev range. And for all its raw horsepower figures, which is 70 horses more than a Mercedes-AMG C43, you would expect the IS to obliterate its rivals, and yet it doesn't.
Lexus IS F Sport Vs. Rivals
Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance | BMW M340i | Mercedes-AMG C43 | Audi S4 | Cadillac CT4-V | |
Engine | 5.0-liter V-8 | 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six | 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 48-volt mild-hybrid | 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 | 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-four |
Layout | RWD | RWD, AWD | AWD | AWD | RWD, AWD |
Horsepower | 472 hp | 382 hp | 402 hp | 349 hp | 325 hp |
Torque | 395 lb-ft | 369 lb-ft | 369 lb-ft | 369 lb-ft | 380 lb-ft |
0-60 mph | 4.3 sec. | 4.4 sec. (RWD) 4.1 sec. (AWD) | 4.6 sec. | 4.2 sec. | 4.8 sec. (RWD), 4.9 sec. (AWD) |
Top Speed | 165 mph | 155 mph | 155 mph (165 mph with AMG Driver's Package) | 155 mph | 156 mph |
Base Price | $58,270 | $56,700 | $61,050 | $53,770 | $46,595 |
Still, from the broad perspective of vehicles, the IS isn't a slow car by any measure. In order to see how the IS 500 F Sport Performance fares next to its rivals on paper, here's a table to compare each of them. Oh, and we'll throw in the Audi S4 and Cadillac CT4-V into the mix as well.
Old But Gold
There's also the part about its interior and tech. As mentioned, the car is nearly a decade old, and while it has received some updates over the years, the fundamental design has remained largely unchanged. Splurging for the F Sport models still came with a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster with a moving physical bezel, but in its 2021 model year update, it came with a new, optional 10.3-inch screen for the Lexus Remote Touch infotainment. The most crucial update here is that it finally came as a touch screen, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
On the upside, the older generation interior means it's extremely user-friendly, except for the touchpad part of the Lexus Remote Touch infotainment. The IS is one of the last few cars in its segment to have physical controls for the HVAC, as well as the various controls for the infotainment itself. Apart from the interior aesthetic which has remained largely unchanged, at least the tech features are still good enough for today. All IS models come with Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 as standard, which means you get the following advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) while Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are optional extras:
- Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
- All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Intelligent High Beams
- Road Sign Assist
- Lane Tracing Assist
- Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
Another upside to the IS being a not-so-new vehicle is that every kink and chink in the car's durability armor has already been sorted. Lexus's cars are already reliable, but one that's been in production for nearly a decade? You can guarantee that the IS 500 F Sport Performance will last forever compared to its mainly European rivals with the latest drivetrain tech.
There's also the matter of styling. Okay, so this part is subjective, but when the IS got a second facelift in 2021--its most major update to date, I personally thought that the IS looks stunning from the outside. This is especially true for the F Sport models, with its sportier front end, bolder mesh grille, and bigger alloy wheels. I'm not sure if it's a design that will age well, but I do think the IS looks cleaner and more conventional this time around.
Should You Buy One?
If it was my money, though, I'm heavily biased towards the BMW M340i. I've had so much seat time in this car both on the road and on track, to the point that I'm in the verge of buying probably a slightly-used one in my country. But if you want the only remaining compact sports sedan in the market to come with a V-8, then you practically have no choice but to get the IS 500. It's going to be the last of its kind, and it's going to be a vehicle that will last you an extremely long time.