2023 Lexus IS Review

The Lexus IS has been one of the biggest players in the compact luxury sedan class ever since its launch.

This is no surprise since it offers it all from luxury and tech to high performance and reliability.

Its latest model, the 2023 Lexus IS is now upon us, and below is a review of its highlights:

Features

The Lexus IS is currently in its third generation, which was refreshed back in 2020. It offers five trim levels which include four high-performance F Sport models.

There’s a troika of powertrains offered – one of which is an almighty V8 engine.

This year’s model sees some vanity changes made to the IS350 F Sport, IS500 F Sport, and IS500 F Sport Performance Premium models.

Powertrain and Numbers

The 2023 Lexus IS300 comes standard with a turbocharged 2-liter engine that makes 241 horsepower and 258 torque.

Then we have the 2023 IS350, which gets a 3.5-liter V6 that’s good for 311 horses and 280 torques.
Lastly, you can pick the monstrous 472-horsepower and 395-pound-feet 5-liter V8 engine on the 2023 IS500 F Sport Performance.

All three engines have an 8-speed automatic gearbox and a rear-wheel drive system.

The fastest acceleration time offered on the 2023 Lexus IS is a supercar-esque 4 seconds, courtesy of the V8. The other two engines also do well in the range of 5.5-6 seconds.

But despite the high performance characteristics, you won’t have to worry about fuel costs.

This is because the most efficient 2023 Lexus IS can do up to 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. This was the 4-cylinder model, and the V6 does 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

Interior and Technology

As you’d expect from a Lexus, the 2023 Lexus IS comes with an interior that’s brilliant in all aspects. It looks great, is functional and comfortable, and the material quality is superb.

Edmunds describes the car as “solidly constructed”, noting its astounding build quality.

Meanwhile, Autoblog praises the looks of the design, calling it “stylish and unique”.

The cargo space is commendable for the class and for such a sporty vehicle. The total trunk space adds up to 10.8 cubic feet, which is expandable.

“There’s plenty of room in the trunk, and the rear seats do fold to allow for larger items.” – writes Cars.com

Loading the trunk is easy as well as the storage area is wide and tall. The in-cabin storage should also be good enough for most consumers.

2023 IS300
The 2023 Lexus IS300 is the entry-level model with more features than you can imagine.

You get a stylish black metallic interior trim and NuLuxe-trimmed seats.

The tech includes dual-zone climate control, push-button ignition, remote start, 8-way power adjustability on the front seats, and an electronic parking brake.

For the infotainment, you get an 8-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

It doesn’t let you down in the safety department either, as it offers more than just the rearview camera.

You get automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

You can unlock many more features if you get the right equipment package.

2023 IS350 F Sport Design
The infotainment system is also state-of-the-art thanks to an 8-inch touchscreen mated to 7 speakers, plus a subwoofer.

2023 IS350 F Sport
On this one, you get constant reminders of the F Sport’s athleticism with many accents. But more importantly, it unlocks the black geometric trim and the embossed door trim.

The front seats are now ventilated and you also get a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.

The other add-ons include a heated, leather-trimmed steering wheel and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

2023 IS500 F Sport Performance
The IS500 F Sport Performance adds a satin chrome interior trim and more unique F Sport details.

You also get memory settings for the driver’s seat and steering wheel. There’s also a powered moonroof, and parking assists with automated emergency braking.

2023 IS500 F Sport Performance Premium
The top model comes with all the features mentioned above, and several luxurious additions.

You now get a massive 10.3-inch infotainment screen, mated to a Mark Levinson sound system with 17 speakers, plus satellite navigation and voice controls.

There’s a panoramic view monitor for enhanced visibility as well.

2023 Lexus IS300

 

 

 

 

2023 Lexus IS350 F Sport

 

 

 

 

2023 Lexus IS500 F Sport Performance Premium

 

 

 

 

Exterior and Driving

The 2023 Lexus IS is a sharp and aggressively styled vehicle that should grab a lot of attention anywhere it goes.

The F Sport models look even more athletic and are personalized with custom components.

Black, Red Mica Crystal Shine, Platinum Silver Metallic, Madder Red, Sonic Titanium, Graphite Black Glass Flake, Deep Blue Mica, and Sonic Quartz are the colors offered on the 2023 IS.

The 2023 Lexus IS drives like a dream and should be a thrilling experience for all the occupants.

The acceleration, handling, and smoothness of the transmission have been praised.

US News states that it will “confidently – and fairly quickly – get you up to speed, and the transmissions deliver moderately smooth and quick shifts.”

Autoblog lauds how it’s “fun enough to drive with gusto, while also being lovely for daily driving.”

Reliability and Warranty

The 2023 Lexus IS gets a score of 92 out of 100 in predicted reliability and has been ranked atop its class by JD Power.

Consumer Reports also says that it’ll be more reliable than other new cars.

Then you also get the best aftersales in the luxury segment.

Lexus gives you a limited warranty of 4 years or 50k miles and a powertrain warranty of 6 years or 70k miles. Then there’s also a complimentary maintenance plan of 1 year or 10k miles.

Verdict

With that, it should be concluded that the 2023 Lexus IS is a flawless choice if you’re looking for a small high-end sedan that’s powerful, spacious, tech-filled, and reliable.

The driveability is incomparable and so are the comfort levels. Also, it comes with a variety of trim levels, each more stacked with features than the last.

Lastly, Lexus is one of the few carmakers that’ll comp you on the maintenance for a limited time.

To get the 2023 Lexus IS in Mason OH, Morrow OH, and Loveland OH, check out Performance Lexus here.