Model research hub
Lexus IS
MotorTrend says for 2026, Lexus will only sell the IS350 with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, since the IS300 with its turbo-four or other V6, and the V8-powered IS500, have been discontinued; fuel economy for the 2026 IS350 comes in at approximately 20/28 mpg city/highway with rear-wheel drive and 19/26 mpg with all-wheel drive, and the 2026 IS features upgraded driver assist and active safety through the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite. HotCars says now the 2026 IS has arrived with Lexus sharpening the steering, stiffening the suspension, and dialing up the design, doubling down on the aggressive stance the IS has always carried.
Down to one engine
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says for 2026, Lexus will only sell the IS350 with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, since the IS300 with its turbo-four or other V6, and the V8-powered IS500, have been discontinued, with fuel economy for the 2026 IS350 coming in at approximately 20/28 mpg city/highway with rear-wheel drive and 19/26 mpg with all-wheel drive.
Upgraded safety tech
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 IS features upgraded driver assist and active safety features as part of the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite.
Sharper steering, stiffer suspension
HotCars (opens in a new tab) says now the 2026 IS has arrived, with Lexus sharpening the steering, stiffening the suspension, and dialing up the design, doubling down on the aggressive stance the IS has always carried.
Questions buyers ask
Is the Lexus IS500 still available?
No — MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the V8-powered IS500 has been discontinued for 2026.
What engine does the 2026 Lexus IS use?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says only the IS350's 3.5-liter V6, since other variants were discontinued.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 Lexus IS is built around 3.5L V6, rated at 311 horsepower across its compact luxury sedan body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 2 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2026 IS seats 5 and is a Compact luxury sedan.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2026 IS.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Lexus IS
MY2026 is a significant streamline: Lexus dropped both the base four-cylinder IS 300 and the V8-powered IS 500 F Sport Performance, leaving only the IS 350's 3.5L V6 (311 hp, 280 lb-ft) in two F Sport trims.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
8 indexed Lexus IS model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Lexus IS | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Lexus IS | 2025 record → | |
| 2022 Lexus IS | 2022 record → | |
| 2020 Lexus IS | 2020 record → | |
| 2019 Lexus IS | 2019 record → | |
| 2018 Lexus IS | 2018 record → | |
| 2016 Lexus IS | 2016 record → | |
| 2015 Lexus IS | 2015 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Lexus IS.
The Lexus IS is a compact executive car (D-segment in Europe) sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota, since 1998. The IS was originally sold under the Toyota Altezza nameplate in Japan from 1998 until 2005 (the word Altezza is Italian for 'height' or 'highness'). The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model positioned below the ES in the Lexus lineup.
- Safety
- Safety equipment on the IS models ranged from multiple airbags to stability control systems. A Pre-Collision System (PCS) was the first offered in the entry-luxury performance sedan market segment.
- Equipment
- Toyota Racing Development (TRD) F Sport parts for the Japanese IS sedan include a front spoiler, side skirts, rear spoiler, sport muffler and rear diffuser, diamond-like carbon fibre shock absorbers, 19-inch aluminium wheels (measuring 19x8.5J front and 19x9J rear, 45 mm front and 50 mm rear insets, 245/35ZR19 front and 265/30ZR19 rear tyres), member brace and performance dampers.
- Awards
- Power and Associates named the second-generation IS 250/IS 350 sedans the best vehicles in the entry luxury class in its 2006 Initial Quality Survey. Power and Associates named the first-generation IS 300 sedan and IS 300 SportCross the best vehicles in the entry luxury class in its 2005 Initial Quality Survey.
Source: Lexus IS (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Lexus IS at a glance
- Production
- October 1998 – present
- Model years
- 1999–present
- Class
- Compact executive car (D)
- Layout
- Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, Front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout, Front-engine, all-wheel-drive
- Predecessor
- Lexus GS 460/F (for IS 500 F Sport Performance)
- Also called
- Toyota Altezza (Japan, 1998–2005)
Year by year
The Lexus IS across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Lexus IS | 22 | $3,650 | 2 | |||
| 2025 Lexus IS | 20–25 | $3,100–$3,900 | 5 | 5 stars | ||
| 2024 Lexus IS | 20–25 | $3,100–$3,900 | 5 | 5 stars | ||
| 2023 Lexus IS | 20–25 | $3,100–$3,900 | 5 | 5 stars | ||
| 2022 Lexus IS | 20–25 | $3,100–$3,900 | 5 | 1 | 5 stars | |
| 2021 Lexus IS | 22–25 | $3,100–$3,500 | 4 | 2 | 5 stars | |
| 2020 Lexus IS | 21–24 | $3,250–$3,700 | 4 | 4 | 5 stars | |
| 2019 Lexus IS | 21–24 | $3,250–$3,700 | 4 | 2 | 5 stars | |
| 2018 Lexus IS | 22–26 | $3,000–$3,500 | 4 | 3 | 5 stars | |
| 2017 Lexus IS | 21–26 | $3,000–$3,700 | 4 | 9 | 5 stars | |
| 2016 Lexus IS | 21–26 | $3,000–$3,700 | 4 | 2 | 5 stars | |
| 2015 Lexus IS | 21–24 | $3,250–$3,700 | 6 | 9 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Lexus IS, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 5 to 2 | 22.5 to 22.0 | Labels: IS 300, IS 300 AWD, IS 500; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI, 5L 8-cyl SIDI & PFI | |
| 2021 to 2022 | 4 to 5 | 23.5 to 22.5 | Labels: IS 500; Engines: 5L 8-cyl SIDI & PFI | |
| 2020 to 2021 | 22.5 to 23.5 | |||
| 2018 to 2019 | 24.0 to 22.5 | |||
| 2017 to 2018 | 23.5 to 24.0 | Labels: IS 300 | Labels: IS 200t | |
| 2015 to 2016 | 6 to 4 | 22.5 to 23.5 | Labels: IS 200t, IS 300 AWD; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI | Labels: IS 250, IS 250 AWD, IS 250 C, IS 350 C; Engines: 2.5L 6-cyl SIDI; Size classes: Subcompact Cars |
Buying used
What the Lexus IS recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | fuel system, gasoline (delivery) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| fuel/propulsion system | 11 | 32% | 2017 (6) |
| unknown or other | 8 | 24% | 2017 (2) |
| engine | 6 | 18% | 2017 (2) |
| electrical system | 5 | 15% | 2015 (3) |
| steering | 5 | 15% | 2015 (2) |
| exterior lighting | 1 | 3% | 2015 (1) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Lexus IS trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IS 350 F SPORT Design | AWD | 3.5-liter V6 | 311 | 280 | 3,913 | – | 22 | $46,795 |
| IS 350 F SPORT | AWD | 3.5-liter V6 | 311 | 280 | 3,913 | – | 22 | $49,245 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Lexus IS model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 3.5-liter V6 | 311 | 3,913 | – | 17.4 |
| 2025 | 8 | 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8 | 260–472 | 3,847–3,891 | – | 17.4 |
| 2024 | 7 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8 | 241–472 | 3,715–3,891 | – | 17.4 |
| 2023 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8 | 241–472 | 3,715–3,891 | – | 17.4 |
| 2022 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8 | 241–472 | 3,715–3,891 | – | 17.4 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 | 241–311 | 3,715–3,748 | – | 17.4 |
| 2020 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 | 241–311 | 3,583–3,594 | – | 17.4 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 | 241–311 | 3,583–3,594 | – | 17.4 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 | 241–311 | 3,583–3,593 | – | 17.4 |
| 2017 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 | 241–306 | 3,583–3,737 | – | 17.4 |
| 2016 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 | 241–306 | 3,583–3,737 | – | 17.4 |
| 2015 | 3 | 2.5-liter V6 / 3.5-liter V6 | 204–306 | 3,461–3,593 | – | 17.4 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Lexus IS.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0W-20 | – | – | – | – |
| 2017 | 0W-20 | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2016 | 0W-20 | – | – | – | – |
| 2015 | 0W-20 | – | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Lexus IS: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | not available | ||
| 2025 | not available | ||
| 2024 | not available | ||
| 2023 | not available | ||
| 2022 | 1 | not available | fuel system |
| 2021 | 2 | ||
| 2020 | 4 | ||
| 2019 | 2 | ||
| 2018 | 3 | ||
| 2017 | 9 | ||
| 2016 | 2 | ||
| 2015 | 9 |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Lexus IS model year 2022 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Lexus IS?
Federal recall records don't single out a best Lexus IS model year: recall counts across the 1 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about n/a recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Lexus IS by model year?
2022: fuel system.
Q03Why do some Lexus IS model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Lexus IS model year 2022 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Engine and cooling.
Compared with
Models this Lexus IS is most often compared with.
Nearest Lexus models
Other Lexus models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 IS come in?
The 2026 Lexus IS (compact luxury sedan) comes in 2 trims: IS 350 F Sport Design, IS 350 F Sport.
Q02What are the 2026 IS trims?
The 2026 Lexus IS trims are IS 350 F Sport Design, IS 350 F Sport, listed from the entry IS 350 F Sport Design up to the top IS 350 F Sport.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 IS use?
The 2026 Lexus IS is built around 3.5L V6, rated at 311 horsepower across its compact luxury sedan body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 IS have?
The 2026 Lexus IS is rated at 311 horsepower (3.5L V6).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 IS?
The 2026 Lexus IS is offered with RWD.