2026 has been a year of delightful, unexpected comebacks. Lionel Messi is in his sixth World Cup, and there’s a refreshed Lexus IS in dealer showrooms. Fans weren’t sure either of those things would happen. Lexus toyed with not selling its spiciest sedan this model year, but instead gave it a gorgeous update and kept it going. And Messi scored a hat trick in the first game of his 2026 appearance.
Here are three of our favorite things about the compact sports sedan from Lexus.
1. A Genuinely Lovely Cabin
Some luxury automakers we won’t name here cut a few corners in the cabins of their compact sedans. Lexus has built a truly attractive cockpit for its entry in this segment. The IS features forged bamboo trim, and its NuLuxe synthetic leather upholstery is available in classic black, tasteful black-and-white, or stunning Radiant Red. Climbing in after a long day at work gives you a second wind.
2. Rear- or All-Wheel Drive
Buyers who live where the weather makes roads slippery can choose a grippy all-wheel drive (AWD) model. Those who don’t need to worry about snow can choose the classic sporty feel of rear-wheel drive (RWD). A price difference of just $2,000 makes the AWD version surprisingly affordable.
3. Reasonably Priced Sporty Upgrades
The base F Sport Design model has all the performance chops most of us want, but stepping up to the F Sport model gets you an adaptive variable suspension to firm up handling, plus creature comforts like heated and ventilated seats, for just $2,450 more. That’s reasonable for a significant mechanical upgrade. An F Sport Handling Package adds more drive modes and a limited-slip rear differential to further enliven handling at a cost of just $1,090. Many rivals charge more for similar performance upgrades.
Read More on the 2026 Lexus IS
Read our full review of the Lexus IS, find this week’s Fair Purchase Price, or see IS models for sale near you.
