The Lexus IS isn’t ready to fade quietly. One of the brand’s longest-running sedans is heading into the 2026 model year with a sharper look, a significantly updated interior, and a simplified lineup that changes how buyers enter the range. The catch? It now costs more to get in the door.
First revealed in Japan last year, the updated IS will arrive at US dealerships in early 2026. While the car looks familiar at a glance, this third major refresh since 2013 is more substantial than it appears.
Entry Price Rises as Lexus Cuts the Lineup
The biggest shift for 2026 isn’t visual. It’s structural.
Lexus has dropped the four-cylinder IS 300 and the V6-powered IS 300 AWD from the US lineup. As a result, the IS 350 becomes the new base model. That pushes the starting price from $41,830 to $46,795, including destination, a jump of nearly $5,000.
That sounds steep, but comparable trims haven’t risen as dramatically. The IS 350 F Sport Design increases by $1,640, while the fully loaded F Sport climbs by $2,015. In context, the IS still undercuts or matches key rivals while offering a naturally aspirated V6, something that’s becoming increasingly rare in the segment.
Sharper Styling Without Reinventing the Shape
Lexus hasn’t touched the IS’s basic proportions, but the 2026 update tightens the design. The front bumper is more sculpted, the spindle grille has been revised, and the air intakes are reshaped for a more aggressive stance.
Other exterior updates include new 19-inch wheel designs, optional red brake calipers, and a larger ducktail-style rear spoiler. The traditional Lexus badge on the trunk is gone, replaced with spelled-out lettering. A new exterior color, Wind, joins familiar shades like Infrared, Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0, and Cloudburst Gray.
Interior Changes That Feel Like a New Generation
Step inside and the updates feel far more dramatic.
The dashboard, door panels, and center console have all been redesigned, giving the cabin a cleaner, more modern look. A 12.3-inch touchscreen is now standard, paired with physical climate toggles, a welcome move in an era of touch-only controls.
Turbine-style air vents add visual flair, while new options like a Radiant Red interior and Forged Bamboo trim help the IS feel less conservative. Tech upgrades include four USB-C ports, wireless charging, and an available 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 also comes standard.
V6-Only Power for the US
For 2026, every US-spec Lexus IS uses the same engine: a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 producing 314 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel-drive models get an eight-speed automatic, while all-wheel-drive versions use a six-speed.
What’s missing is just as notable. The V8-powered IS 500 is gone, as is any hybrid option for the US, even though Japan continues to offer the IS 300h.
A Focused Update for a Familiar Sedan
Lexus has also revised the suspension and steering tuning, aiming for more consistent feedback and smoother responses in everyday driving. The result isn’t a reinvention, but a careful refinement.
The 2026 Lexus IS is pricier and more focused than before. For buyers who still value a V6-powered luxury sedan in a shrinking segment, that focus may be exactly the point.
