Lexus’s IS line of compact luxury sport sedans should be an interesting one, but it has never registered wholesale as a driver’s car – even the top-of-the-line IS 500 F Sport models seem to fade into the background. To enthusiasts, it’s a car that looks the part but just doesn’t entertain like a BMW. However, BMW’s equivalent compact sports sedan, the 3 Series, is not available with a 5.0-liter V8, and there’s an argument to be had that just putting a 5.0-liter V8 in a compact sports sedan is entertaining enough. In this case, it’s Lexus’s gem of a 5.0-liter V8 that makes 472 horsepower that gets freshly delivered to the rear wheels via an eight-speed transmission and a limited-slip differential.

It’s not a spoiler to say that the IS 500 F Sport Performance doesn’t quite measure up to a BMW M3, or even the lowercase 3 Series M cars, in terms of outright performance, but that V8 sure is interesting…

Looks That Will Last

The Lexus IS 500 continues Lexus’s sedan philosophy of distinctive yet understated styling and its ability to incorporate a big grille that doesn’t look absurd. The F Sport has a model-specific take on the grille and F Sport styling that affects the front and rear bumpers, rocker moldings, and rear valance, including a set of Enkei 19-inch alloy wheels with Dark Metallic finish, wrapped with soft summer tires as standard. Our F Sport Premium tester was one of only a few units blessed by the Special Appearance Package, which adds a set of 19-inch matte black forged alloy BBS wheels. Other not-so-subtle F Sport exclusives are the stacked quad exhausts and, unique to 2023’s Special Appearance Package, the Molten Pearl Paint – which, as you can see, can out-orange a California fall sunset.

And An Interior That Will Last

Inside, the IS 500 feels like the particularly solid kind of premium comfort that Lexus does so well. It’s pretty busy, so it won’t suit the minimalists, but the materials are great, with a couple of strong decorative statements in the leather and stitching and bold-colored F Sport accents. As you would expect from a Lexus sports sedan, the F Sport bolstered front seats are firm yet comfortable, power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated.

For passengers in the back, there’s a decent amount of legroom for adults, and it is not cramped for headroom despite the roof’s low profile – 3 Series competitors are a bit more spacious, though. Trunk space is nothing special at just under 11 cubic feet, but there’s enough for four carryons on an airport run.

Infotainment Mostly Up To Date

You can tell the IS 500 is growing old as a generation, as it still has Lexus’s clumsy trackpad controller for the infotainment on the center console. Still, the infotainment system has a 10.3-inch high-resolution touchscreen in the Premium (the standard Performance models get an eight-inch touchscreen), and it’s fast and fluid to react and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

Our tester was optioned with the Mark Levinson 17-speaker sound system, which is always a pleasure to listen to, particularly on a long drive, as it’s so well-tuned that audio fatigue never sets in. And, just to remind you it’s a luxury car, there’s an analog clock everyone will forget to look at.

The V8 Isn’t the Problem

A V8 engine in a smaller sedan has never gotten old, but still, these power plants aren’t forever for this world. As promised, the 472 horsepower V8 is entertaining. Torque comes to 395 lb-ft. It’s raucous in Sport mode and makes all the appropriate noise while it churns its way up to peak power at 7,000 rpm. The IS 500 F Sport Performance’s 0-60 mph is a claimed 4.4 seconds, which is reasonably quick. However, the BMW M340i x Drive will outsprint it by three-tenths, despite being down on power from its turbocharged six-cylinder engine.

Power goes to the rear wheels via Lexus’s eight-speed auto, which is tuned for comfort, seemingly even when in Sport mode, where gear shifts remain on the slow side. We’ll get back to that, but the takeaway here is that the V8 is a powerful, torquey engine that loves to be opened up. It doesn’t translate to a car that’s crazy quick, but there’s a lot of fun to be had, and that’s more the point of this car.

On The Road: The “Aha!” Moment

First off, in normal mode, the F Sport Performance’s adaptive suspension is softer, but it’s not soft. It damps the road beautifully and starts showing off on the freeway. As you can see from the hero shot at the top of the review, we drove the IS 500 F Sport Performance to Las Vegas from California. That’s a long, mostly straight four-hour run on a freeway that is heavily used by trucks as well as gamblers in cars traveling through the middle of the desert. The Lexus soaked it all up and, in conjunction with the brilliant Mark Levinson sound system, we arrived surprisingly fresh.

On the urban bits on either side of the freeway where there’s more stop-and-go traffic, the transmission is smooth, and the steering is nicely weighted. It’s a great cruiser, no doubt about it. But it’s an F Sport Performance version of the IS 500, so it comes with sticky tires and a Sport Mode that firms up the suspension, tightens the throttle input, and quickens gearshifts.

Putting the IS 500 F Sport Performance in Sport mode doesn’t ruin the ride as the chassis gets firmer, but it does become more nimble. Surprisingly nimble, in fact, for such a hefty car The engine is fun to prod, and while not alarmingly rapid, it gets off the line quickly, and the torque keeps on carrying the car. A squeeze of the throttle to overtake from 40 or 60 mph, and there’s a nice surge, and the job is done. However, the eight-speed auto lets things down with its lack of aggression and occasionally dubious decisions. Most IS 500 F Sport Performance owners will likely forget there are paddles to shift gears – but they’re the secret to getting the most fun out of the IS 500 F Sport.

The Problem: Those Pesky Germans

There are two distinct sides to the Lexus IS 500. It’s an excellent premium-featured compact cruiser that can eat up miles with the pace and comfort of a plush Grand Tourer. Flip it into Sport mode and take control of gear changes via the paddles, and it becomes a fun backroad bomber.

What it doesn’t have is the cutting edge of a BMW M car, and if that’s what you’re looking for, BMW will sell you a rear-wheel-driven M3 Sedan for almost $20k more. You could get away with the M340i for under $58k, however – the base 2023 IS 500 F Sport Performance starts at $58,720, excluding destination. The Premium goes for $62,770.

Sure, the IS 500 F Sport is fun on a back road, but you would be frustrated at a track while cheaper cars float past you through corners. The unfortunate fact is that the IS 500 F Sport’s V8 needs a snappier transmission and a better chassis to work with. But with the Mercedes-AMG C63 now going electric and the Dodge Charger saying goodbye to its eight-cylinder engine, there’s something special about a compact sedan with a V8 engine that looks this good.