2022 Lexus IS 350

　　

2022 Lexus IS 350 Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Competing with the best small luxury sport sedans from Europe, the 2022 Lexus IS 350 doesn't look, feel or drive like it's based on the car's last redesign that happened way back in 2014. That's largely due to a major update for the 2021 model year when Lexus restyled the exterior, tightened up the handling, made the infotainment system easier to use, and upgraded the safety features.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$200/mo  for IS 350 F SPORT

　　IS 350 F SPORT

　　F SPORT 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $43,550 MSRPF SPORT 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $45,550 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　There are still some legacy elements that belie the car's age. One of them is its 311-horsepower V6 engine, which is underpowered compared to most of the upgraded six-cylinder engines found on rival sedans. BMW's M340i version of the 3 Series, for instance, makes 382 hp plus considerably more torque. But on the whole there's a lot to like about the 2022 IS 350. Check out our test team's full Expert Rating below to learn more.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the IS 350 drive? The Lexus IS 350 F Sport is a fun and nimble sport sedan that's let down by an underpowered engine. In zzdcar' testing, our rear-wheel-drive test car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. That's well off the pace of the class leaders, even the base four-cylinder variants. On the upside, this naturally aspirated V6 is silky smooth and builds power evenly from idle to redline. The transmission shifts gears a lot, but at least it's quick and smooth doing it.

　　The IS' steering, brakes and overall handling are much more impressive than the engine. This luxury sedan is athletic and nimble, with responsive steering and a suspension that's firm enough to keep the car planted without feeling so stiff that midcorner bumps unsettle it. Our test vehicle included the optional adaptive suspension and limited-slip differential, both must-have options if you want to maximize the sportiness of your IS 350.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the IS 350? The IS 350's optional adaptive suspension is well tuned. You feel the road, but it won't beat you up. Comfort is bolstered further by the seats. Adjustment is limited, but the basic shape is so good that you settle in quickly. The climate control as well as the heated and ventilated seats all work well to keep you comfortable, though the temperature adjustment slider is more cumbersome than necessary. It's quiet too, though the F Sport's optional summer tires produce a bit more noise than we expect from a Lexus.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below