2023 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Design

The 2023 IS 350 is the sportiest sedan in Lexus's lineup, a rear-drive-biased compact that trades a bit of luxury for sharper responses. It lines up against the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, and Genesis G70, with a naturally aspirated V6 in an era of turbocharged rivals. The 3.5-liter V6 revs eagerly and sounds good doing it, and the eight-speed automatic shifts crisply when you push it. Steering is quick and precise, and the chassis feels balanced, though the ride is firm, especially in F Sport trims. The cabin is well built and comfortable, but rear legroom is tight and the touchscreen interface lags some competitors. The F Sport Design adds the F Sport's exterior styling and 19-inch wheels, but keeps the standard suspension for a more compliant ride than the full F Sport. Its 3.5L V6 makes 311 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, routed through the eight-speed automatic to the rear-wheel drive, and returns 23 mpg combined. You still get the F Sport's sharper steering tuning and aluminum pedals, but the ride is noticeably less busy on broken pavement.