We had the 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport AWD for the week, and what started as another week of going to work, running errands and taking care of the usual everyday responsibilities quickly turned into an opportunity to get away for a few days.

With some much-needed time off on the calendar, we pointed the Wind Gray Lexus south and decided not to take the most direct route.

Instead, we detoured through Nephi and headed toward Delta before continuing south. It added some miles to the trip, but it also gave us exactly what we wanted — more time behind the wheel and an opportunity to see how the IS handled roads that weren’t straight lines of interstate pavement.

The trip home would give us an even better opportunity.

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Rather than coming straight back to Springville, we traveled through Colorado City, Arizona, made our way around to Kanab and then headed north on Highway 89. The route offered plenty of two-lane highway, elevation changes and twisty stretches of road.

A fresh face for a familiar favorite

The 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport AWD receives a significant refresh for the new model year, with a redesigned exterior and restyled elements inside the cabin.

Our test vehicle arrived in Wind Gray, a sophisticated metallic shade that worked especially well with the aggressive F Sport styling.

The redesigned front end gives the IS a wider, lower appearance, while updated headlights and grille treatments give the sedan a more modern look without taking away the sporty personality that has always been part of the IS.

From the side, the proportions remain classic sport sedan — a long hood, short rear deck and a stance that looks ready to move even when sitting still.

Craig Conover, Daily Herald

The F Sport package adds to that personality with its sporty wheels and exterior details.

In the bright Utah sunshine, the Wind Gray paint seemed to change slightly depending on the angle, giving the IS a look that was both understated and athletic.

The cockpit gets a welcome update

Inside, Lexus has made several changes for 2026, including a restyled instrument panel, center console and trim pieces.

One of the biggest changes is the addition of a standard 12.3-inch Lexus Interface touchscreen, along with a 12.3-inch digital instrument display. The screens give the cabin a much more contemporary appearance while keeping the driver focused on the information that matters.

The center console has also been updated, and Lexus has added new trim treatments that give the interior a more upscale appearance.

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The F Sport seats are another highlight. They provide the kind of support you appreciate more and more as the miles add up. Around town, they are comfortable, but when the road begins to twist and turn, the bolstering helps keep you in place.

That’s where the IS starts to remind you that it isn’t simply a small luxury sedan.

It is a sport sedan.

The driving position is excellent, with the controls close at hand and the steering wheel feeling just right in your hands. There is still something satisfying about sitting low in a sedan, looking down the hood and knowing that the car was designed with the driver in mind.

Lexus also includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with USB-C connectivity and a wireless charging pad. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 is standard as well, bringing a collection of driver-assistance features to the IS.

Craig Conover, Daily Herald

But even with all of the technology, the cabin doesn’t overwhelm you with screens and gadgets.

It still feels like a driver’s car.

A V6 that hasn’t disappeared

One of our favorite things about the 2026 IS 350 is something that hasn’t changed.

Under the hood is a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 producing 311 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.

In an automotive world that has moved heavily toward turbocharged four-cylinder engines and electrification, there is something refreshing about a naturally aspirated V6.

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The power delivery is smooth and predictable. Push the accelerator and the IS responds without hesitation, building speed in a way that feels natural.

Our AWD model used a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The all-wheel-drive system also adds confidence when the weather turns less than ideal, while still allowing the IS to retain its sporty character.

During our week, we didn’t have to deal with rain or snow. In fact, quite the opposite.

Our weekend trip south brought some of the best weather Utah can offer.

Taking the long way to St. George

Rather than simply pointing the IS south on Interstate 15 and making the quickest possible trip to St. George, we decided to give it some additional Utah roads to explore.

On the way down, we detoured through Nephi and then headed through Delta before continuing south.

The route gave us a chance to get away from the freeway and spend more time behind the wheel.

That is when the IS really started to make sense.

The steering is responsive without being nervous, and the suspension does a nice job of balancing sportiness with everyday comfort. The car feels planted through corners, and the AWD system provides an added sense of confidence as the road changes beneath you.

By the time we reached St. George, we had already spent considerably more time in the IS than we would have on the traditional freeway route.

And we weren’t complaining.

The road home was even better

If the trip south gave us a chance to get comfortable with the IS, the trip home really allowed us to get to know it.

Instead of heading straight back to Springville, we traveled through Colorado City in Arizona and made our way around to Kanab.

From there, we headed north on Highway 89 toward home.

That route gave us exactly what we wanted from the IS: two-lane highways, changing elevations, sweeping curves and plenty of twisty sections where we could experience what the F Sport was designed to do.

There is something different about driving a sport sedan on a road like this.

You aren’t simply going from one destination to another.

You begin looking ahead for the next curve. You start noticing how the steering responds as the road changes direction. You appreciate the way the car settles into a corner and how quickly it responds when you straighten the wheel and accelerate toward the next one.

The IS was enjoyable throughout the entire drive.

It wasn’t so stiff that we wished we were back on the freeway, and it wasn’t so soft that we forgot we were driving an F Sport.

That balance is probably one of the strongest characteristics of the IS.

Still a driver’s car

After more than 20 years of driving and writing about vehicles, we have seen plenty of changes in the automotive industry.

We’ve watched horsepower numbers climb, watched navigation screens become giant touchscreens and watched electrification change the way vehicles are powered.

But there is still something special about a good sport sedan. The 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport AWD reminds us why.

It gives you the practicality of four doors and a usable trunk, the comfort needed for everyday driving and the confidence of all-wheel drive. At the same time, it gives the driver a naturally aspirated V6 and a chassis that encourages you to find a winding road.

It is still about the drive.

By the time we pulled back into Springville, we had covered a lot of ground and spent plenty of time behind the wheel.

And that may have been the best part of the 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport AWD.

Sometimes the best way to find out what a car is really like is to take the long way home.

Base price: $49,950

Destination charge: $1,295

Price as driven: $57,658