2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance Review: A Grade of F

2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance, interior | Photo: V.Aubé

A very comfortable car
Where the IS 500 F Sport Performance can win points with customers looking for a sporty luxury sedan is in terms of comfort. The new IS is not as rough on its passengers as the IS F was at times. Not that the first F was uncomfortable, but on certain surfaces, the sport version's firmer suspension had a hard time smoothing out our bumpier roads.

Not so the IS 500, which doesn't penalize occupants with stiff seats or a dry suspension. The front row sport buckets are identical to those of other IS variants, while the suspension settings are not as firm as those of the model’s rivals. As a result, the IS 500 is a superb candidate for extended highway cruising.

2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance, three-quarters front | Photo: V.Aubé

Sport+... and why not Sport++?
Perhaps this is where the IS 500 F Sport Performance misses its goal of hitting super sedan-dom. Unlike the M3, C63 and RS5, most notably, the IS 500 does not offer a true Track mode. The Sport+ mode makes the steering heavier and the mechanics sharper, but it's not as surgical as what you get from the Europeans; the same applies to the shifting of its 8-speed automatic transmission.

That's not a serious fault, though, because the IS 500 is still a luxury sedan that can accommodate that big V8 under its raised hood.

The last word
For those of you who may be wondering about the IS 500's ability to reduce a portion of the tires on its rear axle to smoke, you should know that it is capable of doing so... with the traction control system turned off of course!
It's fair to question the relevance of such a car in the era of the electric car; it’s clear we're living in the last days of the gasoline car. But that's why manufacturers are looking to close out the story of the genre in style with special versions like the 2022 IS 500 F Sport Performance.

The formula behind it has been used since the beginning of the automobile: Insert a big engine under the hood of a compact car, and make sure the chassis can take the added abuse. And even if the Lexus doesn't have what it takes to beat the competition on a closed circuit, we have to admit it's a nice way to enjoy a V8 engine on a daily basis. Provided you have a healthy budget in this age of crazy gas prices.

2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance, seats | Photo: V.Aubé

We like

The amazing comfort
The quality of execution
The sound of the V8

We like less

The slowness of the gearbox at times
The already “old-fashioned” dashboard

The competition

Acura TLX Type S
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Audi RS 5 Sportback
BMW M3
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
Infiniti Q50 RedSport
Mercedes-AMG C63

2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance, rear | Photo: V.Aubé

Photos:V.Aubé

2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance pictures

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