2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance The New V8 Against Sixes

We will cut to the chase and tell you right away that the 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance is the love child of Lexus’ extensive experience with the 5.0-liter V8 under its top-rated IS sedan. However, it is still the same V8 as the original IS F, the RC F Coupe, and the GS F sedan. The engine has been tuned to an impressive 472 HP and 395 lb/ft of torque, which transfers power to the rear wheels via the eight-speed automatic. 

The question, is how does all of this translate to performance on the road? Is it worth upgrading to the 2022 model? 

On the Road Experience 

The behavior of the V8 is very similar to the previous models that have the same engine. The 5.0-liter V-8. Output is a healthy 472 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, a set of figures identical to the updated RC F and similar to the beloved LC500’s 471 hp and 398 lb-ft, and a skosh higher than the dearly departed GS F’s 467 hp and 389 lb-ft. In other words, you really need to floor that peddle to keep this engine boiling. If you have driven previous models, it is not hard to tell when the vehicle has hit peak performance. 

Now for those who are interested, the 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance can hit 60mph in just 4.4 seconds. However, the real treat is driving this vehicle around town; everyday city driving is sedate. The 5.0-liter engines, unlike others, do not have been reined in to be kept within the speed limit. 

The eight-speed automatic shifts nicely and is often unnoticeable. If we could sum up our diving experience with one word, it would have to be comfortable. 

Comfort and Luxury 

Step inside the 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance, and you’re greeted by a well-built, comfortable, and premium-feeling cabin. You could drive for miles in it without feeling a thing. The seats feel plush, and the cabin is quieter than its predecessors. In addition, it comes packed with a whole bunch of features like driver assistance, full-speed adaptive cruise control, parking assist, lane-departure warning, parking assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. 

The 10.3-inch touchscreen is bright, with vivid colors, visible even in bright sunlight. That horrific touchpad from previous models has been thankfully removed. The Enform multimedia system has been improved to a certain extent, another welcome upgrade in our books. It also comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, two features that many previous models lacked. In addition, the 17-speaker Mark Levison audio system is unreal, with excellent low-end bass and crisp high-end treble. 

Conclusion 

The IS 500 isn’t meant to be a full-fledged sport sedan-like its elder sibling, the IS F, and certainly not rivals like the BMW M3 or the AMG C63. However, this is an entirely different vehicle from the IS, coupled with a larger engine. All the tech we mentioned earlier comes standard with the Premium model, and that’s the one we recommend you buy. Plus, it is a Lexus, so super reliable as always, great resale but no longer boring.