March 25, 2013– Lexus debuts the third-generation 2014 IS sport sedan, with a bold design highlighted by the new dynamic signature spindle grille and for the first time separated LED Daytime Running Lights.

Lexus Pressroom debut of 2014 IS
https://pressroom.lexus.com/lexus-th...rt-sedan-2014/

It’s hard to believe next year marks the 10 yr anniversary of the 3rd Gen IS. I feel the 2021 and up bring the IS to new peak in driving dynamics and the refresh makes its appearance the best it’s ever been. There are only a few things holding it back, the infotainment system could use a refresh with new software, the touchpad should go away. The touchscreen and moving it closer to the driver are big improvements.

What are your thoughts of the past 10 yrs and what will Lexus announce in 2024 to celebrate the 10 yr anniversary. Maybe new colors and exclusive interiors for anniversary year.

 

Huh? I don’t have time for this

 

If you're talking about the font color, I fixed it just now.

Yeah... in theory, it inherits some aspects of that IS F transmission, such as the gear ratios themselves. But, the AA81E used in the IS 350 is a different thing to the AA80E in the IS F/LS 460.

 

I'd still rate the current IS on top, despite it's age. Styling is a knockout, interior is comfortable, power is more than plenty, MSRP is realistic, and the Lexus reliability/dealership experience is still top notch.
What I don't like is they can't build enough to meet demand, some colors are not available in certain regions, the sliding bezel gauges don't really offer enough info regardless of the setting, and while mpg's is not horrible, it's not great either. If they offered the hybrid version in the U.S., I'd be all over that.

Looking to the future, this is probably the last of the V6 powered sport sedans and one of the last sedans without a dumpy butt design.

 

I liked it enough to buy a new 350 RWD last month

I love that it’s an old school analog setup with NA intake and exhaust sounds, hydraulic steering, RWD and a very simple and traditional interior

 

Picked up a 2014 with 26k miles this year, and man I love it. Feels sporty, interior is nice, love the looks. Honestly feels like the car isn't 10 years old.. Definitely will be keeping it for a long long time.

 

Have owned my 2014 IS350 for about 7 years. Still like driving the car a lot. Still like the styling - i think it has aged well. (Just wish my sunroof wouldn't rattle :-) )

 

In 2023, styling is great, I think the new 3.5 IS styling is even better. Interior, I think the layout is pretty good and the 2023 model, again, makes it better with the touchscreen and integrated Apple Car play.

However, the engine is dating back from 2006, the transmission shifts slow, and as time goes on, in my 2015 IS250, it definitely shows. The engine is not efficient at all and I think they should've done something new. I do understand, putting millions of dollars into research for a new engine in a sedan (where sales are decreasing) doesn't make sense but I think it's pushing current owners into other cars. BMW is constantly advancing their engines and doing testing so I can't see why Toyota can't. I know the IS250 is slow, but I met a 350 owner the other day saying how he sat in a C43 AMG and wants to switch out after going back into his car.

 

I like that the IS is what it is and not too much tech, but I can see how not refreshing it enough can hinder sales or bring people looking for something thats more up to date. Toyota just got a new CEO if he makes drastic changes maybe it will flow over into the Lexus side as well.

 

After adding CarPlay and a bigger screen in 2020, I feel like the car is good as new again.

 

I know they consider this the 3rd generation, but when they made the updates in 2021, not really sure how that didn't qualify for 4th generation. Cars look completely different.

 

I’d call it a 3.2 given the platform is the same

 

Is the IS based on a Toyota vehicle that is not available in the US? Then it may be easier to see when they "update" that vehicle, the changes may flow down to the IS...

 

Toyota Altezza, which they don’t make under that brand any longer.

But that wouldn’t help anyways even if it still was sold, as global platform cars tend to all cycle at the same time. In other words all in the same year a new Lexus ES and Toyota Avalon will be released. A new RAV4 will come the same year as a new NX. It’s not like Toyota gets the new stuff first and Lexus has to wait a year to update.

But T/L have already started launching EV platforms first on Lexus probably because the buyers can afford the cars better. If the new IS is electrified as people expect, maybe Altezza will relaunch a year or two later as a Toyota platform mate? That could be cool.

 

It's not about the looks alone. Sure, almost all the body panels are different, but you could have said the same thing about the 2015 Camry compared with the 2012. Once you get inside the Camry, it becomes clear pretty quickly that it's the same car as before. The interior dimensions and layout are nearly identical. The same is true for the 2021+ IS. While there are a lot of updates, the underpinnings and overall architecture of the car are unchanged. I've owned a 2016 and a 2021 (and now my 2023), and they feel almost the same in terms of their overall, let's say, character as they go down the road - that's to say nothing of how the steering wheel and climate control setup is exactly the same (if reskinned) in the 2021 as it is in the 2016.