Just got a new 2023 IS 350 and I have a question about the transmission in Sport mode. I notice that at around 75 mph it stays in 6th gear at around 3000 rpm and doesn’t upshift to 7th or 8th. In my 2017 GS 350 F Sport it would up shift to higher gears. Is this normal for the IS. It does not have Sport +.
Thanks in advance.

 

There was a post about this recently and I think the answer is that you need to put it into manual mode and manually go into the higher gears. If not, the behavior you describe is normal.

 

RWD or AWD?

 

It is rear wheel drive

 

Interesting I guess Lexus thinks gear 7 and 8 is just for gas saving.

 

My 21 is the same way. If you are on the highway and need the higher gears just set it to "Normal". I only use the Sport setting driving around town and city. Highway is Normal mode.

 

Same. Sport mode pretty much never goes into 7th gear or 8th gear for me.

The idea is, you're using Sport mode if you're in the turns.