Trims, Performance, and Fuel Economy
The rear-wheel-drive 2023 Lexus IS 500 is made in two trims: F Sport Performance and F Sport Performance Premium. Both are invigorated by a 5.0-liter V8 engine that makes 472 hp and 392 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Regardless of trim level, the ’23 IS 500 has a remarkable zero-to-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds, making it a truly enjoyable car for the driving enthusiast. It’s also efficient despite its power: according to the official EPA fuel economy ratings, it achieves an estimated 17 mpg around town and 25 mpg on the highway.
Incomparable Amenities
The exterior of the F Sport Performance presents a raised hood, a moonroof, rain-sensing windshield wipers, dark chrome trim, side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down, dark-finished 19-inch Enkei wheels, proximity access, and exclusive F Sport styling elements. Its cabin is nicely appointed with NuLuxe upholstery, sport bolstered heated and ventilated front seats with power adjustments, push-button start, dual-zone automatic climate control, a heated and leather-wrapped power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel with paddle shifters, position memory settings (for the side mirrors, steering wheel, and driver’s seat), an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink, active noise control, aluminum sport pedals, and a 60/40-split rear seat with a fold-down armrest. The F Sport Performance Premium gains triple-beam LED headlights, power rear sunshades, and various tech enhancements which we’ll detail in the last section.
Driver-Assistive Technologies
Both ’23 IS 500 trims come with the Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 suite of advanced driving aids. It bundles a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane tracing assist, lane departure alert with steering assist, road sign assist, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control, and intelligent high beams. Also standard are blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, intuitive parking assist with automatic braking, and rear cross-traffic braking. The F Sport Performance Premium trim also gets a panoramic view monitor.
Staying Connected and Informed
As the base trim, the F Sport Performance receives a cutting-edge 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring a Wi-Fi hotspot, smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, SiriusXM satellite radio, and voice recognition. The F Sport Performance Premium moves up to a 10.3-inch touchscreen along with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, machined aluminum control knobs, and integrated navigation.