AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING9/10
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Safety9/10
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PRACTICALITY6/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS7/10
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FEATURES7/10
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POWER9/10
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COMFORT7/10
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DRIVING FEEL8/10
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FUEL ECONOMY6/10
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VALUE7/10
You may have noticed that gas engines have gotten smaller lately, while plenty of big ones have gone away entirely.
Emissions reduction efforts have ushered in an era where it’s perfectly acceptable for performance cars to be motivated by motors with as few as three cylinders, while the likes of Mercedes-Benz’s AMG performance division are turning to electrified four-cylinders that sound like angry vacuum cleaners. In fact, if you want a new car with a V8 that’s unencumbered by turbochargers, superchargers, or mild hybrid systems, your choices are few and far between. And if you want one with four doors, look no further than the 2024 Lexus IS 500.
Power: 9/10
Beyond reducing fleet emissions averages, turbochargers and electrification can fill in flat spots in an engine’s normal torque curve that results in greater responsiveness while usually burning less gas. But those engine add-ons tend to muffle the glorious mechanical sounds that have been associated with proper performance for years.
The 5.0L V8 found under the IS 500’s hood whips up 7,100 rpm before delivering its full 472-hp punch. Likewise, its peak torque of 395 lb-ft of torque needs a lofty 4,800 rpm before it all comes online. Of course, that also means this Lexus doesn’t have the same sort of thrilling immediacy of its rivals and their smaller boosted engines.
The upside is that for those who appreciate a more involving connection between driver and machine, the Lexus rewards holding revs, with a fluid wave of momentum and a magnificent V8 soundtrack. A properly sophisticated four-cam V8 like this one screaming at such high speeds is the sort of rare aural treat that most of us only get to experience by watching videos of classic exotic machines doing the hill climb at Goodwood.
Driving Feel: 8/10
Rated to do the zero-to-100 km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds, the IS 500 won’t frighten away the BMW M3. The IS 500 is a sporty sedan, but it isn’t a track-ready weapon meant for setting blistering lap times. Its suspension is on the firm side, but it’s nowhere near as stiff as some of the European offerings.
It’s decently fun for exploring quiet back roads, but it’s equally adept at peacefully commuting on clogged urban arterial routes. The steering is fine, as are the brakes, but this car goes about its turning and stopping with a calm dignity rather than any sort of frantic motions or quickness.
The one real disappointment about driving the IS 500 is its eight-speed automatic transmission. Whether in normal, sport, or sport+ settings, or even manually exercised using the steering wheel paddles, gear changes are soft and slow, sapping excitement from the drive experience.
When not driven with a heavy foot, the engine is smooth and agreeable – almost to a fault. Without revving it to the moon, the engine is whisper quiet and so subdued that it can be a little disappointing. Other sporty machines have switches to let the driver hear some of the magic even when not driving at licence-threatening speeds. That’s not to suggest the IS 500 needs to belch, snort, and crackle like a German performance car, but a bit more volume from the tailpipes – not to mention some intake roar – would help to regularly remind drivers why they paid for this car instead of an IS 350. Benchmarking the soundtrack from Lexus’s own LC 500 should do the trick nicely.
Fuel Economy: 6/10
Of course, the IS 500’s fuel consumption also reminds drivers there’s a big V8 under the hood. However, on the highway, the consumption rate of 9.3 L/100 km is almost the same as the V6 version with all-wheel drive. It’s around town where the 5.0L struggles, with a consumption rate of 14.1 L/100 km. After a week of testing, the indicated average of 11.1 L/100 km topped its official rating of 11.9.
Styling: 9/10
This is a squat, angular, and well-proportioned sedan that doesn’t suffer the visual bloat that some of its competitors have endured in recent years. Better still, finished in black like this tester, it diminishes the still controversial spindle grille at the front that gives the IS a look reminiscent of the Predator. The IS 500 can be identified by a bulging hood that’s necessary in order to accommodate the larger engine, and the oddly stacked tailpipes out back, plus the unique 19-inch Enkei wheels (with optional BBS wheels available).
The red leather interior is the perfect counter to Lord Vader’s all-black exterior. The overall design is showing its age, but even with some materials that aren’t as posh as those found in top-spec competitors, it’s not a bad place to be.
User-Friendliness: 7/10
The number of actual physical buttons sprinkled throughout the cockpit speaks to the design’s age, too. Where other cars have gone to all screens and haptic controls, the IS continues with honest-to-goodness buttons on the steering wheel, dashboard, and everywhere else you’d hope to find them.
The steering wheel feels great in hand and frames the gauge display that features a large central ring around the tachometer and speedometer. There are simple displays for engine oil and water temperatures, the odometer and fuel level, but that’s about it. There’s no giant gauge screen with futuristic graphics or an atlas-worth of maps on display – just the crucial information a driver needs. Heck, there’s even a CD player and an analogue clock in the centre of the dash.
Alas, the IS 500 does still suffer with the last application of Lexus’s outdated infotainment system that’s been replaced in the rest of the lineup. Controlled by a tedious touchpad situated behind the gear selector, there may be some seriously dextrous folks out there who can manage to operate the system without swearing at it, but for the rest of us, the small-ish dash-top screen now has touch functionality, too.
Features: 7/10
The interior is decently equipped, offering standard leather finishes, a power sunroof, dual-zone climate control, and both heated and ventilated front seats. The steering wheel is also heated, and its adjustment is power-actuated this year.
As the top trim for both performance and luxury, the IS 500 also gets a limited-slip differential to help with handling, and the sensational 17-speaker stereo helps make up for that too-quiet engine.
Comfort: 7.5/10
The front seats don’t offer the extreme bolstering, nor the million-way adjustability of its rivals, and yet the IS 500 doesn’t suffer for it. Offering a balance of supple softness and enough bolstering depth to keep occupants well-hugged for spirited driving (if not hot lapping), the driver and front seat passenger are well-coddled. That’s not necessarily the case in the back. While the seat itself is comfy enough for two, headroom is somewhat limited, and legroom is pretty scarce. While there’s a seatbelt for a middle occupant in the back, it should be reserved for people with skinny backsides who aren’t bothered by sitting with their legs splayed around the driveshaft tunnel.
Practicality: 6/10
To that end, the IS 500 is practical by V8 sports car standards, since even its restrictive back seat is more accessible than a Ford Mustang‘s; but then that Ford has more trunk space. Those wanting to drive the IS 500 all year will need winter tires, and should note that the V8 Lexus comes only in rear-wheel drive layout.
Safety: 9/10
An advanced safety system is standard and includes forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, initiating active emergency braking or steering assistance if required. There’s also blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, and automated high-beam control.
Value: 7.5/10
If the goal is to go out and park a new car with a lusty, normally-aspirated V8 in your garage for as cheap as possible, the Mustang GT is the answer. But for those looking for a bit more interior space, four doors, and Lexus’s reputation for exceptional build quality and long-term durability, the IS 500 is it.
When compared against premium European rivals, the IS 500’s $75,000 starting price looks like a significantly better value, offering just the only V8 in the category, but more power and torque than the comparatively priced BMW M340i, Mercedes-AMG C 43, and Audi S4. Step up to the spicier high-performance models from those competitive brands and you’re shelling out at least $20,000 more.
The Verdict
The 2024 Lexus IS 500 isn’t for everyone. In fact, with its compact interior and rear-wheel drive layout, similarly priced offerings from BMW and Mercedes are probably more appealing. But then this Lexus sport sedan is truly unique, with a magical engine that trades on nostalgia while also offering a timeless combination of smooth power and a scintillating soundtrack. While once the hallmark of several flagship car and SUV offerings from Lexus, these famously smooth and durable V8s are slowly going extinct – just like the rest of the industry’s. If you appreciate the joy an engine like this can bring to the driving experience, do yourself a favour and pick up an IS 500. They won’t be around forever.
| Engine Displacement | 5.0L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | V8 |
| Peak Horsepower | 472 hp @ 7,100 rpm |
| Peak Torque | 395 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm |
| Fuel Economy | 14.1 / 9.3 / 11.9 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 306 L |
| Model Tested | 2024 Lexus IS 500 |
| Base Price | $74,450 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $2,205 |
| Price as Tested | $76,755 |
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Optional Equipment
None
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