2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance First Drive

Lexus has finally dropped its gorgeous five litre V8 into the latest generation IS sedan and it’s perfectly on brand. Let’s go for a drive.
2021 Lexus IS 300 AWD Review • 2021 Lexus IS 300 AWD ...
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#lexusis500 #lexusis #is500

[@paulm6481]

A really beautiful car with superb engine. Peak ICE. When all cars are electric and quiet and quick, we are going to miss personality of a vehicle like this.

[@BrianMakse]

It’s wonderfully mechanical.

[@MercOne]

Peak ICE? A V8 from 2008? Not even close. Every other V8 on the market is better than this at this point, especially if we talking turbos.

[@zmarg07]

@@MercOne You’re spot on here. This is far from peak ICE, especially if we’re talking v8’s only. Transmission is slow, average speed for its class, etc.

[@jbm0866]

Peak ICE for Toyota/Lexus maybe, but it does sound wonderful..no question about that. As far as missing cars like this in the future, I already miss them now and they're still here.

[@85CEKR]

@@MercOne don't fix what ain't broke

[@timw2083]

This is the review I've been waiting for!!! The IS500 checks all the blocks for me performance, style, and reliability. I don't need or want an M3 as a daily driver.

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks T!

[@wanyelewis9667]

Am M3 would be good on a track. But it would 1.) Beat you to death with its poor ride quality. 2.) Leave you stranded with typically poor German car reliability.

[@timw2083]

@@wanyelewis9667 I've had my IS500 almost a year and love it. It checked all the boxes for me. I had nothing against the M3, M340, CT4 BW, or S4

[@sunnyvalentino]

Man, you just keep killing it. "I really want to talk about the character of this car" - just what I wanted to hear! I love newer Mustangs with the V8s and never warmed up to the RCF (it just seemed confused in what it is/how it rides, dont like the nose heavy feel and I dont like the looks) - but THIS car is awesome. It's open about its purpose as a modernized old school Grand Tourer that can dance a bit when you need it to. Looks simple and great too (elegant). I really wish Ford brough a Falcon (4 door Mustang V8 sedan) with a manual or Lexus did a manual here (The AT is not for me and will frustrate me), but the fact that they did a V8 compact sports sedan is pretty damn amazing. Kudos. This is going to be a collectible.

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Sunny!

[@GOINFINITI]

Fantastic to see Lexus staying true to their core. Unfortunately - we don't get this model in EU. I still remember what it feels like driving with a smooth power delivery of N/A V8 from my BMW days and I'm sad those days are gone now.

[@BrianMakse]

It’s a real shame, isn’t it?

[@leeraymer166]

I’ve been waiting for your take on this specific car. Great thorough and thoughtful review Brian. I’m definitely in the market for one of these if I can get my hands on one for MSRP or less. I’m not willing to pay a huge dealer markup even for this future classic. Hopefully as the supply chains start to recover, new car prices will start to moderate again. Merry Christmas!

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Lee! A belated Merry Christmas to you!

[@user-gp1ht6my5x]

Great Presentation. Thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks!

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks!

[@robles100]

Loved that phrase at the end "Cars don't understeer by themselves" You're absolutely right 👍 Finally a car journalist that make sense 👏

[@riahlicht5995]

Awesome car ! Want one ! Awesome review on it , too ! Thanks , Brian .

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Riah!

[@riahlicht5995]

Your welcome .

[@85CEKR]

Great review, I've got a 23 with the same colour scheme. Finally a reviewer that understands this car.

[@BrianMakse]

Great car! Are there any other channels out there run by accomplished racing drivers?

[@85CEKR]

@@BrianMakse I don't know of any that do car reviews.

[@BrianMakse]

@@85CEKR you do now 😎

[@lrod312]

For those that don’t know or are confused about where this car sits in the trim line up: This car sits between the IS350 F Sport and a ‘would-be IS-F’. This car is the first car to debut the “F Sport Performance” badge, so there isn’t such a thing as a IS 350 F Sport Performance or a “base” IS500, but there are basic, premium and launch edition packages. Hope this helps anybody.

[@DreamWorkDrive]

Awesome video! Respect to Lexus for keeping v8s alive. Save the v8s!

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks!

[@kenbianucci2223]

I loved your review due to reasonable expectations of what Lexus designed this car to be and what they did not. Character is a major design decision and it harkens back to the days when GT meant Grand Touring and not Gran Turismo. So many reviewers missed the mark in what this car was meant to be and who it is meant to appeal too. I do think you missed the mark in not mentioning why this 5.0 is so special, and why it's referred to as the aluminum lump. When compared to cars in it's segment there are no others, I am aware of, that come with an all aluminum trim out for the long block and when comparing to cars like Audi and BMW, no plastic water pumps, valve covers, intake manifolds, water jacket crossovers and this Lexus even uses aluminum fuel rails. The car was built to be sturdy, competent, sporty and stylish with that trademark Lexus reliability. Anyone worried about drag strip times, track times and roll on speed runs this isn't going to be the fastest but it is the one that will still be making a good run after 200K miles where many of it's competitors will have been through some heavy repairs to still be running well at that point. I was so leaning into the new BMW M2 but a coupe was not going to be the best choice for me and once I did my research and realized some of the issues both the B-58 and S-58 have is when I started expanding my search. Within a week of even learning about the IS 500 being a thing I had one in my driveway and it has been a very good car so far, everything I wanted and some I didn't know I needed.

[@BrianMakse]

Congrats!

[@DLPTonyATL]

Another awesome review! Thank you for mentioning the abuse from other journalists. Several of them dinged the IS 500 (as a model) for soft brakes, but failed to mention the same 3 or 4 cars provided were passed around many times. The active sound control (ASC) can be turned off, so that's a quick fix. Whenever I can get mine, I'll definitely turn it off. :-) Finally, in Sport S+ and Manual mode, I'd argue Lexus' 8speed transmission is vastly different than in Normal/Auto mode. Sure my gas mileage is next to nothing on most days; because 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gears stay in the 4000+ RPM band. Makes for a surprisingly quick IS 350. ;-) So glad you finally got your hands on one!

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Tony! When will yours arrive?

[@DLPTonyATL]

@@BrianMakse Knowing my luck, probably not until Spring 2022. I want the Ultrasonic Blue with the Circuit Red interior. Deposit down since April, but my order hasn’t been accepted yet. 😭

[@BrianMakse]

Hope it comes soon. I’ve seen a couple on the ground already.

[@Nick-mn4ly]

@@DLPTonyATL good luck. I’ve been waiting a year should get mine in abt a week.

[@BigPrincelittlePrince]

@@DLPTonyATL you guys have any advice on how to put an order in? Haven’t seen any info on KZbin as to how to do that. Have been watching this car for over a year my self and really would like to at least put a deposit in. Any help would be much appreciated.

[@bcvijasiu]

Hi @Brian Makse, I only found your reviews few days ago. I must say they are great 👍🏼. What's funny, I was looking for a IS500 review last night after watching the M4 review and boom, here it is this morning 😀. So earlier this year I skipped on purchasing an M2C after Lexus released the news of IS500 release. Since then I have put my PO at the local Lexus dealership for one. However I have been tossing some different ideas in my head since then an I would love to hear your opinion since you test so many cars. The different options I keep tossing around are; IS500, RC-F, Supra and G80 M3 (base). I know I am all over the place haha. I really would appreciate your thoughts and keep up the great work with your content.

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Boris! Glad you like our work. All good choices. Tell me more about where you drive and what you like from a car.

[@bcvijasiu]

@@BrianMakse I live in St. Louis, MO, so most of my driving is on highway and fairly flat roads with an occasional run through some twisties. As far as what I like in a car, let's see. Maybe it would help if I list two cars I owned and enjoyed very much so far. My first new car was a 2004 IS300 with a manual transition. And in 2009 I also purchased a 2000 S2000. The IS300 I sold in 2019 with 264k miles. I cried a bit that day. I still have the S2000 and it only has 47k miles. I drove a 2019 Camry, but sold it this year as it was lacking soul and I am driving a manual 2006 Corolla now as I need a daily. I loved the IS300 for being mechanical, the way it delivered power from its 2JZ I6 engine and how it felt nimble on the road despite being a sedan. The S2000 I like for being mechanical as well, its handling ability and a true sports car. I sold the IS300 because of its miles and it was starting to rust in some places due to being outside since S2000 took over the garage spot. The S2000 I am looking to sell for two reasons. I am getting old and its harshness on the highway exhausts me in 20 min., and I also do not drive it much anymore since I have 2 kids and I cannot go anywhere with them in it. Going to CaC with a family would be nice but cannot put them all in there so we take my wife's Highlander. So I would like something that can be fun, reliable, as mechanical as possible these days that I can enjoy on my own, but also with the family. I hope that helps, and thank you for your reply. I really appreciate that.

[@BrianMakse]

Based on all of those considerations, I’d recommend this IS 500. It’s a little more chill than the others you’re looking at, plus it’s a pure mechanical vibe. There’s nothing else like it and everything else has layers of electronics and software on top.

[@bcvijasiu]

@@BrianMakse thank you so much. I really appreciate that advice. I am looking forward to more of your content.

[@85CEKR]

You can turn the sound augmentation off, I usually just keep it off.

[@BrianMakse]

I probably didn't have time to determine how to switch it off!

[@rogerulloa2688]

"Nurburglar ring".. lol good one!

[@BrianMakse]

Glad you got it! Cheers!

[@Mchea88]

I wish they would have just made this a full fledge ISF with ventilated fenders bigger brakes and more F badges and still have the number placard which is a nice touch. That’s what matters to me overall still a great car. 👍🏼

[@SlickRick727]

My next car and the only thing I am doing to it is putting on a Borla s-type axle back and I am cool!

[@ConfirmedPatriot]

I ve heard that the ‘all the way down’ position on ‘fake’ sound control is the off position. This true ?

[@DLPTonyATL]

Hey Brian, picked up my 2022 IS 500 Premium on Friday and driving it the 800 miles back home! 1. Got it in Ultrasonic Blue w/the Red interior. I know, you’re not a fan of blue cars. 😜 2. Paid MSRP. 3. After 500 miles, I can report the brake pedal is kinda soft. It’s fine, but definitely softer than my 2016 IS 350 FSport. 4. There is a difference in drive modes, like Jekyll & Hyde difference. I suspect Lexus reviewed the videos of you and a few others, and made adjustments to the transmission’s software mapping. On the highway, NORMAL mode is freaking terrible for a driving enthusiast. The handling and the responsiveness is way too lazy. For long highway trips, I say SPORT mode is best. The car literally wakes up and you’re like: “Okay…this is the business, now I’m driving a sports car!” The RPMs are just a smidge higher, the gas mileage is the same, and the comfort is still Lexus. Just easier to modulate speed and direct the car. In SPORT+ (on long trips) the steering is way too heavy and the rest of the car is too firm. In the city however, it’s Sport+ all day, every day for me! 😂 I knew your review was spot-on, so glad I was able to see it before getting mine. Keep up the great work!

[@BrianMakse]

Congrats, Tony! Brilliant car! Enjoy!

[@wanyelewis9667]

I probably wouldn't have it in S+ mode on long freeway trips.

[@joespeed5991]

Toni, Just after watching Brian test drive this machine today and after reading your beautiful done detailed comments about the is500 a year ago now, how do you like your car so far? Haven’t tried that beast, but did the is 350awd fsport cause of i am in 4 month in a year in snowy conditions and didn’t even think of getting no awd but from all i saw and read today I might change my mind and make me wanna go V8 but I don’t know how do you find the responsiveness when you are in sport plus of your transmission through paddle shifting so far? Please give me a feedback cause mine will be a 2024 model and don’t know if Lexus upgraded anything? Anything could help. What is your Gaz mileage Enjoyed reading your comments. Thanks for taking the time and share your comments.

[@SebastianThierjung]

5.0L is the way to go ;) missed you big time this time around :(

[@BrianMakse]

I missed you! We woulda smoked cigars, talked smack, driven fast…

[@SebastianThierjung]

@@BrianMakse only the best things!

[@ARentz07]

You can turn off the fake sound! There's a little detent at the bottom of the range of that dial's travel. If you push it past that point, it will "click", fully disabling the sound. I've driven an RC F with the sound fully off as well, and it was still plenty loud inside the car and sounded nice. Thanks for the great review.

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, I never found that. Things like this always happen when I miss the launch event. I drive the damn things, never RTFM…

[@tomdoe1234]

Yeah I don’t understand the fake sound from a car that does make sound. I have a Kia stinger and I shut off the fake sound but it still makes him sound

[@yomofoindahouse]

@@BrianMakse unrelated, but does the m440i have the speaker sound?

[@BrianMakse]

@@yomofoindahouse don't recall. That test was cut short by a couple of days by some dopey surburbanite. I didn't get to spend enough time with it tbh.

[@yomofoindahouse]

@@BrianMakse Yeah, I read about that accident in another comments. Bad luck.

[@chillrelaxationmusic4295]

I preorder one already without markup price.

[@rogerulloa2688]

Did you get the base model or the middle one with the Mark Levinson and Triple beam lights? What was the total with taxes if you don't mind?

[@Kauffman578]

How much?

[@whamou]

Great review as always! But I would prefer the 2022 BMW 230i over this. I think I would gain fun but loose reliability, though

[@bcvijasiu]

Hi Brian. I am still split between the IS500 and manual M4. I know what you told me about the M4 but i like it. The biggest drag is the price. We are talking 15k. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@BrianMakse]

Hey Boris! Buy what you like, don’t worry about me! If you enjoy driving the M4 manual, that’s all good. I didn’t, but that’s me. I still dig the Lexus with the V8!

[@bcvijasiu]

@@BrianMakse I appreciate it Brian. If it was not for the manual choice it would be IS500 all day or if the IS has a manual I would not even have to think about it. HAHA. Thank you, yet again. 😉

[@bcvijasiu]

@@BrianMakse have you also driven the first generation RC-F? Any thoughts there?

[@BrianMakse]

@@bcvijasiu never drove one, can't comment. Old chassis and old tech, though.

[@bcvijasiu]

@@BrianMakse morning. I figured since I bugged you a lot and you shared your thoughts and advice with me that I give you an update. A decision has been made. I have put a deposit on a 2023 IS500 (Molten Pearl) and I should have it Jan. 3rd. Brian, thank you!

[@psewgobind]

Minus the flashy exterior and suede cockpit, seems like an LC500 review. Personally, I'd prefer the 2022 Civic Si for it's efficiency and manual transmission. Lucky for Lexus, none of their potential customers will buy a manual.

[@wanyelewis9667]

This engine in the LS, anyone? How incredible would that be?

[@Joe-eg7ml]

Would you take this lexus or new G42 M240i xdrive?

[@BrianMakse]

Wish I could answer that question!

[@Joe-eg7ml]

@@BrianMakse please review new m240i xdrive if u get the chance.

[@BrianMakse]

Already working on it, no worries.

[@Joe-eg7ml]

@@BrianMakse you and savagegeese are the only reviewers I take seriously, thanks.

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Joe! Glad you appreciate our work.

[@cameronstewart6193]

Aces review. :-)

[@SamCarLegion]

My problem with this car is that it doesn’t have a soul or character, but it looks good. Great review Brian 👍. We shall talk more when we have coffee next :)

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Sam! I’m looking forward to that chat in the new year!

[@DLPTonyATL]

Oh for goodness sakes, seriously? Every car has a soul and character. The IS 500 (or Lexus in general) may not speak to you, but that’s okay because Mercs do not speak to me. Yet I would not deem them lacking in character or soul. What a poor characterization, even from someone whose mostly a drag racer and not a journalist.

[@mskiller]

Naturally aspirated V8 has no soul or character? Pft. Go back to your turbo 4s/6s and drag races.

[@DLPTonyATL]

@@mskiller 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@wileoutunorthodox3479]

You and your driving aint got soul 😴✌🏿 go get a Q50 Red Sport and line it up ! 🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@EchoSigma6]

The only knock on this car is the pumped in throttle sound, it would’ve been so much nicer with an active exhaust. Get one of these while you can if you are able to absorb the price and dealer markup, this car is at the end of an era of a NA V8. It should give you years of enjoyable driving based on the build quality.

[@BrianMakse]

A decent custom exhaust should be pretty easy to do here.

[@Nick-mn4ly]

@@BrianMakse do you know of any (around $1000) ones that you would recommend.

[@ARentz07]

@@Nick-mn4ly Try looking at the Apexi.

[@Nick-mn4ly]

@@ARentz07 sounds like a tractor in my opinion. Like the GThaus titanium but waiting to see if Novel drops anything

[@zmarg07]

This or a widebody scatpack?

[@BrianMakse]

I don't do this or that here.

[@paulm6481]

Can you turn off the sound that the stereo does?

[@BrianMakse]

Not through the software, that’s for sure.

[@PS3Gameplays123]

Yes you can. It’s the active sound control dial to the left of the steering wheel

[@DLPTonyATL]

@@PS3Gameplays123 Yep.

[@PS3Gameplays123]

@@DLPTonyATL I see you DLPTony ;) It’s Tipsy lol

[@DLPTonyATL]

@@PS3Gameplays123 LOL!!! We. Are. ClubLexus. We. Are. Everywhere.

[@aluisious]

Way to much video of you sitting in the seat. People want to see what driving the car is like, not what you driving and talking are like.

[@BrianMakse]

Make your own.