2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Price, Reviews And Buying Guide

The newest Lexus IS Sport Sedan removes the former eight-cylinder peg through a six-cylinder hole with predictably polarising results. The IS500 F Sport Performance is a throwback to when turbocharged engines did not yet dominate the premium sports sedan space. The powerful Lexus carves its own path in a niche shared with the Audi S4, BMW M340i, and Mercedes-AMG C43. This model is for dedicated Lexus performance fans.

There are few surprises with the IS500 F Sport Performance. It is heavier than the German competition, gets extremely bad fuel economy relative to its rivals such as Audi and BMW, and lacks the more quick punch of a turbocharged engine. Lexus announced it is enhanced IS F 500 Sports Performance Sedan early in 2021.

2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Engine

The 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport uses the naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine. It is a peaky powertrain, delivering 472 horsepower and 395 pound-ft at 4,800 rpm. In the real world, this means it takes some proper planning to tap into the V8’s potential. 

Unlike a turbocharged engine, the V8 feels slow when you first hit the throttle, only erupting into a melodic roar at higher revs. Some delay is related to the lack of turbochargers, but the transmission tuning is also at fault.

All of the IS 500 F-Sport’s power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission. This is the same transmission found in other lesser models like the IS 350, and this quickly becomes apparent. In automatic mode, the transmission loves to seek high gears for maximum fuel economy, which means that it often takes several seconds to initiate downshifts.

2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance 

Comparing the IS 500 F-Sport’s key rivals is important because this car is not positioned to take on full-fat performance sedans like the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, BMW M3, or Mercedes-AMG C63. Instead, it mostly competes against turbocharged six-cylinder rivals like the Acura TLX Type S, Audi S4, BMW M340i, and Mercedes-AMG C43. These produce anywhere from 349-385 horsepower, so the IS 500’s 472 horsepower and 395 pound-ft of torque figures seemingly outmatch the competition. 

The only thing is the Lexus is one of the heavier vehicles in this category, and it lacks the available low-end torque of its turbocharged rivals. Lexus claims a 0 mph to 60 mph sprint time of 4.4 seconds. This time sees the RWD Lexus match the RWD Bimmer and the AWD Audi, and it is a tenth of a second quicker than the Mercedes-Benz. The AWD BMW M340i xDrive leads the way with a 0 mph to 60 mph time of 4.1 seconds.

With the only V8 engine in its segment, Lexus has positioned the IS 500 F Sport as an emotional choice rather than one based solely on numbers. Lexus adds an Active Sound Control knob that adjusts the digital sound emitted in the cabin. It seems unnecessary in a V8-powered car, but the cabin is so quiet, it helps deliver a fuller sound to the driver. The IS 500 is a glorious throwback to the pre-turbocharger era, delivering an old-school power curve that requires more involvement from the driver to achieve maximum performance. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

2022 Lexus Is 500 F Sport Fuel Economy

There are no fuel estimates yet for the RWD IS 500 F Sport Performance, but Lexus claims ratings of 16 city run, 24 mpg highway run and 19 mpg combined. Considering the Suspension setup, this particular 500 should be a fantastic long-distance cruiser, making the highway rating quite relevant. Fitted with a 17.4-gallon tank, the claimed mpg figures should result in an estimated range of 330 miles. This engine loves to be worked hard, but if you take it to 7,000 rpm in every gear, fuel economy will drop significantly.

2022 Lexus Is 500 F Sport Exterior

This four-door sports sedan is all about muscle, and it is quite a different beast from the standard IS. The hood, for example, has been raised by almost two inches, and it has aggressive power bulges to accommodate the larger engine. The front bumper and fenders also had to be lengthened for the same reason. At the rear, Lexus included the most noticeable homage to the now-defunct hardcore F models, the stacked quad exhaust tips. 

There is a revised lower rear diffuser and dark chrome window trim set the IS F Sport apart, and a rear lip spoiler ties it all together. The new IS 500 F Sport gets 19-inch model-specific alloy wheels, which are lighter than the standard IS wheel by up to two pounds per wheel.

2022 Lexus Is 500 F Sport Exterior Dimensions

The Lexus IS 500 sedan has an overall length of 187.3 inches, which rides on a 110.2-inch wheelbase. It is 72.4 inches wide when the mirrors are folded in and stands 56.5 inches tall. With its elongated body, it stretches nearly two inches longer than the standard IS. Before the IS 500 came along, the heaviest IS was the 350 F Sport AWD at 3,880 lbs. Even with that big 5.0-liter lump under the hood, the IS 500 weighs 3,891 lbs, which is just 143 lbs more than the 350 F Sport RWD.

2022 Lexus Is 500 F Sport Exterior Colours

You can choose from any of these eight colours when configuring your IS 500, which include: Ultra White, Caviar, Iridium, Infrared, Atomic Silver, Grecian Water, Cloudburst Gray, and Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0. Certain premium colours have extra charges. Launch Editions come exclusively bedecked in Incognito dark grey. The Lexus looks spectacular in all these colours.

2022 Lexus Is 500 F Sport Interior Features

This Lexus IS uses the same interior as lesser models, which is both good and bad. The IS is starting to show its age, but there are some nice touches. The updated touchscreen has been moved closer to the driver to improve ease of use. Lexus kept the annoying touchpad in place, but thankfully there is no need to use it. The centre stack below the infotainment screen and the beautiful analogue clock is quite old-fashioned.

Model-specific touches include F Sport Performance badges on the steering wheel and door sill plates and F Sport bolstered sport seats. The pedals also get the F Sport treatment, and the push-button starter is upgraded to a lovely metal button. The LFA-inspired dials with the sliding bezel design are carried over from the standard model but feature a unique startup animation.

2022 Lexus Is 500 F Sport Interior Colours

The overall interior atmosphere is still more luxurious than sporty, even with the F Sport body-hugging seats. Lexus’s Nuluxe leatherette is standard, available in Black, Circuit Red, and White. Black Geometric trim is also available, which gives the interior a racier feel. The Circuit Red trim is not available on the models painted Infrared or Grecian Water.

The Launch Edition gets unique Silver Ash wood trim, and exclusive Black and Gray Ultrasuede trim on the seats, door accents, and centre console.

2022 Lexus Is 500 F Sport Cargo Space

The Lexus IS does not have a huge trunk. The trunk measures 10.8 cubic feet. You can increase the trunk by folding the rear seats down in a 60/40 split. BMW and Mercedes will offer you a bigger trunk, but 10.8 cubes are perfectly acceptable for a family of four.

Interior storage is adequate. The door pockets are on the small side, but there is ample storage space underneath the centre armrest, and front passengers get dual cupholders. A lack of accessible space for a phone in the centre console is a glaring design fault.

2022 Lexus Is 500 F Sport Safety Features 

The 2022 Lexus IS 500 comes with a standard suite of safety features that include;

• Full LED lighting with automatic high-beam headlights.
• Lane-departure alert and lane-keeping.
• Adaptive cruise control.
• Front and rear parking sensors.
• Forward collision warning with pedestrian and bicycle detection.

2022 Lexus Is 500 F Sport Warranty 

The Lexus IS 500 F Sport is covered by a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. As a bonus, Lexus also includes a one-year/10,000-mile scheduled maintenance plan.

Cost Of Insuring A 2022 Lexus Is 500 F Sport

The cost of insuring a 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport depends on a variety of factors, including your budget, the level of coverage that you want, and the type of insurance that you choose. Your age, gender, location and driving record can also have an impact on your insurance rates. What is needed to be done is to check out the car insurance guide of your country to find the best policy for you.

2022 Lexus Is 500 F Sport Buying Guide In Nigeria

The following is the buying guide for the 2022 Lexus is 500 F sport. They include:

1. Budget: The budget for the car is suitable for the average individual to purchase but it is slightly expensive and that has to do with its luxury value and the Lexus brand. The budget needs to be a bit high on the scale so as to enjoy the use of the car and ensure that it is performing up to the maximum level. It also has optional features that can be paid for so that they can be attached to it. The optional features are going to allow the individual to enjoy the full potential of the car and this makes the driver have a smooth ride and easy usage of the car.

2. Interior Cabin And Cargo Space: The cabin space is just like that of a normal sedan, not so much of a space but it is enough for the luggage of one or two persons.

3. Fuel Efficiency: The fuel efficiency is normal; it should be considered if one wants to save money, compared to its rival because of the usage of fuel.

2022 Lexus Is 500 F Sport Expected Price In Nigeria

2022 Lexus IS 500 F-SPORT

N24.6 million