The 2014 Lexus IS has long been a popular choice in the compact executive sedan market. With its sporty looks and class-leading reliability – it always made for a great buy and delivered good value for money when trading it in.

So why did Lexus change it for 2014? The previous generation IS was getting a bit outdated, having been in the market since 2006. It was time to revamp the design to be more competitive with its European rivals.

 See a video of its exterior:

Recently, we had the opportunity to drive the 2014 Lexus IS F-Sport (IS250). While the IS F-Sport isn’t a replacement for the IS-F, it certainly looks like one. The F-Sport package features visual touches and interior enhancements that provide a race-inspired look – from its body kit to its silver F-Sport badging inside and out. The current F-Sport package can be added to both, the IS250 and IS350 models. We are still waiting to hear whether a 2014 Lexus IS-F will be announced later this year. 

What’s different?

Muscular design accentuated by a deep grille and flared fenders

The car’s design has gone through a significant number of changes for the 2014 model year. The new IS looks sharp with a deep grille that stretches from the hood to the bumper, making it look more like its newer siblings. The flared fenders accentuate the car’s muscular appearance, giving it a wider stance. A sharp line runs from the car’s front bumper through the side, before moving diagonally across the rear of the car touching the tail lamps – a unique feature that makes the car appear as if it’s in constant motion.

Dual-cluster headlights and stretched taillights

Each headlight cluster features two separate elements – one for the projection beam headlamps and a separate strip of LED lights that line-up along the bottom. The fierce taillights have been stretched past the back of the car and now feature LED elements that follow an “L” shape.

Longer wheelbase

While the outgoing IS was too small to directly rival similar German competitors, the new IS has been made three inches longer than its predecessor, making its dimensions similar to the competition. The rear seat on the IS features 1.6-inches more legroom than its outgoing model.

Performance

The 2014 IS delivers an engaging driving experience with sharp steering and accurate throttle. Under any level of acceleration, one is able to experience seamless gear shifting and on-demand power. The suspension has been re-engineered to deliver a dynamic driving experience with very little body tilt. The car features three drive modes – Eco, Normal, and Sport. Eco delivers the car’s best fuel efficiency through controlled RPMs while a green “Eco” light encourages positive driving habits among drivers. Shifting the knob to Sport mode reveals a performance machine that dares to be tested. Gently pushing on the throttle in Sport mode exposes an engine that’s eagerly looking to deliver instant response. Push it hard from a standstill position and the RPMs soar upward as the car shoots forward in an attempt to satisfy the engine’s demands.

Enhanced concept-style interior

The interior has been completely renovated and the driver and front passenger are in for a treat. The angled and elongated dashboard looks like something out of an concept car, providing an almost-flat surface that stretches from the armrest to the dashboard. The downfall to this is there is less space inside the storage compartment. Regardless, this is perhaps the best dashboard I have seen in this segment.

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