2027 Lexus IS Adds Green, Keeps the V6
The 2027 Lexus IS gets a new color-and-trim package rather than a change in mechanical direction. Lexus keeps the compact sedan’s 311-horsepower V6 and offers two grades, IS 350 F SPORT Design and IS 350 F SPORT, with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The main addition is the Special Appearance Package, which combines Envious green paint with forged BBS wheels and coordinated cabin details. Prices start at $47,545, including destination, with dealership arrivals expected before the end of 2026.
Envious Green Takes the Lead
Lexus reserves the Special Appearance Package for the IS 350 F SPORT. Along with its exclusive green finish, the package brings 19-inch black BBS forged-alloy wheels. Inside, Lexus pairs black NuLuxe upholstery with Ultrasuede seat inserts, green stitching and satin chrome-colored trim. The changes follow a consistent theme without covering every interior surface in the exterior color.
The green suits the IS. It gives the sharply creased body some visual separation from the usual grayscale choices without making an already assertive design look especially loud. Up front, narrow headlights and angled daytime running lights frame a large mesh spindle grille. The broad lower opening still dominates the nose, though the relatively simple hood keeps the front end from looking entirely consumed by detail.
The rear presents a cleaner arrangement. A thin light strip connects the taillamps, spaced Lexus lettering crosses the trunk, and a dark trunk-lid spoiler adds contrast. Strong rear-fender contours emphasize the car’s width, while two round exhaust outlets interrupt the dark lower bumper. The proportions do more of the visual work here than the trim pieces, which is probably the better balance.
The 2027 IS 350 F SPORT Design gets its own wheel change: a new 19-inch design with black and machined surfaces. Depending on grade, the broader paint selection includes Ultra White, Cloudburst Gray, Iridium, Caviar, Infrared, Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 and Wind. Envious remains exclusive to the appearance package.
A Familiar Six-Cylinder Formula
Every 2027 Lexus IS uses a 3.5-liter V6 producing 311 horsepower. Lexus offers the sedan exclusively as an IS 350, so the two grades represent equipment choices rather than different engine outputs. The new appearance package does not add power.
Rear-wheel-drive versions pair the V6 with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission and a Torsen limited-slip rear differential. The differential manages torque distribution between the rear wheels to help maintain traction and stability through corners. Lexus also offers both grades with all-wheel drive.
Adaptive Variable Suspension continuously changes damper firmness to reconcile ride comfort with body control. Drive Mode Select adjusts accelerator response, steering feel and transmission behavior, with settings ranging from Normal to the more assertive Sport S+. Those adjustments give the driver ways to alter the car’s responses without changing its underlying hardware.
Lexus groups its broader chassis-development priorities under the Lexus Driving Signature name. Its testing and tuning target predictable, proportional control responses, cornering grip, ride comfort and low cabin noise across the brand’s vehicles. That describes the intended balance, not a separate piece of equipment, and the distinction matters when comparing trim levels.
Two Screens and Some Conventional Controls
The Lexus IS cabin combines a standard 12.3-inch Lexus Interface infotainment display with a separate 12.3-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster. The center screen sits high on the dashboard, close to the driver’s forward sightline, rather than low beside the shifter.
Despite the substantial screen area, the interior retains a conventional gear selector, steering-wheel buttons and a separate bank of center-stack controls. A tall console divides the front seats, and the heavily bolstered seating reinforces the cockpit-like layout. It looks more deliberately enclosed than airy. The dark upholstery also gives the appearance-package cabin a restrained look, with the green stitching serving as a small accent rather than its defining feature.
Lexus uses Forged Bamboo ornamentation on the center console and around the start-switch bezel. The bamboo fibers produce an irregular light-and-shadow pattern that the company calls In-ei. For 2027, the F SPORT Design grade also gains a standard heated steering wheel.
A 10-speaker Lexus Premium Sound system comes standard across the lineup. Buyers can select a factory-installed, 17-speaker Mark Levinson system, which uses cabin-specific speaker placement and audio tuning.
There's two high-output USB-C ports at the front of the center console and two additional USB-C charging ports for rear passengers. A wireless charging pad occupies the forward console area. It uses Gen5 Qi technology and accommodates a range of smartphone sizes.
Outside the Special Appearance Package’s coordinated black treatment, Lexus lists Black, Palomino, Radiant Red and White/Black interior color schemes, with availability depending on grade.
Standard Assistance With Defined Limits
Every 2027 IS includes Lexus Safety System+ 3.0. Automatic high beams switch between high and low settings according to surrounding conditions, while the Pre-Collision System combines a camera and millimeter-wave radar to help recognize vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. Under the appropriate conditions, it can issue audible and visual collision warnings, assist braking and apply emergency braking if the driver does not respond.
Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control helps maintain a selected following distance. With that system active, Lane Tracing Assist can use detected lane markings and preceding vehicles as references to provide steering assistance and help keep the sedan centered. These remain driver-assistance functions, not substitutes for attention behind the wheel.
Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist operates above 30 mph when it recognizes suitable white or yellow lane markings or certain road-edge boundaries. It warns of an unintended departure and can add a small steering correction if the driver does not respond.
Road Sign Assist uses a camera to recognize speed limits, stop signs, Do Not Enter signs, yield signs and certain warning signs, then displays corresponding icons in the driver’s information display. Proactive Driving Assist also uses the camera and radar. When conditions allow, it can gently brake for curves or provide braking and steering support to help manage distance from a vehicle, pedestrian or bicyclist.
2027 Lexus IS Pricing Starts at $47,545
The rear-wheel-drive IS 350 F SPORT Design costs $47,545, while the IS 350 F SPORT starts at $49,845. Both figures include Lexus’ $1,395 delivery, processing and handling charge.
All-wheel drive adds $2,000 to either grade. That puts the IS 350 F SPORT Design AWD at $49,545 and the IS 350 F SPORT AWD at $51,845, again including the delivery charge.
The F SPORT grade carries a $2,300 premium over the corresponding F SPORT Design model. Buyers interested in Envious green must first move to that higher grade, then account for the Special Appearance Package. Lexus has not announced the package’s price.
A Different Shade of the Same Idea
The 2027 Lexus IS concentrates its changes on presentation, with the green appearance package providing the clearest distinction and the F SPORT Design gaining new wheels and a heated steering wheel. The V6, available drivetrains and driver-focused cabin remain central to the car’s appeal. Envious is a convincing color choice, but it accompanies an appearance package, not a more powerful IS. Buyers should keep that distinction in mind when weighing its eventual cost.
-Ed
2027 Lexus IS
