New Lexus IS Will Be Much More Expensive — and Many Fans Aren’t Happy About It

In September, the Lexus IS sedan received a significant update—its final refresh before the model transitions into a fully electric vehicle.

In Japan, the new IS will hit the market in early 2026. Local journalists have already learned how much the updated sedan will cost, and it turns out the price will rise noticeably compared to the outgoing version.

The hybrid Lexus IS 300h will start at 5.8 million yen (about $37,700), while the top-tier F Sport trim will cost 6.35 million yen (around $41,300).

This means the refreshed IS will be 540,000 yen (roughly $3,500) more expensive in its highest specification. The sharp price increase surprised Japanese media, which didn’t expect such a jump for a facelift rather than a next-generation redesign.

The latest update brought major exterior changes to the IS, giving it a more modern appearance. The interior was also reworked, and the model’s feature set has been expanded.

The IS 300h variant is powered by a 2.5-liter hybrid engine paired with an electronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and rear-wheel drive.

Earlier, Lexus announced that when the next-generation IS arrives in 2027, the model may transform into a completely different vehicle—an all-electric one. It is expected to be based on the LF-ZC concept car, first unveiled two years ago at the Japan Mobility Show.