2014 Lexus IS Photos, engines & full specs

Lexus introduced the third generation of the IS at the 2013 North American International Auto Show and focused on the sporty side of the premium compact sedan segment.

BMW's most successful lineup in those times was the 3 Series, and Mercedes-Benz challenged them with the C-Class while Audi's answer was the A4. In the American corner, Cadillac confronted them with the CTS, even though that was larger. Moreover, just a few months after the IS' unveiling, Caddy introduced a third generation of the CTS that was even larger.

From the design point of view, Lexus adopted the spindle grille on the IS, and customers were not very pleased with the car's new look. Still, the dynamic shape of the vehicle with swept-back, angular headlights made it very aggressive. In addition, the vehicle's profile revealed an ascending beltline underlined by an arched-up sculptured one on the side sills. Finally, at the back, the wide taillights crossed the border from the quarter panels to the trunk's lid.

The interior was clearly divided between the driver's area and the side passenger by a tall center console that hosted two cup holders, a storage compartment, and the gear selector. In addition, on the passenger's side, the automaker placed the controller for the infotainment system. In the dashboard, the speedometer took center stage with its digital numbers and was surrounded by the tachometer. The high-bolstered seats were designed to keep their occupants in place during high-speed cornering. At the back, the IS offered limited legroom for two passengers, while a third one had to deal with the tall transmission tunnel.

Under the hood, Lexus installed a choice of three powertrains, either gasoline-only or hybrid. The latter was based on the same Atkinson-cycle powerplant offered in the RAV4 and an electric motor.