With an all-new model due out next year, the Lexus IS has only a few upgrades for 2013. IS models equipped with navigation now include Lexus' latest Enform infotainment system with automatic phonebook downloading via Bluetooth and HD Radio with iTunes Tagging. Additionally, the IS250's optional 6-speed manual transmission has been discontinued.
In a single generation, the Lexus IS went from a boring-but-competent entry-level luxury sedan to one of the most dynamically styled entries in its class. The 2015 Lexus IS is visually unchanged from its debut last year, and that's good news for those who love its bold grille, sinister headlights, and sharply angled taillights. The visual changes, plus a high-performance chassis tuning, give the carryover engines a better platform to work with, making this small rear-wheel-drive Lexus luxury sedan an honest competitor to cars like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, and Cadillac ATS. Inside, added refinement and high-tech touches keep this Lexus in the technology hunt. The previous-generation retractable-hardtop convertible remains largely unchanged.