Old-School V6 Vs. High-Tech Ev: 2026 Lexus Is 350 Faces off Against Tesla Model 3
By Sophia Al-Mansoor
Most luxury sport sedans abandoned naturally aspirated engines years ago. The BMW 3 Series rival long ago shifted its core volume to turbocharged inline-fours, and Audi followed suit. Lexus, however, has refined its 3.5-liter 2GR-FKS V6 across two decades. The power delivery is buttery smooth and progressive. You do not get the violent, neck-snapping surge of an electric motor or the sudden mid-range spool of a twin-scroll turbo. Instead, torque builds in a straight diagonal line up to its 6,600 RPM redline.
This engine breathes freely. Pressing the accelerator produces a genuine, mechanical induction noise that enters the cabin through physical intake ducting rather than synthesized audio files played through door speakers. For enthusiast drivers, that auditory climb creates a distinct emotional cadence that an electric motor cannot replicate. The trade-off is efficiency. The rear-wheel drive IS 350 yields 20 MPG city and 28 MPG highway, numbers that feel punishing at modern fuel pumps when compared against the Model 3’s EPA rating of 130 MPGe.
Sophia analyzes international trade, startup ecosystems, retail transformation, and supply chain logistics for modern digital publications.
