Knife to A Gunfight? New Lexus IS500 F SPORT Sedan vs. Tesla Model 3 Performance

Lexus has brought back the original IS F sports sedan formula for a last hurrah. The new model is called the IS 500 F SPORT and it will have the 5.0-liter V8 engine that made the IS F such an enjoyable vehicle to drive. We will let the Lexus enthusiasts drool over the fine details. We thought it would be more interesting to step back and compare the "new" Lexus to the sports sedan global leader in sales and performance, the Tesla Model 3. Specifically, the Tesla Model 3 Performance Dual Motor AWD.
Related Story: Lexus 2014 IS F or 2015 RC F – Which is faster on a track?

0-60 MPG Lexus IS 500 F SPORT vs. Tesla Model 3
The IS 500 F SPORT is capable of a 4.5-second sprint to 60 MPH according to Lexus' press release today. There was a time when a 4.5-second sprint by a sports sedan was amazing. Those days have been gone for a while. Today, there are crossovers and SUVs that can do it and not break a sweat.

Modern sports sedans with battery-electric powertrains can do much better. One example is the Tesla Model 3 Performance. The Tesla can do that sprint in 3.1 seconds. It's all-electric torque is most of why it can, but the AWD system is a big help. Having dual motors, both of which are sitting over the axles, is a great way to distribute power.

Related Story: The Tesla Model 3 Has A Whopping $28,000 Cost Advantage Over the Lexus IS 350 AWD

Fuel Economy Lexus IS 500 F SPORT vs. Tesla Model 3
Lexus says that the new IS 500 F SPORT will earn a 24 MPG Highway rating from the EPA. So, figure about 19 MPG Combined. Not bad for a classic liquid-fueled car, but absolutely horrible in 2021 by any other measure. The Tesla Model 3 Performance earns a 107 MPGe rating Highway and a 113 MPGe rating Combined from the EPA. It has a range of 315 miles, about the same one can expect from the Lexus.

Related Story: Tesla Model 3 Outsells Every Car Model At BMW, Lexus - Outsells All of Audi and Acura

Cost Of Ownership - Tesla Model 3 Performance vs. Lexus IS 500 F SPORT
Every year that the IS F SPORT driver owns her vehicle she will pay $1,900 more each year in energy costs compared to a Tesla Model 3 Performance owner. So, over 10 years, the cost of the premium unleaded fuel that powers the IS 500 F SPORT will cost about $19,000 more than the Tesla owner will pay for electricity. That assumes energy costs remain the same as today.

Tesla Model 3 Performance vs. Lexus IS 500 F SPORT - Carbon and Pollution Emissions
While the IS 500 F SPORT owner enjoys her new sports sedan she will generate about 459 grams per mile of tailpipe CO2 emissions. The Tesla owner will generate zero carbon emissions per mile. The Lexus IS 500 F SPORT will also likely earn a 3 on the pollution scale vs. the Tesla's perfect score of 10, with 10 being the cleanest possible score. We used Lexus' RC F which has a similar engine and design to the IS F SPORT for our comparison numbers in this section.

Tesla Model 3 Performance vs. Lexus IS 500 F SPORT - Pricing
Lexus has not announced pricing for its IS 500 F SPORT yet, however, the nearly identical coupe version, the RC F is priced in the high $60Ks. We priced out a Tesla Model 3 Performance using Tesla's configurator and came up with a price of $59,190 including red paint and destination charges.

Tesla Model 3 Performance vs. Lexus IS 500 F SPORT - Conclusion
As a former (happy) Lexus IS owner, this new V8 certainly brings back some memories. However, if Lexus is to earn the business of performance-oriented buyers today it needs a battery-electric powertrain. The new IS 500 F SPORT only serves as a reminder that Tesla is the dominant sports sedan in America today.

John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. Following his engineering program, John also completed a marketing program at Northeastern University and worked with automotive component manufacturers. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin