History/Overview
Lexus has been offering the IS sports sedan since the late 1990s, and it's been a mainstay competitor in the compact luxury sports sedan market. While it once offered a manual transmission, and at one point even a station wagon, both of those options have long since departed.
What's New
For 2021, the Lexus IS saw a styling refresh that brought it more in line with the rest of the Lexus lineup. It also grew wider and added more muscular fenders. The interior was revised and the touchscreen was moved closer to the driver. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were added to the system.
Available Trims
The 2021 Lexus IS is offered in IS 300 and IS 350 models. The former comes in IS 300 rear-drive with a 241 hp inline-four. It is also available as IS 300 AWD, with a 260 hp 3.5L V6. AWD is offered with standard, Premium, F Sport Series 1, Luxury, F Sport Series 2, and Ultra Luxury trims. The IS 350 has a 311 hp version of the same V6 (and AWD) and is offered as Standard and F Sport Series 3.
Standard Features
All IS models include a suite of driver assistance including lane tracing, front collision detection, left turn intersection support, pre-collision system with pedestrian and cyclist detection, radar cruise, and lane departure warning, all known as Lexus Safety System+ 2.5. Blind spot monitoring is also included.
IS 300 RWD comes with an 8.0-inch infotainment display with 10 speakers, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. It has dual-zone climate, heated and ventilated NuLuxe-clad front seats, and a Lexus LFA-inspired instrument cluster. A leather wheel is standard, and the IS 300 has F Sport body kit and alloy wheels.
IS 300 AWD comes with the same standard equipment but does not come with the heated and ventilated seats or F-Sport trim. A power roof, heated wheel, and heated and ventilated seats are added with the Premium package. Luxury Package adds memory mirrors, adaptive front lights, power tilt and telescope wheel, parking sonar, and navigation on a 10.3-inch screen.
Ultra Luxury adds a panoramic view monitor and 17-speaker Mark Levinson Audio.
F Sport Series 1 is equipped like the base AWD, but adds 19-inch F Sport wheels, F Sport accents, and heated and ventilated seats.
F Sport Series 2 adds a power roof, heated wheel, and 10.3-inch screen with navigation.
The IS 350 F Sport Series 3 adds adaptive dampers, Sport + drive mode, carbon fibre spoiler, BBS alloys, and premium LED headlights.
Key Options
There are no options for IS outside of the packages listed above.
Fuel economy
IS 300 RWD models are estimated to return 11.0 L/100 km city, 7.6 highway. IS 300 AWD is estimated at 12.2/9.0, with IS 350 rated at the same figure.
Competition
The Lexus IS competes with the Cadillac CT4 as well as the Acura TLX. It also faces off against the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
