Lexus IS Purchase: Pros and Cons from Forum Members

By Brett Foote - August 15, 2017

Before you drop your hard-earned cash on a new Lexus IS, find out what current owners think about it.

Buying any new car is a bit of a gamble, sorta like any other relationship. You fall in love with the looks, performance, and feel right off the bat. But will you feel the same way a few years down the road? Or will certain little annoyances pop up and make you want to end the relationship? Any love has a tendency of fading with time, and cars are no exception.

Unlike human relationships (well, in most cases), however, you can seek out real world opinions from others on particular car models. And what better place to learn the pros and cons of a car like the Lexus IS than in the Club Lexus forums? There are countless folks there who’ve already engaged in short and long term relationships with the compact luxury coupe, after all.

So that’s exactly what forum member moblues did in this recent post.

“I’m looking into purchasing an IS Turbo and want to know what owners like and don’t like about it. I’m drawn to it because of the reliability and maintenance reputation, but would love to hear from actual owners what you’ve noticed/like/don’t like. I typically drive my cars for many years. So I’m especially interested in people’s long-term experience driving Lexus.

Thanks in advance!”

Right on cue, Jay89 chimes in with some helpful advice. In fact, we’d say he sums up the Lexus IS nicely.

“I haven’t had my IS for very long, but it’s probably one of the best overall package sedans in its class in my opinion. Comparing to 3 series, C-Class, A4/S4. The IS isn’t the fastest, the most well equipped, or best handling. But it has the nicest interior, best exterior, and it’s slightly more comfortable than its German rivals.

The adaptive suspension that comes with the F sport is really cool. I can feel a big difference between when I’m in Eco, vs Sport+. It corners fairly flat, but not quite as precise as the S4, or the 3 Series.”

“I have the F sport in mine. I do wish it had memory seats and power folding mirrors. A round view camera would have been nice to have too, although I don’t need it. Same with parking sensors. Would make great use of that huge screen. Something else that would have been nice is to be able to close your windows from the remote. My old BMW had that. Can open and close all windows from the remote. The NX I believe can do that. Height adjustable lumbar support would also be nice as I think it’s slightly too high.

The fuel economy in my 350 is disappointing. I expected much better than what I’m getting to be honest. Although my parent’s NX 200t is getting fairly close to what they got in their old Honda. So if you got the 200t, I’m expecting that you wouldn’t have the same experience in this part as I did.

Despite all the flaws, I wouldn’t choose the Germans over this. The reputation for reliability just can’t be beat. The interior trims and feel just seemed so much better. Could just be me haha.”

Then, when you think it can’t get any better, arentz07 chimes in with a nicely organized, bullet pointed list of pros and cons.

“My take on it… 9-month IS 300 F Sport owner here.

Pros:

Styling: People actually are impressed when they see what I am driving from time to time. The interior is also a standout in appearance – it really looks like nothing else, save the LFA (or obviously the RC).
Reliability: The V6 engine in this car is well-tested and doesn’t have many notable issues, and I’m not sure about the 200t engine… but I’d bet it’s not going to be bad in this regard. In other areas, the car has a few minor issues, such as rattles, but nothing serious.
Comfort: The F Sport seats in particular are of a nice material (feel like real leather) and are snug but comfy. The ride’s also pretty smooth on most roads, even with the F Sport suspension.
Trunk space: This car is on the upper end of the segment for trunk volume, and I’ve had zero issues so far fitting stuff in it, within reason.
Handling: The steering wheel is fantastic – good leather and size, and the handling is good, if not top of the class. It’s easy to push this car hard, as it feels confident.

Cons:

Fuel economy: The IS is behind in pretty much every engine configuration, but the IS Turbo is your best bet at getting decent MPGs.
Interior storage: The glove box is okay-sized, and you have door pockets. However, there’s not much storage in the center console or really anywhere else in the cabin.
Rear leg/foot space: There’s a really tall hump in the rear floor, and the legroom can be quite limited if the front occupants are tall.
Acceleration (sorta): The IS Turbo and 300 aren’t that fast, and even the 350 doesn’t post numbers quite as impressive as rivals despite having more power. I think the acceleration in the 300 has been fine for my taste – just enough to have fun, but not too much to get into real trouble without realizing it.
Infotainment: The navigation, once underway, works nicely, but interacting with the system to enter destinations and the like can be tedious. The remote touch controller can be sloppy if you’re on a bumpy road or trying to enter text. In addition, if you ever have a guest driver, don’t expect them to be able to use it!

Overall I’ve loved my time with the Lexus IS 300. And have been willing to put up with a few shortcomings here and there. It’s a car I look forward to driving every time.”

Those points seem to resonate with the vast majority of owners who have added their opinions so far. And thankfully, no one seems to regret their purchase. Nor are they in a hurry to end their relationship with Lexus’ sporty sedan. If you’re a current or former Lexus IS owner, be sure and add your thoughts here!