Lexus IS 300 vs. IS 350: Which One Should You Buy?
Turbo four-cylinder or naturally aspirated V6? The answer to this age-old question faces everyone shopping for a new Lexus IS. Here are the pros and cons of each.
1. The Battle of Two Different Lexus IS Sedans
So you've made the decision to buy a Lexus IS. Aside from being a very wise decision, given the automaker's reputation for quality and reliability, you're now faced with an even more important choice: That being the choice between an IS 300 RWD and its turbo four-cylinder drivetrain, or a V6 powered IS 300 AWD or IS 350. So which one best suits your needs? Let's take a look at the specs of each model first.
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2. Lexus IS 300
The Lexus IS 300 RWD, formerly known as the IS 200t, is Lexus' entry-level version of its sporty compact sedan. Aside from the name change, the IS 300 RWD remains essentially unchanged for 2018. Under the hood, you'll find a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 241 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. That's good enough to propel the sedan to 60 mph in around 7.6 seconds, and it takes around 15.5 seconds to complete the quarter mile. Base price for the IS turbo stands at $37,825.
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3. Pros and Cons
The IS 300 RWD is by no means slow, but it is a bit underpowered in comparison to the competition. The good news is, peak torque is available in the 1,650 to 4,400 rpm range. That means passing other cars and getting up to speed isn't too difficult, which is the case with many small turbo motors. And as you might imagine, fuel economy is rather good, with an EPA rating of 22 miles per gallon in the city, 32 on the highway, and 26 combined.
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4. Lexus IS 350
Stepping up to the IS 350 nets you only two differences from the IS 300 RWD - 18-inch wheels in place of the turbo's 17-inches, and a 3.5 liter V6 producing a healthy 311 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. For 2018, you can also opt for a detuned, 260 hp/236 lb-ft 3.5 liter in the IS 300 AWD model. Both gain five horsepower over last year's iteration, the larger of which managed a 6-second 0-60 run and 14.4-second quarter mile. The cost for that added performance? Around $41,370 in rear wheel drive configuration, or $43,535 for the IS 350 AWD. The IS 300 AWD comes in a little lower with a $40,200 MSRP.
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5. Pros and Cons
Obviously, the IS 350 is considerably quicker than the IS 300 RWD. A 1.6-second difference in 0-60 times is huge, but so is the $3,545 difference in price. Max torque also arrives much later than the four-cylinders, peaking at 4,800 rpm. But there's still plenty of grunt for off-the-line get up and go. But that added power will cost you in the fuel economy department, of course. The IS 350 is EPA rated at 19 miles per gallon in the city, 28 on the highway, and 22 combined.
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6. Picking a Winner
If you read any review on any car site in the world, 100% of them will choose the IS 350 over the IS 300 RWD. Why? The common thought is that the extra performance is well worth the extra cost. And considering the fact that these models are virtually identical other than those two characteristics, it makes perfect sense. In reality, you're getting a well-built, comfortable, and viable compact luxury sports sedan in either case. We'd recommend test driving both, plus maybe an IS 300 AWD, and see for yourself if you can live with less power and a fatter wallet, or vice versa.
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