The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Overall decent value
- Tons of tech
- Terrific steering feedback
- Athletic handling
- Impressive IS 500
Dislikes
- Aged design
- Outdated infotainment
- Underpowered IS 300
- Cramped rear seat
- Small trunk
Buying tip
features & specs
In its 350 and 500 trims, the 2024 Lexus IS provides impressive performance at a value price.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Lexus IS? What does it compare to?
The 2024 Lexus IS is a small luxury sedan with a range of performance options, offering up a strong value compared to rivals like the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Is the 2024 Lexus IS a good car?
Yes. It’s not perfect, but it combines sharp handling, good cabin quality, and performance choices ranging from a turbo-4 to a grunty V-8. It earns a TCC Rating of 6.0 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Lexus IS?
Lexus freshens the IS with new styling options across the lineup, though there are no substantial feature or performance changes. The IS 300 is available with a couple different combinations of F Sport styling elements; the IS 350 is offered with new Incognito paint and an F Sport Blackout package with matte black BBS wheels and black trim; the IS 500 also gets Incognito paint and a limited Special Appearance package with Blue Vector paint, matte black BBS wheels, and black upholstery with blue stitching.
The 2024 Lexus IS is a four-door sedan that’s closely related to the Lexus RC coupe. The overall design for both is about a decade old, though intermittent updates have kept the IS from getting too stale.
Inside, the low, wide dash comes dressed in a range of interior color combinations.
The base rear-drive IS 300 gets a 2.0-liter turbo-4, while the all-wheel-drive IS 300 and both configurations of IS 350 get different versions of a 3.5-liter V-6. The uprated V-6 in the IS is by far the best of this group, since it actually delivers better performance relative to its fuel consumption.
The IS 500 gets a 472-hp V-8 that offers European-like performance at a much more appealing price tag.
There’s no manual transmission on offer, but even the automatics are thirsty. The base rear-drive turbo-4 can hit 25 mpg combined, though most other configurations are lucky to hit 20 mpg combined.
The cabin is lovely, but limited in rear-row and trunk space.
The IS fares well in crash-testing and Lexus loads on the driver-assistance features, bolstering this sedan’s competitive value.
How much does the 2024 Lexus IS cost?
The 2024 Lexus IS 300 starts at $41,235, including a $1,150 destination charge. All-wheel drive adds $2,000. The base IS 300 gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa, power-adjustable front seats, and synthetic leather upholstery.
The IS 350 is a solid value at $44,410, and the IS 500 offers great performance for a reasonable $60,020.
Where is the 2024 Lexus IS made?
Lexus builds the IS in Japan.
2024 Lexus IS Styling
The 2024 IS’ curves aren’t exactly fresh, but they’re still attractive.
Is the Lexus IS a good-looking car?
Well, it’s not bad-looking, it just hasn’t changed much in more than a decade. It combines taut proportions with a curvy shape. In other words, there’s a lot going on. We award a point for the cabin’s low dash, though, for a 6.
We do like the rear end’s thin light strip, and are less pleased with the F Sport styling that comes standard on all but the base trims. The bigger 19-inch wheels are pretty but less comfortable, and the front bumper’s bigger intakes don’t do much for us.
Base versions get an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and a 10.3-inch upgrade is available. The dash and console are somewhat more cluttered than rivals, with more controls, but they’re thoughtfully integrated. Note that Lexus does not offer genuine leather in the IS.
2024 Lexus IS Performance
You’ll find the best performance by skipping the 2024 Lexus IS base trim.
Each IS in the lineup has a distinct personality. Overall, the Lexus IS racks up points for acceleration and handling, for a 7. The IS 500 might merit another point on its own for shaving the 0-60 mph time from 6.9 seconds in the IS 300 to 4.4 seconds.
Is the Lexus IS 4WD?
Rear-wheel drive comes standard across the lineup, and all-wheel drive is available on the 300 and 350 versions of the IS.
How fast is the Lexus IS?
The potency of the IS depends on the powertrain and not necessarily the trim level. The IS 300 comes with a 241-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4, good for decent but not particularly impressive acceleration. Add all-wheel drive and the IS 300 is upgraded with a 260-hp 3.5-liter V-6 with smoother overall performance.
Rear- and all-wheel-drive IS 350 models both get a 311-hp 3.5-liter V-6 with silky smooth acceleration that is simultaneously more sophisticated but offering less punch than most competitors’ turbo engines. It clocks to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, or 5.7 seconds with AWD.
Rear-wheel-drive versions get a quick-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission that seems dated, but better manages available power than the all-wheel-drive versions’ 8-speed automatic.
The rear-drive IS 350 F Sport is available with a package that adds adaptive dampers and a limited-slip rear differential for about $1,200. It’s worth it for the better handling as well as the added comfort that offsets the stiffness of the bigger optional wheels.
The IS 500 just might remind you of Detroit muscle in its prime, with a 472-hp 5.0-liter V-8. Handling isn’t as sharp as the BMW M3, but it’s still good, and Lexus keeps weight light for a 4.4-second sprint to 60 mph.
2024 Lexus IS Comfort & Quality
The Lexus IS is snug and surprisingly basic inside.
As long as you’re up front, the 2024 Lexus IS is perfectly comfortable. The plush front seats earn a point, though it’s quickly subtracted for the small back row. The trunk is nearly small enough to shed another point, but not quite. It’s a 5.
The front seats are supportive and easily adjustable. Rear occupants will struggle for limited legroom like strangers in economy class on a long flight. Keep in mind, too, that all-wheel-drive versions sacrifice some rear foot space. Just 11.0 cubic feet of gear can cram into the trunk.
Though Lexus doesn’t even put leather upholstery on the IS’ options list, a nice grade of synthetic leather comes standard across the lineup, and other nice materials do a decent job of dressing up the cabin.
2024 Lexus IS Safety
Great crash-test scores and safety tech make the 2024 Lexus IS a safe pick.
How safe is the Lexus IS?
Lexus’ smallest sedan earns top marks in crash evaluations and comes loaded with driver-assistance tech. Good standard features and good scores from the NHTSA and the IIHS all earn points, for an 8.
The IS comes standard with adaptive cruise control, active lane control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and blind-spot monitors. Options include a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, and park assist.
The NHTSA awards a five-star overall rating, with four stars for the frontal crash rating. It’s a Top Safety Pick+ per the IIHS rating scale.
2024 Lexus IS Features
For a luxury sedan on a budget, the 2024 Lexus IS is a great choice.
We’d skip the base versions of the Lexus IS, since the uprated powertrains offer stronger value. Overall, the lineup arrives at an 8, with points awarded for its standard equipment, big touchscreen, and good warranty.
The 2024 Lexus IS starts at $41,235, including a $1,150 destination charge. All-wheel drive adds $2,000 more. Standard features include an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, LED headlights, and synthetic leather seating. Lexus bundles a sunroof, heated and cooled front seats, and some other upgrades, and another $1,000 swaps out the 18-inch wheels for 19-inchers.
Every IS is backed by a 4-year, 50,000-mile warranty with a year of included maintenance.
Which Lexus IS should I buy?
At $44,410, the IS 350 brings enough extra potency that the upcharge seems like an obvious choice. In addition to the more powerful engine, this version gets suspension upgrades and F Sport styling. At this level, Lexus introduces the tempting Handling Package, with adaptive dampers and a limited-slip rear differential.
How much is a fully loaded Lexus IS?
The Lexus IS 500 costs $60,020 and the F Sport Performance Premium version is $64,520. It includes the bigger 10.3-inch display, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, and some other premium amenities. Even with $2,500 forged wheels, you’re just over $67,000. You can’t get a BMW M3 at that price.
2024 Lexus IS Fuel Economy
You’ll be making pit stops more often than not with the 2024 Lexus IS.
Is the Lexus IS good on gas?
Not really. The base rear-wheel-drive IS 300 is OK, with EPA ratings of 21 mpg city, 31 highway, 25 combined. That’s good for a 3 here.
With all-wheel drive, the IS 300 drops to 19/26/22 mpg; that’s about on par with IS 350 models, which get 20/28/23 mpg with rear-wheel drive and 19/26/22 mpg with all-wheel drive.
The potent IS 500, with its V-8, drinks fuel at a rate of 17/25/20 mpg.
Note that premium fuel is required across the lineup.
