Definitely one of the most comprehensive reviews for the IS350 FSport, and I've seen MANY! Just traded in my '06 IS350 with 202K miles for a 2016 IS350 FSport with 25K miles two weeks ago and your review is spot on.
I bought a 2019 IS350 AWD F-Sport 3, and it's fantastic. The V6 is authentic and sounds great, throttle response is instant, tons of grip from the AWD system, and it's quick. It's not as fast as a G70, C43, 340i etc but it's still a fast car, with more than enough power for the street if you manual shift and keep the revs above 4k. I love knowing that it'll be super reliable and won't see the inside of a shop other than scheduled maintenance.
@@elusivellama I'm looking to buy an IS 350 or RC 350 next year with some mileage on it. Are there any things I need to know from your ownership experience?
What year IS350 and how much mileage? I recently traded in the 2019 for a new 2024 after 5 years of ownership, by the way, nothing was wrong with the '19, still drove like it was brand new. I'd have to say that you'll find the 3.5L V6 to have more than enough power for the street. You just have to learn how the car puts down power, how the transmission shifts. These things are plenty fast for daily driving, and as mentioned the '19 was still utterly reliable and unchanged after 5 years of daily driving. Amazing cars that are built great from the factory with the greatest of care.
Love the car. Just bought one and it is amazing. Ppl complain about it being owned by Toyota but it is a huge plus. The service costs are way lower and longevity is much higher than any of the competition.
Finally ! I love this car it's the best well rounded sport sedan and gives you the comfort that you have Lexus reliability with you and great performance. It's a win win. Looks like nth else.
Sri, I wouldn't compare them. The IS 250 compares with teh BMW 320, the IS 350 really compares with the 328i. The Lexus handles better and feels better.
Alex on Autos Love the attention to detail. What distinguishes your reviews, is the extensive comparison you make for every vehicle. The scale for the size of vehicles is very creative, I like that a lot.
***** Thanks for the feedback..So far I was quoted $26800 Out The Door price for the 2016 Civic Touring..The 2014 IS250 with 25-30k miles around the $25500 OTD price and the Fsport $29-$31k with 25-30k miles
This was an excellent review, comprehensive of the two cars and their competition. I wonder how much you write v speak extemporaneously. Your writers are superior.
Great comparison to the 3 series driving dynamics, specifically 335i. 335i triumph in straight line acceleration but loses in terms of handling. Cannot wait for the q50 review!
Awesome review! As seen from the comments, you either love the look, or you hate it. I personally like the predator mouth. I'm looking at getting into an IS 350 F-Sport. My X3 35i has had it share of issues but it is a good vehicle overall. With a young child now in the back, I need bulletproof reliability but also something with some fun. The IS seems to fit the bill nicely.
+Benjamin Wong stay away from BMW once you go Lexus you never go back... the Lexus will never be a money pit unless you make it a money pit with upgrades, which is fine who wouldn't want upgrades:) since you mentioned you have a child, i would recommend the NX200t F sport its very aggressive and has a turbo so it has that instant power and looks crazy but hey whatever you go with as long as its a Lexus im proud ;)
+Benjamin Wong stay away from BMW once you go Lexus you never go back... the Lexus will never be a money pit unless you make it a money pit with upgrades, which is fine who wouldn't want upgrades:) since you mentioned you have a child, i would recommend the NX200t F sport its very aggressive and has a turbo so it has that instant power and looks crazy but hey whatever you go with as long as its a Lexus im proud ;)
I am impressed with the level of detail you have in your reviews. wWhat's your opinion on is300 vs is250, which one is the more sportier of the two. thanks!
I personally like it simple. All the extra info is for engineer language that most Consumers don’t understand smack about. I as a consumer Care about the looks, mileage, and cost of owner... simple. Screw everything else it’s a damn luxury car which ain’t cheap🚗 but overall thumbs up.
Good review. You gotta test the 335i and C400 next! You make a good point about the tradeoff.... this is something the Germans realized long ago. Horsepower is enjoyable much more of the time for a larger % of the population than handling precision. I realized this with my last car (which had both). I'm lucky in that I can take a two lane road home for about 30 miles from work, but even on that I can't push too much in the turns. However, power is always appreciated when I want to make a pass.
Alex on Autos Excellent job on the Lexus IS 250/350 presentation! In most reviews, the journalist says to drop the extra dough for the 3.5 - is the 2.5 really that anemic feeling?
As usual great review Alex. How about the fuel consumption figures for awd 350 and 250? They are both sixes couldn't find them on the vid. . Also for the F Sport versions of these .
Alex, How would you rate the IS 250F sport against the BMW 328i M Sport? The look and feel of the IS is awesome, but the BMW was too good when it comes to the drive. If you had to pick one, which one would it be?
Hi Alex, Have you considered reviewing used cars or CPOs? Many luxury car buyers return their cars after their leases end. This results in a flurry of 2-3 year old CPOs available across all brands. People looking to buy CPOs and used cars look at different parameters than new car buyers. I’m looking to buy either a GS350 or E350 of 2014-15 model year as I think they are good value after their initial depreciation. But couldn’t find reviews by you for either of them. I didn’t find anyone else doing reviews on used/CPO cars.
Man I’ve wanted this car for over 5 years, the only thing holding me back is the ergonomics of the middle centre console. Looks tiny and not to mention the passengers side there’s cup holders there. Any current owners find this a problem?
My has one. We’re not big people, pretty small at around 5”5 and it’s perfection. The centre console holds you into place and it feels incredibly fitting I’d say give it a test drive and see what you feel
I have a 2015 IS 350 F Sport and the engine has a weird rattle almost as if it was a diesel engine is this normal for this particular car? And I have less then 30K miles. Please let me know!
Personally, not a huge fan of this car from an AWD perspective. It took them 4 years in the last gen to bring out an AWD on the 350 and even this generation still has the weird floor hump. Alex, a couple of questions: 1) What is going on with Lexus' infotainment systems? The NX went to a touchpad controller but the recently revealed RX looks to be back to this mouse-like controller. 2) Do you see the NX turbo engine coming over to this car to match up closer in power to the Germans? Thanks!
flymetothem00n Supposedly next year we should see an IS turbo, keep your fingers crossed. On the infotainment system? I have no idea. I think this is my least favorite input method bar none, Lexus really needs to go back to the drawing board on this.
I have an important question? This car being used has a California registration" abd all cars sold in California are forto have power and performance smog technology that severely cripples a cars performance power abd fuel efficiency. Do us this car being used being hampered by those California restrictions?
Almost every vehicle sold in N America in the last decade is 50 state compliant, there is no emissions difference between a CA or TX car or truck today.
Do you notice understeer on the RWD model of IS350? A lot of other reviewers comment about its invasive traction control that still functions even if it says it's off.
Alex on Autos I see. Thanks. Are you planning to review GS350 F-sport RWD some time? A GS350 is priced closely to loaded IS350 but with more space and better interior IMO. Would you consider GS350 FSport or IS350 FSport for $50K-$55K?
Zhili Chen The traction control can be turned completely off, but as a practical matter it will usually be on. I find the traction control to be quite well-done, in that it does it's job and very quickly gets back on the power. However, I could see where a road-racer would prefer a setting where it did not come-on quite so readily.
Zhili Chen As for understeer, I can't notice any in aggressive street driving. But then I have the same tires all-around, while the IS 350 is more typically equipped with wider tires in the rear, which will increase understeer. Personally I think wider tires in the back of this car is for vanity only and degrades performance - it simply doesn't have enough engine to need the wider tires. And don't get me started on the "bad ass" grill of the F-sport version. 8)
Is this car loosely based on the Toyota Corolla?, or at least size wise(length), plus I've always found Lexus grille sort of attractive in styling of course.
dennisscipio No, less than zero relation to the Corolla. It's about as related as the Corolla is to a Mercedes C-Class. They are about the same size, but that's it.
mountainhobo In general AWD improves the handling in a FWD car but numbs it in a RWD car. That's obviously an overly general statement but it does apply to the IS. The AWD version doesn't feel quite as connected but you can play in the snow without chains, so that's a trade off.
Alex on Autos Thanks, Alex. I've owned RWD and FWD, but never AWD. As for snow, I also live in SF Bay Area, so not much danger of regular snow driving. ;)
dizzywow California has very steep mountain passes, remember the Sierra Nevada go from just above sea level to near 15,000 feet rapidly, that's why the early settlers kept dying on their way over. That said, California tends to be extremely cautious and I think they make you put on chains way way too early.
dizzywow On some of the roads in California and Nevada in the mountains you have to use chains, they won't let you go otherwise. Was stuck once in a blizzard near Carson City, and luckily I had chains in the trunk. (seems like we posted pretty much the same thing with Alex seconds apart ;))
Alex, can you please review the refreshed Mazda 6, as far as I remember the only issue with the previous version was the infotainment system, which is addressed in the facelift, thank you.
+curseknight5 Its never an upgrade going from a luxury German Auto Maker to a Japanese lol (though I am biased towards German engineering as I drive a 4 series Gran Coupe myself) I don't think Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti can compete with the likes of BMW,Mercedes Benz, and Audi
I currently drive the IS250 and coming from personal experience the IS250 engine is too underpowered. Merc CLA250 def has more power. Luxury wise I prefer Lexus
Hopefully I'm making the right choice 2 to 3 months. I'm leaning toward 2015 IS 250 Fsport. it's either Infiniti, Acura or lexus... so confused don't know what to get. Will be my first luxury car coming from a Toyota 4 runner, and a honda accord. 😣
Hi, Just a quick question. I live in Canada, and i have found a 2014 IS350 with only 3000km for 40,000 while I can get a brand 2015 A3 base for around 42,000(after tax, 36 before tax and freight). Which car is the better vehicle? I would be the only one driving this vehicle. Also, which one is faster? Thanks, John Much Appreciated!
John A3 is considerably smaller... Not sure there's much to recommend, for the same price. The S3, on the other hand is a clearly more sporting option, but expect higher running costs than the IS.
+dizzywow Audi has a lot of problems just like bmw and mecz, u might go broke in a few years...but if u have money then go for the performance cars like german cars..
Thank you for another awesome review! I am looking forward seeing the Q50 review as the IS350 and the Q50 are definitely 2 top vehicles in their class and Q50 reviews have been quite lacking. My 2 main issues with the IS350 are with the power delivery that make the IS not so fun-to-drive unless you got wide open throttle and the so-so interior design I find too busy and disjointed with an infotainment screen too recessed and quite ordinary. Keep up the good work!
Ben Haze "Wide open throttle", no. "High RPM's, yes. The motor does need to rev to make good power. Not a bad thing, really. A more valid complaint is that there is no manual option.
Anyone got this car model 2014 or 2015 or 2016 the is350 or is250 not the f-sport model , how does it feel when you drive it ? How its comfort from inside and for long drives , does it have the enough and good power on it ? Please anyone got it replay because i am going to buy mine in 3 months
This review was done before the CVT transmissions on the Nissans were spelling doom for the Infinity brand as well. Folks are finding about the horrible repair/replacement costs as well. Scotty Kilmer’s reviews have been pointing out the very poor quality for many years. Dave in Phoenix Arizona USA.
Civic is a better car in almost all aspects, faster aceleration, more room and storage space, and you have to try the Honda sensing or Acura watch and then decide.
mreastonmurphy After driving all 3 I bought the 2016 Accord Sport less options but enough for me..I have no regrets...the Civic is really nice though..let me know what you end up getting
Really? I liked the IS bc it was smaller, i can fit it more places. The Avalon is beautiful by the problem with it is its too expensive for a Toyota and not quite a lexus :/ As far as the Is i can't stand the rear lights overflowing on the sides, and what happened to the ISF? did they stop with the 2014? Uhh, i hate the leather bag thing.
If BMW was as reliable as Lexus that's where my money would go, but unfortunately there's only one choice for me.
The idea is to daily a lexus and have a bmw as a weekend whip
@@gvaz694 了一14 be b by gii I’m by Hugh a y
@@gvaz694 i did just that and the bmw still managed to break down by itself. now my weekend toy is lancer evo
@@automachinehead I have a lancer none evo :(
@@gvaz694 swap the engine sir
He got my like when he climbed in the trunk
LOL SAME
Definitely one of the most comprehensive reviews for the IS350 FSport, and I've seen MANY! Just traded in my '06 IS350 with 202K miles for a 2016 IS350 FSport with 25K miles two weeks ago and your review is spot on.
I bought a 2019 IS350 AWD F-Sport 3, and it's fantastic. The V6 is authentic and sounds great, throttle response is instant, tons of grip from the AWD system, and it's quick. It's not as fast as a G70, C43, 340i etc but it's still a fast car, with more than enough power for the street if you manual shift and keep the revs above 4k.
I love knowing that it'll be super reliable and won't see the inside of a shop other than scheduled maintenance.
Jesus. That must of cost you a fortune
Not really. I'm still driving it, it's nearly 5 years old and I still love it. Hasn't had anything go wrong on it, it's an awesome daily driver.
@@elusivellama I'm looking to buy an IS 350 or RC 350 next year with some mileage on it. Are there any things I need to know from your ownership experience?
What year IS350 and how much mileage? I recently traded in the 2019 for a new 2024 after 5 years of ownership, by the way, nothing was wrong with the '19, still drove like it was brand new.
I'd have to say that you'll find the 3.5L V6 to have more than enough power for the street. You just have to learn how the car puts down power, how the transmission shifts. These things are plenty fast for daily driving, and as mentioned the '19 was still utterly reliable and unchanged after 5 years of daily driving. Amazing cars that are built great from the factory with the greatest of care.
@elusivellama I'd say 2018-2020. 40-60k miles. Thanks for your feedback.
Love the car. Just bought one and it is amazing. Ppl complain about it being owned by Toyota but it is a huge plus. The service costs are way lower and longevity is much higher than any of the competition.
Haha, it's a bonus if it's owned by Toyota, that means it'll be just as reliable (if not more reliable) as any Toyota.
How often do you gas up? I understand it’s premium gas, do you find the cost much higher than usual?
@@GloXum average mpg is 23
This might be the best review I’ve ever watched!
I actually like the way it looks
Been waiting for a a proper IS350 review from you. Was not disappointed.
brilliant details and as a bimmer driver i am going to look hard to buy lexus 350 sport thank u for ur hard solid work
6:49 made me spew my drink all over my keyboard. Well done.
"Trunk Comfort" haha
But it's a great way to compare though!
I’ll be praying for your keyboard XD
Finally ! I love this car it's the best well rounded sport sedan and gives you the comfort that you have Lexus reliability with you and great performance. It's a win win. Looks like nth else.
+Toyota4Life are you blind ???? Did you read these reviews ???? 2 key words here : Hideous and ugly..... Camry boy!!!
bigden 2755 Nah. Theres alot of people who likes the looks actually
+bigden 2755 haha vteccccccccc
chith siriphat
aren't those Hondas ?????
This is the best car review I ever seen,very detailed.
One of the best reviewers out there
Love this car. Would chose it over any of the competition. Just wish they had their engines updated.
Sri,
I wouldn't compare them. The IS 250 compares with teh BMW 320, the IS 350 really compares with the 328i. The Lexus handles better and feels better.
Alex on Autos : Awesome! Thanks.
Alex on Autos Love the attention to detail. What distinguishes your reviews, is the extensive comparison you make for every vehicle. The scale for the size of vehicles is very creative, I like that a lot.
Alex on Autos it does not compare to the 328 lol
Which would you buy a used 2014 Lexus IS250 Fsport or a New 2016 Civic Touring?
***** Thanks for the feedback..So far I was quoted $26800 Out The Door price for the 2016 Civic Touring..The 2014 IS250 with 25-30k miles around the $25500 OTD price and the Fsport $29-$31k with 25-30k miles
This is such an awesome review, you have became my favorite car reviewer!
Now This is how you review a car. You have just earned a new subscriber! keep it up!
Best review I've seen on the IS250. Thiis review has confirmed my decision to purchase one I'm intertested in. Well done sir 👌🏽
Looking at certified IS 350 F-Sports, video was useful, many thanks.
How many of us bother about 0-60 You dont buy a lexus for that You buy it for reliability refinement and luxury
What I really like is they use port injection and Direct injection so no carbon fouling of valves.
Alex, you need to include in your reviews how the sunroof behaves. Great videos though!
Wow. Great review! You should have your own TV show.
Wow that is some clear, concise & detailed review, in a short amount of time!! Were you reading all that or was it straight off the bat? Thanks
This was an excellent review, comprehensive of the two cars and their competition. I wonder how much you write v speak extemporaneously. Your writers are superior.
Great comparison to the 3 series driving dynamics, specifically 335i. 335i triumph in straight line acceleration but loses in terms of handling. Cannot wait for the q50 review!
Very thorough review 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 thank you!
My only complaint is that my 2012 Volvo S60 T4 is worth so little and a 2017 Lexus IS200T or 250 are priced so high! Outstanding review!
I‘ve got one and I can say it is enjoyable but you gotta pay for it. Good review
What do you mean pay for it?
@@DOUBLE0SEVUN
Tires and brakes wear out fast when you push the car.
Awesome review! As seen from the comments, you either love the look, or you hate it. I personally like the predator mouth. I'm looking at getting into an IS 350 F-Sport. My X3 35i has had it share of issues but it is a good vehicle overall. With a young child now in the back, I need bulletproof reliability but also something with some fun. The IS seems to fit the bill nicely.
+Benjamin Wong stay away from BMW once you go Lexus you never go back... the Lexus will never be a money pit unless you make it a money pit with upgrades, which is fine who wouldn't want upgrades:) since you mentioned you have a child, i would recommend the NX200t F sport its very aggressive and has a turbo so it has that instant power and looks crazy but hey whatever you go with as long as its a Lexus im proud ;)
+Benjamin Wong stay away from BMW once you go Lexus you never go back... the Lexus will never be a money pit unless you make it a money pit with upgrades, which is fine who wouldn't want upgrades:) since you mentioned you have a child, i would recommend the NX200t F sport its very aggressive and has a turbo so it has that instant power and looks crazy but hey whatever you go with as long as its a Lexus im proud ;)
Alex on Autos Alex your new $wagg glasses make you look like Dr. Eggman from Sonic haha.
Gordon Ho WOW
you are dead on!
Haha, you just brought back so many memories with that comment.
i was thinking more 3 blind mice from shrek
Awesome review man, very in-depth.
Very detailed review as always. Nice looking car on the exterior.
The difference Between Cadillac ATS and the competition though, is that Cadillac runs on regular gas and the rest runs on premium.
I am impressed with the level of detail you have in your reviews. wWhat's your opinion on is300 vs is250, which one is the more sportier of the two. thanks!
Love your videos. Very informative. Will you do a Mazda 3 2016 review?
Looking to purchase one soon, this review gave me all the information I needed to make the decision. Thank you for being so detailed!
Two years later. Did you buy it?
Did you do it??
I personally like it simple. All the extra info is for engineer language that most Consumers don’t understand smack about. I as a consumer Care about the looks, mileage, and cost of owner... simple. Screw everything else it’s a damn luxury car which ain’t cheap🚗 but overall thumbs up.
Now its time for a comparison between the IS250 F-Sport and the 2016 Acura ILX A Spec :) Great review!
Good review. You gotta test the 335i and C400 next! You make a good point about the tradeoff.... this is something the Germans realized long ago. Horsepower is enjoyable much more of the time for a larger % of the population than handling precision. I realized this with my last car (which had both). I'm lucky in that I can take a two lane road home for about 30 miles from work, but even on that I can't push too much in the turns. However, power is always appreciated when I want to make a pass.
Hey Alex, love your in depth videos. Are you going to be reviewing the IS 300? Thanks.
Perfect review. Thank you Alex!
Lexus sedans are way more attractive than RX SUV models, no matter which way u look at it, the IS series is a great looking car
Wow what a great review. Thanks very much
Whoo Hoo! Q50 review coming.
❤ I love this car someone should give to me as gift ❤😂
Alex on Autos Excellent job on the Lexus IS 250/350 presentation! In most reviews, the journalist says to drop the extra dough for the 3.5 - is the 2.5 really that anemic feeling?
Well.... It's not swift that's for sure.
As usual great review Alex. How about the fuel consumption figures for awd 350 and 250? They are both sixes couldn't find them on the vid. . Also for the F Sport versions of these .
Great video
Both RC and IS F sport come with adaptive suspension, could you explain why their ride scores differ so much?
Once again, great review Alex. BTW, I noticed the Infotainment review link is not working.
trinhk Thanks for letting me know!
Alex, you didn't mention the C300 in your final rankings. Does that mean you rank it below the Q50, IS, and 328i? Thanks for another great review.
Ryan Thompson I like the C300 more but its not as good of a value.
Great review
So what's the difference between the 2014 is350 compared to the 2015 is350?
Alex,
How would you rate the IS 250F sport against the BMW 328i M Sport?
The look and feel of the IS is awesome, but the BMW was too good when it comes to the drive.
If you had to pick one, which one would it be?
Hi Alex,
Have you considered reviewing used cars or CPOs? Many luxury car buyers return their cars after their leases end. This results in a flurry of 2-3 year old CPOs available across all brands. People looking to buy CPOs and used cars look at different parameters than new car buyers. I’m looking to buy either a GS350 or E350 of 2014-15 model year as I think they are good value after their initial depreciation. But couldn’t find reviews by you for either of them. I didn’t find anyone else doing reviews on used/CPO cars.
what about the cvt gearbox compare to the competition
does F sport come with Mark Levinson audio?
I’m about to get this car in 3 weeks for a decent price , I’ll make a video once i get it.
How has it been? My dad has one and it’s such a beautiful car in person
I believe the NX (in F sport?) has pipped in electronic engine noise. And it's adjustable with a knob.
mx5hong You're right, I actually forgot about the NX.
Man I’ve wanted this car for over 5 years, the only thing holding me back is the ergonomics of the middle centre console. Looks tiny and not to mention the passengers side there’s cup holders there. Any current owners find this a problem?
My has one. We’re not big people, pretty small at around 5”5 and it’s perfection. The centre console holds you into place and it feels incredibly fitting I’d say give it a test drive and see what you feel
I bought a 15 250 F Sport for its boring NA reliable engine. Very nice daily.
Hey Alex, How does the handling and feel of the IS350 compare to the 2015 Mercedes C300?
nice review. thanks
Any chance of reviewing the IS 300AWD 2016 model?
Another excellent review. feels a bit repetitive around the end. Maybe could have used a bit more editing?
I have a 2015 IS 350 F Sport and the engine has a weird rattle almost as if it was a diesel engine is this normal for this particular car? And I have less then 30K miles. Please let me know!
Personally, not a huge fan of this car from an AWD perspective. It took them 4 years in the last gen to bring out an AWD on the 350 and even this generation still has the weird floor hump.
Alex, a couple of questions:
1) What is going on with Lexus' infotainment systems? The NX went to a touchpad controller but the recently revealed RX looks to be back to this mouse-like controller.
2) Do you see the NX turbo engine coming over to this car to match up closer in power to the Germans?
Thanks!
flymetothem00n Supposedly next year we should see an IS turbo, keep your fingers crossed. On the infotainment system? I have no idea. I think this is my least favorite input method bar none, Lexus really needs to go back to the drawing board on this.
Is turbo ftw!
Do they have the directions thing on the rear view mirror like on the Audi and bmw ?
I have an important question? This car being used has a California registration" abd all cars sold in California are forto have power and performance smog technology that severely cripples a cars performance power abd fuel efficiency. Do us this car being used being hampered by those California restrictions?
Almost every vehicle sold in N America in the last decade is 50 state compliant, there is no emissions difference between a CA or TX car or truck today.
how expensive will it be if the tach info system is broken?
I can't click the infotainment review link because the UA-cam player controls pop up when I mouse the bottom of the video.
Nice job. Could you review the 2015 Prius (regular) with fully loaded model in some nice paint? Is it possible? If so pls let me know. Thank you
Chibu G. I'll see what I can do but since it is due to be replaced soon I may not be able to get my hands on it.
Trunk comfort aspect he says 😂😂😂
I've found that my F SPORT loves being shifted @5200 rpm.
Do you notice understeer on the RWD model of IS350? A lot of other reviewers comment about its invasive traction control that still functions even if it says it's off.
Zhili Chen Yes, but remember that the vast majority of RWD cars are tuned towards understeer unless you really try.
Alex on Autos I see. Thanks. Are you planning to review GS350 F-sport RWD some time? A GS350 is priced closely to loaded IS350 but with more space and better interior IMO. Would you consider GS350 FSport or IS350 FSport for $50K-$55K?
Zhili Chen I'd either get the GS or split the difference with a Q50
Zhili Chen The traction control can be turned completely off, but as a practical matter it will usually be on. I find the traction control to be quite well-done, in that it does it's job and very quickly gets back on the power. However, I could see where a road-racer would prefer a setting where it did not come-on quite so readily.
Zhili Chen As for understeer, I can't notice any in aggressive street driving. But then I have the same tires all-around, while the IS 350 is more typically equipped with wider tires in the rear, which will increase understeer. Personally I think wider tires in the back of this car is for vanity only and degrades performance - it simply doesn't have enough engine to need the wider tires. And don't get me started on the "bad ass" grill of the F-sport version. 8)
Are the intake manifolds plastic on the IS?
Is this car loosely based on the Toyota Corolla?, or at least size wise(length), plus I've always found Lexus grille sort of attractive in styling of course.
dennisscipio No, less than zero relation to the Corolla. It's about as related as the Corolla is to a Mercedes C-Class. They are about the same size, but that's it.
Alex on Autos Thank You.
dennisscipio Uh, the IS is a proper rear-drive car, a 3-series competitor. Of course it is not based on the Corolla. Sheesh. Buy a clue.
dizzywow Alright, Jeez!
+dizzywow lol
What about the AWD version? I don't believe you talked much about it. Is it a noticeable handling improvement?
mountainhobo In general AWD improves the handling in a FWD car but numbs it in a RWD car. That's obviously an overly general statement but it does apply to the IS. The AWD version doesn't feel quite as connected but you can play in the snow without chains, so that's a trade off.
Alex on Autos Thanks, Alex. I've owned RWD and FWD, but never AWD. As for snow, I also live in SF Bay Area, so not much danger of regular snow driving. ;)
Alex on Autos Chains? Never seen anyone in my life use chains, and I live in Minnesota. Real Winter tires, on the other hand, are needed with RWD.
dizzywow California has very steep mountain passes, remember the Sierra Nevada go from just above sea level to near 15,000 feet rapidly, that's why the early settlers kept dying on their way over. That said, California tends to be extremely cautious and I think they make you put on chains way way too early.
dizzywow On some of the roads in California and Nevada in the mountains you have to use chains, they won't let you go otherwise. Was stuck once in a blizzard near Carson City, and luckily I had chains in the trunk.
(seems like we posted pretty much the same thing with Alex seconds apart ;))
Alex, can you please review the refreshed Mazda 6, as far as I remember the only issue with the previous version was the infotainment system, which is addressed in the facelift, thank you.
Hey Alex, do you think coming from a CLA250 4matic to IS250 AWD is an upgrade?
+curseknight5 Its never an upgrade going from a luxury German Auto Maker to a Japanese lol (though I am biased towards German engineering as I drive a 4 series Gran Coupe myself)
I don't think Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti can compete with the likes of BMW,Mercedes Benz, and Audi
I currently drive the IS250 and coming from personal experience the IS250 engine is too underpowered. Merc CLA250 def has more power. Luxury wise I prefer Lexus
Hopefully I'm making the right choice 2 to 3 months. I'm leaning toward 2015 IS 250 Fsport. it's either Infiniti, Acura or lexus... so confused don't know what to get. Will be my first luxury car coming from a Toyota 4 runner, and a honda accord. 😣
Marina Yen watd u go with
which one did you get?
Hi,
Just a quick question. I live in Canada, and i have found a 2014 IS350 with only 3000km for 40,000 while I can get a brand 2015 A3 base for around 42,000(after tax, 36 before tax and freight). Which car is the better vehicle? I would be the only one driving this vehicle. Also, which one is faster?
Thanks,
John
Much Appreciated!
John I'd probably get the A3. The IS may be a hair faster but it depends on which A3 you are looking at,
John A3 is considerably smaller... Not sure there's much to recommend, for the same price. The S3, on the other hand is a clearly more sporting option, but expect higher running costs than the IS.
+dizzywow Audi has a lot of problems just like bmw and mecz, u might go broke in a few years...but if u have money then go for the performance cars like german cars..
How would this compare to a audi a4?
Thank you for another awesome review! I am looking forward seeing the Q50 review as the IS350 and the Q50 are definitely 2 top vehicles in their class and Q50 reviews have been quite lacking.
My 2 main issues with the IS350 are with the power delivery that make the IS not so fun-to-drive unless you got wide open throttle and the so-so interior design I find too busy and disjointed with an infotainment screen too recessed and quite ordinary.
Keep up the good work!
Ben Haze "Wide open throttle", no. "High RPM's, yes. The motor does need to rev to make good power. Not a bad thing, really. A more valid complaint is that there is no manual option.
how much does this car go for?
Anyone got this car model 2014 or 2015 or 2016 the is350 or is250 not the f-sport model , how does it feel when you drive it ? How its comfort from inside and for long drives , does it have the enough and good power on it ? Please anyone got it replay because i am going to buy mine in 3 months
This review was done before the CVT transmissions on the Nissans were spelling doom for the Infinity brand as well. Folks are finding about the horrible repair/replacement costs as well. Scotty Kilmer’s reviews have been pointing out the very poor quality for many years. Dave in Phoenix Arizona USA.
Which would you buy a used 2014 Lexus IS250 Fsport or a New 2016 Civic Touring???
Is250
Thanks
Civic is a better car in almost all aspects, faster aceleration, more room and storage space, and you have to try the Honda sensing or Acura watch and then decide.
Hey which one did you pick? Im literally thinking about the same 2 cars right now. New civic is really nice but the interior on the lexus is so sexy
mreastonmurphy After driving all 3 I bought the 2016 Accord Sport less options but enough for me..I have no regrets...the Civic is really nice though..let me know what you end up getting
Really? I liked the IS bc it was smaller, i can fit it more places. The Avalon is beautiful by the problem with it is its too expensive for a Toyota and not quite a lexus :/ As far as the Is i can't stand the rear lights overflowing on the sides, and what happened to the ISF? did they stop with the 2014? Uhh, i hate the leather bag thing.
So I guess the question is, will it drift?
Alex, do you own a dog? You should include a "dog comfort index" in your reviews.
Walter Black Just a cat to keep the mouse population in check and she's not very cooperative...
I would love to see you review the Lexus GS 350 F sport!
6:49 lmao!!!
When buying this car from a private party at 148k miles, what should I pay attention to?
How much
I may be trading my BMW 528i for this. I’m second guessing my decision.
You are wrong about the TLX accelerating faster...
The Autoamtic must be some new transmission
Does this guy remind anyone of Benjamin Linus?