2025 Lexus IS

When famous people die, especially old ones, most of their obituaries are already written. We’ve been doing something similar with the Lexus IS, expecting it to shuffle off its mortal sheet metal for the past couple of years. Not an unreasonable assumption, since this generation launched for 2014, and every major rival is much fresher.

Yet here it is, the 2025 IS, back for another spin around the sun. Since it’s mostly unchanged, that trip is going to be predominantly comfortable, if a little unremarkable. Unless it’s in the IS 500 F Sport, the only luxury compact sedan powered by a V8. We rarely see the wild side of Lexus, but this is a fascinating glimpse. Otherwise, the IS sticks to a dependable trajectory of value for money, great build quality, and enviable reliability. Sales numbers are still respectable.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of compact luxury cars, including the Lexus IS.

F Sport versions of the IS 300 and IS 350 gain more standard equipment in the form of self-dimming/power/folding side mirrors, powered steering column adjustment, memory settings (for the driver’s seat, steering wheel and side mirrors), and a dark chrome trim for the windows and mirrors. A heated steering wheel becomes standard in F Sport Design variants of the IS 300 and IS 350. The 2025 IS 500 F Sport also receives power-folding mirrors as standard, with the Premium version becoming eligible for a limited-edition (180 units) Special Appearance package. This bundle includes 19-inch alloy wheels from BBS, Flare Yellow exterior paint, upholstery of black simulated leather with suede inserts and yellow stitching, plus a Smart Access Card Key. BBS wheels are also available with the IS 350 F Sport.

We still think the days are numbered for this generation of IS. Let’s see what 2026 brings.

We’d recommend the IS 350, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), depending on how bad your winters get. Both variants are popular among IS buyers.

The closest rivals in terms of price are the Acura TLX and Genesis G70, both beginning a little higher than the 2025 IS. The BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are appreciably more expensive, although they’re rated higher for good reasons.

Before buying a new IS luxury sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are comfortably above the class average. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

A lot of buyers go for the 311-horsepower IS 350, which can keep up with the 255-hp BMW 330i and 300-hp Genesis G70, accelerating from standstill to 60 mph in less than six seconds. Or perhaps a 4.4-second sprint is your idea of fun. In that case, investigate the impressive 472-hp IS 500. The rear-drive IS 300 comes with 241 hp, enough to sprint from zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds. Mildly brisk, but no more than that.

Generally speaking, we’ve found the IS to have a smooth and composed ride quality appropriate for a luxury car. However, in terms of comfort or dynamics, we don’t think it’s on the same level as a BMW 3 Series or a Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Fuel Economy

The rear-drive IS 350 returns 23 mpg in combined city/highway driving. With all-wheel drive, it’s 22 mpg combined. To compare, the BMW 330i with rear-wheel drive manages 31 combined mpg and loses only another couple of mpg with all-wheel drive.

The rear-drive IS 300 achieves 25 mpg in a combination of city and highway driving. Its all-wheel-drive counterpart is thirstier by 3 mpg. That’s the same as the Acura TLX. The IS 500 is rated at 20 mpg combined. Premium gasoline is required for each IS engine.

As one of the older contenders in this compact luxury car class, the IS is not quite as roomy as its fresher rivals. This is especially evident in the rear seats, where legroom measures just 32.2 inches. For comparison, both the BMW 3 Series and Genesis G70 have a couple more inches, not just fractions of an inch.

The technology is also behind the curve. No integrated driver information display and infotainment touchscreen, which is the current trend elsewhere. Not even a dedicated spot for a phone, and no wireless charging (one of the few complaints in our owner reviews). Lexus does get the basics right, however, with comfortable front seats, great outward vision, easy-to-reach controls, quality materials, and excellent build.

Trunk space measures 10.8 cubic feet, small for the class.

The big Lexus signature grille is a reminder that the IS should be due for a radical revamp. We’ve seen this overall look on other Lexus sedans as well, and we think it’s time to take another direction. The Flare Yellow of the IS 500’s Special Appearance package joins the regular range of 10 other colors, some of which cost extra.

Infotainment system
The base setup includes an 8-inch touchscreen (which seems a bit small to us these days — a 10.3-inch version is available), plus Apple CarPlay/Android Auto phone integration, satellite radio, and Amazon Alexa compatibility.

All-wheel drive
Whenever the weather turns nasty, people who own vehicles with all-wheel drive compliment themselves on making a sensible decision. It’s available with two of the three IS models.

Panoramic View Monitor
This 360-degree camera system is optional and comes bundled with parking sensors plus emergency rear braking. We think it’s an investment worth making.

Mark Levinson audio
Lexus offers a 17-speaker/1,800-watt surround-sound system in the IS. It sounds fantastic, in our opinion.

Handling package
Choose an IS 350 and we’d say this option deserves consideration because it adds adaptive suspension for a sporty ride that’s not jarring.

IS 500 F Sport
In these days of hybrids, why does Lexus even make a compact luxury sedan with a gutsy V8 engine? But hey, we like a V8 as much as the next enthusiast. The IS 500 is a wonderful anomaly and enhances its power with upgraded hardware like suspension parts, stronger brakes, and a limited-slip differential.

The IS 300 with rear-wheel drive employs a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 241 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Lexus offers the IS 300 with all-wheel drive, which entails a different engine — a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 generating 260 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.

Regardless of driven wheels, the IS 350 comes with a 3.5-liter V6 producing 311 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. The rear-drive-only IS 500 is the one compact luxury sedan to come with a V8. This naturally aspirated 5.0-liter unit develops 472 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque.

Rear-wheel-drive variants have an 8-speed automatic transmission. Those with all-wheel drive use a 6-speed automatic transmission.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The new-car warranty from Lexus lasts four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for six years or 70,000 miles, which is better than rivals from Europe. But Genesis has better terms. The first two services — at six months/5,000 miles and 12 months/10,000 miles — are complimentary.

Safety Ratings

Earlier model years of this current IS have been named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), along with earning a top score of Good in an updated small overlap front test. This generation of IS has also earned a maximum 5-star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, plus blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.