The Lexus IS 350 picks up from where the 300 IS left. It carries the same Japanese panache and reliability minus the power scarcity. The IS 350 trades a punchy V6 engine for the toothless Inline-4, though it still suffers from the claustrophobic cabin. As a luxury sedan the IS 350 pulls just the right proportion of power and price which most of its adversaries fail to achieve.
Priced at $42,030, the 2020 Lexus IS 350 is backed with a 3.5L V6 engine mated to an 8 speed- automatic transmission. The powertrain musters 311 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. The handling is fair with but not that bright and the power delivered is linear without the pedal being touchy.
Lexus IS 350 competes in the entry-level luxury market. The competition is cutthroat and just delivering a decent car is not enough for a manufacturer. Lexus has to take on big names like Mercedes Benz C Class, Audi A4, BMW 3 series, and Infiniti Q50. This might seem like a gentlemen's duel but it's actually a bar fight as almost every adversary is bring something new this year.
2020 Lexus IS 350 Front View
2020 Lexus IS 350 Rear View
Features
6.0/10
Admired as Lexus’s entry-level luxury the IS 350 is a compact luxury sedan starting from the base price of $42,030. The IS family offer 2 trims IS 350 and IS 350F Sport further divided into Rear-wheel-drive. There are 2 engine options available with the RWD backed by the 2L Turbo I4 engine and the AWD receiving the 3.5L V6 engine. If we talk about features the car is bequeathed to a lot of them.
The standard feature list includes features like a 7-inch infotainment system, LED headlamps, a moonroof, 18-inch alloy wheels and synthetic leather upholstery, which is quite a deal when you look at the price. On the other hand, the F Sports package adds the goodness of adaptive dampers, upgraded front seats, silver-finish interior, a digital gauge cluster and more. And the fun doesn’t end here, add in the Premium package to get a 10.3-inch infotainment screen, 15-speaker Levinson audio system, leather seats, and a lot of other features.
Trim
IS 350
IS 350 F Sport
MSRP
$42,030
$45,225
Key Features
18-inch wheels
18-inch wheels (with either summer or all-season tires)
LED headlights
Sport-tuned suspension
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Limited-slip rear differential (RWD only)
Power-adjustable front seats
Upgraded brakes
Simulated-leather upholstery (NuLuxe)
Intake sound generator
60/40-split-folding rear seatbacks
Heated and ventilated front sport seats
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Special sport-oriented gauge cluster
Lexus Enform Remote vehicle controls
Two USB ports
7-inch color display
Eight-speaker sound system with an auxiliary audio input
Satellite radio and HD radio
We Recommend
The IS 350 is the more powerful version of the IS 300. The IS 350 itself is a self-sufficient trim however, the F Sport trim package will give your car a major makeover with upgraded brakes, a sport-tuned suspension, a limited-slip differential, heated and ventilated seats and more.
Engine and Performance
7.0/10
“Handling dynamics aren't this car's strongest suit, though you can have fun whipping this luxury compact around a bend or two. The IS 350's V6 is strong, but acceleration isn't as quick as what you'll get from rivals with turbocharged V6s”- Edmunds
Engine and Transmission
The IS might be a compact luxury but engineers at Lexus built it like a sports sedan. It’s a decently powered car but there is no change in the power figures from last year. The 350 Lexus IS is rated at 311 horsepower and 277-pound-feet of torque. This power comes from the hard work of a 3.5L Premium Unleaded V6 engine paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
2020 Lexus IS 350 Sedan Engine Bay
Though the unchanged power figures is a discouraging factor, all the vehicular sense reported some change. You get a more peppy engine with decent thrust and seamless power delivery.
Models
Lexus IS 350 sedan
Mercedes Benz C300 sedan
Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan
Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Tronic Quattro Prestige sedan
BMW 330i xDrive sedan
MSRP
$42,030
$41,400
$38,300
$42,000
$42,250
Engine
3.5L V6 Premium Unleaded
2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded
3.0L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded
2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded
2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded
Transmission
8 Speed Automatic
9 Speed Automatic
7 Speed Automatic
7 Speed Automatic
8 Speed Automatic
Horsepower
311 hp@ 6600rpm
255 hp@ 5800rpm
300 hp@ 6400rpm
248 hp@ 5000rpm
255 hp@ 5000rpm
Torque
277 hp@ 4800rpm
273 hp@1800 rpm
295 hp@ 1500rpm
273 ft-lbs@ 1600rpm
295 ft-lbs@ 1550rpm
Acceleration
Rather than chasing other sedans like an angry bull the Lexus IS is a humble Japanese machine. Sure it's fast, and easy to handle but acceleration is not its best virtue. As you fire up the engine and floor the car, Lexus hits the 60 mph in 5.6 seconds similar to its last year’s performance. The quarter-mile figures are not stunning either, the 14 second time for the quarter-mile performance is below average.
2020 Lexus IS 350 Sedan driving view
Models
Lexus IS 350 sedan
Mercedes Benz C300 sedan
Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan
Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Tronic Quattro Prestige sedan
BMW 330i xDrive sedan
0-60 MPH
5.6 sec
5.9 sec
5.5 sec
7.1
5.3 sec
Quarter mile
14 sec
N/A
13.8 sec
N/A
13.7 sec
Engine
3.5L V6 Premium Unleaded
2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded
3.0L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded
2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded
2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded
Emission
(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
N/A
6.8
7.7
6.5
N/A
Ride Handling
The engine might feel powerless and the acceleration is a weak spot but the IS 350 doesn’t let them undermine its road presence. Behind the wheel, it feels sharp and easy to maneuver. The steering is limber and communicative but loses connection while spiriting and turning on high speeds. On the highway, the ride feels nice and composed but going twisty is not the best thing to do in an IS.
There are 4 drive modes each with their own senses. The Eco mode binds the engine and throttles response to make it an old man’s ride, Comfort or Normal Made loosen the grip on the engine and makes the transmission more touchy for better downshifts. The Sports mode puts the IS on steroids with more engine noise, instant throttle response, tighter steering, and everything you need to counter the car in front of you. A Sport + mode is only available in the F Sports package. The ride becomes more sporty with adaptive dampers and a limited-slip differential on the F sports trim.
Braking
Lexus is known for its reliable braking system and easy to modulate pedal. However, that’s not the case with the IS 350. The pedal feel is short and stiffer than most of its rivals. The front brakes are rated at 13.1 inches and the rear rotor size is 12.2 inches. Being a compact sedan the Lexus is not that heavy, it weighs about 3594 pounds which is a sound figure for a car of this stature.
Model
Lexus IS 350 sedan
Mercedes Benz 300 sedan
Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan
Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Tronic Quattro Prestige sedan
BMW 330i xDrive sedan
Brake Front (in.)
13.2
13
12.6
13.3
N/A
Brake Rear (in.)
13
11.8
12.1
13
N/A
Curb Weight (lbs.)
3594
3472
3727
3627
3764
60-0 MPH (ft.)
177 (70-0)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Fuel Economy
7.0/10
The fuel economy is not the best in the world, in fact, the middling numbers for the competition will make your choice even more puzzling. With the Lexus, you have a 20 mpg of city mileage which can be expanded to 28 mpg on the highway. Together you can expect a 32 mpg of combined, mileage from the Lexus IS 350. Similar numbers are featured all across the luxury small car segment.
Model
Lexus IS 350 sedan
Mercedes Benz 300 sedan
Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan
Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Tronic Quattro Prestige sedan
BMW 330i xDrive sedan
MPG (city)
20
23
20
23
23
MPG (highway)
28
34
29
34
33
MPG (combined)
23
27
23
27
27
Range (miles) (city/highway)
348/487
400/592
400/580
413/520
N/A
Tank Capacity (gal)
17.4
17.4
20.0
15.3
15.6
Interior
7.0/10
“The IS struggles to find a balance between innovation and complication. Its low ride height and roofline require taller drivers to bend and duck to clear the doorways. This cabin has mediocre functional efficiency”- Edmunds
Seating and Comfort
The interior is as much of a luxury as any German car, though the styling is unique and homogenous to Lexus performance cars. The controls are in the vicinity to the driver and the cockpit styled Gauge cluster on the F sport keeps driver road-focused. The seats and comfortable and higher beltline secure comfort for taller drivers. As for the quality, there is nothing cheap or inferior to feel, the optional wood and aluminum earns them more points for the interior. To spoil their customers Lexus provides a number of options for leather and colors as standard.
2020 Lexus IS 350 Sedan Front Seats
The majority of the 184.3 inches of the total length is used for the cabin to deliver more headroom and legroom space. However, it’s not particularly a roomy cabin. The front seats flaunt 44.8 inches of legroom space while maintaining the 32.2 inches of headroom space. Furthermore, the rear seats are not that comfortable.
The low headroom and legroom figures may fool you for a coupe.
Model
Lexus IS 350 sedan
Mercedes Benz 300 sedan
Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan
Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Tronic Quattro Prestige sedan
BMW 330i xDrive sedan
Passenger capacity
5
5
5
5
5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
38.2/55.9/44.8
37.1/55.3/NA
39.5/56.7/44.5
38.9/55.9/41.3
38.7/56/42
Second
(Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
36.9/53.4/32.2
37.1/55/NA
36.8/56.1/35.1
/37.454.5/35.7
37.6/54.6/35.2
The feature list might be rich but usability is an issue with the Lexus IS. You get a 7-inch infotainment screen with Lexus’s Enform infotainment system. Other features like 15- speaker Mark Levinson Premium Audi system, Remote Touch Controller, integrated navigation and the all-new Alexa integrated voice control and the Lexus Enform App suit. The infotainment is responsive but the remote controller makes operation difficult then simplified. Apple Car Play and Android Auto are still absent of 2020 Lexus.
Transmission, Cruise And Audio Controls On Steering Wheel
Interior Air filtration front Seatback Storage
Leather Steering Wheel
Keyless Ignition
Climate Control
Turn Signal In Mirrors
Cargo volume
Practicality on your Lexus is limited to a certain point, you can go shopping, drive around the city with a couple of bags and that’s it. Don’t expect to pack everything and go for a weekender on the IS. The truck volume hits rock bottom on 10.8 cubic feet. The competitors in the compact luxury sedans deliver way more than the IS is capable of. And not just that, the subpar cabin utility also hinders your experience on a huge level. Space endured on the extensive center console could have been used for more cubby holes.
“The 2020 Lexus IS demonstrates great attention-to-detail, but its style isn't for everyone”- The Car Connection
Design and Dimension
When it comes to styling Lexus is all about making bold statements. Right from its colossal spindle grille which looks more like a yanking dragon, to its sharp choice of rear headlamps, Lexus always tries to make a statement with its design. No matter how sharp the lines are its doesn’t feel rebellious and conveys its luxury make. The limited styling to the side draws may feel incomplete but it sure brings your attention to its five-spoke alloy wheels. And yes, no matter if you are picky there is an array of paint options like Readline, Ultrasonic Mica, Nebula Gray and more.
2020 Lexus IS 350 Sedan
Model
Lexus IS 350 sedan
Mercedes Benz 300 sedan
Infiniti Q50 3.0T Luxe sedan
Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Tronic Quattro Prestige sedan
BMW 330i xDrive sedan
Curb weight (lbs.)
3594
3472
3727
3627
3764
Length(in)
184.3
184.5
189.6
186.1
185.7
Width(in)
71.3
71.3
71.8
72.5
71.9
Height(in)
56.3
56.3
56.8
56.2
57
Ground clearance (in)
5.3
3.8
5.1
N/A
N/A
Wheelbase (in)
110.2
111.8
112.2
111
112.2
Track width (in) F/R
60.4/61
61.5/60.9
60.8/61.8
61.9/61.2
62.3/62.9
The dimensions largely remain the same for the majority of cars in the segment and the Lexus is no different. You have a 184.3-inch long car, 71 inches wide and 56 inches tall, also all cars share the same weight category. However, the IS flaunts a shorter wheelbase of 110 inches. it can be a blessing but a curse too. The shorter wheelbase gives it a shorter turning radius which aids maneuverability but it also creates a mess on rough pavements, as the cabin jounces a lot till the anomaly pass.
Safety is a strong point on the Lexus IS, a rich features list, strongly built quality, and positive rating makes the Lexus worth your money. The last year’s version received a respectable 4 star rating by the NHTSA and the highest Good rating for the small overlap front driver side crash test rating by the IIHS. Furthermore features like adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, active lane control and more.
Lexus Enform safety connect
Rain-sensing wipers
Led headlamps and led daytime running lights
Intuitive parking assist
Brake system
Blindspot monitor* with rear cross-traffic alert
10-airbag system
Rigid body structure with crumple zones
Smart stop* technology
Competition
9.0/10
Lexus IS 350 vs Mercedes Benz C300 Sedan
It's been 4 years that the C class was due for an update but 2020 is the year of hope, the front and rear end were redesigned, the engine was tuned to deliver more power, and a couple of tech features upgrades. Compared to Lexus the C class has more power by maintaining a competitive price. The interior quality is also fine without any hard plastics, both Merc and Lexus got the interiors right. The C class went a little further with its better rear seats. Last comes, the good old rationality of the car which is affected by the low cargo and mileage of the Lexus.
Mercedes Benz C300 Sedan
Lexus IS 350 vs Audi A4
The Audi A4 is more of a sporty ride rather than being a comfort, not the polar opposite but there is a difference. Audi markets the A4 with its superior tech-savvy features and the laser shape handling prowess. Its better at delivering ergonomic numbers and at the same time adding more cargo volume. The good thing is that you can add more of those geeky features by going with the higher trim. One thing which Audi lacks is power, you can opt for the S4 but you need to pay more.
Audi A4
Final Verdict
7.6/10
The Lexus IS 350 perfectly defines the compact luxury market, it’s a better version of the IS 300 as it takes away the lack of power which the 300 endured. Though it's still not enough to counter the European engineering. The small body may not contemplate the sports car standards but the aggressive grill and design make up for it. However, sportiness is not its best virtue. The 350 IS can be a comfortable cruiser any day. It's quick but does not exceed the competitors in a sprint, also the small body limits the boot to swallow more luggage. Efficiency is not the best either, it even drops down a few points from the 300 IS.
Overall, the Lexus IS 350 is the type of car you wish to consider while looking at the 300 IS. You want everything the 300 IS renders without the expense of power and handling.
