2020 Lexus IS 350 Review

　　

2020 Lexus IS 350 Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　For 2020, the IS 350 returns mostly unchanged. It gains a new Blackline edition that adds a number of dark exterior and interior styling elements. Otherwise, this IS generation has been around since the 2013 model year. It's meant to be the sporty small luxury sedan in Lexus' lineup, at least compared to the ES 350. But the reality is that the two have pretty similar performance. In general, the IS 350's dated design keeps it from being a truly compelling pick for a small luxury sedan.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Lexus IS 350 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$200/mo  for IS 350 Base

　　IS 350 Base

　　4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $42,180 MSRP4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $44,345 MSRPF SPORT 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $45,375 MSRPF SPORT 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $46,710 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the IS 350 drive? At our test track, our test IS 350 was able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. That's OK but significantly slower than rival sedans with six-cylinder engines — a BMW M340i rips to 60 mph in just 4 seconds, for example. The IS 350's power isn't always right at your disposal either since the eight-speed automatic can be slow to shift whether you're using automatic mode or the paddle shifters.

　　The IS 350 F Sport handles quick directional changes well, but longer sweeping corners reveal a lack of front tire grip. The steering is also noticeably vague. The braking performance is average. In our panic-stop test, we recorded a stop from 60 mph in 117 feet. In routine use, the brakes are smooth and easy to use.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the IS 350? We suspect the Lexus IS might be a bit more comfortable in standard form, but our F-Sport version came up a short in this area. The ride is stiff, with both small and large bumps easily making their way into the cabin. A sporty suspension and short tire sidewalls make this problem evident over all kinds of surfaces. The seats are decently comfortable for long drives and have sufficient bolstering to keep you in place during cornering.

　　There were no squeaks or rattles from interior panels in our test car, but there was quite a bit of road noise especially at highway speeds. We do like the climate control system. It cools and heats the cabin well. Heating or cooling the front seats is quick and effective.

　　

Interior

6.5/10

　　How’s the interior? While most of the cabin's controls are easy to spot and reach, the clunky controller for the infotainment screen puts a damper on the experience. As for interior space, the wide center console leaves little room to maneuver, and the steering wheel does not have much tilt-and-telescoping range. The armrests are nicely padded but positioned a little awkwardly, so some of our test drivers couldn't really take advantage of them.

　　Headroom is limited in the rear, and the transmission tunnel makes the middle rear-seat spot uncomfortable. Forward visibility is excellent, but the sloping roofline forces passengers to dip inside, and the thick rear roof pillars create blind spots that make it necessary to opt for the available blind-spot monitoring system.

　　

Technology

6.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Lexus' infotainment controller is a dated system. Moving through the onboard menus is a clumsy endeavor that can pull your attention away from the road. The IS still does not offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility — a major oversight on a modern luxury car. Instead, owners can connect with Siri Eyes Free, or opt for Lexus Enform Remote and access certain vehicle functions through their smartphones.

　　Voice controls are useful thanks to a well-laid-out menu of commands, but there isn't any use of natural language. Standard safety tech such as automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control work well, as do options including blind-spot monitoring, and rear-cross traffic alert. But overall this system needs a big update.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Cargo space is on the small side for this class. Folding down the rear seatbacks creates a step above the trunk floor, which makes loading long or big items less convenient. The opening to the trunk is shaped in such a way that requires a bit more bending to load bags in. In-cabin storage for small personal items is limited, leaving you with few options for your stuff.

　　For family duty, the IS 350 has four hidden yet easily accessible LATCH anchors and three handy upper tethers to make installing a child's safety seat easy. But you'll have to duck a bit to install them since the rear roofline dips down a bit, and space for bulky rear-facing seats is lacking.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The IS 350 F Sport gets an EPA estimate of 23 mpg combined (20 city/28 highway), which is on the lower side of average for vehicle with an upgraded engine in this class. On our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route, our test car returned 23 mpg, which is also below what we'd expect and could indicate that matching the EPA's estimates could be a little difficult.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the IS 350 a good value? As we've come to expect from Lexus, the IS 350's interior is very well built with nice materials. You get a decent amount of features too. But the reality is that the competition is just better. Our test vehicle cost $50,940. For that money you could get a well-equipped Mercedes A-Class or a BMW 3 Series — both of which are more fuel-efficient and include more modern user interfaces.

　　Lexus offers a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which is comparable to others, and its six-year/70,000-mile drivetrain coverage is a bit better than average for the segment. Roadside assistance is included for four years/50,000 miles, and your first two scheduled maintenance services are free.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　The IS 350 F Sport falls behind class leaders when it comes to all-around fun. Poor driver engagement, vague steering, and a lack of front-end grip mean a less thrilling drive around curvy roads. The styling is distinctive, but Lexus' big front grille design continues to be an acquired taste.

　　

Which IS 350 does zzdcar recommend?

The IS 350 is only available in a single trim level, which leaves you deciding what options to add. Since the IS 350 represents the more powerful choice to the IS 300, there's a good chance that these shoppers are more performance-focused. For that reason, we suggest adding the F Sport package for sharper handling and sportier styling touches.

　　

2020 Lexus IS 350 models

The 2020 Lexus IS 350 is a five-passenger small luxury sedan that tops the IS lineup. It's only available with a 3.5-liter V6 engine (311 horsepower, 280 lb-ft of torque). It can be paired with rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission or all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic.

　　Standard features highlights include LED headlights, a sunroof, simulated leather upholstery (NuLuxe), a 7-inch color display, and an eight-speaker sound system. The IS 350 AWD also comes with heated front seats. Standard driver assistance technology includes lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and a forward collision warning system with automatic braking.

　　The IS 350 offers a handful of option packages. You can boost the car's luxury and convenience features with the Comfort and Premium packages. The Navigation package replaces the standard infotainment control dial with Lexus' Remote Touch joystick-type controller, a bigger screen and a navigation system. A 15-speaker Mark Levinson audio system can be added to this package.

　　For those who want to dial up the sporting factor, there's the F Sport package with revised styling, different wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a limited-slip rear differential (RWD only), and a few other upgrades. For strict aesthetics, you can opt for the new Blackline package that adds dark exterior and interior trim elements.

　　

2020 IS 350 Highlights

Trim: BaseF SPORTBase

　　

Base MSRP	$42,180
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$200/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles