2021 Lexus IS Road Test and Review

2021 Lexus IS 300 Front ・ Photo by Nicole Wakelin

The 2021 Lexus IS gets a makeover this year with new styling and features, but much remains unchanged. There are no changes to what’s under the hood and the design, although new, looks quite familiar. There’s still that bold spindle grille dominating the front of this sedan, but around back the design is noticeably sleeker and more streamlined for a sportier overall impression.

While the powertrains aren’t new, Lexus made numerous changes throughout the IS to improve the overall experience. It enhanced the suspension and increased rigidity, which not only improves the driving dynamics, but helps reduce noise and vibration for a more pleasant ride. Inside, the infotainment screen is now closer to the driver, and there’s both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for a more connected experience. Let’s take a closer look at the 2021 Lexus IS to see if it’s the right compact sports sedan for you.

Two Available Trim Levels

There’s a choice of two Lexus IS trims starting with the IS 300. Equipped with rear-wheel drive, it has a 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower. Standard features include dual-zone automatic climate control, Nuluxe interior trims, selectable drive modes, and heated outside mirrors for a starting price of $39,000. Add all-wheel drive and there’s also a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 260 horsepower at $41,000.

Next is the IS 350 F Sport, which starts at $42,900 with rear-wheel drive or $44,900 with all-wheel drive. It has a more powerful 311-horsepower version of that V6 engine. It also adds unique front and rear bumpers, grille surround, rear spoiler, and exhaust tips outside with more heavily bolstered front seats, heated and leather-trimmed sport steering wheel, and LFA-inspired instrumentation. In addition to those styling enhancements, the F Sport also has a specially tuned suspension that provides a more performance-focused drive experience.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Up to 311 Horsepower

The powertrain options start with a base 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. This engine is only available on the IS 300 with rear-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive IS 300 gets a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 260 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The IS 350 F Sport has the same 3.5-liter enhanced to provide 311 horsepower with 280 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive trims of the IS have an eight-speed automatic transmission while all-wheel drive trims have a six-speed automatic, both with paddle shifters.

We spent our drive time with the IS 300 equipped with all-wheel drive, so we drove the middle-of-the-pack engine. Even without the extra horsepower of the IS 350, the engine was engaging and responsive. Power delivery was smooth and well managed while still being aggressive enough to make merging into highway traffic effortless.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

A Comfortable Ride With Sporty Handling

sports cars tend to have stiff rides that aren’t the best at absorbing the bumps and dips of rough road surfaces. luxury cars go the other direction and often have remarkably smooth rides minus the performance handling characteristics. The 2021 Lexus IS does an admirable job of balancing those attributes as a luxury sports sedan. Seating is supportive with heavy bolstering, but not so much so that it squishes larger passengers. The ride is smooth and compliant, meaning that rough, uneven surfaces and broken pavement won’t jar passengers.

Drivers benefit from the relaxing ride while still enjoying an engaging drive. Handling is crisp and responsive with paddle shifters that let you take a bit more control should you choose. Further enhancing the drive are three drive modes. Eco focuses on efficiency, Sport provides the most responsive ride, while Normal strikes a balance between the two.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Seating for Five in an Attractive Interior

The 2021 Lexus IS has seating for up to five people. The front seats are heavily bolstered as befitting a performance car, but still roomy enough for those with a larger frame. There’s ample head and legroom and it’s easy to find a comfortable seating position with a good view of the road. Soft-touch surfaces abound with rich trims lending the IS an upscale, luxury feel.

Rear seats technically seat three, but that’s a stretch. There’s enough room for two adults to get comfortable, but no one is going to want to sit in the middle unless it’s for only a brief trip. Headroom is good for all but the tallest rear passengers, but legroom is another story. Push the front seats back and the backs of those seats are likely to brush the knees of rear passengers.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Modest Cargo Room

The job of a sedan is to comfortably carry passengers, and that’s what the Lexus IS does best. There are occasions, however, when those passengers have luggage to bring along for the trip, so cargo space still matters. No sedan is going to give you the room or versatility of a crossover, but the Lexus IS still has a reasonably sized trunk to handle cargo with a total of 10.8 cubic feet.

That’s easily enough to handle luggage for a weekend getaway. It’s on the small side if you’re planning on carrying bags for a family, but that’s not the target market for this sedan. This is a small, sporty choice that skews toward younger buyers who don’t necessarily have a family yet. If you do have significant luggage needs, then this is not your best option and you may want to consider going with the Lexus ES instead.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Fuel Economy That Won't Break Your Budget

Fuel economy isn’t often a priority for those looking at performance sedans, but the 2021 Lexus IS makes sure you won’t have to empty your wallet at the pump. Equipped with the 2.0-liter engine, which is only available with rear-wheel drive, it gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined.

Move up to the 3.5-liter engine and the numbers drop to 20 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined for rear-wheel drive models. There’s another dip if you choose all-wheel drive, which gets 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. While there are more fuel-efficient choices out there, the Lexus IS provides a good balance of performance and fuel economy that keeps it from becoming a budget-buster when gas prices rise.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Improved Standard Safety Technologies

Safety gets an upgrade in the 2021 Lexus IS with Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 standard across the lineup. This enhanced system features improvements to existing features along with a few new ones. The pre-collision system, which includes a frontal-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian and bicyclist detection has an expanded response range and improved left-turn intersection support. Additional standard features include a lane-departure alert with steering assist, road sign assist, enhanced lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, and all-speed dynamic radar cruise control.

Blind-spot monitoring and a rear cross-traffic alert are also standard, with additional available features including intuitive park assist with automatic braking, rear pedestrian detection, and a panoramic view monitor to help with maneuvering in tight spaces. The comprehensive range of standard features on the Lexus IS helps set your mind at ease.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Improved Infotainment

Standard infotainment on the Lexus IS includes an 8-inch color touchscreen that is positioned closer to the driver than the non-touchscreen display the vehicle included last year. There’s also now standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The addition of these connectivity features is a huge improvement and one that makes the system far easier to use. The touchscreen is also a big change since it eliminates the need to use the mouse-like touchpad on the center console. You can use it if you want to, but most will find the touchscreen a better choice, especially on rougher road surfaces.

Optional features include a 10.3-inch touchscreen, which also adds navigation. Standard audio is a 10-speaker Pioneer system, but audiophiles will want to upgrade to the 17-speaker, 1,800-watt Mark Levinson premium surround sound system for a richer audio experience.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Final Thoughts

The 2021 Lexus IS has key changes that help it stay competitive. While powertrains are the same, improved handling makes the IS more engaging to drive. It delivers on the promise of a sports sedan while maintaining the calm and comfort of a luxury car. It also offers improved safety technologies and an infotainment system that’s much easier to use.

The addition of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a touchscreen interface prevent the system from feeling dated or lacking. Styling enhancements keep it looking sleek and modern, with the F Sport delivering true head-turning good looks. The Lexus IS is a complete package offering an attractive, comfortable, and engaging sports sedan experience.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin