2021 Lexus IS Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and Photos

The 2021 Lexus IS compact luxury sedan is new—and also quite familiar—to commence its 3rd 10 years on sale in the U.S. 

Considering the fact that 2000, the Lexus IS has competed from stalwarts from Europe and the U.S., but at occasions has struggled to carve a market among the its competitors. It has been made available as a small wagon, a superior-performance sedan, and as a hardtop convertible in former iterations. The 2021 Lexus IS is a four-door sedan, readily available with a person of a few engine alternatives, in rear- or all-wheel push. All of the above are identical to the outgoing edition, proper down to the electricity figures and wheelbase. The 2021 edition gets a new search, but we’ll have to wait to see if it gets a new really feel. 

It goes on sale in late 2020, but Lexus has not nevertheless stated how substantially it fees. 

Evaluation continues underneath

Type and performance

The new Lexus IS isn’t a extraordinary departure from the final edition, entire with a familiar hourglass grille, boomerang LED working lights, sculpted overall body sides, and tapered rear close. 

At the back again is the place the new IS is most recognizably various from the design it replaces. A extensive strip of LED taillights spans the trunk from aspect to aspect, underneath a stamped “shelf” that serves as a tall tail. The mishmash of creases, lights, upright panels, tall decklid, and fat rear bumper above comparatively little rear exhausts has our brows furrowed—but our final judgment will have to wait till we see it in human being. 

Within, not substantially has transformed for the new Lexus IS in contrast to the old sedan. Most of the heart stack and console continue being, such as a significant touchscreen perched on top rated of climate controls, gear shifter, and infotainment touchpad controller. Drivers get a digital instrument cluster borrowed from the LFA supercar (Ed’s observe: If anybody remembers what that is any longer.) and the exact steering wheel and controls as the outgoing auto. The biggest change inside of may perhaps be gimballed vents at the corners of the sprint, for improved or even worse. 

Below the hood of the 2021 IS is a familiar trio of powertrains, mostly similar to the outgoing auto. The foundation IS300 is powered by a two.-liter turbo-4 that will make 241 horsepower and 258 pound-ft of torque, which is the exact as the 2020 edition. It’s paired to an eight-velocity automatic transmission and rear-wheel push. 

The IS300 with all-wheel push substitutes in a 3.5-liter V-6 that will make 260 hp and 236 lb-ft and a 6-velocity automatic. The all-wheel-push system is biased toward the rear, but can deliver up to 50 % of its readily available electricity to the front wheels. 

The 2021 Lexus IS350 is the top rated of the hill for now and makes use of a 3.5-liter V-6 that will make 311 hp and 280 lb-ft. With rear-wheel push, it’s mated to an eight-velocity automatic with all-wheel push, it gets a 6-velocity automatic. Lexus estimates that the IS350 will accelerate up to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds with rear-wheel push, which is the exact time it requires a BMW 330i with its foundation turbo-4 engine. 

The IS350 can be outfitted with a lot more performance hardware when optioned with an F Sport package, which is only readily available on the top rated engine this year. It gets 19-inch wheels that are broader in the rear for improved traction, and an readily available dealing with package that consists of adaptive dampers and a rear restricted-slip differential (rear-wheel-push products only.) We have not nevertheless driven the 2021 IS350 but the tale of the tape isn’t encouraging Lexus’ top rated products review to lots of foundation products from German competitors. 

However, Lexus claims it nipped and tucked elements of the 2021 IS to push improved than the 2020 edition, such as stiffer springs and suspension parts, lighter-weight wheels and mounts. 

Consolation, basic safety, and characteristics

The new Lexus IS is approximately similar to the design it replaces, with an inch extra to the over-all size and width. The wheelbase is the exact as the 2020 edition, which does not bode well for interior convenience the IS was presently on the small aspect for passenger place among the competitors. 

The interior is shod with synthetic leather upholstery as standard products and electricity-adjustable front seats. F Sport products get their individual treatment with two-tone interiors or purple synthetic leather. Lexus has not stated if real leather will be readily available in the IS.

Every IS is outfitted with a suite of active basic safety gear that consists of automatic crisis braking with pedestrian detection, active lane management, adaptive cruise management, blind-spot monitors with rear cross-targeted traffic alert, and automatic superior beams. 

Lexus isn’t demonstrating its hand with all the readily available characteristics in the IS, but an eight.-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is standard on all sedans. A ten.3-inch touchscreen is readily available. Premium audio will be on the solutions record, alongside with special paint shades that value more. 

The 2021 Lexus IS will go on sale in late 2020.