The 2011 Lexus IS ranks 12 out of 21 Upscale Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 63 published reviews and test drives of the Lexus IS, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
With a stylish exterior design, easy-to-use controls, comfortable ride and strong resale value, it’s no wonder the Lexus IS has become a leader on Lexus’s sales charts.
Available with two powertrains, the 2011 Lexus IS comes with either a 2.5-liter V6 that produces 204 horsepower or a more serious 3.5-liter V6 that churns out 306 horsepower. While there is a more hardcore IS-F, it is reviewed separately. Although many reviewers find the smaller motor a bit weak for its class, its pricing is similar to the Audi A4 and is a relative bargain for upscale midsize cars. But if you’re looking for a car with some grunt, the IS 350 is the one you want. Just know it will cost you over $5,200 more than an IS250 with rear-wheel drive and an automatic transmission.
Additionally, either Lexus IS can be had with two different drivetrains. Rear-wheel drive is standard but if you’d like to spend more for secure traction in wet weather, all-wheel drive is available for an additional $2,460. This is the first year the IS350 can be optioned with all-wheel drive.
If you want to catch some rays, the Lexus IS line also features convertibles with metal, folding roofs. Although most reviewers agree the Lexus isn’t as sporty as its competition from BMW and Infiniti, the IS is more practical due to its larger trunk space.
The Lexus ES costs nearly $3,400 more than the base IS, and has a different feel. Because it is not tuned for performance, it is not a driving enthusiast’s car. If you’re looking for a car with a sportier feel, the IS is the car for you.
Other Cars to Consider
While the Lexus IS is the sportier of the two midsize cars Lexus makes,if you’re looking for a car that will eat up windy roads, there are better options out there. The BMW 3-Series gives buyers sharp styling, good interior comfort and a lot of fun, but all of this comes at a hefty price. If the 335i’s $2,500 premium over a comparable IS 350 isn’t enough to scare you off, wait until you see that some of the Lexus’s standard features-- like leather upholstery -- cost extra in the BMW.
Want something more plush and relaxed without becoming as soft as a marshmallow? Check out the Cadillac CTS. Like the IS, the entry-level Cadillac balances sport and luxury with an emphasis on luxury. This means that the Caddy will scoot you around town without being as harsh as the BMW or Infiniti. But, the base CTS is priced at nearly $3,000 more than the base Lexus IS. On the other hand, the base CTS has a major power advantage over the Lexus IS 250 with its 3.0-liter 270 horsepower engine.
Lexus IS: The Details
For 2011, the Lexus IS gets a minor facelift that updates the car’s exterior, interior, adds a new F Sport package and brings a first for the IS lineup: an all-wheel drive IS 350. With AWD competition from Audi, BMW, Cadillac and Infiniti, it only made sense for Lexus to get in on the act.
"These premium compacts impress for their design, features, and materials. They also benefit from Lexus' strong resale-value record. However, they're not quite alluring enough alternatives to the Audi A4 or BMW 3-Series--especially in rear-passenger room and comfort. "
"While Lexus contends that the IS C [Convertible] represents its wilder side, we'd qualify that with: "It depends on what you consider wild."
"As expected, the IS convertible features Lexus fit and finish and, somewhat less appealingly, Lexus dynamics."
"On the whole, it seems that Lexus was aiming for a slightly less sporty demographic with this car, namely buyers who want the aesthetics and track numbers of a sport sedan along with the compliant ride and coddling interior of a luxury sedan. If that sounds appealing to you, then the IS 350 hits the bull's-eye."
The IS gives buyers the choice of two flavors: a speed demon or something more laid back. The IS 250 is the slower of the two while the 350 picks up the slack. Although testers agree the IS has more sporting credentials than the rest of the Lexus portfolio, the IS can’t run with the best in the midsize class. To combat this criticism, Lexus added an optional F Sport package for IS 250/350 models with rear-wheel drive. The package modifies the IS’s suspension, steering and wheels, and make the IS a sharper car on curvy roads.
"The IS 250 C maintains all of the static accolades of the sedan, but it left us bereft dynamically with tuning that emphasized luxury over sport."
"IS 350s are strong in all situations."
" Lexus IS 350 has what sport-sedan shoppers are looking for. At least, that's how it appears on paper. However, driving the IS 350 may be something of a letdown from the dyed-in-the-wool enthusiast's perspective."
"For crisper handling, a new F Sport Package includes a sport suspension, 18-inch wheels and front and rear spoilers. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard"
Acceleration and Power
The two available engines on the Lexus IS are very different. The IS 250 comes equipped with a 2.5-liter V6 engine that makes 204 horsepower. That makes it one of the weakest motors in its class. The IS 350, on the other hand, is like a rocket. With its 306-horsepower V6, some test drivers managed 0 to 60 times under six seconds. Testers are less-than-impressed with the 250’s engine but find the 350 packs more-than-adequate punch.
IS 250 buyers have a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. IS 350s only come with the automatic. The cars have different appetites, too. The EPA estimates that an IS 250, in rear-wheel-drive form, should get 21 mpg in city driving and 30 on the highway. The IS 350, on the other hand, gets 20 city, 27 highway mpg.
"IS 250s feel sleepy on takeoff, strained up steep grades, and are shy on midrange passing power despite a responsive, silky automatic transmission. Lexus says an IS 250C convertible does 0-60 mph in 8.4 seconds, and that seems reasonable based on our tests; the lighter sedan should be quicker. "
"The 2.5-liter V6 seems rather crude and underpowered compared with the BMW 328i's silky smooth 3.0-liter inline-6, and while the IS 250's steering is accurate, it's notably lacking in feel. Handling is certainly competent, but the IS 250 bounces up and down like a softly sprung luxury sedan over bumps, even with the optional sport suspension. As for the stick shift, fuggedaboutit -- it's easily worst-in-class. "
"At 3,840 pounds when equipped with a manual gearbox, [the IS 250C] weighs almost 400 pounds more than the sedan, and every one of those pounds is devoted to sapping life out of the convertible. To our enthusiast minds, the 306-hp IS 350C makes a lot more sense. The additional 102 hp and another 66 pounds over the IS 250C makes for a significantly better driving experience."
"Acceleration in the IS350C feels manly, although the open-air exhaust note is just a humdrum hum."
Handling and Braking
Reviewers find both Lexus IS models sharp in the corners. But those who have tested the sport suspension generally say it isn't worth the added investment and the IS’s available all-wheel-drive system seems to lag behind what competitors offer at this price point. Convertible models handle much like their sedan counterparts when the roof is in place but things change when you drop the top. Once you lower the roof, the added weight behind the rear axle makes for a sloppier drive.
"Convertible edition's 'spring and shock tuning were changed from the sedan's, as were some suspension bushings, to transmit less impact energy through the body. That's a technical way of saying the ride is a little mushier so the body will flex less. You feel it in corners where this weighty ship rolls and porpoises a bit more than the sedan.'"
"IS corners with little body lean, secure grip, and an agile feel. The optional sport suspension and 18-inch tires furnish little cornering advantage, nor does AWD on dry roads."
"The IS 250 C maintains all of the static accolades of the sedan, but it left us bereft dynamically with tuning that emphasized luxury over sport. At 3,840 pounds when equipped with a manual gearbox, it weighs almost 400 pounds more than the sedan, and every one of those pounds is devoted to sapping life out of the convertible."
“Driving the IS 350 may be something of a letdown from the dyed-in-the-wool enthusiast's perspective. The 3.5-liter V6 is unquestionably a highlight, providing smooth yet thrilling acceleration at the drop of your right foot. Unfortunately, the only available transmission is an automatic, and it's a slow-shifting one at that. Moreover, while the IS 350's steering is accurate, it's notably uncommunicative.”
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