2021 Lexus IS 300
The Lexus IS four-door has seating for five, turbocharged engines, and offers a choice between rear- and all-wheel drive. The sporty sedan has horse-jockey proportions, crisp handling, and a high level of overall refinement and craftsmanship. The chassis and powertrains have been carried over from the year prior, but for 2021 Lexus has refreshed its exterior styling and updated the IS interior with a new touchscreen display.
The least expensive IS remains the IS300, the numbers denoting a 2.0-liter turbo-4 that churns out 241 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It's capable of 6.9-second 0-60 mph times. An 8-speed automatic is standard, as is rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional.
For more oomph, a 3.5-liter V-6 comes standard in the IS350. The two extra cylinders bring output to 311 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. With an 8-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive, an IS350 arrives at 60 mph in 6.1 seconds.
Fuel economy is up slightly with the redesign, checking in at an EPA-rated 21 city, 31 highway, 25 combined for a rear-wheel-drive IS300. Rear-drive IS350 models quaff fuel at a rate of 20/28/23 mpg. Adding all-wheel drive to the V-6 further drops fuel economy to 19/26/22 mpg.
Every IS gets a better assortment of standard safety features this year, with the list including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, automatic high beams, and new for 2021, blind-spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alert. Optional equipment includes a surround-view camera system and parking sensors that work in tandem with the automatic braking system in case a driver inches a little too close to another car when pulling into a spot.
The IIHS is still waiting to complete their testing, so they haven't yet issued the IS a safety rating. What we know so far is that the IS has aced the five crash tests the institute has managed to complete. The NHTSA awarded the IS a five-star overall rating.
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The chassis and powertrains have been carried over from the year prior, but for 2021 Lexus has refreshed its exterior styling and updated the IS interior with a new touchscreen display.
The least expensive IS remains the IS300, the numbers denoting a 2.0-liter turbo-4 that churns out 241 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It's capable of 6.9-second 0-60 mph times. An 8-speed automatic is standard, as is rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional.
For more oomph, a 3.5-liter V-6 comes standard in the IS350. The two extra cylinders bring output to 311 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. With an 8-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive, an IS350 arrives at 60 mph in 6.1 seconds.
Fuel economy is up slightly with the redesign, checking in at an EPA-rated 21 city, 31 highway, 25 combined for a rear-wheel-drive IS300. Rear-drive IS350 models quaff fuel at a rate of 20/28/23 mpg. Adding all-wheel drive to the V-6 further drops fuel economy to 19/26/22 mpg.
Every IS gets a better assortment of standard safety features this year, with the list including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, automatic high beams, and new for 2021, blind-spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alert. Optional equipment includes a surround-view camera system and parking sensors that work in tandem with the automatic braking system in case a driver inches a little too close to another car when pulling into a spot.
The IIHS is still waiting to complete their testing, so they haven't yet issued the IS a safety rating. What we know so far is that the IS has aced the five crash tests the institute has managed to complete. The NHTSA awarded the IS a five-star overall rating.
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| Engine | 2.0L I-4, 3.5L V-6 |
| MPG | Up to 21 city / 31 highway |
| Seating | 5 Passengers |
| Transmission | 6-spd auto w/OD, 8-spd auto w/OD |
| Power | 241 - 260 hp |
| Drivetrain | all wheel, rear-wheel |
| Curb Weight | 3,715 - 3,847 lbs |
