Did Lexus Do Enough? | 2021 Lexus IS
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2020
- Rather than the all-new Lexus IS that many of us were expecting, 2021 brings a moderate refresh to the IS that we've seen on the road for a while. 2021 brings a sharper exterior, new infotainment and safety systems, a reshuffled options list... but no new engines under the hood.
Buy Merch! aoamerch.com
Join Today: bit.ly/2WdCEwW
Our Other Channel: The Mountain Garden: goo.gl/icFWcd
Follow AoA on Facebook: theautobuyersguide/ - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Did Lexus do enough?
Exterior yes
Interior NO
How ? the interior is bottom tier vs. the Germans and new TLX even
@@omgitsme435 he said the interior wasn’t good
@@omgitsme435 lmao don’t even compare the new TLX to this, the TLX takes the W this is has nothing on the TLX 🤣🤦🏻♂️ atleast Acura is trying something new 🤷🏻♂️ really wished they push over 300hp for the TLX
it seems a lot other companies have major tech upgrades except lexus
Interior yes
I really like the improved look of the front end.
Agreed! Its even better in real life :D
The Lexus ES just exposes that most people don't actually care about RWD and just want the space, refinement, and the badge. The ES simply makes the most sense given it's price and size when the vast majority of Lexus buyers putter it around to the grocery store. This is why the GS got axed and why the IS doesn't sell nearly as much.
And also why the RX sells so much.
Also the nx sells well too
Yup. The reviewers don’t really represent what the market wants.
@@kokipopi2985 they sadly only care about what they want: fast acceleration and sporty handling
@@naveenthemachine it’s the same in every industry. Cell phone reviewers are probably one of the worst.
I wonder if any prominent car reviewers are payed by manufacturers.
TL:DR, no, they didn't They barely did anything. Nearly IDENTICAL interior as the 2014, same platform as the 2006. Completely carryover engines. The AWD transfer case STILL doesn't fit in the car, and they still can't figure out a way to fit the 8-speed to it. I don't like the new TLX, but at least Acura tried to do something. This is just about the laziest "new" car release I've ever seen. Buy a 2014 IS, glue an iPad mini to the dashboard, and you have a 2021 IS. This will probably be the last IS, and then they'll just give up entirely on performance sedans. Way easier to sell a billion RXes for taking the kids to soccer practice.
true
@drmnys A good proof that everybody can say anything on the internet, he will find peoples believing he's right.
Claiming it will be the last IS just shows how few he knows about Lexus and what is actually brewing in the back. If he knew that, he would see why his statement is extremely unqualified.
4 cyl 2020 TLX all the way. Probably about same acceleration as this IS, similar tech, great DCT, maybe less luxurious, but about $10k cheaper after dealer discounts.
I've always loved the IS, the quality and reliably are fantastic.
Agree. Had a 2016 300awd and I liked it and they are dead reliable but dynamically lag behind newer class entries. Best buys are 2017 onward as there are few changes.
I still have the 2002 - MK1 IS300. It still drives excellent with 18 years of service. The day I change, it will be for a Lexus.
Thank you for the review, AoA. Always top notch. Really appreciate you. Trunk comfort is the best ever.
6.9 seconds is just completely unacceptable for that segment. A 20k civic is faster than that for crying out loud!
That's Lexus for you, my friend......
i think my 4 cylinder crossover is faster, i just looked it up yeah its faster 6.1 sec 0-60 in the AoA test drive. lexus needs to step things up a bit.
@@bird718
What crossover? Doesn't say much by saying 4 cylinder crossover. Crossover doesn't mean anything about performance. Nor does 4 cylinder indicate anything.
I can say my 4 cylinder hatchback does 0-60 in mid 5s. And it's a manual. Does that mean anything? Not really.
My Camry according to Alex will do 60 in 5.7
@@naveenthemachine
Toyota Camry V6 > lexus IS 4 cylinder
Wow Lexus actually has the balls to give you guys the base model when others usually just show their best trim model
they shouldn't have... the car is so disappointing in its max trim but they should have tried to get some good press lol
@@yoink7806 lmaoo yesss
@@yoink7806 The IS500 has a marvelous and great engine, but yeah the whole car it's dissapointing. Anyways
Thank you for this wonderful video Alex! Love the shirt!
@Alex on Auto, I will like to say I am sure you always check that a vehicle trunk can be open from inside before you lock yourself in one of them. it always fun watching you do that do. 😁😁😁
Your reviews are very comprehensive in just a few minutes and you touch on all the key points I care about. Well done 👍
I like the headlight and rear changes, a very clean and elegant look.
Hey Alex, I like that you discuss length but it would also be useful if you briefly described width as well. For people with small/multi car garages and to see how easy it is park, I feel its a more useful tool than car length. Thanks for all of the info.
i am so let down by the facelift. i was expecting a competitive product, not a rehash of a 2013 car
Don't worry at least it will last you as long as the Camry which is exactly the same car as this but 20k less.
Same
@@NBASFAN the Camry is not exactly the same car as the IS
@@NBASFAN they share the 3.5 L V6 and Eight speed transmission, but even though they are both on the TNGA platform the I S is rear wheel drive and the camry is front wheel drive, at least you can get a panoramic sunroof in a Camry LOL
@@NBASFAN the camry can never be the same as the IS. Their driving dynamics are very different. The camry is not a sports sedan
Take it or leave it the IS is the still best looking in this segment
R.I.P to the Jaguar XE. He filmed this before the news it get discontinued for the U.S. market.
Feels bad for jaguar
Great work as usual. Like your shirt - Its the way I think coming from a Computer-Engineering nerd.
DA MOST SENSUAL SPORT SEDAN IN ITS CLASS AND BEYOND
Lexus needs to stop with all these needless engines and transmissions. They all get about the same mpg so why would anyone want the turbo 4 or the de-tuned V6?
I am honestly tired of people defending Lexus at this point. The only excuse they have is that "it's more reliable" but how far can you ride that train? Who the hell pays for a luxury car and is worried about keeping it for the forseeable decade? Most are leased and most people want the "luxury features" in it and not this good enough features to make it luxury. Genesis is coming after them hard and I am sure they will kill off their sedan line up soon because their sales are already going down the drain.
@@jamesgand828 there is a market out there that want a long term luxury car. Mostly people who buy outright.
I buy all my cars and keep them for som time. I care!
@@TsLeng See, even in that department, they are getting killed by competition that offers 10 years of warranty (not to mention better performance).
@@jamesgand828 yeah the privilege of bringing your genesis in to get repaired every six months for ten years
17:35 That makes perfect sense, how many people really have a route to and from work to enjoy their sharper handling vehicle? Most people just want to get there in comfortable style 😎
Adjustable lumbar support should be standard on all Lexus (luxury) vehicles. 🪑
Accordingly, a minivan is "the perfect vehicle" for you if it has adjustable lumbar support. 👕 🚐
Lexus car models evolve at a glacier's pace, that's why you don't see many changes year to year. Like the F-Sport, it's all cosmetic.
A nice car that is ~4 years old :) With an MMI that incorporates old Lexus screen into the newer hardware. But it is sure drives good (a nice sharp reactions while Alex is driving the winding road out there), definitely worth to check it out.
Bottom line: A refresh without an update... :)
I'm glad they maintained the platform and simply updated styling. The IS is actually the most reliable in its class, and not just in its class - but the most reliable car period.
SURE
Thank you! I keep saying the same thing. Changing the front and rear ends and putting round a/c vents inside does not make this car “All New”.
Hi Alex,
How reliable was apple car play? Any glitches? Also, to use car play do you need to plug in your phone or can you do it through Bluetooth?
Thank you very much to Alex and to Lexus for showing us the new 2021 Lexus IS. Waiting for a plug-in version of Lexus or Lexus SUV with larger cargo space or both.
Yay! Trunk comfort index!
This is the only sports sedan I'd buy used.
It has many disadvantages, including outdated interior, not very fast even in 350 trim, and no fuel economy. But it is a rear wheel drive platform, fun to drive, refined vehicle that's still usable for normal driving and without spending much time at the shop.
Beautiful
And now let’s sit back and watch Acura devour the other Japanese luxury brands with their TLX.
I’d argue on the fact that it’s fwd but most people don’t seem to care. If it were my money on the line I’d still buy the RWD IS. But I digress and accept most people don’t care.
The new Acura TLX is very nice, but Acura did a big disservice to themselves by not including a panoramic roof in the new TLX, to stay class competitive and just offer a nicer car they should have included one, it probably will not get another full refresh for at least eight years, the C class, the g70, the 3 Series, the Kia Stinger, the Volvo all offer larger sunroofs, it would have been killer with pano...
@@nicholasbabeaux2052 I take it that you love panoramic moonroofs...
@@JJFLD haha I do, I think they look amazing, make a car feel special, make a small car feel big, and they are getting more and more popular, Mercedes has been doing it in a lot of their cars since the early 2000s, in Europe a lot of Hondas including the civic have had panoramic roof’s for years, and in 2017 when Honda released the new CRV they didn’t offer the panoramic roof in the United States but you can get one in Canada, thankfully now they do offer the panoramic roof on the hybrid, I don’t know about the other CRV models, but it’s not easily put into a car after it has been structurally designed from the ground up for it so the TLXProbably won’t get it till next generation
A very nice car at a potentially great price depending on what is optional and its cost. Wish it would have gotten lighter weight though to match the competition.I actually prefer the naturally aspirated engine in the V6 to the turbo competition.
Love the design of this and glad it drives even better than before, but going to wait a few more years maybe the updated inline 6 that was rumored just wasn’t ready form prime time yet, and I know they can’t possibly hope to keep using the same Camry V6 they’ve been using since the 2nd gen IS for the entire lifespan of this redesign. So hopefully in 1 or 2 more years we’ll get a new Powertrain🤞🏼🤞🏼
Omfg I thought toyota finally used up all those dam cruise control stalks!
Never. They ordered 100,000,000,000 of them. 😂
just shows how old this car is
@@slscamg My 2020 Highlander Platinum doesn't even have a cruise control stock!
lol
Probably the best designed cruise control stalk. Can’t make perfection better.
I don't get the hate for this car, it's just fanboys of other brands and childish hp number fanatics. They fixed all dated tech and replaced it with modern tech, the IS is now better than ever, has no big weak spot anymore and is still the most reliable model in this segment. Also it looks much better now, one of the best looking 2021 models imo. For everyone who doesn't want a ton of hp this is a great option.
It's not the car. It's Lexus.
Whatever the competition does to make their cars successful, Lexus does a little bit less.
This insures it stays a day late and a dollar short.
People want the IS to succeed, but it won't, and why isn't hard to understand.
@@InvestBetter. sure the 2020 was dated but the 2021 isn't anymore
I’m not hating it I just can’t get over the dated interior
People, including car enthusiasts, really want to love Toyota and Lexus for their reliability but it seems like they are resting on their laurels in so many ways on other aspects of the car. Its almost as if they are purposefully making their cars feel under-designed to convey that "we're reliable, not flashy." I was hoping their partnership with Mazda would rub off on them. Mazda has used it gain the same reliability (number 2 behind Lexus, right above Toyota) and despite being a much smaller company, has some of the best designed/featured cars in their class (even if you don't agree with some of their choices).
I think you've asked the right question there Alex. I honestly don't think that Lexus did do enough. At least give us the IS300h, at least that would be exiting and new in the market.
I'm definitely adding a is500 to my Lexus fleet.
Alex, How often does a turbocharger need recalibration?
answer to title,: NO... It is an exterior refresh , With the addition of Apple CarPlay and an even worse implemented physical screen with updated user control... Talk to me when they're ready for a full re-design And an F model to go with it
The ES is a 'soft marshmallow'! Hilarious! 👌
I like the front, the rear, and the overall shape. However, I hate the side scoop. Long snout means rwd base I presume.
A very fair review
If you have contact with the Lexus team could you ask them to make a coupe and convertible version of it please? Manual version also? Thanks
coupe is the rc. alex probably can't convince them to make a new model lmfao
Japan is handing the reigns of luxury cars to S Korea. They must not think the expense to try to gain market share is worth it...
@Der Schwindel Good point, other than Tesla, American luxury vehicles are as sad as the Japanese models overall. No innovation or investment, just minimum viable product to try to earn a few bucks on low volume cars. They need to just discontinue models if they aren't committed to selling them.
Those s.korean cars are not sold on a lot of markets. With the Infinity pull off and Genesis that never came, Lexus has a comfortable position.
Yet, it is not the moment to release anything for big billions in development. The crisis we are in will take biblical proportions and it's due time will be quite long.
Looks very sporty
alex, those turn signals in the rear do not look like theyre LED, at least theyre amber!
I noticed that as well. Seems odd in a modern car design. I wonder if there's either aesthetic or visual safety value having an incandescent bulb. I'd try and swap out those bulbs first thing with LED versions to modernize things.
The only thing left for people to buy lexus is reliability. Nothing else is better about them.
LS460 is pretty nice
I thought handling would at least get an A. I agree with the rest of the sentiments. They could have tuned the engines for higher power outputs.
The exterior looks so much better (minus the tree car’s Corolla wheels), but the transmission hump alone will drive me nuts
Only the 350 is worth the money! Power!!! Reliable! 3.5 NA engine!!!!
still not as good as the BMW 330i
That 2L 6 cyl was a sweet unit in the IS.The earlier cars were lighter than current models as well.(20 years since I drove that one).If the IS is so handling and feel focused why did it not score higher than B ? Too many engine and trans options Lexus,just give us one best all round version.
Can finally get a 2017-2019 IS. Which will probably still last longer than a brand new 2021 BMW
lol true
Plenty of 2017 - 2018 options on the CPO market. Mount a modern smart phone on the dash, fire up waze and call it a very nice used car experience.
Disappointing that they're still limiting the AWD models to the six speed transmission.
Looks good. Although I prefer the ES for its road manners. I’ve given up on sleek looking cars with a comfortable ride. They just don’t exist, sadly. So I just look at them and admire their looks but will never get one.
it looks bulky now.. it looks like a grandpa with a Nike track suit on 😂😂
Like a puffed up Corolla? 🙊🤣
Cruise Control Stalk 4 Evaaaaaaa, hehe. I've had it in all my Toyotas up to this point. I think they put some thought into it and it really is a no-brainer and be used without looking down. Once or twice to master, and that's it.
so is the trunk comfort index here to stay again!
Why is it you can fit a 10 inch tablet inside the glove box of this 2021 Lexus IS but you cannot fit a 10 inch tablet inside a 2021 Toyota Sienna? Toyota got their priority's wrong. Also the New Sienna has more tech than this car. What a shame.
9:00 Swipe up from the bottom edge?
Does it have a Tumor on the driver side in AWD?
Alex: Was your IS in Iridium or Atomic Silver?
that’s iridium
@@jmullerxx It seems much lighter in the video than in Lexus' own videos or on the Lexus site. I wonder if the lighting is very different.
@@michaelcliffordphotos It's a slightly darker silver than your average silver paint on cars.
This is the most beefy and muscular IS Lexus has delivered so far. They are on point with the designs to stay competitive in the market.
Alex, This is easily the car with the highest QDR in its class. Having said that, the enigmatic drivetrain choices continue to be a little confounding. How does Lexus manage to get only 260 hp from a 3.5 V6 in the AWD model when the Camry's 3.5 gets over 300? A manual should still be an option and lastly, where is the Hybrid version? #ClassicLexusReliabilityProposition
What is QDR? Thanks!
@@TheMichaelRN Quality, Dependability, Reliability.
He said those specs are for the IS 300 AWD. The 350 will make 311 hp and 280 lb-ft
@@efdm21 That’s still not very good considering the German competition and the Genesis G70/Infiniti Q50. I like the new exterior but Lexus needs to put more effort in its model refresh/redesign imo.
I’m pretty sure the 300 doesn’t have D4S. And they detuned it on purpose to better match the base I4t. Not sure why but it must have something to do with the I4 coming only with the 8 speed and the fact that the awd doesn’t seem to be able to be paired to the 8 speed. So they had to give us the V6 with less power and the 6 speed to egg awd in the lower power output.
I wonder if Lexus had the opportunity to use the B48, and B58 BMW engines like Toyota is currently using in the Supra. If they did, and chose not too I think they missed out on something good.
I don’t think the deal with BMW includes free use of BMW engines - only in the Supra.
The headlights still look upside down to me
Customer: Hi, how do you access the A.S.S ?
Salesperson: You mean the ASS ???
Customer: Noooo, the Active Safety Systems!!
After praising the handling of the Lexus IS profusely at 22:20, he assigns a grade of B for handling????
Where did they put the EV battery?
The screen which is supposed to be one of the biggest updates looks out of place and not seamless with the rest of the dash.
what is this color? (Sonic Quartz or Sonic Iridium)
no matter how much you are complaining about lexus, he does not care about the competition as he is on top of everyone in quality and will hold the price more then any other car in this class. I am sure it will sell better then expected!
Where's the Acura TLX???
For those who are commenting they didn’t do enough... Lexus completely redesigned the ES which is the catalyst for all the succeeding LS, RX and now the IS redesigns - which are the sharp yet smooth “L” which is in contrast to the sharp, check mark “L” former designs.
Any car manufacturer will not just throw up designs in the air - ever noticed that when a redesign of a model for a car brand comes out, the other models trickle in with the reminiscent design? That’s brand recognition and familiarity which plays into customer loyalty. They try to redesign these cars and don’t really focus on gaining new customers but rather gain loyalty. The perfect example is the ES - the 2007-09 was deemed to be the best ES look and then the sharp ES came around in which they lost customers - so this redesign has bringing back those customers in mind.
For those who drive luxury cars, ever noticed yourself always checking out the new redesign of the car you’re currently driving, and eventually getting the newer model?
For those who don’t, i bet you thought “they didn’t do enough” or “need more” ... 😂
This IS is much better looking than before.
I like the older one
Rear part looks like Dark Vader's silver helmet:)
Wow from the side it looks very Toyota Corolla lol maybe it’s the rims on this model. I love Lexus but this is just underwhelming 😫
The 311hp v6 needs to be the base engine
I saw this one 1 week ago driving in LA
Is this a 2021 or a 2012 model?
Usually, Lexus is good about differentiating itself from Toyota. This strongly resembles a Corolla, which isn’t really a bad thing, but I think that’s where the refresh falls short.
New look is is elegant and.. It's beautiful and most reliable car in the world
I had the IS 250 awd but I traded it in for an Alfa Guilia TI sport
Good choice 👍 those Alfa’s look great
The best decision
Excellento
It is definitely a good looking car. But the 2.0 L turbo engine performance is a big deception. Lexus should have improved on the engine size. Same criticism for the V-6. Other than that, I'd consider the 350 AWD model for myself. Lexus is one the most reliable car makers in the world, and it the IS has a strong reliability fame. Interior looks sharp and the new touch screen display will make the car relevant for the next 3 or 4 years. The design update also makes me believe the car will grow old well.
When Alex refers to the "the front bumper" during his comments about the new design, I'm like "umm, what front bumper?" Maybe those two patches of plastic below the lights maybe? But not seeing a bumper just a big grill.
Enough grill to cook up several racks of ribs on a hot summer day! :D
The bumper is behind the stuff you see on the outside of the car.
I wonder what Lexus' average buyer age is. It feels like their cars are targeted to older buyers who are looking for adequate performance but elevated built quality and reliability vs best handling, performance, and technology
25 & 30 years old my wife and I are and own an LS430, IS300, IS250.
I really like the smoothing out of the exterior contours; well-played Lexus. BUT why oh why did they integrate piano gloss black surfaces into the climate controls??? Every single damn touch is going to muck up those controls. I like the simplicity of the speedometer and RPM gauges.
I wonder how many IS owners will be taking them out onto a track, so I think that your real world road handling is a better experience to address.
reminds me of the way AUDI updates its A4 over the years all looking almost the same in the last 15 years.
I have the previous IS Lexus so this is not new to me.
let see what the NX would look like when it comes out
Except that when Audi updates its cars, they are actually all new with all-new/updated platforms. My beef with Audi’s is the front wheel drive architecture, which, much like Acura’s, leave much to be desired, especially when you don’t want to go AWD.
idk why people are surprised... toyota and lexus are conservative... it's part of how they maintain their reliability
Shame they didn't bother to make the rear turn signals LED.
I’m getting that blue shirt in size small 💙🙌🥳
I mention this on like half your videos. The reason "safety technology" still optional on most upper end cars is because most people (like me) don't want them in their cars. If you are paying a premium for a vehicle you should be able to not have that stuff in it if you don't want it. If anything this having all that standard is a turnoff for me.
Just asking, not trolling but why don't you want safety features? I'm about to purchase a Lexus and Intially I wanted the IS but the technology was blah. So I'm looking into the ES or LS and I wanted the newest safety features
@@Mrs.buildingblackwealth all it takes is one sensor to go wrong for any reason and your car starts throwing you around. Not to mention I'm actually a good driver and don't want to get comfy with sensors telling me what's wrong
@@Mrs.buildingblackwealth Funny, because my 2021 IS 350 has radar cruise, lane centering, blind spot monitoring, auto emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection. With the lane centering and radar cruise turned on, all I need to do is put a couple fingers around the wheel and let it drive itself.
I want the IS500 so bad!
The rear turn signal look like regular bulbs. Talk about cheeping out - geesh!!
Is the 350 AWD engine and transmission the same as 2006?
The engine is the same pretty much but it's slightly updated with a few more horsepower and I believe it's port/direct injection
The 2GR-FSE 3.5L V6 used in the 2006 IS 350 also had Toyota's D4S system, so port/direction injection is not new. The 2GR-FKS (introduced as direct replacement for the 2GR-FSE) used in the 2018-2021 IS 350 have added Atkinson cycle, some other changes to its exhaust system and added some other new tech. Probably same story with the 6 speed in the AWD model, just a slightly updated model. The 8 speed on the RWD model would be new, since that wasn't present on the 2006 IS 350.
This version of the IS is behind with the times. Only the IS350 F Sport can remain competitive w/ the Genesis, etc. Even so, that car is showing some age.
I get why they didn’t really update the IS -it’s not really selling. I rarely see the IS on roads flooded with 330’s, C300’s and A4’s. Shoot, I see more Q50’s than IS. I think the 350 is a great car and a great used car. But a little expensive for what you under the hood. Granted it’ll last you years longer than anything from the Germans so I guess it evens out.
It's not selling because it's significantly older than the competition with fewer features and slower performance.
Looks like a Corolla up front with a lexus badge and grille
Yor face looks like corola
Base model wheels are like something you'd see on a Dodge Caravan, good god.
Not really.
I'm so ready for the next design change... hopefully they change that grill and the infotainment center... Have they been working on a new engine? And im glad they didn't option awd as hybrid only....
Lexus is likely to come out with an is500 with a more powerful engine option in the coming year or two.