I will have a few more SUVs over the next few weeks, but then I'll be focusing again on sedans and sports cars primarily! Lots of exciting cars scheduled!
Out of all your colleagues your the best u get to the point you’re not scared to do crazy launches, and u don’t talk bad about the cars you review. Excellent job I’ll say.
Not having apple car play is a major party foul for this car. Even some of the cheapest cars come with it now, like my wife’s ‘18 base model VW Golf. Should be standard on every new car especially a Lexus. Surprising.
the types of people that complain about apple car play and android auto are the types of people you see fighting for the latest tv at best buy on black friday. smdh
Rostan Ha Ive never been to a Black Friday sale in my life lol. I just feel CarPlay / android auto is basic must have equipment these days. People care about tech, especially tech that makes driving safer / easier and more enjoyable.
jtkent28 I know right. I want the Lexus and heard good things about it. Had friends with BMWs and MBS and they say they are good but wouldn’t recommend due to outrages fix prices and would rather get a Lexus a brand Big German cars look down on! Every car I want either their dashboard is outdated or they aren’t apple car play compatible😂. I’m thinking between a Chevy Silverado and lift it or a 4Runner or Lexus IS. But yes I believe the newer Lexus IS should have apple/android car play with them. The bad thing is their outdated screen but they are good
@@elchucapablas What do you mean ? Everything is well put together in the IS. It feels solid with quality materials. I agree that Mercedes interiors are also very good looking recently.
I bought a used 2017 IS200t F-Sport (gray exterior, red interior) six months ago, 15k miles in great shape for only $27,500 & it's been fantastic so far! Very sporty & comfortable. Huge improvement over my previous 2015 Toyota Camry XSE V6. I originally wanted the 350, but the 200t still has plenty of power & is rated at 4 MPG better than the 350.
It's been over 3 years since I picked up my own '19 IS350 AWD F-Sport, same spec as the one in the video but in a different color with Rioja interior. This video actually helped push me to buy it. I still think it's the best in class, except for infotainment. It has a 3.5L V6 with great sound and instant throttle response, a real full-time AWD, great handling, high quality interior, ML audio, stellar fit and finish, and it's made in Japan! And it's Toyota reliable and won't fall apart like the German competitors. It's not perfect, and there are some things that I don't like, but I'd still choose the IS 10/10 times over the likes of the 330i, A4 and definitely the (horrendous) C300. And I know I can drive this thing for a decade and it'll still feel like new.
Im hearing alot of people saying 5.5 0-60 and 300 plus hp is slow....WTF? I guess you guy drive cars that have some serious specs! im driving a 24yr old probe gt with 160 hp and 7.5 0-60...Id be freakin thrilled to have a machine like this with these specs..
i know what u mean... "quick" is a relative term aint it? just cuz another car can do a split second-second faster does not make this beaut slow. personally, i have the 2017 is300 fsport and ive never felt like its power, although not as hp savvy as the 350, was inadequate or suffering a deficiency. it feels great, accelerates quite strong (for me), attention getter etc etc. a perfect car in my opinion. great looks, reliability, prestige and performance all in one.
A low to mid 0-60 sprint is not slow however it's not impressive when comparing it to their competition remember this is the is350 in F sport trim basically the sportiest highest performing model it should have had at the very least 350hp. The Infiniti Q50 has 305hp and that's the Silver sport (similar 0-60), Red sport is no contest. The Kia Stinger has 375hp also no contest, even Lexus's less luxurious line Toyota Camry V6 has almost the same HP numbers doing 0-60 in 5.7 and it's by no means a "sport sedan". I won't even touch on the German sport sedans. In a time where Sport Sedans are still popular I'm still shaking my head in confusion to why Lexus didn't drop that sweet V8 into the is and continue the iconic ISF monster they once produced or I would have that parked in my driveway instead of my Audi S4.
Car & Driver said, in a comparison test, this was better than the 330i M-Sport and Caddy ATS 3.6,, when it came out. The problem for Lexus is why buy a new one? This car hasn't changed a bit in 5 years except for the new headlights. The alloy wheels needed a change, and they didn't even do that. Get a 2015 350 for $25k and you'll love driving it.
^ your statement is not true. It has over 300 horses...plenty of power to break the tires loose and leave two rubber stripes down the road. ;) Also the inner tire could spin when accelerating out of a corner. And yes, I realize the earlier models (without the LSD) use the electronic stability control to apply the brake to the one wheel that would spin. I suppose that effectively gives you the “limited slip” effect, but it’s not as effective (read: “not as fast”) as a true, mechanical LSD. Plus you would be wearing down brake pads. But hey, if your driving style is more subdued, then by all means, buy an earlier model and save lots of cash. My guess is the average driver wouldn’t miss the LSD.
The center stack is old, they need to refresh this car badly. I have read that the next iteration is around the corner so hopefully that is true as it is needed.
The reason people are complaining about the 5.7 is because the PREVIOUS generation IS350 did the same sprint in 5.1. A comparable G37 sedan did it in 5.2. It's disappointing for fans of the IS that Lexus would discontinue the IS F, then refuse to upgrade the performance and actually make it SLOWER than the previous generation. The purpose of the IS350 WAS to compete with the more "sport sedan" crowd within luxury brands, like the 3-series and C350. But they are starting to "Acura-ify" everything and losing sight of what the IS was about for most of its fans. Now, if you want, you can get an Infiniti Q50 RS with 400hp and 0-60 in 4.3 seconds. Where's the Lexus IS F? Nowhere to be found, and the only comparable car (RC F) is $15,000 more and not any faster.
@@BahhJustaLamb You make fair points, however I saw this coming with the IS. They've transitioned, and are in the process of revamping their vision, maybe they have leadership changes within. If we're talking Acura, I own an '07 TL Type S, I'm a young guy, and down the road when I'm ready to move on I'd like to maybe get into an '11 IS350. The Type S is nice, definitely don't see them often.
Matthew Matthew as far as Acura goes, I loved a lot of their old, sportier options too. But now, they seem to be going “luxury” too without really being the best at either worlds, just like Lexus. If they are transitioning, they should either focus on luxury and have performance options, or stick to performance and minimalistic luxury interiors. It just seems like they are confused about what’s the right direction with their “F-Sport” stuff that offer no performance compared to even a base 328i (which now does 0-60 in 5.2)
@@BahhJustaLamb The 4G TL was such a bland disappointment to me. I like driving my car because it just feels so raw compared to all the other cars I've driven. I know it's not that special, but I like it still. Back to Acura's new cars, I think the 2019 ILX is a strong competitor against hot hatches and the GLI. They also went with the 8 speed DCT which I thought was good, since Lexus hasn't even done that with the majority of their line up I believe.
I went from a 2015 IS 350 f sport to the 2017 IS 300 f sport. The difference in hp is extremely noticeable and I wish I still had the 2015. Both are great cars and very reliable. The factory tires have been my only complaint with both.
Coming from a 06 Base Suzuki Forenza at 156K Miles this will be my first car purchase soon! But the IS300 RWD F sport is the one I'm looking at, I see them under $34K near my state and will be a huge upgrade from my current car which has no ABS, 100Hp, 4 speakers, no AC, etc😅. Not looking for power at all and i love the reliability factor/ Interior with Lexus vehicles. I already had to take apart and fix my engine so even a moped would be better than my current car lol
Great video, Matt. You summed it up perfectly at the end. If you have disposable income or the type of people that just got to have latest fad, then you probably won't be looking at a Lexus anyways. Another good point is that - you should never buy a car that is in the early stages of release. They are bad quality almost 100% of the time. The general rule is to always buy the 2nd model year to have a better chance of no quality issues. A good example of that is the 2014 Lexus IS. It came with a bug that the navigation hard-resets while you drive. If you have a address set up - it'll delete and you have to reenter it again too. They fixed it in 2015 Lexus IS though so that's good. This is why buying a Japanese car later in the model life (IE a car that is 4-5 years old after they have refreshed it) is usually the way to go for people that want readability and keeps their car. Don't believe me? Take a look at the used car market. In the area I live in, there are about hundreds more 3 Series for sale on Autotrader than Lexus IS. This is because most people that buy the unreliable trash don't keep their cars. They trade up every time there is something new.
such comprehensive review. love it. reminds me of my days before picking up my IS couple of years ago. could def stoke somebody in preparation of picking up their new is. well done.
It's the transmission. On the highway above 70mph the engine is revving above 2,000 rpm and that's what destroys the fuel economy. I only get about 19.5mpg mixed city and highway in my 2014.
@@Laborer4Righteousness I have had zero issues with the car mechanically. The only problem I have ever had was my sunroof was leaking but the dealership fixed that one because it was covered under warranty. Highly recommend the IS to anybody:)
Lord have mercy, this thing is just beautiful. I haven’t seen one in person yet but I’d drop my fucking jaw if I saw this. Just beautiful. One day I’ll own a brand new f sport or sti and say I made it. 👌🏽
Lexus used touch screens from 2001 depending on the model and switched to the current platform in 2013. All models with nav from 2006 to 2013 had touch screen. The GX460 still has touch screen.
I have a 2019 IS350 F-Sport. Actually, the F-Sport is a lot firmer in SPORT+ mode than the regular IS350 that is quite floaty and very soft. Although, in non-SPORT+ mode, it is soft in the F-Sport. I think it is perfect for the streets. Not too firm, but not soft or wallowy in SPORT+. The only thing I don't like about it, is the 6 speed auto, but it does feel much better in SPORT+ and traction off. It allows to bounce off rev limiter with TRAC off.
Can we actually say the IS 350 is still "Quick" all of it's competitors are nearly a full second faster to 60. Gotta admit though a good NA motor is always nice to hear, with that said 18.6MPG is pretty terrible for a 2019 model year. My 09 G37 with AWD does about 20-21MPG and still makes more power. lol
Can't quite decide between this and the TLX A-Spec as my next car. The fact that this has 300+ horses is a big plus. Yes, Android Auto and Apple Car Play is hopefully something that's in their plans for the immediate future.
I heard that for 2020 Lexus is coming back with a new IS-F but not with a V8, it's rumored to have a twin turbo V-6 from the LS500 with 416HP and a boost of 450lb-ft (from 443 in the LS500). So we just gotta wait and see if that's true or not.
I really wanted this car, but it was 10k on average more than a similar powered Q50 with the 3.7. Tried the IS250 and it just didnt have enough power, went with a bargain Q50.
And you still like your Q50? I had one for 6 months, luckily found a dealer to take it for 1k less than what I bought it for, really dodged a bullet. It was just not exciting at all, random things stopped working like cruise control, and the infotainment system was god awful. But it sure was fast.
@@botdingo no issues with 2015 infotainment maybe that was a 2014 issue, on average Lexus 3.5 was way more than q50, the 2.5 just isnt in the same league as the Infiniti 3.7.
I've owned 2 Infiniti G sedans and bother were a blast to drive with no issues (mind you mine were Manual). I've always said it if ou want a powerful sports sedan you can't lose with Infiniti, you can pick up a slightly used one for a great price. I was going to go with the Q50 afyer my G37 but it lacked the "performance sedan feel" of previous models, too soft of a ride and slow responding auto trans. I decided to go with an S4, the DCT is still fun for an auto. Maybe in the future I may get back into an Infiniti again.
@@nomecaca i am just afraid of Audis or german cars in general. I tried a G37 and it felt loud and unrefined for me, to each its own. The interior of a Q50 sealed the deal for me against a G37 tbh.
The 3.5L V6 is kind of old fashioned - not much torque down low but sounds great since it has no forced induction & very responsive to throttle inputs. A great chassis & handling car too - a huge shame Lexus still refuses to add Android Auto & Apple CarPlay among many new features you find on the 2019 ES 350 but NOT on the more expensive IS 350.
The downshifting going down a hill is Toyota’s intelligent shift. It will free wheel down a hill as long as you don’t touch the brakes going down the hill. It also only works up to about 50-55. All Toyota’s have it.
It's not a sports car. It's a luxury sedan. It's designed more for style, comfort, and all-weather capability than 0-60 times. It looks and sounds great, and will have good resale value too.
@@SpikeTrippy Too old, not to mention RARE! I almost bought a pristine 2014 ISF with only 36,000 miles on it last year... It was sold in literally days and I was too late
I don’t like F sport. I really want the base 2019 is350 with all the options, but I don’t know if they make a base for 2019. I’ve looked all over online and there’s only the F sport variant. Did they stop making non F sports in 2018?
I know this is a older review but if you had to choose would you buy the 2020 TRD Camry or this car? The lack of CarPlay is the only thing holding me back.
It comes down to the kind of driving experience you want. AWD/RWD is going to feel pretty different compared to FWD. The Camry has more interior space but otherwise I'd say the Lexus feels better to drive. There may be a way to get CarPlay in the 2019 IS in the aftermarket, but I'm not sure. Both are good cars though.
Great Review Matt! Quick question for you; Out of the cars you driven which one of those that are still on old platforms do you feel is the best or best bang for your money? Thanks, keep up the great work!
Thanks! I'm not sure, that's a tough question. The IS350 is one of them. The Honda Pilot is probably another. Mazda CX-5, Dodge Challenger, Charger, Mustang, Corvette are the other ones I can think of from recent memory.
@@MattMaranMotoring Thanks for the reply. Maybe down the road this can make for a great video topic. It seems like the car community loves the Charger/Challenger and BRZ/FRS/86.
Would rather have the kia stinger gt but this still looks so good! Hopefully they add some horse power and better infotainment soon cuz the exterior looks so good and u know it has to have great reliability
Huh at the end of this when you mentioned the other car options, before the Q50 Red Sport came to mind the Kia Stinger GT I feel sits a little ahead price to performance wise imo.
@@blexy350 I think he meant: when the AWD is not necessary, is the system biased towards the front or the rear, like an adaptive system, or not at all?
I have a 2016 that I bought new and I'm still very happy with it. I prefer its looks to the refresh but the new triple beam lights are nice. The drive modes do actually change the car's personality and I actually use them for different situations. The F-Sport suspension is one of the best I've ever had in a car. The car can be comfortable without being floaty and it can be nice and firm for sporty driving. All-in-all, it's a terrific daily driver for places that have actual winter weather (I have the AWD version). Get better tires, though. The factory tires are GARBAGE. It's shameful that Lexus put those tires on the car.
Under 6 second 0-60 is plain fast..but this car was claiming 4.9-5.3 when it first came out from like 07 I believe it should be lowest 5s for sure..its deff not slow but according to specs it slowed down they were never over 5.3-5.5
John C well to be honest the GX was made before the spindle grill design that’s why it doesn’t work the best. The GX before the updated spindle grill looks good
Agreed, 2008 had an effortless sleekness unlike the current design with it's try hard aggression. Personally I'd go for 2013 ISF for the more modern lights and the toned down bulging hood.
If outdated or lower Hp is the new translation of sacrificing reliability than il stick to my 2015 lexus IS and these lower hp models ! not everyone cares about 0-60 times..not everyone is driving daily on a race track.
@@jpizel1070 yes sir, ive always noticed the trend of ppl with german or italian cars they either lease them or buy them new but you see alot get traded or get listed before they hit the 50k mile mark for a newer model. most smart german or italian car owners know how they can be at higher miles out of warranty lol i love all the german and italian rivals. beautiful styles and tech , but some ppl dont know the true cost of ownership on those cars.
BEAUTIFUL sports sedan ‼️ That engine sound 🔥. One of the best NA 3.5 engines. This car doesn’t look aged at all I bet this will remain a modern looking car for a very long time. Love the design of this car. Even the interior is very striking design wise. These cars also hold their values very good in the used market !
I agree with everything you said except holding its value. You can pick up a 14-15 is for 20-25k when they were around 50 a few years ago. And like ls430 and 460 you can get them for dirt cheap. Which I don’t mind they have bad resale value cuz that just means I can afford them :)
The should have removed the black parts out of the side of the front bumper and made it the car color and add a lip kit all around the car. I prefer my Ultra Sonic Blue Mica 2.0 2016 RC350 F Sport AWD.
Yeaaaah! Finally a new review that isn’t about a crossover or SUV 😁
I will have a few more SUVs over the next few weeks, but then I'll be focusing again on sedans and sports cars primarily! Lots of exciting cars scheduled!
Matt Maran Motoring I‘m confident it’s going to be great! Thank you and keep on rocking! 🤘🏻
13:49 is where Matt turns on to a back road.
I'm more impressed by 18:10, that pulls pretty hard for a NA V6.
Legend. Always what I'm looking for
Don't know how u got to be where you are, however you are born for it Mathew. Best of everything in the future. Great job.
Thank you!
M-a-t-t-h-e-w.
Out of all your colleagues your the best u get to the point you’re not scared to do crazy launches, and u don’t talk bad about the cars you review. Excellent job I’ll say.
my favorite guy reviewing the oNLY car i've been looking at for ages. god bless
Not having apple car play is a major party foul for this car. Even some of the cheapest cars come with it now, like my wife’s ‘18 base model VW Golf. Should be standard on every new car especially a Lexus. Surprising.
jtkent28 it's on somw of their models already. They'd rather wait/test it instead of releasing it with problems.
the types of people that complain about apple car play and android auto are the types of people you see fighting for the latest tv at best buy on black friday. smdh
Rostan Ha Ive never been to a Black Friday sale in my life lol. I just feel CarPlay / android auto is basic must have equipment these days. People care about tech, especially tech that makes driving safer / easier and more enjoyable.
jtkent28 I know right. I want the Lexus and heard good things about it. Had friends with BMWs and MBS and they say they are good but wouldn’t recommend due to outrages fix prices and would rather get a Lexus a brand Big German cars look down on! Every car I want either their dashboard is outdated or they aren’t apple car play compatible😂. I’m thinking between a Chevy Silverado and lift it or a 4Runner or Lexus IS. But yes I believe the newer Lexus IS should have apple/android car play with them. The bad thing is their outdated screen but they are good
@ this might be the dumbest response anyone could have written to what OP said.
That IS looks way better than a Mercedes C class or an A4.
It's an excellent car to buy.
It's an excellent car to buy because it "looks way better than a Mercedes C class or an A4"?
Phil L. The interior is where it falls short. Wayyyyy short
@@TheTmat007 both !
@@elchucapablas What do you mean ? Everything is well put together in the IS. It feels solid with quality materials. I agree that Mercedes interiors are also very good looking recently.
Tyran Mathurin no idiot, because it’s an excellent car he is implying. And it also looks better. Glad I could help educate you
I bought a used 2017 IS200t F-Sport (gray exterior, red interior) six months ago, 15k miles in great shape for only $27,500 & it's been fantastic so far! Very sporty & comfortable. Huge improvement over my previous 2015 Toyota Camry XSE V6. I originally wanted the 350, but the 200t still has plenty of power & is rated at 4 MPG better than the 350.
@Theodore Marquis I upgraded to a 2016 GS350 F-Sport two years ago which has been a much better car.
It's been over 3 years since I picked up my own '19 IS350 AWD F-Sport, same spec as the one in the video but in a different color with Rioja interior. This video actually helped push me to buy it.
I still think it's the best in class, except for infotainment. It has a 3.5L V6 with great sound and instant throttle response, a real full-time AWD, great handling, high quality interior, ML audio, stellar fit and finish, and it's made in Japan! And it's Toyota reliable and won't fall apart like the German competitors.
It's not perfect, and there are some things that I don't like, but I'd still choose the IS 10/10 times over the likes of the 330i, A4 and definitely the (horrendous) C300. And I know I can drive this thing for a decade and it'll still feel like new.
Thanks for sharing your ownership experience and I’m glad the video helped you!
Im hearing alot of people saying 5.5 0-60 and 300 plus hp is slow....WTF? I guess you guy drive cars that have some serious specs! im driving a 24yr old probe gt with 160 hp and 7.5 0-60...Id be freakin thrilled to have a machine like this with these specs..
i know what u mean... "quick" is a relative term aint it? just cuz another car can do a split second-second faster does not make this beaut slow.
personally, i have the 2017 is300 fsport and ive never felt like its power, although not as hp savvy as the 350, was inadequate or suffering a deficiency. it feels great, accelerates quite strong (for me), attention getter etc etc.
a perfect car in my opinion. great looks, reliability, prestige and performance all in one.
A low to mid 0-60 sprint is not slow however it's not impressive when comparing it to their competition remember this is the is350 in F sport trim basically the sportiest highest performing model it should have had at the very least 350hp.
The Infiniti Q50 has 305hp and that's the Silver sport (similar 0-60), Red sport is no contest. The Kia Stinger has 375hp also no contest, even Lexus's less luxurious line Toyota Camry V6 has almost the same HP numbers doing 0-60 in 5.7 and it's by no means a "sport sedan". I won't even touch on the German sport sedans.
In a time where Sport Sedans are still popular I'm still shaking my head in confusion to why Lexus didn't drop that sweet V8 into the is and continue the iconic ISF monster they once produced or I would have that parked in my driveway instead of my Audi S4.
13:40 the moment you have been waiting for
Can't wait for 2020 refresh
Car & Driver said, in a comparison test, this was better than the 330i M-Sport and Caddy ATS 3.6,, when it came out. The problem for Lexus is why buy a new one? This car hasn't changed a bit in 5 years except for the new headlights. The alloy wheels needed a change, and they didn't even do that. Get a 2015 350 for $25k and you'll love driving it.
My thoughts exactly! It's no point of spended 50k when the 2015 is damn near the same car. I totally agree
One reason to buy new...to get the LSD!
LSD was first included with the 2018 model year. But good luck finding a used 2018 right now.
@@waterdd1 It's not so powerful it needs a LSD. This isn't a Corvette. A 2014-2015 from L-Certified will be just fine
^ your statement is not true.
It has over 300 horses...plenty of power to break the tires loose and leave two rubber stripes down the road. ;)
Also the inner tire could spin when accelerating out of a corner.
And yes, I realize the earlier models (without the LSD) use the electronic stability control to apply the brake to the one wheel that would spin. I suppose that effectively gives you the “limited slip” effect, but it’s not as effective (read: “not as fast”) as a true, mechanical LSD. Plus you would be wearing down brake pads.
But hey, if your driving style is more subdued, then by all means, buy an earlier model and save lots of cash. My guess is the average driver wouldn’t miss the LSD.
Love that you did a review on an enthusiast car that isn’t the “latest thing”. Great review !
The center stack is old, they need to refresh this car badly. I have read that the next iteration is around the corner so hopefully that is true as it is needed.
Wish they would give the is350 awd the 8 speed auto from rwd version. Overall great car fun to drive for sure.
That overtone in the induction noise sounds amazing.
Everyone is saying 5.7 to 60 is slow. Okay, think purpose. Secondly, what do y'all drive, then?
The reason people are complaining about the 5.7 is because the PREVIOUS generation IS350 did the same sprint in 5.1.
A comparable G37 sedan did it in 5.2.
It's disappointing for fans of the IS that Lexus would discontinue the IS F, then refuse to upgrade the performance and actually make it SLOWER than the previous generation.
The purpose of the IS350 WAS to compete with the more "sport sedan" crowd within luxury brands, like the 3-series and C350. But they are starting to "Acura-ify" everything and losing sight of what the IS was about for most of its fans.
Now, if you want, you can get an Infiniti Q50 RS with 400hp and 0-60 in 4.3 seconds. Where's the Lexus IS F? Nowhere to be found, and the only comparable car (RC F) is $15,000 more and not any faster.
@@BahhJustaLamb You make fair points, however I saw this coming with the IS. They've transitioned, and are in the process of revamping their vision, maybe they have leadership changes within. If we're talking Acura, I own an '07 TL Type S, I'm a young guy, and down the road when I'm ready to move on I'd like to maybe get into an '11 IS350. The Type S is nice, definitely don't see them often.
Matthew Matthew as far as Acura goes, I loved a lot of their old, sportier options too. But now, they seem to be going “luxury” too without really being the best at either worlds, just like Lexus.
If they are transitioning, they should either focus on luxury and have performance options, or stick to performance and minimalistic luxury interiors. It just seems like they are confused about what’s the right direction with their “F-Sport” stuff that offer no performance compared to even a base 328i (which now does 0-60 in 5.2)
@@BahhJustaLamb The 4G TL was such a bland disappointment to me. I like driving my car because it just feels so raw compared to all the other cars I've driven. I know it's not that special, but I like it still. Back to Acura's new cars, I think the 2019 ILX is a strong competitor against hot hatches and the GLI. They also went with the 8 speed DCT which I thought was good, since Lexus hasn't even done that with the majority of their line up I believe.
Matthew i wanted a type s so bad, unfortunately there arent any good ones that dont have problems in my area. Looking at a 2014-2015 IS350 tho...
A very genuine review. Love this car for what it is and still very good looking for being 5 yrs old.
That car will still be good looking in 10 years 😂😂😂
fj717 agree, looks every bit a 2019 car.
Here in 2023 and the 3IS is now just about 9 years old and still looking awesome.
I went from a 2015 IS 350 f sport to the 2017 IS 300 f sport. The difference in hp is extremely noticeable and I wish I still had the 2015. Both are great cars and very reliable. The factory tires have been my only complaint with both.
Coming from a 06 Base Suzuki Forenza at 156K Miles this will be my first car purchase soon! But the IS300 RWD F sport is the one I'm looking at, I see them under $34K near my state and will be a huge upgrade from my current car which has no ABS, 100Hp, 4 speakers, no AC, etc😅.
Not looking for power at all and i love the reliability factor/ Interior with Lexus vehicles.
I already had to take apart and fix my engine so even a moped would be better than my current car lol
Good morning Matt. Nice vid. Liked before watching because i knew it was going to b good
Thanks Bob!
Reliability and resell value is the only two pros over its competitors.
Also look and ride better. I'll take the Lexus any day over Mercedes and Audi
Thank you very much for reviewing the Lexus IS!!
From Japan 🇯🇵😀
Great video, Matt. You summed it up perfectly at the end. If you have disposable income or the type of people that just got to have latest fad, then you probably won't be looking at a Lexus anyways. Another good point is that - you should never buy a car that is in the early stages of release. They are bad quality almost 100% of the time. The general rule is to always buy the 2nd model year to have a better chance of no quality issues. A good example of that is the 2014 Lexus IS. It came with a bug that the navigation hard-resets while you drive. If you have a address set up - it'll delete and you have to reenter it again too. They fixed it in 2015 Lexus IS though so that's good. This is why buying a Japanese car later in the model life (IE a car that is 4-5 years old after they have refreshed it) is usually the way to go for people that want readability and keeps their car. Don't believe me? Take a look at the used car market. In the area I live in, there are about hundreds more 3 Series for sale on Autotrader than Lexus IS. This is because most people that buy the unreliable trash don't keep their cars. They trade up every time there is something new.
The RWD will come with 8 speed transaction
& if you have it with the summer tires it will be even better
such comprehensive review. love it. reminds me of my days before picking up my IS couple of years ago. could def stoke somebody in preparation of picking up their new is. well done.
It's the transmission. On the highway above 70mph the engine is revving above 2,000 rpm and that's what destroys the fuel economy. I only get about 19.5mpg mixed city and highway in my 2014.
Ethan W. How is the reliability
@@Laborer4Righteousness I have had zero issues with the car mechanically. The only problem I have ever had was my sunroof was leaking but the dealership fixed that one because it was covered under warranty. Highly recommend the IS to anybody:)
Ethan W. I wanna get the is 350 thinking about a 2011 or a 2014
Went from a 14 is250 awd to a 2018 is350 rwd..and... boi oh boi! Only mod I'm doing is exhust.
The IS is still a great car. It just needs a newer cabin with updated technology and a turbo to keep up with it's competition 😉
Been waiting on you Matt to review this future car of mine!👍👍
Lord have mercy, this thing is just beautiful. I haven’t seen one in person yet but I’d drop my fucking jaw if I saw this. Just beautiful. One day I’ll own a brand new f sport or sti and say I made it. 👌🏽
Great review, Matt. Love the honesty
I miss the old IS where it had a manual transmission with limited slip diff
I think we all do!
BASITH PH you can still get the LSD, which is included with the F Sport trim (since 2018).
Typical of all Toyota products....good quality but a bit dated
Tony Tanti it is not dated that design is sick
But super reliable and that’s a luxury
As long as it lasts it doesn’t really matter
It wouldn’t be reliable if it was high tech. Look at the Germans
A bit dated? They have being using that engine for the past 20 years... Lexus is just milking their customer at this point.
Lexus NEEDS a touch screen infotainment system.
AcesW I L D why? The only other luxury competitor with a touch screen is Acura...the Germans don’t do touchscreens and never have.
Vikk 54 times are changing. the germans (mercedes benz, bmw, and audi) all offer touch screens on some vehicles
Lexus used touch screens from 2001 depending on the model and switched to the current platform in 2013. All models with nav from 2006 to 2013 had touch screen. The GX460 still has touch screen.
@Anton Zuykov rather stick my ipad, touch screen features dont really work well alot of lag to.
Come on LEXUS.. Update the infotainment system....
The one thing toyota is the absolute worst at in the industry is infotainment
I have a 2019 IS350 F-Sport. Actually, the F-Sport is a lot firmer in SPORT+ mode than the regular IS350 that is quite floaty and very soft. Although, in non-SPORT+ mode, it is soft in the F-Sport. I think it is perfect for the streets. Not too firm, but not soft or wallowy in SPORT+. The only thing I don't like about it, is the 6 speed auto, but it does feel much better in SPORT+ and traction off. It allows to bounce off rev limiter with TRAC off.
Can we actually say the IS 350 is still "Quick" all of it's competitors are nearly a full second faster to 60.
Gotta admit though a good NA motor is always nice to hear, with that said 18.6MPG is pretty terrible for a 2019 model year.
My 09 G37 with AWD does about 20-21MPG and still makes more power. lol
Perfect sedan in every way, although they should've tuned the engine to provide more low range torque to get that 0-60 down to 5s.
Probably the end of life for IS in this shell.
IS will not get axed. GS is axed
@skbuoy IS one of the Lexus's best sellers why would they axe it? GS on the other hand...
@@atg2269 it's not, dude just talking out of his ass lol. Like you said, IS is one of Lexus best selling brands
@skbuoy The IS isn't going anywhere. They're redesigning it for 2020 or 2021, rumor has it they'll be using a BMW twin turbo V6 with 360-400hp.
Great video, Scotty Kilmer would be proud 👏🏾
Good video and review.. didn't talk to much about the stereo , I would like to know your opinion on that..thnx
Can't quite decide between this and the TLX A-Spec as my next car. The fact that this has 300+ horses is a big plus. Yes, Android Auto and Apple Car Play is hopefully something that's in their plans for the immediate future.
I heard that for 2020 Lexus is coming back with a new IS-F but not with a V8, it's rumored to have a twin turbo V-6 from the LS500 with 416HP and a boost of 450lb-ft (from 443 in the LS500). So we just gotta wait and see if that's true or not.
I really wanted this car, but it was 10k on average more than a similar powered Q50 with the 3.7. Tried the IS250 and it just didnt have enough power, went with a bargain Q50.
And you still like your Q50? I had one for 6 months, luckily found a dealer to take it for 1k less than what I bought it for, really dodged a bullet. It was just not exciting at all, random things stopped working like cruise control, and the infotainment system was god awful. But it sure was fast.
@@botdingo no issues with 2015 infotainment maybe that was a 2014 issue, on average Lexus 3.5 was way more than q50, the 2.5 just isnt in the same league as the Infiniti 3.7.
Getting a Q50 this week
I've owned 2 Infiniti G sedans and bother were a blast to drive with no issues (mind you mine were Manual). I've always said it if ou want a powerful sports sedan you can't lose with Infiniti, you can pick up a slightly used one for a great price.
I was going to go with the Q50 afyer my G37 but it lacked the "performance sedan feel" of previous models, too soft of a ride and slow responding auto trans. I decided to go with an S4, the DCT is still fun for an auto. Maybe in the future I may get back into an Infiniti again.
@@nomecaca i am just afraid of Audis or german cars in general. I tried a G37 and it felt loud and unrefined for me, to each its own. The interior of a Q50 sealed the deal for me against a G37 tbh.
The 3.5L V6 is kind of old fashioned - not much torque down low but sounds great since it has no forced induction & very responsive to throttle inputs. A great chassis & handling car too - a huge shame Lexus still refuses to add Android Auto & Apple CarPlay among many new features you find on the 2019 ES 350 but NOT on the more expensive IS 350.
The downshifting going down a hill is Toyota’s intelligent shift. It will free wheel down a hill as long as you don’t touch the brakes going down the hill. It also only works up to about 50-55. All Toyota’s have it.
0-60 at 5.7sec is too slow these days. This car at this price needs to be in the low 5secs.
BBB T iT’s ToO sLoW, iT nEdS tO bE 1200bHp AnD dO 0-60 iN .00009 sEcOnDs
BBB T my thought exactly! Too slow. Under 5 sec is fast now a days
It's not a sports car. It's a luxury sedan. It's designed more for style, comfort, and all-weather capability than 0-60 times. It looks and sounds great, and will have good resale value too.
LordZaleeping Really I thought F sport is the sporty version and the IS was suppose to compete with 3 series. So what is Lexus sports sedan than?
I agree. You'd be better off getting a Q50. 311 hp for something labeled "f sport" is a joke.
They messed up the headlight part, looks out of place.
Wait this doesn’t have Apple car play and does this have the directions in the rear view mirror ?
Yeah, 2019 model year did not have Apple Carplay. Not sure what you mean concerning the rear view mirror.
Honestly I still prefer the look of my 2014 is350 f sport. Dont like the back accents on the front. Plus I have the red interior
Looking to get exactly that used. Best used car value out there imo.
@@ultimatesteve yea the value on the car has been amazing it's still worth 20k-22k
That's pretty solid
Lol what, that black accent look so much better
@@TheHybridQ50S preference I suppose, either way the car is very nice
Was a porter at Lexus and can say that the 2014 is slightly faster as well at 4.8 seconds 0-60
The trackpad with the enter button on the side should help with infortainment
Wake me up when they bring the IS-F back.
Just get an RC F
How come, would you actually buy one? I hope so! People need to support the cars they like by BUYING them.
A Polar Bear On TH-cam what if you need 4 doors?
웅이 would’ve definitely considered it if it were available. I even looked at a few previous models, but felt they were too old.
@@SpikeTrippy Too old, not to mention RARE! I almost bought a pristine 2014 ISF with only 36,000 miles on it last year... It was sold in literally days and I was too late
idc what anyone says. this car is still a very striking looking car! especially the front end
I agree. Not my favorite, but I like it.
I don’t like F sport. I really want the base 2019 is350 with all the options, but I don’t know if they make a base for 2019. I’ve looked all over online and there’s only the F sport variant. Did they stop making non F sports in 2018?
The configurator on Lexus.com still shows them as being available.
Matt Maran Motoring hmm so there has to be some but they sure are obscure. One day I will own one! Thanks for the reply, long time fan of the channel.
Unicorns…..
I know this is a older review but if you had to choose would you buy the 2020 TRD Camry or this car? The lack of CarPlay is the only thing holding me back.
It comes down to the kind of driving experience you want. AWD/RWD is going to feel pretty different compared to FWD. The Camry has more interior space but otherwise I'd say the Lexus feels better to drive. There may be a way to get CarPlay in the 2019 IS in the aftermarket, but I'm not sure. Both are good cars though.
@@MattMaranMotoring thank you for getting back to me so fast.
Great Review Matt! Quick question for you; Out of the cars you driven which one of those that are still on old platforms do you feel is the best or best bang for your money? Thanks, keep up the great work!
Thanks! I'm not sure, that's a tough question. The IS350 is one of them. The Honda Pilot is probably another. Mazda CX-5, Dodge Challenger, Charger, Mustang, Corvette are the other ones I can think of from recent memory.
@@MattMaranMotoring Thanks for the reply. Maybe down the road this can make for a great video topic. It seems like the car community loves the Charger/Challenger and BRZ/FRS/86.
I thought the newer is350 had an 8 speed not a 6 speed auto?
I could be wrong but I think the AWD has a 6 and RWD has the 8.
2 wheel drive has the 8 speed. All wheel with the 6 speed
Rumor has it, the IS-F has the next gen right around the corner with the BMW supra motor as an option.
I heard it'll get the twin-turbo V6 from the LS 500, which actually does the same 416 hp as the old IS-F.
@@MattMaranMotoring Ooo that would be amazing! I sure miss the old 5.0 it had.
Love the boots/shoes bro
Love this car but dont lke the bump in front of the drivers seat on the right side. Its cozy though and fits like a glove otherwise
Would rather have the kia stinger gt but this still looks so good! Hopefully they add some horse power and better infotainment soon cuz the exterior looks so good and u know it has to have great reliability
Awesome video! I’ll be making a video soon of my 2018 IS350 F Sport AWD soon on my channel, I’ll send it to you when I’m done customizing it!
I wanted to like it...but I'm think the 16-17 looks much sharper.
The tail lights almost Kia forte ish
Kevin Hy I agree.. even the 2007 until the newer body style changes were cool looking. Not really a fan of the new design for Lexus.
I prefer my 2016 over the refresh, taillights are meh and these new headlights are hideous.
Not really liking the rectangl ehaust tips. 2014-2016 were the best.
WHY is the intro music always so loud?? Equalize it with the rest of the video. Takes literally 2 seconds...
I do. Every part of the video has the same decibel peaks.
Good review Matt, thanks.
Yep, Lex IS350 is a great car :))
Cant wait for the new one. It will probably be sick! 💕
Huh at the end of this when you mentioned the other car options, before the Q50 Red Sport came to mind the Kia Stinger GT I feel sits a little ahead price to performance wise imo.
It does, but it’s not a luxury brand so technically not a competitor.
When the car is driving in a normall straight road is it in fwd or rwd ???
VICTOR Lopez The IS is offered in RWD and AWD.
@@blexy350 I think he meant: when the AWD is not necessary, is the system biased towards the front or the rear, like an adaptive system, or not at all?
Jason Martineau Ahhh got you. I know my G37x was RWD biased, not sure if the IS is too.
Strange how you can't option triple beam headlights with heated and ventilated front seats.
F sport package comes with heated and ventilated seats, and it has the triple beam headlights lol.
@@ZS-xi4xk On the non f sport model.
I have a 2016 that I bought new and I'm still very happy with it. I prefer its looks to the refresh but the new triple beam lights are nice. The drive modes do actually change the car's personality and I actually use them for different situations. The F-Sport suspension is one of the best I've ever had in a car. The car can be comfortable without being floaty and it can be nice and firm for sporty driving. All-in-all, it's a terrific daily driver for places that have actual winter weather (I have the AWD version). Get better tires, though. The factory tires are GARBAGE. It's shameful that Lexus put those tires on the car.
Seems a little underwhelming. At this point I'd rather get the Stinger GT.
It's a lot of fun still but I agree, I'd rather have a Stinger GT too.
Hahh, Stinger is new. This car in this gen is 6yrs old. They're refreshing it next year. I'd still take any Lexus over a kia. Lol
Needs a 3.5 twin turbo from the new LS
Under 6 second 0-60 is plain fast..but this car was claiming 4.9-5.3 when it first came out from like 07 I believe it should be lowest 5s for sure..its deff not slow but according to specs it slowed down they were never over 5.3-5.5
random uploads101 just need to add rr tune will make it faster 😂😂😂
i wish we could see the road as your driving on backroads...
finally something exciting ayyyy
The is350 was debut was in 2006
2005*
Damn, I might be a fanboy, but I don’t think that Lexus has a bad looking vehicle in their lineup. (Except the GX, of course! ;)
John C well to be honest the GX was made before the spindle grill design that’s why it doesn’t work the best. The GX before the updated spindle grill looks good
I didn't know they could make the headlights uglier x.x ... But they did
I get like 24 mpg in my 2007 IS 350 (V6, RWD, 6 Speed Auto). This looks a lot nicer/newer...but seems to be about the same car for 5x more money lol
I miss the pre-facelight lights
Looks like a friends IS from 2008 or so...especially the room inside!!
Looks nothing like those. Drastic change when they introduced these in 2014.
I prefer your older reviews when they were 15 to 20 minutes in length.
Put a turbo and new cabin, and this will be a 10/10
is it true the seats in the IS 350 are not real leather?
I think it's rear leather, they felt nice enough to me.
Matt Maran Motoring is the 4cly better??
LOVE the IS, wish you could find a RWD. AWD adds weight to the front and takes power away from the rear pushing you into a corner.
Still an awesome car!
Those headlights are weird af, still prefer the 2008 ISF...
ღKatyღ are you nut?
Victor Baez yup she is
Agreed, 2008 had an effortless sleekness unlike the current design with it's try hard aggression. Personally I'd go for 2013 ISF for the more modern lights and the toned down bulging hood.
Thirsty betas..
ISF has better engine, current IS body/exterior looks better cosmetically
Tremendous value in the used car market.
Has there ever been a car that didn't start right up?
No.
love my 2020 rwd 350 fsport.
I have a 2017 IS 200t f sport which is is a 4 cylinder and the fuel efficiency sucks. City i get around 19 highway about 27
If outdated or lower Hp is the new translation of sacrificing reliability than il stick to my 2015 lexus IS and these lower hp models ! not everyone cares about 0-60 times..not everyone is driving daily on a race track.
Amen to that. Everybody turns in to a race car driver in the comments but I bet most of them drive a 4 banger.
@@jpizel1070 yes sir, ive always noticed the trend of ppl with german or italian cars they either lease them or buy them new but you see alot get traded or get listed before they hit the 50k mile mark for a newer model. most smart german or italian car owners know how they can be at higher miles out of warranty lol i love all the german and italian rivals. beautiful styles and tech , but some ppl dont know the true cost of ownership on those cars.
Soooooo... only the headlights are new.
How many times can you say F sport in 27 minutes
BEAUTIFUL sports sedan ‼️
That engine sound 🔥. One of the best NA 3.5 engines. This car doesn’t look aged at all I bet this will remain a modern looking car for a very long time. Love the design of this car. Even the interior is very striking design wise. These cars also hold their values very good in the used market !
Toyota4Life Bro I have seen you comment on every Supra, JZX, and Is300 video on TH-cam for the past 4years lol.
John C haha and this is your first time saying hello ? Shame. Toyota and Lexus cars are my passion grew up on them and I study them.
Do you ever stfu? Holy shit.
I agree with everything you said except holding its value. You can pick up a 14-15 is for 20-25k when they were around 50 a few years ago. And like ls430 and 460 you can get them for dirt cheap. Which I don’t mind they have bad resale value cuz that just means I can afford them :)
Toyota4Life a Lexus tried to come for my 19 Alfa Romeo Giulia quadrifoglio and a c63s. I laughed poor thing thought he can keep up.
I still prefer the older ones, like the Soarer.
The should have removed the black parts out of the side of the front bumper and made it the car color and add a lip kit all around the car. I prefer my Ultra Sonic Blue Mica 2.0 2016 RC350 F Sport AWD.
Hey bro would you recommend the Q50S or the is350 f sport
IS 350 F
IS 350 F
@@blazano7487 i was waiting for your answer. I can now take a decision after 3 years