But I wonder whether the BMW may be safer. That's really the number one consideration, and the reviewers never even touch that subject. Of course, reliability is, in a way, a safety feature. Being stranded in a car which fails to proceed can be dangerous.
JoeBlo2 Most of the IS350 F Sport's I've seen at the dealerships sticker for around $50k. There are many 335i's with options that sticker in the mid 50s, so I don't think it's accurate to say that it's $10k cheaper. I think Lexus is pricing the IS350 F Sport a little high, TBH.
turns out it holds it's value way better too.. Shopping 2015 ish Is350's right now.. Clean examples are 22K+. Meanwhile, similar year ATS's and BMW 3's are 15-16K... At least in my neck of the woods.
You're not wrong. In the F-Sport version, it's a beautiful car (especially in the red. But of course you can't HAVE the red, because it's like begging to be be carjacked and murdered). In fact, next to the Lexus, the Cadillac and the BMW look like fifteen-year-old USED CARS. But you have to get the F-sport, because it's the only one without the hideous standard grille. But as someone in a multi-Lexus household, I have to say that we could not care less about "driving excitement" and "personality". What kind of moron WOULD care about things like that? What we buy the cars for is quiet, reliability, and durability. But frankly, I'm worried by the Lexus crash tests I've been watching, and we may not buy any more. Safety trumps all other factors. I assumed that we were buying safe cars, because of the ratings we found. But maybe we were misled.
I’m trying to understand how the rear of the Lexus looked ugly. I mean the Front of the Cadillac ATS is aggressive I will give the Cadillac’s design that but wow the rear of of that car screams “I’m here to be owned by senior citizens “ and tbh the rear makes the car super retro. Granted now the 2020 cadillac designs have all around improved immensely, but seriously any design prior to 2019 to be safe for the Cadillac sedan in general is something your gramps would drive. I’m not taking the luxurious design of the car away by any means, but for a young person to say that yea id prefer this 2013 Cadillac ATS over a Lexus IS because it’s sportier then wow the world must’ve been back in the Middle Ages where every man wanted to date heavy set women for their “attractive looks” when it was really because they were wealthy and vice versa.
Don't want to look at it? Open your eyes, it's a gorgeous car. The rear 3/4 view is one of the best on the road, and the front end, although aggressive looks awesome and fits right in with the times.
I couldn't agree more man. I am a Toyota/ Lexus fan. When I saw one of these today while walking my dog I couldn't help but do a walk around. Gorgeous car with very good attention to detail. Even the valve stem caps had designs on them.
I test drove all three, plus the Infiniti Q50, ultimately I have chosen the 2014 Lexus IS 350 F Sport. White with Red interior!!!! Car is amazing, very pleased with my purchase and will buy another LEXUS!! To be honest I would never have bought the older Lexus IS models. This one I did the research among the other competitors and it came up on top. The biggest thing, I decided to go with Lexus, The resale value styling an all new redesigned suspension with the BOLD GRILL!!!!
Daniel ivanov Not to bad, to me it does not sound cheap. But to me honest, after couple years owning it, I will sell it! It’s heavy and not as fast as I thought.
I got used to the Lexus' stying fast. When you see them in real life it grabs your attention. And it comes with great-looking wheels from the factory. And the interior is beautifully refined. Aesthetically, Lexus got it spot on.
Lol weird I drove all three and bought the Lexus IS, and the look of the exterior is growing on me. Lexus has came a long way and still love this car, great review.
did someone really forget to tell them that if they hold the traction control button for five seconds it lights up on the dash and is actually then completely off?
Honestly, I wish the two gentlemen would have a longer conclusionary segment as I truly enjoy them discuss their thought processes. Their friendship is for real. The Lexus is an absolutely sexy looking car and reliable and still stylish in 2022...ask BMW to match that 🤸.
I have driven the GS 350 F-Sport sedan and it is amazing. Enough power and torque, great stability. I haven't driven the IS 350 but im pretty sure it is great!
I don't know about you guys, but the Lexus IS with F-sport package look stunning. The design is futuristic, and some people just need to get use to it.
The Lexus is smooth but some people think BMW is the best car on the planet period, which is bullsh*t. It's a very good car but it's not the ONLY very good car.
***** Lol yup, have fun paying hundreds of $$$ to replace the headlight or some other stupid shit. Fuck german cars. They're nice but fuck em in terms of reliability.
lmfao he doesn't even know how to turn traction control off, take not even 15 seconds to open up the manual before you start complaining about what the Lexus can and cant offer.
I got this car 2 weeks ago, switching from an Audi A5. I love this car from all aspects. I walked into the dealership without knowing Lexus has a new car and I got the car pretty much on the spot. The driving experience is so nice and I actually really like the interior. I've just never imaged myself being a fan of LEXUS.
I find it odd when ppl still say Lexus does not have a character/personality/soul. It absolutely has it. It has the character/personality/soul of an extremely competent person, reliable, shows up on time, and with the 350 or the v8, can absolutely party if he/she wants to. It is not a supermodel, but certainly with the characteristics of a loyal spouse/partner.
i love my 2014 BMW 328 but bmw has so much to learn from Lexus. all my issues have been covered by the warranty but - module controlling passenger seat belt replaced then the , nav screen replaced because at night ..too dark to see ...going back in because their remote monitoring has picked up faulty steering, problem with run-flats , wrong service schedule ,,now my key fob seems to indicate errors - the car still drives real sweet, love BMW fuel economy in their turbo . amazing space in the new 3 , the red seats are unbelievably good looking and my iphone works really well with my idrive - btw ...really love the idrive. I have always owned lexus and had 3 previous IS models of the 2007 design - i really really respect Lexus becaus tthey really do pursue perfection . I might have gone with the IS again id they had a more fuel efficient turbo 4 but now they have one in the NX - maybe it will find irself in the IS pretty soon. I have come to love my 2014 328 with x drive but i still look with great admiration whenever I see an IS 350 come up alongside.
BMW will not learn it. Never. They will only start to do a thing when the consumer will wake up. Those cars have, actually, a very sensible quality level. It can quickly become a money pit.
Consumer Reports generally isn't concerned with driving fun. Our show is about finding cars that provide driving fun at somewhat affordable prices. So while Lexus has made plenty of good cars in terms of luxury and reliability, they aren't generally known for making cars that are more fun to drive than their competition. The guys are responding to that reputation, and review along the lines of our show's focus. If they are biased then they wouldn't have picked the Lexus first!
The design of the Lexus is very daring. I think it looks pretty good in person, although I can see how it can be very polarizing. The interior is just amazing to me. The BMW interior is pretty low rent and dated. Lexus has the best dealer experience and their cars hold their value. They are also very reliable for the long term and have significantly lower cost of ownership in the later years. The Cadillac design language doesn't age well. It's OK when new and shiny but older Cadillacs look terrible with the sharp flat panels. They also depreciate like fvck. Go with the Lexus, you will not regret it.
If you watch much of our work you'll see that we don't have a vendetta against Japanese cars or cars from any company. You might enjoy our any of our FRS pieces, including the all Japanese Car - FRS vs. RX8 vs. S2000. Also our FAQs discuss the guys favorite cars and they list a lot of variety. Meanwhile, we agree that reliability is an absolute asset to ownership, but it doesn't make a car dynamic or fun to drive. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
Lexus isnt pretty, although I think the rear looks fine, but im certain the lexus would be cheapest to own and run and most reliable. You could probably get 20 years of trouble free motoring from the toyota
Having driven the Lexus..... I can totally understand what you guys are saying. It is the total package even if it doesn't excel at any one thing except feeling special which is what a 50,000 dollar car should make you feel. The LFA DNA in this thing runs deep. I almost traded in my evo for it.... just wish it had a more serious engine it would be parked in my garage right now.
Caddy, BMW, Lexus? After 100k the Lexus is just broken in, while the other two will start to break up. Since you judge cars by "fun factor", I hope you'll have fun repairing them.
I actually think the lexus looks great... I like the front grille, seen it in person & it just looks really sporty, aggressive & bada$$... This grille may take away from current lexus IS buyers which I think is mainly female, if they think the car now looks too mean... I think they will still buy it though, funny as a guy I'll be quicker to buy the lexus now since to me it looks a little more tough now than the previous versions, which just looked sexy, hence the reason a lot of females bought them...LOL... My picks - 1: Lexus, 2: Cadillac, 3: Bmw. I ain't worry bout nutting though, the new Acura TLX will blow all three of these cars out the water as the perfect Sports Sedan...! Wait & watch...LOL...
***** I saw this car in person, the ISF in black, and I must say with the whole package, rims & all it actually looked great, in black at least... You'll have to see it in person and in the right color to understand.
I'm not a big fan of the new look, but I heard it looks amazing in person. I love my last gen IS350, and it's good to see that the new IS lines are amazing as well.
After driving all 3, I just feel like if you drive one BMW you drove them all. I agree I like the Lexus the best, I don't think its ugly its beautiful and bold. I'm really impressed with the caddy as well. Now to say the BMW isn't good because it is, but its not the best anymore. Plus the Lexus is the most reliable.
I didn't really read much about Lexus until recently, when they came out with the IS-F and LFA,which has been their new brand image. I think there is something of a revolution happening at Toyota with their idea of "bringing sport back" with the F badge in Lexus and the GT86. It's a great thing to see that Toyota is regaining some of the mojo it had a long time ago, after having a couple-decade lull with the Prius. Great work again guys!
In order to turn the traction control off compeletly you have to push and hold the traction control button for a few seconds then the indicator will illuminate on the dash board.
The BMW suspension and steering is deliberately the way it is and the Inline 6 is a beast, winner by a country mile. Not to mention the prettiest of the 3, you guys are off ya rockers.
The best thing about this review is that they used the IS350 INSTEAD of the IS300h that every other carshow/magazine has used, Mostly because the 300h comes with a CVT transmission and thats why the new IS has received alot of negative reviews from car magazines/shows that automatically hate every car that has a CVT transmission. So it's a good thing that EverydayDriver chose the 350 that has the 8-speedautomatic.
+Rob Styles I own a 2004 LS 430(looking to sell it) and it's very reliable. it would last 200k without much headache. Would you say the IS F can do the same thing ? Or would it overheat everynow and then ? Would be really interested to know!
+Klaus ive literally driven my ISF to the limit a couple of times! 150+ mph high heat high oil temp situation and i havent heard a peep. The engine is a marvel! I am sure if you push a car hard repeatedly it will obviously break but the ISF seems to be very very reliable and strong. Overheating is not an issue on these machines.... at least not to my knowledge. From what i hear as long as you keep the oil changed and put good synthetic i use Motul. It will run for an extremely long time...there also a timing Chain vs a belt which life span is pretty much indefinite. From owning the ISF i can tell they really built these things to last and not stay in the shop for major repairs....very bullet proof performance machine so far im happy....
As stated at the beginning of this comparison - the BMW 3 series is the well known standard in this market segment and the car the other two have been specifically designed to beat. That's why it's the first car in the comparison and the touchstone that the guys keep referring to throughout. Yes, we've liked some BMWs, but not others, and we've always called out problems (as with any car). And as you noticed - while the 3 series has historically been the category winner, it didn't win here.
I prefer the previous version of the Lexus for looks but as a car in general. The Lexus wins hands down because it’s the one that will last you a lifetime and still look great
As always, great in-depth review. Really appreciate how much time and thought goes into making your comments and ultimately, your decisions. Very refreshing how much of your opinion is based on the driving experience over raw test numbers.
I test drove these cars and fell for the IS350 F-Sport with the same exact surprise. This is the best car overall and the driver experience is much better than the BMW for sure.
don't be surprise, the tables have turned. Lexus is turning into the "ultimate driving machine", which started with the Lexus LFA. Hopefully, Lexus will continue and keep going strongly in this direction.
What happens with radical styling is that only a select few people will genuinely like the styling. When you have more contemporary styling, people will focus less on the looks of the car and more on the other features, quality of the interior, as well as how the car drives. The problem with the new Lexus IS is that people will be turned off immediately by the styling and not even give it a chance.
Update: Well I driven the ATS 2.0T today and good heavens it is a brilliant machine. Like Paul & Todd said the chassis & handling is brilliant. The transmission is so-so but the 2015 versions have a revised powerband that gives you 295lb/ft of torque so passing is a non-issue. CUE is a pretty nice system. I come from a family of 2 Mercedes (with COMAND) & I enjoyed using CUE. It is somewhat hard to use when driving but very tactile in operation. Looks great as well. The Lexus is still a more rounded car (as Paul said) but as a car destined primarily for myself as a driver the ATS dominates.
This is my next car. I don't need a oversized boat with body roll. This car symbolizes young and successful. Fresh out of University and staying your company. I will give my acura tsx to my sister. Im going to lexus this morning.
got a 2015 Lexus IS F Sport and I absolutely love it. Its much more faster and powerful than I thought. I got the 4 wheel drive model which is much more quicker 0-60 and grips like a mother..... Im a happy camper. No buyers remorse here. And its the cheapest one out of the three
Michael Mike since you don't mention the engine, I'm guessing you got the 2.5 V6? A lot of people shit on the 2.5, but I've heard it's actually pretty fun to drive. The only shitty part is that it gets spanked by pretty much any 3 Series, A4, or C Class on the road. Oh, well - at least it looks good!
I've had a 2.5 first gen is 250 and it was more that adequate. I got the 3.5 now but it's 4 wheel drive and its a rocket. You'll be happy with either I'm sure. Just make sure you get the F sport package. That's what makes it handle and move like a sports car.
4 wheel drive is much quicker off the line. It's pretty much peel out proof, which is a downer i guess. I think I saw a 0-60 time of 5.3. I forgot where though. The 4 wheel drive only has 6 gears though. Doesn't mean much to me Accept more gas.
Not surprised at the results, and thanks for another great comparison. Many others have said that the F30 just isn't as sharp as the E90, and it sounds like you reached the same conclusion. I'll be anxious to see an M3/M4, IS F, and ATS-V comparison from you as follow-up.
I hear a lot of professional car designers and CZcams car reviewiers outside of Lexus saying they hate the IS F sport exterior design especially that huge grill. I don't understand what they hate because I just got a new 2015 IS F sport because I love the design. I love everything about it. I looked at the 2015 Mercedes C class and 2015 BMW 3 series and even 4 series. I didn't look at Audi or Cadillac. I fell in love with the 2015 IS F sport design I can't stop looking at it and it gets a lot of attention especially from women. Good attention, it's a great ice breaker, this car. I drove a 2013 C class prior to my IS F and besides the horsepower, the IS F is better than the 2013 C class in every other category. The IS F sport looks better, the seats are more comfortable, the navigation system actually works well and fast as opposed to Mercedes Navigation which you must type in every single letter and the car gets confused. Here's the biggest reason why I chose the IS F sport over its competitors in its class. The design of the exterior. Lexus in the past never had an aggressive looking sporty car that's build for younger buyer. This is what Lexus was lacking. The F sport was designed to bring in a younger buyer. Like myself in my mid 20's. Plus people in their mid 30's and mid 40's. BMW has never changed their design they don't fix something that isn't broken and same with the Mercedes. I admit the Mercedes does change their designs but very little, not too far from the norm. What Lexus did with the IS F sport and IS regular is completely take a huge chance with this new design and it makes them stand out. it's different, it's unique, it's new and they are at least in the sports segment the underdog. I root for the underdog.
***** I bet you if you drive up to the clubs in a Toyota corolla and get your friend to drive up to the clubs in an IS F sport, the F sport will get more attention from girls than the corolla. Try it, you'll see. I'm a guy, I don't care if another guy thinks it's ugly. I'm not gay to care what another guy thinks. If a hot girl says the car is hot, then that's all that matters..
I think the fact that the Lexus and the Cadi was better than what they thought had a strong impact on their decision. BMW didn't have that surprising feel. They had a high expectation for the BMW (understandably) which wasn't met.
All of these cars are great in their own way. The BMW for one, probably is the most luxurious and powerful. The Cadillac has the best driving dynamics and looks the best (my personal opinion). The Lexus isn't the best looking, but it is smooth and extremely solid. Just wait for the 2015 ATS and 2016 ATS-V though! Not that the ATS is a bad car, but I am disappointed in its engine options. The base 2.5i is a dog for sedan in this segment, the 2.0t isn't as refined as competitors, and the 3.6v needs lower end torque and better fuel economy. This can all be done, but I say get a new engine lineup. A 1.6t I4 with 205HP and 215-225LB-FT to replace the 2.5i, a 2.0t I4 with 290HP and 300-315LB-FT to replace the 3.6v, a new 3.2t with 380HP and 395-405LB-FT to compete on the higher end of thing's, and a 3.6tt with 450HP and 470-485LB-FT to rip it up on the track!
Lexus has one character and that got me back to them after owing 2015 mustang gt. That is refinement and reliability. I'm previous owner of 06 lexus is350
To think those guys would know how to take the traction off!!! Just press and hold traction until the light comes up on the cluster ! the look of the non F is really nice . great compressing !
4:18 You know how you can get that "instant power"? Being able to choose any gear you want with a stick shift. Drop from 5th to 3rd in an instant without waiting for a computer to choose that it wants to shift when you accelerate.
In 2023, the Lexus has aged very well. It's by far the best looking car with amazing lines and aggressive looks. The current IS design is even more aggressive. The BMW is boring in the exterior design and Caddy's origami lines remind me of an 80s Eldorado, only the Eldorado is better looking. Their design review was and is completely off the mark. I still love this channel. Long live the Park City boys of EverdayDriver.
Great review. You two need to argue with each other more, like Siskel and Ebert. Question: What did you think of the paddle shifters? How does the setup compare to a true DSG? And why didn't they put in a dual clutch in the first place?
I agree with the one in the blue, in terms of his top 3 order. HOWEVER, I find it utterly ridiculous how they are calling it ugly. Its one of the most style oriented cars I have ever seen and I wouldn't even consider the BMW or Cadillac when it comes to deciding which one looks the best.
to turn off traction control on Lexus you have to be at a complete stop and hold the traction control button for 5 seconds and the traction control light will come on to warn you that traction control is off. if you just press it it will say trac off but it won't be completely off.
Stats don't always tell the story. Both the guys have driven the IS-F on the track alongside the E90 M3. The IS-F has a great engine and a lot of power, but the weight transfer and handling aren't as precise. As a result the M3 was more rewarding and fun to drive. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
not all surprised that the Lexus is now in front - their stated goal was to win this segment - however I am in love with the mercedes CLA _ the benz styling won me over but much respect to Lexus.
If you look at their most recent GS, it is also a fun driver's car. Not only that, it out competes even the BMW 5 series! So, picking a Lexus as the best car is not shocking or wrong, it is simply the best and easy choice.
We hope you noticed that we agreed with you on the interior, calling it the best of all three. And the styling is polarizing, as the comments here suggest. The guys don't like it, but there are people who do. Besides the styling, we also hope you noticed how many positive things were said about the Lexus throughout the review - before the guys reached their end conclusions. We're glad you like the new IS, as it is an impressive car. Thanks for watching!
The guys have driven the IS-F and the E90 M3 back to back on the track, and the IS-F was very quick, but not as balanced or fun as the M3 - that's the basis for this comment in the review. Having driven the new IS, we're very excited to try the new IS-F when it and the M3 come out. We're pleased you like your car and completely understand why the IS F-sport can't replace it - it's a lower car in the lineup. We'll all just have to wait for a new IS-F. Thanks for watching!
Wow, that speedometer/tachometer in the Lexus is beautiful! Of course they took 99% of it from the LFA which is why it's stylish, but kudos to Lexus for taking something which looks much more premium and sticking it onto an IS car.
Audi did not give us LED lights. Many cars had LED lighting before Audi, but some people think Audi was the first. In fact, the Lexus LS had LED lights before Audi was using them on the R8.
ForTehNguyen refers to 2011+ IS-F because that was the year that LSD became standard and the suspension was tuned for better handling.The car was much better than MY 2008. Still, that E90 M3 was a great car in a distilled sporty-luxury package.
cadillac has the most personality and presence, and that actually matters a lot if you want to keep the car a long time, you need to never get sick of it, and you could possibly get sick of the lexus grill tbh. i wonder if the aftermarket can save the lexus grill though?
In pictures the new Is might look a little dodgy but in person it has a very strong design language that is either love or hate, but either way it is a large step foreword in automotive design. I personally think it looks fantastic.
The Lexus is nearly 10 grand cheaper and will be far more reliable post-warranty than the BMW.
But I wonder whether the BMW may be safer. That's really the number one consideration, and the reviewers never even touch that subject. Of course, reliability is, in a way, a safety feature. Being stranded in a car which fails to proceed can be dangerous.
JoeBlo2 Most of the IS350 F Sport's I've seen at the dealerships sticker for around $50k. There are many 335i's with options that sticker in the mid 50s, so I don't think it's accurate to say that it's $10k cheaper. I think Lexus is pricing the IS350 F Sport a little high, TBH.
Jacob Palmer Late response but the IS350 starts at $40K. A decently spec'd 335i would clear $50K.
JoeBlo2
Not the F Sport, like I said. You might be able to get a regular IS350 in the low 40s, but an F Sport IS350 will run around $50k.
turns out it holds it's value way better too.. Shopping 2015 ish Is350's right now.. Clean examples are 22K+. Meanwhile, similar year ATS's and BMW 3's are 15-16K... At least in my neck of the woods.
Man I don't get how people say this is ugly? I've seen them on the road and they look really good. Front end turns heads
The headlights makes it ugly. Everything else is fine
ImtheONE Lol $700 replacement for solid vland led’s.
And if you notice, many other car brands arw following the bumper to lip front grill.
Am I the only one who thinks the Lexus is the best looking? Exterior and interior
Nope. I'm with you. Most aggressive exterior styling and by far the coolest interior. Besides, I've driven all 3 and hands down, I loved the Lexus.
I feel like we're in the minority.
You're not wrong. In the F-Sport version, it's a beautiful car (especially in the red. But of course you can't HAVE the red, because it's like begging to be be carjacked and murdered). In fact, next to the Lexus, the Cadillac and the BMW look like fifteen-year-old USED CARS. But you have to get the F-sport, because it's the only one without the hideous standard grille.
But as someone in a multi-Lexus household, I have to say that we could not care less about "driving excitement" and "personality". What kind of moron WOULD care about things like that? What we buy the cars for is quiet, reliability, and durability. But frankly, I'm worried by the Lexus crash tests I've been watching, and we may not buy any more. Safety trumps all other factors. I assumed that we were buying safe cars, because of the ratings we found. But maybe we were misled.
HLinHD cizzlen07 naa... its ugly... too many complex lines that dont even make sense.. classic example of overdoing
HLinHD I agree. The IS looks better than the BMW and Caddy.
It's not ugly, it's aggressive. The A4 looks like a bar of soap like most of the Audi lineup.
Its ugly.
Lmao spot on bro
I’m trying to understand how the rear of the Lexus looked ugly. I mean the Front of the Cadillac ATS is aggressive I will give the Cadillac’s design that but wow the rear of of that car screams “I’m here to be owned by senior citizens “ and tbh the rear makes the car super retro. Granted now the 2020 cadillac designs have all around improved immensely, but seriously any design prior to 2019 to be safe for the Cadillac sedan in general is something your gramps would drive. I’m not taking the luxurious design of the car away by any means, but for a young person to say that yea id prefer this 2013 Cadillac ATS over a Lexus IS because it’s sportier then wow the world must’ve been back in the Middle Ages where every man wanted to date heavy set women for their “attractive looks” when it was really because they were wealthy and vice versa.
I like how everyone now is copying Lexus with the grill design language when 7 years ago it was bashed by most.
Way to go Lexus!
I think this Lexus is the hottest sedan on the road right now. I LOVE the look.
Don't want to look at it? Open your eyes, it's a gorgeous car. The rear 3/4 view is one of the best on the road, and the front end, although aggressive looks awesome and fits right in with the times.
Agree，front 3/4 view also looks good！
+Kevin Breese ...nah ..looks like an angry gerbil with predator disease
I couldn't agree more man. I am a Toyota/ Lexus fan. When I saw one of these today while walking my dog I couldn't help but do a walk around. Gorgeous car with very good attention to detail. Even the valve stem caps had designs on them.
I test drove all three, plus the Infiniti Q50, ultimately I have chosen the 2014 Lexus IS 350 F Sport. White with Red interior!!!! Car is amazing, very pleased with my purchase and will buy another LEXUS!! To be honest I would never have bought the older Lexus IS models. This one I did the research among the other competitors and it came up on top. The biggest thing, I decided to go with Lexus, The resale value styling an all new redesigned suspension with the BOLD GRILL!!!!
Hey I have same car. Bought it last month. Any issues with yours so far? Anything go wrong with anything?
how do you like that fake supercharger whine?
Daniel ivanov Not to bad, to me it does not sound cheap. But to me honest, after couple years owning it, I will sell it! It’s heavy and not as fast as I thought.
Nick Caesar Just gas consumption, but I drive it hard, and just my opinion, it’s slow and feels heavy after couple years owning it.
Sunamer Z Yes, same here just remembered, the wheel bearing, but that it
I got used to the Lexus' stying fast. When you see them in real life it grabs your attention. And it comes with great-looking wheels from the factory. And the interior is beautifully refined. Aesthetically, Lexus got it spot on.
Lol weird I drove all three and bought the Lexus IS, and the look of the exterior is growing on me. Lexus has came a long way and still love this car, great review.
did someone really forget to tell them that if they hold the traction control button for five seconds it lights up on the dash and is actually then completely off?
Possibly being a prototype car, they disabled the option to turn it off completely
Techdude6693 Lol no
Techdude6693 prototype car.... are you ok
Honestly, I wish the two gentlemen would have a longer conclusionary segment as I truly enjoy them discuss their thought processes. Their friendship is for real. The Lexus is an absolutely sexy looking car and reliable and still stylish in 2022...ask BMW to match that 🤸.
I have driven the GS 350 F-Sport sedan and it is amazing. Enough power and torque, great stability. I haven't driven the IS 350 but im pretty sure it is great!
I don't know about you guys, but the Lexus IS with F-sport package look stunning. The design is futuristic, and some people just need to get use to it.
The Lexus is smooth but some people think BMW is the best car on the planet period, which is bullsh*t. It's a very good car but it's not the ONLY very good car.
No its not a good car its an unreliable piece of shit, just because it looks cool people think its the best, lol
***** Lol yup, have fun paying hundreds of $$$ to replace the headlight or some other stupid shit. Fuck german cars. They're nice but fuck em in terms of reliability.
cizzlen07 people don't know how to drive hence cars break down
I personally love the look of the Lexus
me too
Same
Hated the grill until I saw it in person. Getting the is350 Fsport soon.
it's kind of boring my sister has one and wants to switch it out for an Audi S4
You say ugly,I say original and fresh.
lmfao he doesn't even know how to turn traction control off, take not even 15 seconds to open up the manual before you start complaining about what the Lexus can and cant offer.
I got this car 2 weeks ago, switching from an Audi A5. I love this car from all aspects. I walked into the dealership without knowing Lexus has a new car and I got the car pretty much on the spot. The driving experience is so nice and I actually really like the interior. I've just never imaged myself being a fan of LEXUS.
When you are giving money for something, its better if it lasts longer... LEXUS!!!!!
I find it odd when ppl still say Lexus does not have a character/personality/soul. It absolutely has it. It has the character/personality/soul of an extremely competent person, reliable, shows up on time, and with the 350 or the v8, can absolutely party if he/she wants to. It is not a supermodel, but certainly with the characteristics of a loyal spouse/partner.
i love my 2014 BMW 328 but bmw has so much to learn from Lexus. all my issues have been covered by the warranty but - module controlling passenger seat belt replaced then the , nav screen replaced because at night ..too dark to see ...going back in because their remote monitoring has picked up faulty steering, problem with run-flats , wrong service schedule ,,now my key fob seems to indicate errors - the car still drives real sweet, love BMW fuel economy in their turbo . amazing space in the new 3 , the red seats are unbelievably good looking and my iphone works really well with my idrive - btw ...really love the idrive. I have always owned lexus and had 3 previous IS models of the 2007 design - i really really respect Lexus becaus tthey really do pursue perfection . I might have gone with the IS again id they had a more fuel efficient turbo 4 but now they have one in the NX - maybe it will find irself in the IS pretty soon. I have come to love my 2014 328 with x drive but i still look with great admiration whenever I see an IS 350 come up alongside.
BMW will not learn it. Never. They will only start to do a thing when the consumer will wake up. Those cars have, actually, a very sensible quality level. It can quickly become a money pit.
Consumer Reports generally isn't concerned with driving fun. Our show is about finding cars that provide driving fun at somewhat affordable prices. So while Lexus has made plenty of good cars in terms of luxury and reliability, they aren't generally known for making cars that are more fun to drive than their competition. The guys are responding to that reputation, and review along the lines of our show's focus. If they are biased then they wouldn't have picked the Lexus first!
Lexus. Every. Single. Day.
I believe LEXUS RX450H is the greatest SUV of all time..
miamimagicians why?
azteczulu1
If you're a grandpa it is.
Francis Raveneau look at that car and tell me your grandpa would drive something that agressive and ill jump off a cliff for you..
See I'm not looking at the car, I'm driving it. There's a difference Tony...
The IS 350 is a work of art. It makes the other cars look plain. What you feel when you look at it is excitement.
This current Lexus style sure used to be a bit polarizing to me. Nowadays I have to say though I do find it attractive.
The design of the Lexus is very daring. I think it looks pretty good in person, although I can see how it can be very polarizing. The interior is just amazing to me. The BMW interior is pretty low rent and dated. Lexus has the best dealer experience and their cars hold their value. They are also very reliable for the long term and have significantly lower cost of ownership in the later years. The Cadillac design language doesn't age well. It's OK when new and shiny but older Cadillacs look terrible with the sharp flat panels. They also depreciate like fvck. Go with the Lexus, you will not regret it.
this car aged so well.
It really has and the current prices for used one are really good.
If you watch much of our work you'll see that we don't have a vendetta against Japanese cars or cars from any company. You might enjoy our any of our FRS pieces, including the all Japanese Car - FRS vs. RX8 vs. S2000. Also our FAQs discuss the guys favorite cars and they list a lot of variety. Meanwhile, we agree that reliability is an absolute asset to ownership, but it doesn't make a car dynamic or fun to drive. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
Lexus isnt pretty, although I think the rear looks fine, but im certain the lexus would be cheapest to own and run and most reliable. You could probably get 20 years of trouble free motoring from the toyota
Having driven the Lexus..... I can totally understand what you guys are saying. It is the total package even if it doesn't excel at any one thing except feeling special which is what a 50,000 dollar car should make you feel. The LFA DNA in this thing runs deep. I almost traded in my evo for it.... just wish it had a more serious engine it would be parked in my garage right now.
I personally think that this new Lexus IS looks amazingly good. To each his own I guess.
See it's a boring car so buy a BMW and get those repair bills monthly.lol
Caddy, BMW, Lexus? After 100k the Lexus is just broken in, while the other two will start to break up. Since you judge cars by "fun factor", I hope you'll have fun repairing them.
I actually think the lexus looks great... I like the front grille, seen it in person & it just looks really sporty, aggressive & bada$$... This grille may take away from current lexus IS buyers which I think is mainly female, if they think the car now looks too mean... I think they will still buy it though, funny as a guy I'll be quicker to buy the lexus now since to me it looks a little more tough now than the previous versions, which just looked sexy, hence the reason a lot of females bought them...LOL... My picks - 1: Lexus, 2: Cadillac, 3: Bmw.
I ain't worry bout nutting though, the new Acura TLX will blow all three of these cars out the water as the perfect Sports Sedan...! Wait & watch...LOL...
*****
I saw this car in person, the ISF in black, and I must say with the whole package, rims & all it actually looked great, in black at least... You'll have to see it in person and in the right color to understand.
The Lexus for me is the best looking I can’t stop looking at it
I'm not a big fan of the new look, but I heard it looks amazing in person. I love my last gen IS350, and it's good to see that the new IS lines are amazing as well.
Your attention to detail is evident in both the reviews and quality of the videos. Keep it up guys!
After driving all 3, I just feel like if you drive one BMW you drove them all. I agree I like the Lexus the best, I don't think its ugly its beautiful and bold. I'm really impressed with the caddy as well. Now to say the BMW isn't good because it is, but its not the best anymore. Plus the Lexus is the most reliable.
the point they said about the lexus crash repair cost is a good point but if you're not planning on crashing your car... definitely agreed!!!
I didn't really read much about Lexus until recently, when they came out with the IS-F and LFA,which has been their new brand image. I think there is something of a revolution happening at Toyota with their idea of "bringing sport back" with the F badge in Lexus and the GT86. It's a great thing to see that Toyota is regaining some of the mojo it had a long time ago, after having a couple-decade lull with the Prius. Great work again guys!
In order to turn the traction control off compeletly you have to push and hold the traction control button for a few seconds then the indicator will illuminate on the dash board.
I love this Car. It is sexy idk why they are saying it's ugly.
That Lexus interior is fucking gorgeous. Put that into a 335i body and the ATS steering and we got a perfect sports sedan.
Yeah go lexus!
The BMW suspension and steering is deliberately the way it is and the Inline 6 is a beast, winner by a country mile.
Not to mention the prettiest of the 3, you guys are off ya rockers.
Lexus is fun guys and I bought one not IS but RX because its fun to drive. Nice review guys.
The best thing about this review is that they used the IS350 INSTEAD of the IS300h that every other carshow/magazine has used, Mostly because the 300h comes with a CVT transmission and thats why the new IS has received alot of negative reviews from car magazines/shows that automatically hate every car that has a CVT transmission. So it's a good thing that EverydayDriver chose the 350 that has the 8-speedautomatic.
Lexus is the best just alone at looking how dependable they are !!And they are the true pursuit of perfection!!
I OWN AN ISF AND THE LEXUS TRULY KICKS ALL TYPES OF ASS!!
+Rob Styles I own a 2004 LS 430(looking to sell it) and it's very reliable. it would last 200k without much headache. Would you say the IS F can do the same thing ? Or would it overheat everynow and then ?
Would be really interested to know!
+Klaus ive literally driven my ISF to the limit a couple of times! 150+ mph high heat high oil temp situation and i havent heard a peep. The engine is a marvel! I am sure if you push a car hard repeatedly it will obviously break but the ISF seems to be very very reliable and strong. Overheating is not an issue on these machines.... at least not to my knowledge. From what i hear as long as you keep the oil changed and put good synthetic i use Motul. It will run for an extremely long time...there also a timing Chain vs a belt which life span is pretty much indefinite. From owning the ISF i can tell they really built these things to last and not stay in the shop for major repairs....very bullet proof performance machine so far im happy....
Thanks for the info!
ISF Engine = Toyota Yamaha Partnership
As stated at the beginning of this comparison - the BMW 3 series is the well known standard in this market segment and the car the other two have been specifically designed to beat. That's why it's the first car in the comparison and the touchstone that the guys keep referring to throughout. Yes, we've liked some BMWs, but not others, and we've always called out problems (as with any car). And as you noticed - while the 3 series has historically been the category winner, it didn't win here.
I prefer the previous version of the Lexus for looks but as a car in general. The Lexus wins hands down because it’s the one that will last you a lifetime and still look great
As always, great in-depth review. Really appreciate how much time and thought goes into making your comments and ultimately, your decisions. Very refreshing how much of your opinion is based on the driving experience over raw test numbers.
it was a pre-production model and it still won. You need to drive one to believe it
I got to ride this car on a closed track at a Lexus event. The thing has amazing grip and power when turning.
great review, as a BMW owner, I like your review, sport sedan market got really boring and predictable, glad to see Lexus step up
I test drove these cars and fell for the IS350 F-Sport with the same exact surprise. This is the best car overall and the driver experience is much better than the BMW for sure.
Standard headlights on the F-Sport are xenon projectors, same with the standard IS. Optional headlights are LED projectors. Neither option are dim.
don't be surprise, the tables have turned. Lexus is turning into the "ultimate driving machine", which started with the Lexus LFA. Hopefully, Lexus will continue and keep going strongly in this direction.
What happens with radical styling is that only a select few people will genuinely like the styling. When you have more contemporary styling, people will focus less on the looks of the car and more on the other features, quality of the interior, as well as how the car drives. The problem with the new Lexus IS is that people will be turned off immediately by the styling and not even give it a chance.
Great episode! The Lexus' front spindle grill is growing on me and the interior looks fantastic! Hail the new king!
Update:
Well I driven the ATS 2.0T today and good heavens it is a brilliant machine. Like Paul & Todd said the chassis & handling is brilliant. The transmission is so-so but the 2015 versions have a revised powerband that gives you 295lb/ft of torque so passing is a non-issue.
CUE is a pretty nice system. I come from a family of 2 Mercedes (with COMAND) & I enjoyed using CUE. It is somewhat hard to use when driving but very tactile in operation. Looks great as well.
The Lexus is still a more rounded car (as Paul said) but as a car destined primarily for myself as a driver the ATS dominates.
This is my next car. I don't need a oversized boat with body roll. This car symbolizes young and successful. Fresh out of University and staying your company. I will give my acura tsx to my sister. Im going to lexus this morning.
got a 2015 Lexus IS F Sport and I absolutely love it. Its much more faster and powerful than I thought. I got the 4 wheel drive model which is much more quicker 0-60 and grips like a mother..... Im a happy camper. No buyers remorse here. And its the cheapest one out of the three
Michael Mike since you don't mention the engine, I'm guessing you got the 2.5 V6? A lot of people shit on the 2.5, but I've heard it's actually pretty fun to drive. The only shitty part is that it gets spanked by pretty much any 3 Series, A4, or C Class on the road. Oh, well - at least it looks good!
I've had a 2.5 first gen is 250 and it was more that adequate. I got the 3.5 now but it's 4 wheel drive and its a rocket. You'll be happy with either I'm sure. Just make sure you get the F sport package. That's what makes it handle and move like a sports car.
I thought the RWD version had a slightly faster 0-60?
4 wheel drive is much quicker off the line. It's pretty much peel out proof, which is a downer i guess. I think I saw a 0-60 time of 5.3. I forgot where though. The 4 wheel drive only has 6 gears though. Doesn't mean much to me Accept more gas.
+Michael Mike Not true, the AWD is 0.1 sec slower than RWD in 0-60 mph, this is per Lexus' own specs.
That is why you two are the best!
No bias!
Truth be told!
Love it as always!
Keep on rocking!
Not surprised at the results, and thanks for another great comparison. Many others have said that the F30 just isn't as sharp as the E90, and it sounds like you reached the same conclusion.
I'll be anxious to see an M3/M4, IS F, and ATS-V comparison from you as follow-up.
I hear a lot of professional car designers and CZcams car reviewiers outside of Lexus saying they hate the IS F sport exterior design especially that huge grill. I don't understand what they hate because I just got a new 2015 IS F sport because I love the design. I love everything about it. I looked at the 2015 Mercedes C class and 2015 BMW 3 series and even 4 series. I didn't look at Audi or Cadillac.
I fell in love with the 2015 IS F sport design I can't stop looking at it and it gets a lot of attention especially from women. Good attention, it's a great ice breaker, this car. I drove a 2013 C class prior to my IS F and besides the horsepower, the IS F is better than the 2013 C class in every other category. The IS F sport looks better, the seats are more comfortable, the navigation system actually works well and fast as opposed to Mercedes Navigation which you must type in every single letter and the car gets confused.
Here's the biggest reason why I chose the IS F sport over its competitors in its class. The design of the exterior. Lexus in the past never had an aggressive looking sporty car that's build for younger buyer. This is what Lexus was lacking. The F sport was designed to bring in a younger buyer. Like myself in my mid 20's. Plus people in their mid 30's and mid 40's. BMW has never changed their design they don't fix something that isn't broken and same with the Mercedes. I admit the Mercedes does change their designs but very little, not too far from the norm. What Lexus did with the IS F sport and IS regular is completely take a huge chance with this new design and it makes them stand out. it's different, it's unique, it's new and they are at least in the sports segment the underdog. I root for the underdog.
***** I bet you if you drive up to the clubs in a Toyota corolla and get your friend to drive up to the clubs in an IS F sport, the F sport will get more attention from girls than the corolla. Try it, you'll see. I'm a guy, I don't care if another guy thinks it's ugly. I'm not gay to care what another guy thinks. If a hot girl says the car is hot, then that's all that matters..
I think the fact that the Lexus and the Cadi was better than what they thought had a strong impact on their decision. BMW didn't have that surprising feel. They had a high expectation for the BMW (understandably) which wasn't met.
All of these cars are great in their own way. The BMW for one, probably is the most luxurious and powerful. The Cadillac has the best driving dynamics and looks the best (my personal opinion). The Lexus isn't the best looking, but it is smooth and extremely solid.
Just wait for the 2015 ATS and 2016 ATS-V though! Not that the ATS is a bad car, but I am disappointed in its engine options. The base 2.5i is a dog for sedan in this segment, the 2.0t isn't as refined as competitors, and the 3.6v needs lower end torque and better fuel economy. This can all be done, but I say get a new engine lineup.
A 1.6t I4 with 205HP and 215-225LB-FT to replace the 2.5i, a 2.0t I4 with 290HP and 300-315LB-FT to replace the 3.6v, a new 3.2t with 380HP and 395-405LB-FT to compete on the higher end of thing's, and a 3.6tt with 450HP and 470-485LB-FT to rip it up on the track!
Lexus has one character and that got me back to them after owing 2015 mustang gt. That is refinement and reliability. I'm previous owner of 06 lexus is350
To think those guys would know how to take the traction off!!! Just press and hold traction until the light comes up on the cluster ! the look of the non F is really nice . great compressing !
These criticisms for the BMW are great. I hope BMW sees all these criticisms and steps it up in the future.
There was nothing lacking about the old ISF, it was a monster. But I do agree with this review.
dashboard is so so so cool. ISF is going to be epic.
4:18
You know how you can get that "instant power"? Being able to choose any gear you want with a stick shift. Drop from 5th to 3rd in an instant without waiting for a computer to choose that it wants to shift when you accelerate.
Or just supercharge it
TODD didnt liked the is-f -_- u srs bro -_- isf is one of the best sports sedan build.
I don’t know how all these car reviews are always mentioning that this car is ugly... this car is so sexy
In 2023, the Lexus has aged very well. It's by far the best looking car with amazing lines and aggressive looks. The current IS design is even more aggressive. The BMW is boring in the exterior design and Caddy's origami lines remind me of an 80s Eldorado, only the Eldorado is better looking. Their design review was and is completely off the mark. I still love this channel. Long live the Park City boys of EverdayDriver.
Great review. You two need to argue with each other more, like Siskel and Ebert.
Question: What did you think of the paddle shifters? How does the setup compare to a true DSG? And why didn't they put in a dual clutch in the first place?
I agree with the one in the blue, in terms of his top 3 order. HOWEVER, I find it utterly ridiculous how they are calling it ugly. Its one of the most style oriented cars I have ever seen and I wouldn't even consider the BMW or Cadillac when it comes to deciding which one looks the best.
Please compare E90 335i vs F30 335i
to turn off traction control on Lexus you have to be at a complete stop and hold the traction control button for 5 seconds and the traction control light will come on to warn you that traction control is off. if you just press it it will say trac off but it won't be completely off.
Im diggin the rear end of the IS but not so much the front.
Stats don't always tell the story. Both the guys have driven the IS-F on the track alongside the E90 M3. The IS-F has a great engine and a lot of power, but the weight transfer and handling aren't as precise. As a result the M3 was more rewarding and fun to drive. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
not all surprised that the Lexus is now in front - their stated goal was to win this segment - however I am in love with the mercedes CLA _ the benz styling won me over but much respect to Lexus.
If you look at their most recent GS, it is also a fun driver's car. Not only that, it out competes even the BMW 5 series! So, picking a Lexus as the best car is not shocking or wrong, it is simply the best and easy choice.
I was about to buy a BMW 3-series. Now I need to visit Lexus showroom and test drive it myself.
Traction Control kicked in yo!!!
-Fast and Furious: Lexus Edition
Nice review! I absolutely agree that the Lexus design isnt the sharpest, but it's usability is gold!
We hope you noticed that we agreed with you on the interior, calling it the best of all three. And the styling is polarizing, as the comments here suggest. The guys don't like it, but there are people who do. Besides the styling, we also hope you noticed how many positive things were said about the Lexus throughout the review - before the guys reached their end conclusions. We're glad you like the new IS, as it is an impressive car. Thanks for watching!
The guys have driven the IS-F and the E90 M3 back to back on the track, and the IS-F was very quick, but not as balanced or fun as the M3 - that's the basis for this comment in the review. Having driven the new IS, we're very excited to try the new IS-F when it and the M3 come out. We're pleased you like your car and completely understand why the IS F-sport can't replace it - it's a lower car in the lineup. We'll all just have to wait for a new IS-F. Thanks for watching!
Wow, that speedometer/tachometer in the Lexus is beautiful! Of course they took 99% of it from the LFA which is why it's stylish, but kudos to Lexus for taking something which looks much more premium and sticking it onto an IS car.
I would still go 1 BMW 2 Lexus 3 Caddy.
Great review guys.
Audi did not give us LED lights. Many cars had LED lighting before Audi, but some people think Audi was the first. In fact, the Lexus LS had LED lights before Audi was using them on the R8.
ForTehNguyen refers to 2011+ IS-F because that was the year that LSD became standard and the suspension was tuned for better handling.The car was much better than MY 2008.
Still, that E90 M3 was a great car in a distilled sporty-luxury package.
cadillac has the most personality and presence, and that actually matters a lot if you want to keep the car a long time, you need to never get sick of it, and you could possibly get sick of the lexus grill tbh.
i wonder if the aftermarket can save the lexus grill though?
March 2014. BMW 3/4 Series - 10,120 vs. Lexus IS - 4,893 vehicles sold.
In pictures the new Is might look a little dodgy but in person it has a very strong design language that is either love or hate, but either way it is a large step foreword in automotive design. I personally think it looks fantastic.
i agree with what they said, all things considered the Lexus is my personal favorite as well