Lexus IS 300

Over the past few years, the Lexus IS 300 has had the potential to be an intriguing pick for a small luxury sedan. It cost less than its German rivals yet offered more features and similar levels of comfort and quality. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, the IS 300 also suffered from a lack of driving refinement, a distracting-to-use technology interface and a small cabin.

Hoping for a better result, Lexus is hitting a soft reset with the 2021 Lexus IS 300. The exterior is only lightly refreshed, but there are substantial changes underneath and inside that seek to solve the IS 300's most pressing problems. Additional reinforcements and welds increase body rigidity, which Lexus says improves handling and steering response among other benefits. Some suspension components are lighter than before, which reduces unsprung mass and should translate to a more comfortable ride.

Inside, Lexus has replaced the distracting-to-use mouse-like controller with a touchpad controller. This new system eliminates the on-screen cursor that made the prior Lexus system difficult to use. Touchscreen functionality and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also newly available too. The rest of the interior is pretty much unchanged.

Is the 2021 IS 300 better than before? Most certainly. We don't expect the IS 300 will zoom up to the top of our small luxury sedan rankings, but it could be worth a look if value is a priority.

Which IS 300 does MatoCar recommend?

We recommend sticking with the base IS 300 RWD unless you need the extra traction of all-wheel drive. The turbocharged four-cylinder is more economical than the V6 and is nearly as powerful. None of the options is prohibitively expensive, but if you only have a little wiggle room in your budget, the Comfort package is a must-have. The Mark Levinson audio system is a close second.

The 2021 Lexus IS 300 is a small luxury sedan available in two trim levels: IS 300 RWD and IS 300 AWD. The two are identically equipped, with one difference that's somewhat self-explanatory: The former is rear-wheel-drive and the latter is all-wheel-drive. Strangely, each uses a unique powertrain. The RWD model is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (241 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque) paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The IS 300 AWD uses a 3.5-liter V6 (260 hp, 236 lb-ft) and a six-speed automatic.

IS 300 The IS 300 comes standard with:

18-inch wheels
LED headlights
Auto-dimming mirrors
Keyless entry and ignition
Dual-zone automatic transmission
Heated front seats (AWD only)
Simulated leather upholstery
8-inch touchscreen
10-speaker audio system
Satellite radio
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Two USB ports
Wi-Fi hotspot

The IS 300 is also equipped with a set of advanced safety features, many of which are optional on rivals. These include:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Lexus and the car in front)
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)

Packages and stand-alone options for the IS 300 include:

Comfort package

Sunroof
Heated steering wheel
Heated and ventilated front seats

Navigation package

10.3-inch touchscreen
Navigation system

Mark Levinson Premium Audio package

Navigation package
17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system
Aluminum control knobs

Upgraded headlights
Sunroof
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the IS 300 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)