Rank
What's New for 2025?
If you've been holding your breath for a full IS redesign, you'll have to keep holding. Minor equipment shuffling is the headline news this year, most notably a standard heated steering wheel for the F Sport Design trim package and a few extra standard items for the F Sport package (power-folding mirrors, power-adjustable steering wheel and driver memory functions). There's also a limited-edition appearance package for the IS 500 F Sport Premium that includes yellow paint, 19-inch BBS wheels and a credit card-sized key card that fits in your wallet.
2025 IS Selector
2025 Lexus IS
FAST FACTS
"The current IS is undeniably ancient, having debuted so long ago — 2014 — that it's almost hard to believe. Thing is, Lexus got a lot of things right back then, including the superlatively comfortable front seats (though the rears are decidedly tight), the enduringly attractive shape and the strong 3.5-liter V6 engine in the IS 350 model. In the years since, the IS has seen the addition of an unremarkable turbocharged four-cylinder engine for the entry-level IS 300, as well as the introduction of the V8-powered IS 500, which is a special treat for a select few. Overall, there's so much fundamental goodness in this platform, and so much resale value and reputational reliability on its side, that we just can't quit it. The IS remains a top contender, even if its fuel economy, in particular, is behind today's curve."—Ranked #4 out of 9 Compact Luxury Sedans
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Lexus IS that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
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Although Lexus has done a remarkable job of keeping the current IS fresh despite its age, the base turbocharged four-cylinder engine is stale. Both fuel economy and acceleration are unimpressive. For example, the benchmark BMW 330i gets to 60 mph a whopping 1.3 seconds sooner with its 2.0T engine and also beats the IS 300 by 4 mpg in combined fuel economy.
The powertrain in the IS 300 AWD is a head-scratcher. First of all, try to wrap your mind around the fact that even though it's called the IS 300, it uses a 3.5-liter V6 rather than the rear-drive IS 300's 2.0-liter turbo four. By today's standards, moreover, the V6's horsepower and torque figures are exceptionally low, and the fuel economy is more SUV-like than sedan-like. The six-speed automatic transmission is another dated feature (the IS 300 RWD gets eight speeds). But the official 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds actually turns out to be a bit conservative, judging by MotorTrend's 5.7-second run. So what we have here is a sneaky-fast version of the IS that performs much better than the spec sheet would suggest. The fuel economy still stinks, though.
It's not that the IS lineup is grossly inefficient, but the reality is that all three of the mainstream engines — the 2.0T and two versions of the 3.5-liter V6 — are long in the tooth, and fuel economy norms have moved on. So while the IS 350's 23-mpg combined figure was just fine back in 2014, it's well behind the times in 2024. We do have a soft spot for this V6, as it delivers strong acceleration and has a reputation for reliability, but maxing out at 28 mpg on the highway is so, well, 10 years ago.
More age-related quirkiness from the IS 350 AWD: Like the IS 300 AWD, it downgrades from the default eight-speed automatic to a six-speed auto, and although it shares its output figures with the IS 350 RWD, the engine is fundamentally the same in both cars. In other words, the real-world difference in acceleration should be minimal, and the fuel economy ratings from the EPA are exactly the same. If you're happy wth the features of the IS 300 AWD, then, you shouldn't worry about missing out on the IS 350 AWD's superior acceleration. The gap is insignificant.
The IS 500 is a nearly perfect hot-rod for those who prefer to fly under the radar. Like every IS, of course, the 500 has rakish styling, but it doesn't stand out from lesser IS models — the only thing different about it dimensionally is that it's slightly longer. Under the hood, however, there's a naturally aspirated V8 that sounds fantastic and goes like the proverbial stink.
What are the different versions of the 2025 IS, and how much do they cost? Select a version below or just hit the button to see our full 2025 IS specs and model data.
| Version | Price | Fuel | MPG | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Lexus IS 300 (2.0T 8-Speed Automatic) | $40,185 | Gas | 25 | 241 hp | 258 lb-ft |
| 2025 Lexus IS 300 AWD (3.5 6-Speed Automatic) | $42,185 | Gas | 22 | 260 hp | 236 lb-ft |
| 2025 Lexus IS 350 (3.5 8-Speed Automatic) | $43,510 | Gas | 23 | 311 hp | 280 lb-ft |
| 2025 Lexus IS 350 AWD (3.5 6-Speed Automatic) | $45,510 | Gas | 22 | 311 hp | 280 lb-ft |
| 2025 Lexus IS 500 (5.0 8-Speed Automatic) | $59,170 | Gas | 20 | 472 hp | 395 lb-ft |
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008. Prior to founding MotorDonkey, he spent 15 years shaping Edmunds' expert automotive content in various capacities, starting as an associate editor and ultimately serving as a senior editor before wrapping up with a five-year term as the company's first-ever director of content strategy. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has driven, compared and critiqued thousands of cars in his career. Helping people find their perfect car never gets old—seriously!
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