2017 Lexus IS 300 Review

Name: 2017 Lexus IS 300 Review
Brand: Lexus
Price: 20600 USD

Lexus IS 300 Sedan Exterior. F SPORT Package Shown.

Lexus IS 300 Sedan Front Badge. F SPORT Package Shown.

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Lexus IS 300 model years

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byJonathan Elfalan^{Director, Vehicle Testing
Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at Edmunds, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.}

Pros

Smooth and comfortable ride on bumpy roads
Cabin is well isolated from noise
Offers more features for the money than German rivals

Cons

Optional Remote Touch infotainment system is distracting to use
Handling capabilities do little to create driver excitement
Short on trunk space and small item in-cabin storage
V6 power is comparable to smaller turbo engines but not as efficient

What’s new

On the outside, the 2017 IS 300 sports a revised front bumper, grille, rear taillights and exhaust diffusers. LED headlights are standard this year. Inside, there are minor style and control revisions and a larger display screen for the optional navigation system. The IS 300's formerly optional package of advanced driver aids (Lexus Safety System+) is also now standard.

Vehicle overview

The 2017 Lexus IS 300 is one of the more aggressively styled luxury compacts, even if performance isn't a primary focus. But considering its all-wheel drive, well-honed ride, ample features and low noise levels, it's got enough going for it to be a convincing choice.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2017 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$251/mo

$181/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The IS 300 is the midgrade model introduced just last year, slotting in between the turbocharged IS 200t and range-topping IS 350. The IS 300 gets a slightly detuned version of the 350 model's 3.5-liter V6 engine and comes solely with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission. There are some drawbacks, such as lackluster performance and a lack of storage and rear legroom. But overall we think the IS 300 will appeal to many shoppers looking for a small luxury sedan.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

3.5 / 5

The 2017 Lexus IS 300 is one of the more aggressively styled small luxury sedans, even if performance isn't a primary focus. But considering its all-wheel drive, comfortable ride, ample features and quiet interior, it's got enough going for it to be a convincing choice.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions, although trim levels share many aspects. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2016 Lexus IS 200t with the F Sport package (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 8-speed automatic | RWD). The 2017 Lexus IS 300 produces slightly more power and is all-wheel-drive, but our finds remain broadly applicable.

Scorecard

Overall	3.5 / 5
Driving	3.0
Comfort	4.0
Interior	2.5
Utility	2.0

Driving

3.0

The highlight of the IS 200t is the new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which is better in every way than the small V6 it replaces. Handling dynamics aren't this car's strongest suit, though you can still have fun whipping this luxury compact around a bend or two.

Acceleration

This IS is generally not as quick as the class equivalents. Lexus says to expect a 0-60 mph time of 6.1 seconds for the IS 300. That's decent, but many rival sedans with six-cylinder upgrade engines are quicker still.

Braking

2.5

The brake pedal travel is surprisingly short and stiff for a Lexus and lacks a sense of stopping power. In our emergency panic-braking test, an IS 200t with the F Sport package stopped from 60 mph in 117 feet, which is below average for a car on summer-rated tires.

Steering

3.0

The electric steering builds effort that provides a natural and direct response, but it lacks road feel, which is important if your front tires ever lose grip. The IS fails to provide confidence in this area, which is critical for spirited driving or low-grip situations.

Handling

3.0

Even with the stickier optional 18-inch summer tires and sport suspension from the F Sport package, the IS has a tendency to push over the limits of front tire grip. Quick directional changes are more to its liking than long, sustained corners, so choose your back roads accordingly.

Comfort

4.0

Excellent ride comfort and the serene quietness of the 2017 IS 300's cabin are the big standouts in this area. We are also happy with the seats, though sitting in the saddle for a few hours can take a small toll on your lower back due to some mismatched lumbar ergonomics.

Seat comfort

2.5

There's adequate lateral seat support, and the optional ventilation and heating work well. The amount of lumbar support is adjustable, but the position is fixed and sits too high to provide long-distance comfort for an average-size driver.

Ride comfort

5.0

The IS delivers combines solid body control with smooth compliance at all the right times. Bumps and impacts are absorbed without issue, yet there's no hint of a marshmallowy ride or overly soft suspension tune. Very good.

Noise & vibration

4.5

Great attention went into the IS 300's cabin soundproofing. Road and wind noise is sufficiently silenced, and you don't hear much of the engine. Quiet cabins are more comfortable and can promote calmer reactions in emergencies.

Climate control

4.5

Lexus managed to make the climate controls easy to use while adding cool touch sliders for the temperature adjustment that function flawlessly. The system had no problems maintaining a comfortable cabin temperature, and the optional heated and ventilated seats are stellar.

Interior

2.5

The IS 300 struggles with finding a balance between innovation and complication. The infotainment system interface lacks user-friendly qualities, and basic cupholder ergonomics were an afterthought to laying out a visually appealing interior. This is a cabin with mediocre functional efficiency.

Ease of use

2.0

Lexus' haptic joystick interface for the infotainment system is still cumbersome to use and manages to snag USB phone cords with ease. We'd stick to the base system if possible.

Getting in/getting out

3.0

Even with the easy-entry retracting steering wheel, it's not difficult to graze a knee against the column climbing into the driver seat. The rear door openings are on the smaller side and could prove difficult for less flexible passengers.

Roominess

2.5

The cabin space is not abundant in the IS 300. For an average-sized driver, the center tunnel console is needlessly wide and the armrests can feel intrusive. The rear seats have less legroom than in some competitors, and the center seat has marginal headroom.

Visibility

3.0

Forward visibility is great, and the rear headrests don't impede the view directly rearward. But huge rear roof pillars and a high body slope create blind spots when reversing. Parking sensors and a rearview camera are optional and recommended.

Quality

4.0

Other than the steering-wheel leather that looks and feels like wrinkled skin by the thumb holds, this interior is done well. The seats have quality stitching, and all contact surfaces are soft with tight panel fit and solid door seals.

Utility

2.0

The smallish trunk that doesn't fold flat and limited interior storage conspire against the IS 200t's utility.

Small-item storage

2.5

Storage up front is limited to the armrest bin, the door pockets and the glovebox.

Cargo space

2.0

At 10.8 cubic feet, cargo space is on the small side for the class. The rear seatbacks fold forward, but hardly flat. The unevenness limits what you can carry with the seats down.

2017 Lexus IS 300 models

The 2017 Lexus IS 300 is the midlevel model in the IS lineup, between the turbocharged IS 200t and top trim IS 350. There are no actual trim levels, only packages, though the F Sport package adds exterior design elements and more performance-tuned hardware that would certainly alter the character of the IS 300. The IS 300 comes with a detuned version of the 3.5-liter V6 engine (255 horsepower, 236 pound-feet of torque) in the IS 350, plus standard all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission.

Standard equipment highlights for the IS 300 includes 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats, premium vinyl upholstery, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, Bluetooth, an 8-inch color display, voice commands and an eight-speaker sound system. Lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and a forward collision warning system with automatic braking are also standard this year.

A number of packages are available for the IS 300. The smaller ones are the Premium and Premium Plus packages. The former includes heated and ventilated front seats and a rearview camera, and the latter adds automatic wipers, a power-adjustable steering wheel and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Luxury package, which is one we recommend for this IS model, includes all of the above items plus auto-dimming exterior mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel rim and driver-seat memory functions.

The Navigation package replaces the standard infotainment control dial with Lexus' Remote Touch mouse-type controller and adds a navigation system with a larger 10.3-inch display. A 15-speaker Mark Levinson audio system can be specified, but it must include the Navigation package.

Finally, there's the F Sport package for those who want to up the sporting factor of their car. It includes a full-mesh front grille, a revised front bumper, twin-projector LED headlights, staggered-width 18-inch wheels (with either summer or all-season tires), a sport-tuned suspension, upgraded brake pads, an intake sound generator that amplifies engine noise during acceleration, heated and ventilated front sport seats with enhanced bolstering, perforated leather trim and a special sport-oriented gauge cluster. Because the IS 300's primary focus isn't performance, the F Sport package seems a little misplaced here.

A few other stand-alone options, in addition to some of the above items, include a power rear sunshade, and remote vehicle control function (door locking and unlocking, cabin ventilation, vehicle finder, etc.) via a smartphone app through the Lexus Enform system.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4.5/5Excellent

#5 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Lexus IS 300 from 2008-2022.}

$519/yr

vs. $607/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.53x/yr

vs. 1.36x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

5.1%

vs. 10.5%
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2017 Lexus IS 300.

5 (47%)

4 (13%)

3 (13%)

2 (27%)

1 (0%)

3.8

15 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

IS300 F Sport - stylish, fun, upscale

Alex R., 10/28/2016

2016 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)

This IS 300 F Sport has been an absolute pleasure. While sport sedans today, including some of the others I tested before acquiring an IS, are somewhat watered-down for the most part, this one doesn't make compromises. It's a very comfortable place to be while still offering high levels of driver engagement, and it looks the part, too. Starting off, the sedan is pretty low to step into, … which lets both driver and passenger know this is not a family sedan. It took me a couple of days to adjust to the step-in height, but it's certainly easy to live with. The seats hug you quite nicely and have soft Nuluxe upholstery - my example's seating is finished in Rioja Red, which contrasts nicely with the black surfaces on the dash and headliner. I love the analog clock and brushed-aluminum accents, which are sort of retro-looking. After starting the car the first thing you notice is the awesome F Sport instrument cluster, which is mostly a digital display. It looks sharp and is reconfigurable to show lots of trip data and even glows red when your RPM reaches a configurable threshold. The steering wheel is also fantastic and one of my favorite features of the car - it's wrapped in soft leather and is fairly chunky. The steering feel, too, is quite good for a modern car, providing enough resistance at speed to give me confidence around corners. Speaking of corners, this thing stays pretty flat and drama-free even at turning speeds I wouldn't dare attempt in my old Camry. And despite the V6 being detuned to 255 HP compared to the IS 350's 306 HP, this thing still has plenty of power and is satisfying to drive quickly. The intake sound amplifier also means the V6 really comes alive at higher RPMs - and it sounds quite nice! My only real gripes with this car have to do with the infotainment, which seems to have a lot of menus. The mouse-like controller can also take some getting used to - and I bet your passengers won't want to learn it. In addition, this thing rides well over most roads, but sometimes more broken pavement transmits some noise into the cabin than you might expect. The handling benefits of the suspension tuning as well as the composure on the highway far outweigh the slight downsides on crappy roads, for my taste - not to mention this thing is near-silent on any decent road anyway. All that said, this is a great small luxury car that seems designed to appeal to the enthusiast without overdoing it. If you're buying this car for a fun, engaging driving experience with some luxury touches, you won't be disappointed.

Smart Buy

R, 11/16/2021

2017 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)

Very satisfied with my 17’ IS300 F Sport. What’s crazy is the used car market right now. The kbb on my IS was $28k when I bought it in Jan 21’ and now in Nov. 21’ kbb is $38k! Go figure, it’s gotta be 1st time in my life we’re seeing values change like that. Shows you how strong the resale value is. Plus it gives owners endless possibilities of mods or it can be kept straight OEM. These … Japanese built rides are so well made and they’re put together in either Canada or the US not Mexico so many. And if the day does come you need some work it won’t cost you like all other euros in its class. No it won’t win any races off the assembly line but that doesn’t mean you can’t set it up to be a track car (my future plans for it). I can feel the craftsmanship and enjoy simplicity of my black and red interior. I like the fact I can switch it to ECO in the neighborhood and barely make a sound then throw it into Sport mode and take the corner at 50 without a squeal. The Japanese have set the standard for a well built long lasting V6s and I don’t feel anything different with this one, it should easily get 250k miles plus just like my 02’ IS did and I’m sure it’s still going. There are some things that can be improved, I had to install my own wireless apple car play harness. I invested about $300 into RCF front bushings and adjustable rear control arms to help with the excessive inner tire tread wear. If your not careful you can burn through summer tires in less than 15k miles. The other small upgrade is to replace your front dash 4” tweeters, it’s an easy and inexpensive mod that will clear up your mids and highs will sound so much better. But that’s my inner sound junkie talking. For those owners complaining about f sport brake noises or any brake noises for that fact don’t understand how to properly lube small key areas near the pad, caliper, mounting spot or don’t have the right brake pad hardware or simply neglecting their brakes. A 5 min internet search and a $2 silicone lube can solve these f sport brake noise complaints. I installed Brembo & Bosch rotors and paired them with ceramic Akebono pads and they are dead silent, rust resistant, zero brake dust and highly responsive. People who complain about brake noises and blame their car are the same type who drive until their oil light comes on before an oil change. For those wondering about winter performance, I’m up in Northern Idaho and I made it through a few solid winters with my stock 18” f sport rims and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 AS tires. But any snow storm over 6” requires snow tire setup or chains. Lexus AWD is solid but it doesn’t provide enough traction for the bigger snow storms. Overall for an affordable entry level luxury sedan/souped Camry I wouldn’t hesitate buying again especially since it won all the rewards in 2017 for holding its value.

Capable, Fun, AWD Alaska Sedan

Dav, 01/22/2019

2016 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)

It is NOT a sports car BUT it is quick enough for everyday. It has been impressive to drive in snow and ice. It holds the road very very well. Granted one must take the time to invest in high quality snow tires... That being said though, I've driven many AWD/4WD cars and trucks here in the Great White North and this performs as well as any of them most times better outperforming most …

Hot driving car disappointment to geeks

Forbes Mercy, 05/28/2017

2016 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)

No doubt this car gets up and goes, almost justifies the dismal sub 20mpg performance although in today's cars there's little excuse for such horrible mileage. The dealership lied saying it wasn't premium gas, I hate "anything to get the sale" salesmen and that's Seattle Lexus spot on. Even complaining to their manager gets you no return phone call (no cussing or disrespect if you were …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2017 Lexus IS 300, so we've included reviews for other years of the IS 300 since its last redesign.

See all 15 reviews of the Lexus IS 300

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2017 IS 300 Highlights

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$40,200
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$251/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the IS 300 models:

Adaptive Cruise Control: Helps drivers maintain a preset distance by adjusting the vehicle's speed in relation to the vehicle traveling directly in front of them.
Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist: Monitors lane markings and warns you if you are drifting and can even actively help steer the vehicle back into the lane of travel.
Intelligent High Beam: Switches between high and low beams automatically by using cues from a camera that helps detect when other vehicles are present.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2017 Lexus IS 300 Review

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Vehicle overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2017 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Which IS 300 does Edmunds recommend?

2017 Lexus IS 300 models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

IS300 F Sport - stylish, fun, upscale

Smart Buy

Capable, Fun, AWD Alaska Sedan

Hot driving car disappointment to geeks

2017 IS 300 Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2017 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}