Used 2018 Lexus IS 300 Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 IS 300, so we've included reviews for other years of the IS 300 since its last redesign.
Fun 2 drive, poor technology
Jason burgos, 08/08/2018
2018 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
22 of 22 people found this review helpful
Only 3,000 miles in but the navigation and Lexus Enform is terribly unreliable. I wasted money upgrading to this option. Seat cooling and heating has a mind of its own.
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IS300 F Sport - stylish, fun, upscale
Alex R., 10/28/2016
2016 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
34 of 39 people found this review helpful
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.
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2018 Lexus IS 300 for sale near you
3 of 9 listings
- Base SedanMSRP: $31,99916 mi away
- Base SedanMSRP: $21,999In-stock online
- Base SedanMSRP: $20,539In-stock online
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Smart Buy
R, 11/16/2021
2017 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
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.
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IS 300Fsport FUN FUN
John Eversole, 07/13/2018
2018 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
23 of 26 people found this review helpful
There are only a few nagging issues but in the big scheme of things, they may be minor to many. First, the car is very nimble, quick steering, brakes and acceleration. I could get better than 19.5 mpg but I drive it very fast and hard. A little hard to get in, but once in, very comfortable. But a car at this level should have memory seats! Very little storage in the large (on the outside) console. I did not order, or want, the navigation. One of the reasons I bought this model was the fold down rear seats, and most Lexus models do not and I did not want another SUV. It is a fun car that feels very solid and safe and would be close to perfect if these few areas were corrected.
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Capable, Fun, AWD Alaska Sedan
Dav, 01/22/2019
updated 07/25/2023
2016 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
23 of 27 people found this review helpful
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 but the Cayenne S. Bluetooth is a pain in the a$$ but seems to get better with usage disconnecting less often. *Update..seems to have settled down and rarely disconnects anymore.* Really Lexus you could do so much better on the infotainment. The car is solid and well built. Materials are high quality. It purrs right along. Update: I've taken temporary job that requires commuting and really added the miles. the original tires were out and I put some inexpensive ones on from Amazon. They are quiet and competent but this is not a store review. I am still quite content with the little sedan. The AWD does not like dry pavement tight turning. Highways are fine. Update 2.. Super cold winter this year with plenty of snow and ice. Car still moves nicely. the Federal Himalaya II that are on it are phenomenal...even at -23F they've remained pliable and sticky. Very few cars are ultimately worth the money...this one is still stellar. Final update I put 100,000 miles on it. Fantastic car. Recently sold so I could go back to a Cayenne. The grandkids are getting to big for extended rides in the little Lexus. If you you get a chance and it fits your lifestyle you can't go wrong with this little wonder car. Keep good tires on it and change oil and brake pads. Thatall I had to do in 100 thousand miles. Happy motoring.
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Lady in hot Blue Lexus
Kathy, 08/07/2018
updated 02/14/2019
2018 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
First Lexus, fun to drive, great handling on curves, brakes excellent. Comfortable seats, lacks storage next to driver. Love it!
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Hot driving car disappointment to geeks
Forbes Mercy, 05/28/2017
2016 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
29 of 42 people found this review helpful
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 thinking that) as promised. The voice recognition is beyond a joke and yes I did the voice training, no difference. Why can't I buy up to the auto-braking system when it's in the software? Seriously no 120v to make up for your seriously underpowered USB that face up to let things fall into them, bluetooth that works then doesn't. Who designed this thing, the seats are like rocks? Pretty, powerful but not tech friendly. You can get a lot more tech centric cars for a lot less and maybe a decent MPG.
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From 98 ES300 to 2016 IS300
Ask for Babs, 02/01/2023
2016 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Coming from an older Lexus model, it definitely is a different feel but that same luxury ride. I also have a Honda pilot so this sits significantly lower so I would take extra precautions on potholes and bumps, sharp turns hit smoothly but that undercarriage is delicate. It can go smooth for high speeds and runs a nice driver experience with the paddle shifters but if you want something cheap, the Lexus is not it. My Honda pilot is 2018 and with both cars at 60k miles, they resale the same value. If you are leasing, have all the fun. Buying and financing, it is relatively expensive to maintain but not as expensive to maintain as say my older Lexus or a higher luxury like a BMW may be (roughly $1000 a year for maintenance). I regret nothing in buying the car but it is something you have to take a great deal of caring for to keep running.
Cute little ride!
msbop6@yahoo.com, 10/16/2016
2016 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
16 of 23 people found this review helpful
This is our second Lexus and I highly suggest buying new. We got a used Lexus and absolutely loved it until the engine went out and stopped cold. Now this new one is under warrantee and we hopefully will never have that problem again. It is very comfortable and runs very smooth. But as mentioned in other reviews, the mouse is very distractible . Otherwise, great little car.
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Stylish
MsChan, 12/09/2020
2016 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Great car, stylish good on gas & a nice quiet ride, it has some nice pep to it as well. My only issue is it sits pretty low, but if you don't live in a snow state, that will not be an issue.
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Fun car!
Car gurl , 12/12/2021
2017 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
One of my favorite cars ever. Fast and handles great. I did several road trips and the car was comfortable, avg 25 mpg when using eco mode. Great driving on hilly curvy roads. Small enough to zip around town and fits in tight parking spaces. Ventilated seats were ideal. The only option I didn’t have was remote start. Only con was having to use premium gas. I had offset tires so they couldn’t be rotated but it looked and drove so much better it was worth it.
Sporty meets sexy
Patrick Peck, 03/02/2024
2018 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Sleek and sexy and of course reliable. This car makes driving exciting. Need to be careful to not get too crazy while taking tight turns and getting up to speed but it handles MARVELOUSLY. You can't go wrong and we're over the moon for this purchase. The price could've been higher for what we got. 5 stars!
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F sport breaks scream!!!
Annette , 10/15/2019
2017 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
13 of 20 people found this review helpful
I have a 2017 Lexus IS300 f sport and the brakes squeak loudly every morning until the brakes get warmed up. Forgot snowing days because you can hear my miles away because she just screams because of the high performance brakes supposedly.... I took her into my local Lexus dealership and they wouldn’t even look into they just said it’s normal in the f sports😡 I love Lexus I have had almost all of them I had a RX a GX and still own a GS but this f sport brakes drives me insane!!!
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Four-wheel Xanax
Andolina, V.P., 01/12/2023
2018 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 10 people found this review helpful
About 6 months ago I purchased a used base 2018 Lexis IS 300 6-cyl. with about 32,000 miles on it. The car was in excellent condition, rattle and squeak free, beautiful dark blue paint, comfortable interior, fast downshift and acceleration upon mashing the accelerator, fairly good handling. Overall I like this car very much and it fulfilled my goal of a sedate car that does not tempt the driver to flog it mercilessly. (My previous car was a 2015 Focus ST which was a ton of fun to drive but I pushed it too much.) My major negative comment about this car is lack of road feel (as mentioned in Edmund's review), and additionally, lack of feedback about g-forces. I cannot bend this car into a turn at high speed because it gives no clue about change in g-force distribution and when to power out of the turn. It simply feels as if the suspension is trying its best to keep the car level. That reduces the fun factor to zero, and also means that the driver could lose control without warning if the limits of the tire's grip is exceeded. Not fun! As of this review the car has nearly 45,000 miles on the odo and still feels tight, comfortable and quiet.
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Nice car
Kirt, 04/27/2022
2018 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
4 years old no issues
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Unusual Engine Sound, Vibration in front wheels
Daniel, 12/25/2016
2017 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
15 of 25 people found this review helpful
Hi, I have Lexus isf 300 for 3 days. From the first day I got it. I have unusual noise in my engine. I never had this kind of a car but it's my third lease. First one was a g37 ufter it, I had es350 non of them had this noise. Plus every time when I make full turn doesn't meter left or right it makes and u can feel some kind of vibration. By the way it sounds inside just like Diesel engine.
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My 2nd Lexus
H. Htaik, 01/10/2022
2018 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Feel very comfortable and drive safe and effectively as it should be. Especially twisted and curved roads seems more enjoyable than regular roads. Spend more on gas but still worth it.
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Really Poor For Enthusiasts
Ryan, 03/07/2023
2016 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
8 of 14 people found this review helpful
I had the IS300 for over a year and a half, going from a 2013 WRX hatch to this pile was a night and day difference. Lexus looks for luxury in their vehicles not so much power, it has a 6 speed CVT transmission that will downshift at the most random times while driving. Power is not there at all, it's quite a let down honestly you would think that a 3.5L V6 would have some back to it, it doesn't. Fortunately it has a killer sound system and big wind screen for visibility, heated/ventilated seats. But you can also expect the power of the fans for heat and AC to be poor, even on the max setting you're gonna ask yourself if the air is even on. Don't bother seating anyone in the back seat, i'm 5 foot 7 and my head touches the headliner in the back seat. Trunk space is awesome and the exterior of the vehicle looks great as always but if you're looking for power and fun out of a car this ain't it, but for a comfy commute car this would be just fine.
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Anyone have Wheel/Tire Issues?
NeilB., 02/15/2019
2016 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
24 of 59 people found this review helpful
We lease an AWD with the multispoke fancy aluminum wheels. The Mrs. cannot seem to avoid all the "potholes". Have spent a lot of money replacing the soft wheels which bend easily and low profile tires. Will not buy this car off the lease!
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My lexus experience
Angela Fleming, 04/29/2020
2017 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
this is the best car. This is my 5th one I've purchased
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Trapped
JF from NC, 01/14/2019
2016 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
22 of 61 people found this review helpful
If you want a car that has good resale stay far away from this model Lexus. The F sport IS300 AWD. We leased this vehicle just to try Lexus out for the first time and I’m glad we did. 2 years into lease and my wife is sick of this car for many reasons. Without getting into too many complaints we want out and cannot get out of this lease early. Can’t trade it or sell it because the buyout is $30k and it’s worth $20k. This car is pretty well built, and for most people I guess they’d be happy but if you’re looking for any performance go somewhere else. If you want this type of comfort, you can find it in a Toyota for cheaper and if your looking for small car performance go buy a Subaru for 10k less. Stay away unless you just gottta have a Lexus.
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Great car
Mark Marion, 06/10/2017
2017 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Leased mine last month and love it. Got the F Sport model and it rides like a dream. Interior is beautiful and get a ton of compliments on it
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VIP CUSTOMER SERVICE
Vip service, 05/20/2021
2018 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
Wonderful car!!! Love the look and feel! It handles nice on the roads!! Lexus of las Vegas was wonderful!!!
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THE BEST CAR EVER
JAY, 08/08/2018
2018 Lexus IS 300 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
0 of 42 people found this review helpful
This tesla is so great I think you should buy it because you will get to experience the world and its radio in the car you can bump all night also the autopilot amazing thank you elon
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