The 2017 IS 350 sits at the top of the automaker's entry-level IS luxury sedan lineup. It cedes sport-sedan ground to others in the segment, but its robust V6 power, high-quality interior trimmings and surprisingly smooth ride still make for a satisfying sedan.

The IS 350, the current generation of which was introduced in 2014, has yet to receive a significant overhaul outside of the addition of an modestly warmed-up F Sport trim level. Nevertheless, its combination of comfort and refinement continues to propel it to relevance today. The IS 350 was never the most outwardly sporting handler, though any flavor of IS 350 — F Sport or otherwise — is certainly competent on a back road. But more than anything, the IS delivers a thoroughly quiet, comfortable and luxurious small luxury sedan experience with a V6 that out-punches similarly priced German four-cylinder rivals.

That the IS 350 is available with all-wheel drive broadens the sedan's appeal for those who live where things often get slick, though AWD models give up two gears in the transmission to rear-wheel-drive variants. Oddly enough, the potent IS F variant hasn't been reprised in this generation of the Lexus IS, and its absence stands out as an obvious gap in the lineup.

2017 Lexus IS 350 configurations

The 2017 Lexus IS 350 is available in one trim level, with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Rear-wheel-drive models get an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive variants have a six-speed auto. No manual transmission is available. The sole trim level on offer has a solid complement of standard equipment including keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone climate control, a sunroof, premium vinyl upholstery (NuLuxe in Lexus-speak), a 10-speaker, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

Optional features are primarily clustered in packages, with a handful of items available as stand-alone options. The big-ticket package is the Luxury package, which bundles together a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, a heated steering wheel, parking sensors, automatic wipers, leather seats with memory function and wood cabin trim. The rearview camera is available separately. There is also a Mark Levinson premium audio package, a navigation package and two other smaller packages.

An F Sport package is available on IS 350 and IS 200t models (reviewed separately), but only the IS 350's F Sport variant receives continuously variable dampers. It is intended to improve handling acuity without adversely affecting the ride quality. This package furthermore includes unique exterior and cabin trim, summer or all-season tires on 18-inch wheels, heated seats with unique trim and higher-friction brake pads.

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 tests of the 2014 Lexus IS 350 (3.5L 6-cyl.; 8-speed automatic) and 2016 Lexus IS 200t (2.0L 4-cyl. turbo; 8-speed automatic).

NOTE: Since these tests were conducted, the current IS 350 has received just revisions. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's IS 350.

Driving

3.0

The 3.5-liter V6 is ultra smooth and respectably powerful. 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

3.0

This IS 350 is not as quick as the class equivalents, but the V6 is super smooth and makes decent power. It achieves 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds.

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-brake test, an IS 350 stopped from 60 mph in 123 feet, which is long considering the summer 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, critical for spirited driving.

Handling

3.0

Even with the stickier optional summer tires, 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.

Drivability

4.0

Power is more than sufficient, but the eight-speed automatic transmission makes response feel languid at times. Full-throttle downshifts take about a second to select the right gear, which is too slow if you're trying to get out of the way.

Comfort

4.0

Excellent ride comfort and the serene quietness of the 2017 IS 350's cabin are big standouts in the comfort category. We were also happy with the seats until sitting in the saddle for a few hours, which took a small toll on our lower backs due to some mismatched lumbar ergonomics.

Seat comfort

2.5

There's adequate lateral seat support, and the optional ventilation and heating works 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 350 delivers ride quality that combines solid body control with smooth compliance at all the right times. Bumps and impacts are absorbed without issue or the marshmallowy float indicative of an overly soft suspension. Very good.

Noise & vibration

4.5

Great attention went into the IS' cabin soundproofing. Road and wind noise is sufficiently silenced, and you don't hear much even under full ABS braking. Quiet cabins are more comfortable but can also promote calmer reactions in emergencies.

Interior

2.5

The 2017 IS 350 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 usability.

Ease of use

2.5

Lexus' haptic joystick interface for the infotainment system is cumbersome to use, and it snags smartphone charger cords with ease. The touch sliders for the climate control — which look cool and work well — are the best cabin features.

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

Cabin space is not abundant. 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. Rear headrests don't impede the view directly rearward, but huge rear pillars and a high body slope create blind spots when reversing. The optional parking sensors and rearview camera are 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 small trunk that doesn't fold flat and limited interior storage conspire against the 2017 IS 350's utility.

Small-item storage

2.5

Storage up front is limited to the armrest, 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, and a significant step from the trunk floor is created by the rear seatbacks when folded forward.

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Features & Specs

MSRP

$41,370

MPG

19 city / 28 hwy

Seats 5

8-speed shiftable automatic

Gas

306 hp @ 6400 rpm

MSRP

$43,535

MPG

19 city / 26 hwy

Seats 5

6-speed shiftable automatic

Gas

306 hp @ 6400 rpm

See all 2017 Lexus IS 350 Sedan features & specs

Safety

Our experts’ favorite IS 350 safety features:

Pre-Collision System: Detects and attempts to avoid front collisions by applying the brakes to assist the driver and reduce the speed of impact.
Lane Departure Alert: Alerts the driver when it detects that the car is deviating close to lane markings.
Intelligent High Beam: Automatically turns the high beams on or off depending on whether it detects oncoming traffic.

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.

Side Impact Test
Good
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good
IIHS Small Overlap Front Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test
Good

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More about the 2017 Lexus IS 350

The life of a sport sedan isn't easy, what with a never-ending procession of new competitors offering livelier performance, sharper handling and the latest gee-whiz features. The 2017 Lexus IS 350 manages to hold its own against this onslaught, however, thanks to its gutsy V6 engine, upscale interior and unexpectedly civilized ride quality.

While the compact IS 350 may be outmatched by other sport sedan competitors in terms of all-out performance potential, it still manages to be entertaining on a winding back road. The fact that its smooth, powerful V6 can go head-to-head with the turbocharged four-cylinder engines under the hoods of its comparably priced German rivals adds to its sporting mdash; if not downright sporty mdash; demeanor.

The availability of all-wheel drive also makes the IS 350 attractive in parts of the country where driving conditions can quickly turn ugly during certain times of the year. EPA fuel economy estimates are decent, ranging from 22 mpg combined (19 city/28 highway) with standard rear-wheel drive to 21 mpg combined (19 city/26 highway) when equipped with all-wheel drive.

While mechanical changes are few for 2017, there are tweaks that keep the Lexus IS competitive: fresher front and rear styling, bright LED headlights, and a host of new safety features like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking.

Though there are two other Lexus IS models (the turbocharged four-cylinder IS 200t and the less powerful IS 300), once you settle on buying an IS 350 the major decision-making is done: There is only one trim level to choose from. While this standard model comes fairly well-equipped, it does lack a few significant amenities you might expect in a car in this price range.

You won't find genuine leather upholstery and wood trim, power seat memory settings, heated steering wheel, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors or a rearview camera. All of those come bundled in the Luxury option package. On the electronics front, options include a navigation system and a Mark Levinson premium audio system. The F Sport package brings distinctive styling touches inside and out along with summer (or all-season) tires on 18-inch alloy wheels, an adaptive suspension designed to improve both handling and ride quality and beefier brake pads.

Making all those upgrades even more enjoyable are the IS 350's quiet passenger cabin and a smooth ride that manages to give the space a sense of calm assuredness. Downsides here include the infotainment system's awkward haptic joystick interface and cupholders that seem like an afterthought. The small rear doors can make entering and exiting a challenge for larger passengers, as can the limited legroom when they finally settle inside. Trunk space is also in short supply.

On the road, Lexus IS 350 is fun to drive. The strong V6 provides plenty of power and the handling is respectable. Steering feel and braking distances both fall short of the class leaders, however.

All things considered though, this is still a strong choice among compact sport sedans. Let Edmunds help find the right 2017 Lexus IS 350 for you.

2017 Lexus IS 350 Sedan Overview

The 2017 Lexus IS 350 Sedan is offered in the following styles: 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A), and 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A).

What do people think of the 2017 Lexus IS 350 Sedan?

Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2017 Lexus IS 350 Sedan and all its trim types. 0 Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2017 IS 350 Sedan.

Edmunds Expert Reviews

Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2017 Lexus IS 350 Sedan and all model years in our database. Our rich analysis includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2017 IS 350 Sedan featuring deep dives into trim levels including Base, etc. with careful analysis around pricing, features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving and performance. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.

Read our full review of the 2017 Lexus IS 350 Sedan here.

Our Review Process

This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.

We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.

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Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including all models of the 2017 Lexus IS 350 Sedan and all available trim types: Base, Base. Rich, trim-level features & specs and options data tracked for the 2017 Lexus IS 350 Sedan include (but are not limited to): MSRP, available incentives and deals, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (interior and exterior color, upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, cruise control, parking assistance, lane sensing, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy and MPG (city, highway, and combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (interior cabin space, vehicle length and width, seating capacity, cargo space). Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds expert review, safety rating, and color.

Should I lease or buy a 2017 Lexus IS 350?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

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2017 Lexus IS 350 Sedan

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