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Thanks: Lexus Of North Miami Location: Drive and Performance The base IS 300 comes with a 241-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. It's a snappy enough engine, but the sluggish transmission doesn't always make the best use of its power. It takes 6.9 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph. The IS 300 also offers a 260-horsepower V6 that shaves nearly a second from the zero-to-60 time, but it's only available with all-wheel drive. Stepping up to the IS 350 brings a more powerful six-cylinder, this one with 311 horsepower and good for zero-to-60-mph acceleration in about 5.6 seconds. The IS 500, however, transforms the Lexus into a Japanese muscle car with rear-wheel drive and a 472-horsepower V8 that covers zero to 60 in 4.4 seconds. We review the IS 500 separately. Unlike larger Lexus sedans, the IS is both comfortable and athletic, with precise and responsive steering and a suspension that shrugs off rough roads and tames body roll when driving enthusiastically through corners. Fuel Economy The 2024 IS 300 delivers an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg combined, which is below average among compact luxury cars. These estimates dip as horsepower increases, with the IS 350 rated at 23 mpg combined (20/28 mpg city/highway). Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac all do better. Interior The quality of interior materials is top-shelf and what you'd expect from Lexus, while the cabin itself is well insulated from road and wind noise. The synthetic leather, in particular, is high quality and won't make you miss the real thing. The overall design is nice enough, but the somewhat cramped, cockpit-like feel is a little dated compared to more open center-console designs in some rivals. The IS seats up to five people, but that's a generous assumption. The driver and front passenger are afforded ample legroom and seat support, but the rear seats are tight for just about all adult shapes and sizes and should be considered for emergency use only. The trunk is similarly tight. With just 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space, the trunk is well below average compared to rivals like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The rear seats fold down, offering some flexibility, but overall, it's a tight squeeze. Value The 2024 Lexus IS has an above-average value rating for the luxury small car class. We determine value based on the vehicle's estimated total cost of ownership, along with the vehicle's MSRP for its base and top trims. Safety The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2024 Lexus IS a five-star overall safety rating, and the IS gets mostly good ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IS comes with a generous bundle of driver-assistance features, including forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. For installing child safety seats, there are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a tether anchor for the rear middle seat. The IIHS gave this LATCH system the highest rating of Good for its ease of use. Read More
