Used 2012 Lexus IS 350 Base for sale 

The IS 350 is essentially a trim in the IS sedan lineup of cars and hence does not see further diversification. It is offered in a single trim variant with the option to from for an AWD drivetrain. It offers plenty of technology and creature comforts that brings the car on par with its German counterparts. 

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With no trims to choose from, there isn’t much to choose apart from the options packages. That being said, the AWD drivetrain should opt if you live in areas with frequent adverse weather conditions, else the RWD drivetrain is more fun and enjoyable to drive.

The IS 350 sedan boasts of a powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine under its hood, which is capable of producing 306 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque.

The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and the power is sent two the rear wheels as standard, with an option to choose from an all-wall-wheel-drive. 

The Mercedes C-350 is priced similar to that of the IS 350 and also has a similar engine output, thus the performance of the two sedans is pretty neck-to-neck. In fact, the BMW 330i with its superior torque output also has similar acceleration timings as the other two, with hardly anything to differentiate it between them.

The Lexus IS 350 sedan is more performance-oriented but it ain’t used to the guzzling gas well. The EPA rates 2012 IS 350 for 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highways, with the combined fuel economy rating 22 mpg. The large 17.1-gallon fuel tank does well and provides about 350 miles of combined city and highway driving on a single tank of gas. 

The German cars are surprisingly more efficient than the Lexus, but the margin isn’t that great. The C-Class has a similar fuel tank capacity as that of the IS 350 and hence has the best driving range to offer. The 3-series although has similar efficiency as that of the C-Class, the smaller gas tank compromises the driving range of the car.

The IS 350 has one of the finest cabins on offer in this segment, offering top quality Supple leathers and wood or metallic accents alongside soft-touch materials covering everything possible with great build quality as well.

The IS 350 although has abundant legroom up front, the rear seat space is similar to the ones offered in a coupe. The headroom is also pretty tight and so is the cargo capacity. 

The BMW 3 Series is hands down the most spacious sedan in here, offering abundant space for both front and rear passengers and their luggage. The C-Class is pretty similar to the Lexus and has limited headroom, legroom, and trunk volume, but the rear seat is more forgiving as the font seat compromises a bit on the legroom. 

• 10-way power driver seat
• Leather front bucket seats and Leather-trimmed interior
• Rear bench seat w/trunk pass-through
• Tilt/telescopic steering wheel
• Automatic climate control
• Dark Bird's-eye maple interior wood trim w/Silver metallic finish interior accents
• HomeLink programmable garage door opener

How is the 2012 Lexus IS 350 Sedan’s infotainment system?

There aren’t many technologies and infotainment features on offer in the IS 350, unlike the rival German brands. The iPod interface also could be frustrating to use. That being said, all the other controls are well laid out and easy to use and the navigation system is pretty intuitive as well with good graphics quality. 

• AM/FM stereo w/in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3/WMA changer
• 13-speaker audio system w/194-watt amplifier
• SiriusXM satellite radio w/90-day free trial subscription
• Bluetooth phone connectivity with audio streaming
• Rear glass-imprinted antenna and Sharkfin satellite antenna

The exterior of the IS 350 is pretty simple and clean but it also has a sporty appeal to it. The angular diamond-shaped daytime running lights with the rather small grille looks striking, while the nicely carved front bumper looks muscular.

The chrome window lining and the alloy rims add to the sophistication of the car, but a sportier set of wheels would have made the car more appealing. 

The BMW 3-series is marginally longer than the other two cars which helps it open up that additional space for the occupants and their cargo. The IS 350 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class are both similar in size and also have similar wheelbases to offer. The BMW 3-series has the lowest ground clearance on offer while the C-Class has the highest ride height. 

• HID headlamps w/LED daytime running lamps
• LED taillamps
• Body-colored heated power mirrors w/puddle lamps and integrated turn signals
• Power tilt/slide moonroof w/1-touch open/close & sliding sunshade
• Ultraviolet ray reducing glass on all windows
• Acoustically laminated and tinted windshield glass
• 17-inch split-spoke aluminum alloy wheels

There are various gizmos and design elements that work in tandem to provide a safe haven for all the occupants of the IS 350 sedan. Despite that, it doesn’t fare well in the safety tests conducted by the IIHS, and NHTSA is yet to crash-test the car for the 2012 model year. A highlight of the available safety features is listed below. 

• Electronic brake force distribution (EBD) w/brake assist (BA)
• Vehicle stability control (VSC) and Vehicle dynamics integrated management (VDIM)w/cutoff switch
• Brake override system w/smart stop technology
• Front/rear crumple zones
• Safety Connect w/1 year trial subscription for auto collision notification, stolen vehicle location, emergency assist button (SOS), and enhanced roadside assistance
• Tire pressure monitoring system

The Lexus IS 350 offers one of the most stylish and immaculate cabins there is to offer in the compact luxury sedan segment. The performance is pretty solid too and there isn’t much compromise to make in the efficiency department as well. That being said, the lack of cabin technology, obnoxiously cramped rear seat, limited headroom, and poor safety features make it difficult to be chosen over more established and rounded German rivals.