Used 2015 Lexus IS 350 Base for sale 

The IS sedan is available with a couple of engine options and gets the numerical suffix accordingly, and the IS 350 is one such variant that is available as only a single trim variant. There is an option to choose for an AWD drivetrain and comes pre-loaded with all the technology and features that one would expect in this day and age from a luxury compact sedan. The sedan is available with a sticker price of $41,005, which can go upwards with optional packages.

We Recommend

There are no trims on offer from Lexus, but one can customize the sedan as per their budget and preference by opting for the various option packages and various additional features but one needs to keep an eye on the final costs as these packages tend to get expensive. One always has the option of going with the base trim as it is since Lexus as a brand always keeps a check on maintaining luxury and comfort inside.

The IS 350 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that generates a healthy 306 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The power is sent to the rear wheels as standard, with the available option of choosing an all-wheel-drive system.

The performance is pretty solid as it can speed to 60 mph from standstill in about 5.7 seconds while crossing the finish line at the end of the quarter-mile mark in 14.3 seconds. 

The BMW 335i with its fabled inline-6 engine is the most expensive of the lot but also has the higher engine output, which results in the fastest acceleration timings in this comparison. The Cadillac ATS too has a higher power output and is also a bit on the expensive side as compared to the Lexus, but it is half a second behind the BMW and about half a second ahead of the IS 350.

The IS 350 is not an outright performer, so one might assume it to be quite a frugal car, but that does not seem to be the case. The EPA rates 2015 IS 350 for 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highways, with the overall city and highway combined driving rated for 22 mpg. All of these are expected to be even lower in real-world conditions and even further with the choice of the AWD. Although, the large 17.4-gallon fuel tank does give a respite by compensating for it in the driving range section.

The BMW 3 Series is not only the fastest of the lot, but it is also the most frugal sedan here, returning much higher fuel economy figures than the other two. But its smaller gas tank does adversely affect the driving range, but still, it is the best in this competition. The Cadillac ATS has an identical fuel efficiency as that of the Lexus but employs a small fuel tank, which translates to the shortest driving range amongst the cars present here.

The cabin of the IS 350 is one of the best in the segment, boasting attention to detail and top-notch materials employed along with a well-designed layout.

Everywhere the driver and passenger would tend to touch the body parts, there is an ample amount of cushioning covered with premium materials that enhance the overall feel of the car. There is loads of space at the front, but the rear is pretty tight, and adults would not be comfortable for longer rides. The sedan comes with a cargo capacity of 13.8 cubic feet.

The Lexus also offers the largest trunk amongst the three cars here, which is followed by the 3 Series which is only marginally smaller. The BMW also offers a much better headroom inside its cabin and also has a lot more spacious back seat. The Cadillac, on the other hand, does not match up in either the cabin space or the cargo capacity. Major interior features include-

• Heated Front Power Bucket Seats
• 60-40 Folding Bench Rear Seat
• NuLuxe Seat Trim
• Tilt/Telescoping Leather/Metal-Look Steering Wheel
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
• Chrome/Metal-Look Interior Accents
• HomeLink Garage Door Transmitter

How is the 2015 Lexus IS 350 Sedan’s infotainment system?

The IS offers an attractive and practical dashboard design that features the optional F Sport digital instrument panel with a motorized circular gauge that slides side to side alongside the LFA-inspired configurable TFT display. The Remote Touch system spoils the party here as it is not as intuitive to use, especially when trying to use it while on the move. The voice commands do help make things more convenient alongside navigation which also features real-time traffic details. Few key infotainment features include- 

• 7.0-inch Lexus infotainment system
• 8-speaker 293W audio system
• HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio w/complimentary 90-day trial subscription
• Bluetooth 3.0 Wireless Phone Connectivity and audio streaming 
• Real-Time Traffic Display
• Voice Recognition

Staying true to its Lexus lineage, the IS too features a large and bold hourglass-shaped grille with chrome inserts that is flanked by the sharp and angular headlamps which look pretty modern with the inclusion of the daytime running lights. It does not employ many curves and lines, and the ones crafted are too subtle, making it a sleek and stylish sedan. 

There isn’t much to distinguish between the three compact luxury sedans as they are all pretty much neck-to-neck in terms of exterior dimensions. They all also offer a pretty similar ground clearance as well and also tip the scale more or less in a similar direction. Getting into details, Lexus is the heaviest with a curb weight of 3,593 lbs, followed by BMW and Cadillac with 3,555 and 3,461 lbs, respectively. Major exterior highlights of the sedan are-

• Fully Automatic Projector Beam High Intensity, Daytime Running, Auto-Leveling Headlamps w/Delay-Off
• LED Brakelights
• Body-Colored Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Turn Signal Indicator
• Chrome Side Windows Trim, Black Front Windshield Trim, and Black Grille w/Chrome Surround
• Express Open/Close Sliding And Tilting Glass 1st Row Sunroof w/Sunshade
• 17-inch 10-Spoke Aluminum Alloy Wheels

The Japanese cars are known for their top-notch safety records, and Lexus is one of the brands that is synonymous with safety. The IS 350 is no exception as it gets a perfect 5-star overall rating from the government-run NHTSA, while it also performs well in the crash test conducted by the privately run IIHS. There is an extensive amount of safety features that help the car achieve such high-class standards, and some of them are listed below. 

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Driveline Traction Control
• Safety Connect Emergency SOS
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front and Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Driver And Passenger Knee Airbag and Rear Side-Impact Airbag
• Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor

The Lexus IS 350 may not be the quickest off the line or be most frugal of the lot, but it does offer a far more premium and attractive cabin than its direct competitors at a price that undercuts them all. There are also high reliability and safety factors that are a huge bonus for first-time luxury car buyers. So if you are ready to overlook the compact rear seat and the finicky infotainment controls, the 2015 Lexus IS 350 offers great value for you.