Used 2017 Lexus IS 300 Base for sale 

THe new Lexus Is 300 is available at a base price of $40,200 and comes in a single trim. It comes with a 3.5L V6 engine that produces 255 horsepower and 236-pound feet of torque. It is mated to a 6 speed automatic transmission that delivers good performance. The vehicle is equipped with multiple standard features such as 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, 8-inch color display, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning system, etc.

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Unlike most makers that keep their base model featureless to reduce starting price, Lexus adds a plethora of standard features in their only trim of IS 300. Features include a well-equipped infotainment system and an impressive suite of advanced safety technology. Even the features which are not standard are mostly available as optional upgrades. So, if you're looking for a luxurious sedan powerful enough for daily drives, the Lexus IS 300 would suit you nicely.

Lexus IS 300 is powered by a 3.5L V6 naturally aspirated engine that generates 255 horses and 236-pound feet of torque. It's a nice change from the world of turbochargers as naturally aspirated engines have declined a lot.

The engine is mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The power delivery is smooth and torque is available right from the beginning. The power is delivered to all the wheels as standard.

When compared, Lexus IS is the most expensive of the lot at $40,200, whereas the Audi A4 is the cheapest at $37,250. Power-wise, Acura TLX has a 3.5L V6 engine developing 290 horses, which makes it the most powerful among the competition. However, in torque figures, the 2017 Audi A4 has a clear edge with 273 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0L turbocharged 4 cylinder heart. In terms of transmission, BMW's 8-speed gearbox has an edge over the rest.

How quick is the 0-60 mph acceleration of the 2017 Lexus IS 300?

Lexus has naturally aspirated which will not have the best of accelerations. It does 0-60MPH run in 8.3 seconds, which is much slower than its competitors. A similar performance is seen in the quarter-mile acceleration where it takes 16.2 seconds to cover the distance. It is slow in today’s terms, but power delivery is linear and smooth.

In acceleration tests, Audi A4 is the quickest of the lot in both 0-60MPH and quarter-mile times of 5.1 seconds and 13.8 seconds respectively. The Acura TLX, even after being the most powerful, has a slow start behind Audi and BMW in 0-60MPH at 6 seconds but catches up in a quarter-mile run with a time of 13.9 seconds. Lexus places last in acceleration comparison due to low-end torque figures.

How is the Handling and Braking performance of the 2017 Lexus IS 300?

Drivability is a forte of Lexus IS, and it doesn't disappoint. The handling is superb with excellent steering and great body control. It is a very relaxing vehicle to drive and also the most entertaining. It offers massive amounts of grip and never makes you feel nervous when going around tight bends. Lexus IS comes equipped with ventilated discs front and rear with the size of 13.2 inches for the former and 12.2 inches for the latter. The brakes are good, but it takes 125 feet to stop from 60-0MPH.

In comparison, Audi has the bigger brakes with 13.3 inches for the front and 13 inches for the back, which also gives it immense stopping power from 60-0MPH in 105 feet. Lexus has the second-best brake size but has a dismal stopping distance which places it in the last place. BMW has the smallest brake size but still stops at 123 feet putting it in the third spot.

Lexus has a naturally aspirated engine, and that too a V6, which is quite thirsty. It delivers 19 mpg in the city, which improves to 26 mpg on the highway. Thus combined together, the 2017 Lexus IS 300 provides us with a combined mileage of 21 mpg, which is much lower than what the competitors offer. 

In comparison, Audi A4 has the best city and combined MPG of 25 and 28 respectively, whereas BMW has the best highway MPG of 34 thanks to its 8-speed gearbox. Acura has the worst city MPG of 20 but pulls out in front with 32 MPG on the highway. Lexus has a dismal highway economy of 19 MPG, but in the city, it does better than the Acura TLX.

The interior of Lexus is spacious and carries down that luxurious feel. It has loads of room for passengers.

The seats provide maximum support and comfort upfront, but the rear passengers are short on space in the legroom department. The rest of the cabin of Lexus feels gorgeous with the dashboard being uniquely designed.

In terms of space comparison, BMW 330i provides ample headroom upfront at 40.3 inches, Lexus IS 300 provides great front legroom at 44.8 inches, and Acura TLX provides the best shoulder room for the front passengers with 57.5 inches. In the back seats, BMW has the best headroom at 37.7 inches, Audi has the best legroom at 35.7, and Acura TLX has the best shoulder room at 55.4 inches.

How intuitive is the infotainment system in the 2017 Lexus IS 300?

The 2017 Lexus IS 300 has an 8-inch display as standard. The system can be upgraded with a navigation package, which provides us with a bigger 10.3-inch display. Along with that, we get all the standard features like Bluetooth connectivity, voice commands, and USB ports. The navigation package also adds the Lexus remote touch controller. It has an eight-speaker sound system as standard, which can be upgraded to 15-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. Here is a list of infotainment features available in the 2017 Lexus IS 300:

• 8.0/10.3 inch display
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Voice commands
• Lexus Remote Touch controller
• Siri Eyes Free 
• Eight speaker sound system

How much cargo space is available in the 2017 Lexus IS 300?

Lexus IS 300 is a very practical sedan. It offers plenty of space inside the cabin as well as in the boot. 13.8 cu ft of space is enough to carry your day to day items with luggage as well. It may not be able to carry all your luggage for a long trip but manages to provide space for your day to day requirements. 

All the rivals are similarly generous in the cargo volume. Looking at the stats, Acura TLX has a slightly bigger boot than everybody else at 14.3 cu.ft and Lexus comes in second with 13.8 cu ft. BMW and Audi have similar boot capacities at 13 cu ft, which is the least in the comparison.

The 2017 Lexus IS300 looks sharp from the outside. Any angle that you look at it from, it shows sharp lines and blade-like slashes all over. The radical design looks extremely appealing and gives the car a unique character and purpose. The front looks angry, whereas the rear looks nimble and quiet. 

The Lexus IS 300 measures 183.7 inches in length and 71.3 inches in width. It has a wheelbase of 110.2 inches and a height of 56.3 inches. Ground clearance is low at 5.1 inches but gives a stance like no other. Lexus IS weighs in at 3,737 pounds, quite heavy for a sedan in the segment.

In comparison terms, Acura is the longest with 191.7 inches and widest with 73 inches. In terms of height, Audi A4 has 56.2 inches and Acura is the tallest at 57 inches. With a 6.3-inch ground clearance, Audi A4 is better for tackling road undulations. BMW weighs the lightest at 3,410 pounds, giving it better fuel economy and driving dynamics. Interior space is good in Audi A4, followed closely by BMW 330i and Lexus IS 300. Here is a list of a few of the exterior features of the Lexus IS 300: 

• 17-inch wheels
• LED headlights
• Large front grille
• Sporty Bumpers
• Power outside mirrors

Lexus has always been known for its impeccable safety standard that ensures the safety of the passengers. The NHTSA has given the IS 300 a perfect 5-star rating, as well as the IIHS, has given a ‘Good’ rating for all the segments. The IIHS has also awarded the Lexus IS 300 with a Top Safety Pick award in the mid-size luxury sedan for the year 2017. Along with that, the Lexus is also equipped with multiple safety features along with driver-assistive technologies that help improve the safety factor. Here is a list of those features:

• Lane departure warning 
• Adaptive cruise control 
• Forward collision warning system 
• Automatic braking
• Pre-collision system
• Pedestrian detection
• Dynamic Cruise control
• Lane departure warning

2017 Lexus IS 300 vs Acura TLX

Acura TLX has got some really neat party tricks that it can pull off. It has a powerful V6 engine that is super quick and the best in class in terms of power ratings. Not to forget about the practicality as it has the best cargo space for your precious luggage. On the downside, the fuel bills might be a bit higher than rivals, but if you're looking for a capable vehicle that can get you to point A to point B in a completely relaxed manner, TLX should be on your consideration list.

2017 Lexus IS 300 vs BMW 330i

BMW 3 Series is an excellent executive saloon with great looks and brilliant infotainment. Add to that the economical engines and comfortable interior, and you get an all-around package that is hard to miss. The pricing is pretty good against the rivals, and the rear-wheel-drive makes it a hoot to drive.

2017 Lexus IS 300 vs Audi A4

Audi A4 is one of the best overall packaged cars that is available in the market today. It looks good, drives well, has great engine power, the interior is super comfy, packed with the latest gizmos, and a spacious cabin. It checks all the right boxes and is a worthy opponent to the rest of the competition. One of the most important things when buying a car is price, and the A4 is the cheapest of them all with a Quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Lexus IS 300 is a really good offering that gives people a change from the turbocharged world, but there is also one downside of that which is the fuel bills. If you're looking for a car that gives you heaps of comfort and superb drivability combined with great handling, this might be the car for you. Add to all this, the peace of mind Lexus brand name as it has continuously been on top of customer satisfaction ratings thanks to its brilliant after-sales.