Used 2022 Lexus IS 300 Base for sale 

The 2022 Lexus IS 300 comes in only one fully specced trim though there are still plenty of paid options that one can tick. For the base price of $39,550, the car comes loaded with Automatic bi-LED headlamps with DRLs, power-adjustable heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, NuLuxe interior trim, smart access with push-button start/stop, 8-way power-adjustable driver and passenger seats, 8.0-inch Touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa & Android Auto smartphone integration, Bluetooth & USB smartphone connectivity, Forward collision mitigation, Adaptive cruise control, TPMS and more.

Which trim should you buy?

There is only one trim that you can buy and that pretty much comes equipped with all the gizmos that one will ever need in a car of this price bracket. Lexus has genuinely wrapped the IS 300 in a brilliant package offering quite good value for money.

The powerplant in the 2022 Lexus IS 300 is essentially the same turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 motor that we have seen in the previous year model as well and hence, the engine character is very similar. The mill produces a rather healthy 241 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque which isn’t really class-leading but the car still is able to do a run from 0-60 MPH in 6.9 seconds. 

This engine is mated to an 8-speed gearbox which is a rather lethargic unit. It takes time to downshift when you want to make a sudden overtake and also is not really very eager to hold on to revs and short shifts most of the time. The power is sent to either the rear wheels or all the wheels considering which drivetrain you have opted for. In the all-wheel-drive guise though, the engine is a 3.5L V6 that churns 260 horsepower and 236 lb-ft and can get to 60 MPH in 6.1 seconds. It hits its happy spot just above 3,000 RPM, and the 6-speed automatic that comes with all-wheel-drive models is keen to stay above that range.

The Lexus is a better handler than most cars that one can see plying on the roads. It’s quick but stable, and even with AWD biased to the rear, it can send up to 60% of torque to the front wheels for more control while turning. Overall balance is impressive, and precise steering helps maintain the intended line. The car stays planted on the road and the body rolls are kept to a minimum. The suspension soaks up most of the bumps but don't expect the level of comfort you’d get in a Merc C-Class.

The IS 300 is not a really very heavy car or even a very light car for that matter. Considering it is also not a rather powerful car as it is among the slowest cars in the segment so there is not a lot of momentum to control under hard braking scenarios. Still, for those unseen scenarios, the car comes equipped with 13.2-inch rotors at the front and 11.7-inch rotors at the back.

All the cars are a lot more powerful and faster than the Lexus, with the Volvo S60 being the closest to what the Japanese carmaker has on offer. In terms of output, both the German cars are on a level field with very identical numbers while the others are sub-250 horsepower engines. The times are proportional to the output of the engines, with the Bimmer edging ahead slightly in the quarter-mile than the Merc.

The turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 in the Lexus IS 300 is among the least efficient motors in the segment but improves 1 MPG over the previous model year with an EPA-rated 21 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway while the All-wheel drive with V-6 drops the MPG figures significantly to 19/26/22 MPG in the city/highway/combined driving cycles respectively.

The Lexus IS 300 has the biggest fuel tank in the segment and despite that it still has the lowest driving range among the competition, which remains very similar to what the Volvo S60 has on offer. On the other hand, it’s the BMW which has been the most fuel-efficient car in the segment and also the one with the most driving range. The Mercedes’ EPA ratings aren’t out yet but we expect it to be similar to what the previous model year has to offer.

Over the past few years, Lexus has really done some great changes to the IS 300 and now it looks a lot more sophisticated and sporty. One thing is though that the Japanese cars are built exceptionally tough and there is literally nothing you can fault inside the cabin. There is the NuLuxe vinyl upholstery that is standard, while the leather seating is optional. The materials used inside the cabin are good with some hard plastics only on the lower part of the dashboard. The shape of the dashboard is quite interesting and unique from the rather very conventional-looking dash of German sedans. There is faux wood trim, though it looks good, one can still get real wood as an optional. 

The overall design is very typical Lexus and it can be seen that it is designed keeping the driver in mind as most of the controls are in a way cocooned around the driver’s seat. The front seats are 8-way power adjustable which is a welcoming change from the previous generation cars. The seats are also draped in the same false leather but this is good enough and we don’t feel someone will need to opt for real leather. Good thing is that the seats are quite broad and the legroom is more than ample. Now the scenario is completely opposite for the rear seats as here the legroom is the minimum of the bunch. But nonetheless, it is not a squeeze either. 

There is a new touchscreen display proudly sitting at the center of the dashboard which has crisp graphics and a very fluid UI. This infotainment features an HD radio, USB/iPod integration plus Bluetooth phone, and audio streaming. One happy news is that there is no fiddly over-sensitive mouse that one has to negotiate with to operate the interface. The system comes with Lexus’ own Enform system which gets a plethora of apps like Bing, Facebook Places, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable, Pandora, and Yelp. It also comes with in-built navigation. 

The front row of seats are pretty much the most spacious in the Lexus and while the driver comfort is the best here, rear seats are equally cramped and that means it is not meant for taller people at the back seat. The previous-generation car used to have literally one of the worst back seats in the segment but things have been changed now and can actually be comfortable here. If it's the rear seat comfort that one is looking for then the Mercedes C Class makes for a better option.

Some standout interior features of the 2022 Lexus IS 300 are:

• NuLuxe leather upholstery
• Leather heated steering wheel
• 8-way power-adjustable front bucket seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated and ventilated front seats (optional)
• 60/40 Split fold-down rear seats
• Lexus multimedia system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• SiriusXM satellite radio and HD radio
• Pioneer premium sound system
• 4G WiFi hotspot
• Enform satellite navigation 

The 2022 Lexus IS 300 looks sharper and more athletic than ever. Now the new car is not leaps and bounds ahead of the older one in terms of the overall design as it still has that classic Lexus silhouette that it always had, which is a good thing considering the original characteristic of the car hasn’t been lost in the transition. Angular, expressive lines around the front end, lean and graceful curves down the sides and rear, and a purposeful stance make 2022 IS look like it's up for anything, be that a day chasing on the highways or a night drive around the town. 

The 2022 Lexus IS 300 is not really a humongous car and is the shortest car in terms of overall length and wheelbase, with an insignificant difference from the Bimmer. It is very impressively wide which also helps in carving out more space inside and the high roof gets impressive headroom for both the rows. As for the others, the new Merc is the bulkiest and also carries a striking design with a very sporty appeal. The Volvo gets more length and width than the others, making it super comfortable inside. 

Some standout exterior features of the 2022 Lexus IS 300 are:

• Chrome exterior accents
• Sand clock signature grille
• Automatic LED headlamps
• 18-inch dual 5-spoke silver-painted alloys

The 2022 Lexus IS 300 is a pretty safe car and that can be well estimated by the crash test ratings the car received from both agencies. The previous model year aced all the crash tests and came out with flying colours. While the NHTSA gave the car an overall “5 stars” for the safety rating, the IIHS awarded the car with “Good” scores for all the crash tests. Above all of this, the car also received the “Top Safety Pick +” award from IIHS as well, further proving how well built the car is. Since the 2022 model year is no different, we expect similar results for this too.

Standout safety features in the 2022 Lexus IS 300 are:

• Blind-spot monitor
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Forward collision warning with Pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Automatic emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Road sign recognition
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Hands-free park assist
• Surround-view parking camera system

2022 Lexus IS 300 vs 2022 Mercedes Benz C-Class

While both Mercedes and Lexus have updated their cars pretty recently, they both follow very different approaches. The Lexus IS 300 here is all about sharp lines and athletic and sporty stance and on the other hand, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is more contemporary looking with more curves and a rather elegant approach with the design. Even on the inside, the Lexus has sharper lines while the C-Class has played it safe and kept it all nice and clean. The Mercedes does get a pretty significant advantage in terms of overall comfort but the Lexus is catching up well with all the improvements made to it recently.

2022 Lexus IS 300 vs 2022 BMW 3 Series

The BMW 3 Series is like a very aspirational car for most people and the Lexus going strong against the German proves how well it has improved in the recent years. The BMW is no doubt a much better car to drive than the IS but when it comes to styling, the points go to Lexus for making the IS 300 look sharp and athletic. Even the interior of Lexus IS for a matter of fact looks better than the 3 Series and that is definitely a win for the IS 300. The Bimmer aces the performance tests and leaves the Japanese in the dust in terms of pace and track times. 

2022 Lexus IS 300 vs 2021 Volvo S60

The 2021 Volvo S60 is maybe the mature looking car here both inside and outside. It feels like a business saloon and carries a no-nonsense appearance with the safe design elements, whereas the Lexus gets bonkers with sharp lines and edges all over. The S60 is more powerful than the base engine of the IS 300, the timings are pretty similar. The S60 gets better fuel economy, while the safety of both the sedans is top-notch.

If you are in the market to buy a fun sporty sedan and want something unique then you should definitely buy the new 2022 Lexus IS 300. It has a very potent powertrain in terms of the V6 in the all-wheel-drive guise, it looks kinda stellar and is a very much driver-oriented car. The only thing though is that the rear seat space is kind of limited and that is the only thing that makes us reconsider buying this car. Overall the 2022 Lexus IS 300 is a pretty solid buy.