2016
Lexus IS 300

Starts at:
$39,700
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New 2016 Lexus IS 300
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Owner reviewed vehicle score
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Owner reviewed vehicle score
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NHTSA tested vehicle score
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2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300 2016 Lexus IS 300

Notable features

Five-seat sport sedan
Choice of turbo four-cylinder or V-6 engine
Rear- or all-wheel drive
F Sport Package available

The good & the bad

The good

IS 350 acceleration
Ride composure
Steering and brakes
Backseat room

The bad

Some body lean
Relatively nose-heavy handling
Gas mileage with AWD
See all specifications

Expert 2016 Lexus IS 300 review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By Cars.com editors
Full article
our expert's take

Vehicle Overview

The Lexus IS is a four-door compact luxury sedan that’s offered with rear- or all-wheel drive and a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine or V-6 power. It competes with the Cadillac ATS, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4.

New for 2016
The Lexus IS gains a new base model in the rear-wheel-drive IS 200t, which is powered by a 241-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. A new midlevel all-wheel-drive IS 300 with a 255-hp V-6 also joins the lineup.

Significant Standard Features

  • 241-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (IS 200t)
  • Eight-speed automatic transmission
  • Rear-wheel drive
  • Power moonroof
  • Xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED fog lights
  • Heated side mirrors
  • Keyless access with push-button start
  • 60/40-split folding backseat
  • Audio system with 7-inch screen
  • Dual USB ports
  • Bluetooth streaming audio
  • Required in every new car: front airbags, antilock brakes and an electronic stability system

Significant Available Features

  • 255-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 (IS 300)
  • 306-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 (IS 350)
  • Six-speed automatic (AWD models)
  • LED headlights
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Backup camera
  • Navigation system
  • Mark Levinson premium audio
  • Leather upholstery
  • Heated and ventilated front seats
  • Lane departure warning
  • Blind spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert
  • Precollision system
  • F Sport Package includes unique 18-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension, higher-friction brake pads, aluminum pedals and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, among other features

2016 Lexus IS 300 review: Our expert's take

Vehicle Overview

The Lexus IS is a four-door compact luxury sedan that’s offered with rear- or all-wheel drive and a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine or V-6 power. It competes with the Cadillac ATS, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4.

New for 2016
The Lexus IS gains a new base model in the rear-wheel-drive IS 200t, which is powered by a 241-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. A new midlevel all-wheel-drive IS 300 with a 255-hp V-6 also joins the lineup.

Significant Standard Features

  • 241-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (IS 200t)
  • Eight-speed automatic transmission
  • Rear-wheel drive
  • Power moonroof
  • Xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED fog lights
  • Heated side mirrors
  • Keyless access with push-button start
  • 60/40-split folding backseat
  • Audio system with 7-inch screen
  • Dual USB ports
  • Bluetooth streaming audio
  • Required in every new car: front airbags, antilock brakes and an electronic stability system

Significant Available Features

  • 255-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 (IS 300)
  • 306-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 (IS 350)
  • Six-speed automatic (AWD models)
  • LED headlights
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Backup camera
  • Navigation system
  • Mark Levinson premium audio
  • Leather upholstery
  • Heated and ventilated front seats
  • Lane departure warning
  • Blind spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert
  • Precollision system
  • F Sport Package includes unique 18-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension, higher-friction brake pads, aluminum pedals and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, among other features

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Safety review

Based on the 2016 Lexus IS 300 base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Overall rating
5/5
Combined side rating front seat
5/5
Combined side rating rear seat
5/5
Frontal barrier crash rating driver
4/5
Frontal barrier crash rating passenger
4/5
Overall frontal barrier crash rating
4/5
Overall side crash rating
5/5
Rollover rating
5/5
Side barrier rating
5/5
Side barrier rating driver
5/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
5/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
9.7%
Risk of rollover
Side barrier rating driver
5/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
5/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
9.7%
Risk of rollover

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
4 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
6 years
Powertrain
6 years / 70,000 miles
Maintenance
1 years / 10,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
4 years

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
2 years / unlimited miles from your certified vehicle date of purchase.
Basic
2 years / unlimited miles from your certified vehicle date of purchase. Coverage begins after completion of the 4-year / 50,000 new vehicle Basic Warranty.
Dealer certification
161-point inspection
See all CPO program details

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Consumer reviews

100% of drivers recommend this car
4.8 / 5
Based on 20 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.8
Interior 4.6
Performance 4.8
Value 4.6
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 4.8

Most recent

  • By Jay from Boston
    Owns this car
    November 30, 2023

    Great car, not so great MPG.

    Im a married guy with no kids. The car is unbelievably well, drives so smooth and fantastic in all seasons. DEFINITELY go for this instead of the German or American competitors. Unbelievably gorgeous exterior with great interior, however the german counterparts do have better interior. The engine sounds amazing and it is a Naturally Aspirated Engine. It does consume a ton of fuel, thats the negative I would add.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By LexusGuy from Kanas City, MO
    Owns this car
    October 8, 2023

    Great sports sedan daily driver

    Great small sports sedan, handling is great for a daily driver if you have high performance all season sports tires. Great for road trips, I'm young and single so it's great for someone like me or someone with a girlfriend/wife. May not be as practical for a family as the back seat is kind of small. Reliability has been great. This is a great buy if you want sporty handling, great design, value for money and reliability!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By David from Pittsburgh, PA
    Owns this car
    February 21, 2023

    Great design but not without some issues...

    I love my Lexus IS300. The F-Sport model looks and drives fantastic. Unfortunately the fuel milage is rather poor averaging 23-24MPG highway and 19 city. I recently just experienced another common issues where the amplifier has stopped working. This causes no sound to come out of the speakers and is looking to be a very costly repair. I would buy another IS300 without a doubt.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    5 people out of 6 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By PJ the man from Williamsburg, Ma.
    Owns this car
    April 3, 2022

    FABULOUS CAR!

    Bought a2016 IS 300 Sport AWD from Carvana. Was "L- certified" ( Lexus officially certified pre-owned ). It has been WONDERFUL ! Great car and very good value for the money! Fast little sedan that handles EXCEPTIONALLY well ( also has all-season performance tires ). The one little drawback, it likes trips to the pump and you can ONLY put super-premium gas in. although if you drive like a normal person, your usage is actually not that bad. IF you like to drive a little "sportier" than your going to use a wee bit more! Overall I am VERY pleased. it rides very, very, very well. stable and responsive but not a chore to navigate with. The wide tires make it a little bit noisier, but it's a sweet ride. a few times I opened up ( on deserted straight stretch roads! ) to almost 97mph ( uh oh..maybe I shouldn't have admitted that!) and it was SMOOTH. This car drives really well. I absolutely love it. I'll have the service intervals done at my local Lexus dealer, and the maintenance has been reasonable so far. VERY PLEASED!!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    7 people out of 7 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Ixander from CLEVELAND
    Owns this car
    June 29, 2020

    Pursuit to Perfection

    This Vehicle is over all reliable luxurious sporty fun elegant vehicle full of modern technology this vehicle is AWD meaning that it could be driven all year round
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By AndyB from Richmond
    Owns this car
    February 2, 2020

    Just bought it.

    Very nice so far. Bought it used and wanted reliable transportation. Seems like a nice interstate car. Very nice handling. Good for 2 adults on a road trip.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By FutureTrunks1 from Connecticut
    Owns this car
    September 19, 2019

    Most reliable car I owned

    Is an amazing vehicle. Quiet for long trips but switch it to sport mode and you feel like you are in a sport car, no joke. Lexus are the top of the line in reliability so you can't go wrong on that either. The interiors are amazing. I have the FSport edition and this one offers red seats and black top and bottom.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Happy from Virginia
    Owns this car
    August 27, 2019

    Great car

    Very sporty ,great on fuel mileage , stylish and quick. Would recommend this car for daily commute or long road trips. The price is right for a second used car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Joseomhm from Springfield, Mass
    Owns this car
    August 5, 2019

    I’ve owned this car for 3 years now and I love it,

    I have the IS300 this car is sporty, drives excellent the interior is very luxurious. I find it very comfortable, most of the time is me and my wife.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    4 people out of 5 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Sandy B from West Haven
    Owns this car
    June 1, 2019

    I love to drive this car and love the style of it.

    I love everything about this car. Comfort , style, performance, safety features and that it's all wheel drive. I love the color and the style of this car. I'm very happy with it so far.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Andrew TZ from Provo, UT
    Owns this car
    March 11, 2019

    Sporty and fun, plus the build quality of Lexus

    This car is a joy to drive, has all of the exciting new features you could ask for, and never seems to have any issues.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Dave E from Baltimore, MD
    Owns this car
    February 25, 2019

    Great car. Looks beautiful. Worth every penny

    Fast, sexy, fun. Not as luxurious as other models but it’s a sports car. It’s worth the trade off. The price was much lower than expected as well
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Lexus dealers near you

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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2016 Lexus IS 300?

The 2016 Lexus IS 300 is available in 1 trim level:

  • (1 style)

What is the MPG of the 2016 Lexus IS 300?

The 2016 Lexus IS 300 offers up to 19 MPG in city driving and 26 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 2016 Lexus IS 300?

The 2016 Lexus IS 300 compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 2016 Lexus IS 300 reliable?

The 2016 Lexus IS 300 has an average reliability rating of 4.8 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2016 Lexus IS 300 owners.

Is the 2016 Lexus IS 300 a good Sedan?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2016 Lexus IS 300. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.8 / 5
Based on 20 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.8
  • Interior: 4.6
  • Performance: 4.8
  • Value: 4.6
  • Exterior: 5.0
  • Reliability: 4.8

Lexus IS 300 history

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