Lexus IS 300 Luxury 2022 Review

The fourth-generation Lexus IS mid-size luxury sedan arrived in Australia last year with a swag of advanced safety tech, promises of sharper handling and an interior update that partly corrects the odd, old foible.

But the (kind-of) new Lexus IS generally hangs on to the conceptual basics while falling slightly backwards in terms of performance, economy and emissions.

The fact that it doesn’t comply with side-impact safety regulations that came into force late last year also now means that the Lexus IS has been discontinued in Australia, with cars still available from dealers but no more shipments coming for the foreseeable future.

The slightly increased external dimensions of the fourth-gen model are largely cosmetic, with the 30mm of extra width due to extended wheel-arches and the identical increase in overall length taken up by a restyled rear-end.

Cabin and boot dimensions remain basically unchanged.

The 2022 Lexus IS 300 on test here is fractionally heavier than before – the V6-engined IS 350 F Sport model is 30kg lighter – but the weight is distributed differently thanks to lighter suspension components and a general structural tightening-up that increases package rigidity.

The two latter points – as well as larger 18-inch wheels and significantly wider track measurements at front and rear – edge the Lexus IS towards classification as a sports sedan, which the car-maker propounds as one the latest model’s innate characteristics.

In the entry-level IS 300 Luxury, the outcome is that the unchanged 2.0-litre engine outputs of 180kW/350Nm mean slightly retarded statistics in terms of on-road performance, fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

The previous IS 300 claimed a fuel consumption of 7.5L/100km (now 8.2L/100km – on test we averaged 8.7L/100km) and a CO2 output of 175g/km (now 191g/km), neither of which are impressive.

At $61,500 plus on-road costs – up by a mere $1000 over the previous model – the 2022 Lexus IS 300 Luxury comfortably undercuts entry-level models of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (which enters a new generation soon) and the BMW 3 Series, but not the Audi A4 that kicks off from $57,700 plus ORCs.

The Lexus nevertheless scores major points with its safety tech rollcall. This includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) in forward and reverse (high- and low-speed in the former), as well as adaptive radar all-speed cruise control which tends to be optional elsewhere.

There’s also Intersection Turning Assist which helps avoid oncoming cars and unseen pedestrians if the driver is about to make a turn, Emergency Steering Assist which helps steer around unfolding incidents ahead of the car, lane departure warning paired with lane keep assist, semi-autonomous lane tracing and cross traffic alert at both front and rear ends.

All this is on top of common functions such as blind spot monitoring, road sign recognition and driver attention detection.

A sunroof is available for an extra $2000, while a $5500 Enhancement Pack 2 brings 19-inch alloys, part-leather seats (ventilated at the front, along with memory settings for the driver), thumping 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio and a powered rear window blind.

There are a number of things about the 2022 Lexus IS 300 Luxury that are noteworthy.

As always, the seats, particularly the front seats, are more than somewhere to just sit. As part of the drive to earn a place in the mid-size luxury sector, the company has paid some worthwhile attention to getting the support and shaping right.

As such, the IS 300 Luxury delivers a comfortable experience that extends beyond a mere trip around town with an unintrusive ability to keep driver and passengers fresh after a long time en route.

It’s pretty nifty on the road. Lexus has put its “mini Nurburgring” testing facility in Shimoyama, Japan, to good use, endowing the IS 300 with deft, secure handling mixed with a pretty decent ride.

The steering is sharp and the grip provided by the bigger 18-inch wheels with 235/45 rubber is reassuring without imposing ride quality compromises.

It feels very much a composed, confident and comfortable mid-size luxury sedan and fits nicely into Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series contention.

And despite this latest model having put on the odd kilogram, the flexibility and power of the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine lifts the IS 300 a notch or two above some of its competitors.

There’s a brief delay while the torque builds – the maximum 350Nm comes in from 1650rpm – but once underway there’s a satisfying rush of power that keeps the time spent in the passing lane to a minimum.

The conventional eight-speed automatic transmission is a nicely-smooth, intuitive gearbox that picks its change points accurately without getting too frantic or ‘hunting’ for the right ratio on long uphill climbs.

The engine’s strong torque enables it to hold onto a gear over a reasonably wide rpm range.

Inside the cabin, there’s acceptable passenger space – impinged on slightly by tight rear headroom and compromised foot space for rear occupants – along with a few new things compared to its predecessor such as an electric park brake in lieu of the floor pedal system that’s finally been done away with.

There’s also push-button starting and remote smart start, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a touch pad that manipulates functions on a 10.3-inch floating colour screen that’s a bit more intuitive and simpler to operate than before.

That said, the touch pad remains a thorn in the side of the Lexus IS as there’s still some difficulty scrolling accurately through the functions and it’s easy to miss what you’re actually aiming for.

Is it time for Lexus to stop trying to be different and simply adopt a safer, easier-to-use and more intuitive info-control system?

Lexus has been around long enough that the badge is often the default choice for many buyers wishing to steer away from the still-dominant German marques.

Although it’s now leaving showrooms without a replacement in sight, the Lexus IS still managed to outsell the Audi A4 last year.

The series has moved on since the first model from two decades ago, which was a blatant copy of BMW 3 Series, right down to the small-capacity, low-power but sublimely-smooth inline six-cylinder engine.

Today, the 2022 Lexus IS 300 Luxury has something of its own identity. It’s more aggressive and purposeful-looking than before, much better-credentialed in terms of safety technology and even more assured on the road to the point that it’s not disadvantaged in terms of dynamic road performance when compared with either Benz or BMW.

And one thing Lexus hasn’t let go of is its almost obsessive approach to materials quality and general fit and finish.

From the quality seat trim to the analogue clock set into the centre of the dash and generally swish – if slightly dated – presentation of user interfaces, the Lexus IS exudes luxury class, even if there is a dearth of handy storage spots for small incidental items.

The 480-litre boot isn’t exactly cavernous – and nor would you necessarily expect it to be – but it’s bigger than the current Mercedes-Benz C-Class (435 litres) and Audi A4 (460 litres) and equal to the BMW 3 Series.

Lexus recently increased its warranty from four years/100,000km to a five-year/unlimited-kilometre term, so if you’re picking up a new example from showrooms you should qualify for the longer period.

Lexus hasn’t gone all-stops-out with the latest iteration of the IS series, as demonstrated here by the 2022 Lexus IS 300 Luxury.

But it has invested in worthwhile safety and technology improvements that, along with a more focused handling package and still-strong under-bonnet musculature, make for a refined and quite impressive mid-size luxury car package.

There’s the obvious difficulty of it now leaving showrooms due to non-compliance with the latest Australian safety regulations, which indicates that this so-called “fourth-generation” model draws heavily on its predecessor’s structure.

That doesn’t mean it’s an unsafe car, though.

What’s more, the sharp new design combines a more balanced presentation with added aggressiveness that gives the Lexus IS extra presence on the road.

There is, however, still some question of where the Lexus IS sits in the prestige segment in terms of general public perception.

It’s a cruel truth that, for most, the stylised ‘L’ still doesn’t carry the weight of a three-pointed star or a spinning propeller.

How much does the 2022 Lexus IS 300 Luxury cost?
Price: $61,500 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now (while stocks last)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 180kW/350Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 191g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)