Used Lexus IS 4th Gen (2021-2025): Buyer's Guide

Lexus builds its last IS in November 2025. The replacement arrives in 2026 as an IS 350 only: no turbocharged four-cylinder, no naturally aspirated V8. If you want either of those engines in a compact Lexus sports sedan, the used 2021-2025 IS is the only way left to get one, and this is the guide for buying one before the used market catches up to that fact.

This Generation at a Glance

This isn't a clean-sheet redesign. It's a heavy facelift of the XE30 platform Lexus has used since 2014, the same chassis covered in our 3rd gen IS guide for 2014-2020. For 2021, Lexus reskinned the exterior, overhauled the interior, and made changes substantial enough that the ownership experience genuinely differs from the car it replaced. Most outlets, including Lexus's own press materials, call this its own generation. We're treating it as one here.

The headline change for 2021: Lexus killed the widely hated Remote Touch trackpad interface and replaced it with an 8-inch touchscreen standard, or a 10.3-inch screen with navigation and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo. Apple CarPlay became standard the same year. Lexus also quietly closed a power gap: the pre-2021 IS 350 AWD made less horsepower than the RWD version. Starting in 2021, both make 311 hp.

2021: Facelift launch. IS 300 (turbo four) and IS 350 (V6) in RWD and AWD. New touchscreen, no more trackpad.

2022: IS 500 F Sport Performance added, a naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 with a 500-unit Launch Edition. A Denso fuel pump recall (26V222000) hit some 2022 IS models the same year.

2023: The IS 350 F Sport gained a Handling Package for the first time, adding adaptive suspension, Drive Mode Select with Sport S/S+ and Custom modes, and a Torsen limited-slip differential on RWD models. Lexus also introduced the IS 350 F Sport Design trim, a cheaper, less-equipped alternative to the full F Sport, plus a 480-unit Special Appearance Package with a black-painted hood and roof.

2024-2025: Minor running changes. A 500-unit IS 500 Ultimate Edition closed out the model in 2025 before production ended that November.

Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 came standard across the lineup from 2021 on, bundling pre-collision braking with pedestrian detection, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, and automatic high beams. That's worth confirming still works correctly on any car that's had windshield or front bumper work, since the radar and camera behind the glass and grille need recalibration after a replacement.

Current pricing and inventory: Lexus IS market data, with per-year pages for 2021, 2022, and 2023. CarScout's data catalog doesn't yet cover 2024-2025 IS listings individually, so those years aren't linked here.

Powertrain & Trim Breakdown

IS 300 (2.0L Turbo Four, RWD)

The IS 300 RWD runs the same 8AR-FTS turbocharged four-cylinder Lexus has used in the IS since the 2016 IS 200t, carried into this generation unchanged. It's the fuel economy leader in the lineup at 25 mpg combined, and the lightest nose in the range, which some owners on ClubLexus's IS forum say gives it a nimbler front end than the V6 cars despite less power.

The known weak points are inherited from the engine's history, not new to this generation. Turbocharger wear was a bigger issue in the 2015-2016 model years across the Toyota and Lexus lineup that uses this engine, and while it's less common in cars built since, aftermarket parts suppliers still put average engine longevity for the 8AR-FTS around 140,000 miles, well short of what a naturally aspirated Toyota inline-four typically manages. A cheaper, more common failure point is the vacuum regulating valve (VRV), which mimics turbo boost problems but costs far less to replace. Owners also report a cold-start tick from the oiling system that clears up once the engine reaches operating temperature.

Short-trip driving is the real risk factor here, not mileage alone. Direct-injection turbo engines like the 8AR-FTS are prone to fuel dilution in the oil when a car spends most of its life on cold starts and short commutes instead of highway stretches that get the engine fully up to temperature. A used IS 300 that spent its life as a highway commuter is a safer bet than the same car with a history of short city trips, even at equal mileage. Ask for oil analysis history if the seller has it.

The IS 300 also carries the least gear in this lineup relative to price, since Lexus positions it as the value entry point. That's a fair trade for buyers who want the badge and the fuel economy without paying for power they won't use, and forum consensus on ClubLexus generally treats it as the sensible choice rather than the enthusiast one.

IS 300 AWD and IS 350 (3.5L V6)

Both trims share the 2GR-FSE V6, a dual-injection design that avoids the carbon buildup problem that plagued the older, single-injection IS 250 this platform replaced. It's one of the more durable engines in the Lexus lineup, shared with the GS, RX, and ES.

The IS 300 AWD gets a detuned version of this engine at 260 hp. The IS 350 gets the full 311 hp, and as of this facelift, that number is identical whether you choose RWD or AWD, closing a gap that existed on the pre-2021 car. iSeeCars rates the IS 350's overall reliability at 8.5 out of 10 against the IS 300's 7.6, a real but modest gap that likely reflects the turbo four's added complexity rather than any fundamental V6 weakness. Neither the IS 300 AWD nor the IS 350 has a generation-defining failure pattern documented in forum threads or CarScout's NHTSA-sourced complaint data.

The tradeoff between the two AWD trims comes down to how much power you actually need. The IS 300 AWD's 260 hp is enough for confident daily driving and costs less both new and used, while the IS 350's 311 hp buys a genuinely quicker car (Lexus quotes 5.6 to 5.7 seconds to 60 mph depending on drivetrain, against a noticeably slower run for the 260-hp AWD four-cylinder-adjacent V6). If you're cross-shopping model years, know that a pre-2021 IS 350 AWD (the 3rd-gen car) made less power than this generation's version, so don't assume spec parity across the facelift line.

One F Sport-specific note applies to both AWD variants: F Sport suspension tuning through 2022 is a fixed sport-tuned setup, not adaptive dampers. Some reviewers, including Consumer Reports, found the ride firmer than European rivals like the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series without matching their outright handling sharpness. That changed for 2023 and later with the optional Handling Package's adaptive suspension, so a 2023+ F Sport with that package rides and handles differently than an otherwise-identical 2021 or 2022 car.

IS 500 (5.0L V8, 2022-2025)

The IS 500 F Sport Performance is the reason to care about this generation at all: a 472-hp naturally aspirated V8 in a compact RWD sports sedan, a formula automakers have mostly abandoned. It uses the same AA80E 8-speed automatic as the RC F, IS F, and GS F, but without the transmission cooler those F-branded cars get.

That omission shows up in owner reports on ClubLexus's dedicated IS 500 forum. Multiple threads describe the transmission hanging or slamming into first gear at a stop when cold, and a rev flare on the 2-3 upshift that's actually by design, a shift-smoothing characteristic inherited from the AA80E's use in the 2007 LS 460. Lexus issued a transmission reprogramming bulletin, but forum posts describe the clunk persisting for some owners even after the update. None of this has produced a recall. A smaller number of owners report front tire wear complaints and exhaust-related O2 sensor codes, which read as isolated rather than systemic based on available complaint volume.

The 2022 model year also carries TSB LSB000723, one of 33 bulletins issued that year for the 2022 IS 500, addressing multimedia reboots and glitches on cars with the Panasonic 17CY+ infotainment system. It's a software annoyance, not a mechanical one.

The IS 500's rarity works in a buyer's favor and against it. Lexus built only 500 units of the 2022 Launch Edition and 500 of the 2025 Ultimate Edition, plus a 480-unit 2023 Special Appearance Package, and none of Lexus's official production figures for the standard IS 500 F Sport Performance trim have been made public. That scarcity should support resale value once production ends for good, but it also means a smaller used pool to shop from and less price competition working in your favor at negotiation time. Doug DeMuro's review of the 2022 IS 500 summed up the appeal directly: nobody else builds a naturally aspirated V8 sports sedan like this anymore, whatever else you'd rather have for the same money.

Trim Levels

The F Sport Design trim is the one to watch for on a used lot. It wears the same badges and wheels as the full F Sport package but skips the limited-slip differential and, on 2023-and-later cars, the adaptive suspension that make F Sport worth the money in the first place. Confirm which one you're looking at before you pay F Sport pricing for Design equipment.

Interior materials step up meaningfully between trims too. The base IS 300 and IS 350 get cloth-look NuLuxe or leather-trimmed seats depending on model year and options, while F Sport trims add heavily bolstered sport seats and, on later cars, a color-configurable ambient lighting system Lexus borrowed from the larger LS. None of that affects reliability, but it's the difference a buyer actually feels every time they get in the car, and it's worth cross-shopping trims on a test drive rather than assuming a lower trim with a sunroof and leather is functionally the same car.

Which Model Years to Target Within This Gen

The 2023 model year is the sweet spot. It's past the launch-year facelift kinks, carries no recall in CarScout's NHTSA-sourced data, and has more used inventory on the market right now than 2021 or 2022 in CarScout's tracking (333 listings versus 149 and 129, respectively, as of this writing). If you want the IS 500 specifically, the 2022 Launch Edition has collector appeal as the first year of the badge, but budget time to verify recall 26V222000 was addressed on that specific car before you buy it.

CarScout's data catalog doesn't yet break out 2024 and 2025 IS listings the way it does 2021-2023, so we can't offer the same recall and inventory read on those years here. What's publicly known: Lexus closed out the generation with the 2025 IS 500 Ultimate Edition, a numbered send-off model, and ended IS production entirely in November 2025. A 2024 or 2025 car buys you the newest build quality on this platform, at a price premium over 2021-2023 examples and with less used-market data available to negotiate against.

Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

If you're looking at an IS 300 (turbo four): Start the car cold and listen for a ticking noise from the top of the engine. It should fade within a minute or two as oil pressure builds; if it doesn't, that's worth a mechanic's attention before you buy. Ask for maintenance records showing regular oil changes, since oil dilution from short trips is a known risk factor for this direct-injection turbo design.

If you're looking at an IS 300 AWD or IS 350: These are lower-risk. Check for the usual signs of a well-maintained V6: no oil residue around valve covers, clean coolant, no burning smell under acceleration. There's no generation-specific failure pattern to hunt for here.

If you're looking at an IS 500: Start it cold and pay attention to the first few shifts. A hesitant hang or a hard clunk into first gear at your first stop is the known transmission behavior; ask whether the transmission reprogramming bulletin was ever performed on this specific car. Check front tire wear against the rears; uneven wear up front has come up in more than one owner complaint.

On any 2022 model: Check the VIN for open recalls before you commit, specifically campaign 26V222000 for the Denso fuel pump defect.

On any trim with a repaired windshield or front camera: Confirm the shop performed an ADAS calibration afterward. A skipped calibration leaves the pre-collision system and lane departure alert running on stale data.

On any F Sport trim: Verify whether the car has the 2023+ Handling Package before you pay for adaptive suspension you might not actually be getting. Take it over a rough patch of road; a car with the Handling Package should feel noticeably more composed than one with the fixed-tune F Sport suspension used through 2022.

On the touchscreen system: Cycle through the infotainment menus and connect a phone via USB and wirelessly if the car supports it. Multimedia reboots and connection drops were common enough on 2022 cars to generate their own TSB, and a persistent glitch is worth knowing about before you buy rather than after.

Running Costs

All four powertrains land well within typical luxury-sedan running costs. RepairPal puts the IS 350's total 10-year maintenance and repair burden under $6,000, and five-year out-of-pocket estimates across trims run in the $9,000-$10,000 range for combined maintenance and repairs, in line with Lexus's overall reputation for low ownership costs.

FAQ

Is the 2021-2025 Lexus IS reliable? Yes, across all three engines. The V6-powered IS 300 AWD and IS 350 have no generation-defining failure pattern. The turbo IS 300 carries known-but-manageable turbo and VRV wear inherited from its 2016 debut. The IS 500's main quirk is transmission shift feel, not a durability issue.

What year Lexus IS should I avoid? No year in this generation is a hard pass, but 2022 needs extra diligence: confirm recall 26V222000 (fuel pump) was completed before buying, since it only affects that model year in CarScout's NHTSA-sourced data.

Is the Lexus IS 500 reliable? Mechanically, yes. Its main documented quirk is a clunky, hesitant automatic transmission, especially on a cold start, tied to the AA80E gearbox lacking the transmission cooler found on Lexus's F-branded performance cars. It hasn't produced a recall.

Is the IS 300 or IS 350 the better buy? The IS 350's V6 carries a higher reliability rating (8.5 vs. 7.6 per iSeeCars) and more power at equal fuel economy cost in AWD trim. The IS 300 turbo four wins on combined mpg in RWD form. Budget-conscious buyers who don't need the extra power do fine with either.

How many miles does a Lexus IS last? The V6-powered IS 300 AWD and IS 350 have a strong track record for reaching well past 150,000 miles with routine maintenance. The turbo four IS 300's long-term durability trails the V6, with aftermarket parts data suggesting an average engine life closer to 140,000 miles.

Bottom Line

If you want a used 2021-2025 Lexus IS, the 2023 IS 350 is the sweet spot: post-launch, recall-clean in CarScout's data, and the most inventory available right now. If the V8 is the point, budget extra diligence for the transmission's cold-shift quirk and confirm any 2022 car had its recall completed. Run the VIN through a recall check either way. CarScout checks the used market daily and emails a digest when new listings or price drops match what you're after, so you're not the one refreshing five sites a day for this generation's dwindling inventory. See the full Lexus IS market data for current pricing.

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Data sourced from NHTSA's recalls database (including Part 573 Safety Recall Report 26V222), EPA fuel economy data, and owner discussions from ClubLexus's IS and IS 500 forums, Edmunds and Cars.com consumer reviews, iSeeCars, RepairPal, and CarComplaints.com. See the full Lexus IS market data for pricing and inventory.