Lexus IS · XE30
Generation 3 2013–2020
The IS that finally matched the Germans on chassis and beat them on running costs. Rear-wheel drive, a stiff body and a well-made cabin; the IS 300h (2.5 petrol hybrid, 223 hp) is over 90% of Polish supply and a genuinely reliable car. The IS 250 V6 (until 2015) and the IS 200t/300 2.0 turbo (2015 on) are the rare petrol alternatives. The 2016 facelift added Lexus Safety System+ as standard and a nicer interior; it is worth the premium if the budget allows.
Photo: Dinkun Chen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Recognition
How to tell it apart
- •Pre-facelift (2013–2016): L-shaped LED daytime running lights sit as a separate 'tick' below the headlamps, chrome-framed spindle grille
- •Facelift (2017–2020): DRLs integrated inside the headlamps, bigger grille reaching lower, new rear lamps with L-shaped graphics
- •F Sport: mesh grille insert, 18-inch wheels, sports seats and the sliding LFA-style instrument bezel
- •IS 300h: blue-tinted Lexus badges, smaller 450-litre boot with the battery behind the rear seat
2016 facelift (MY2017)
- Daytime running lights moved into the headlamp units, larger spindle grille, new bumpers and tail-lamp graphics
- Lexus Safety System+ (adaptive cruise, lane departure alert, pre-collision, automatic high beam) standard across Europe
- 10.3-inch centre screen on more trims; touchpad replaces the Remote Touch mouse on navigation cars
- IS 200t renamed IS 300 in markets that kept the 2.0 turbo; IS 250 already gone
Engines
Engines
IS 250 (2.5 V6) · 208 hp
2013–2015
Petrol · Automatic · RWD
Smooth naturally aspirated V6 with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic. Thirsty (10–11 l/100 km in town) and not quick, but characterful and simple. Rare in Poland; withdrawn when the 2.0 turbo arrived.
IS 200t (2.0 turbo) · 245 hp
2015–2017
Petrol · Automatic · RWD
Toyota's first modern turbo four with dual injection and an 8-speed automatic. The quickest mainstream IS in Europe (0–100 in about 7 s) and the one to pick if you want a petrol IS that drives like a 3 Series. Scarce.
IS 300 (2.0 turbo) · 245 hp
2017–2020
Petrol · Automatic · RWD
The same 2.0 turbo after the facelift, renamed IS 300 (do not confuse with the hybrid IS 300h). Kept only in some European markets and rare in Poland; most cars are German imports.
IS 300h (2.5 hybrid) · 223 hp
2013–2020
Hybrid · CVT automatic · RWD
The definitive IS: Atkinson-cycle 2.5 with a rear-drive hybrid transaxle, 5–6 l/100 km in real use and almost nothing that breaks. Not fast (0–100 in 8.4 s) and the e-CVT drones under full throttle, but it is the reason the IS has a reputation for costing nothing to run.
| Engine | For sale now | Years | Gearbox · drive | Sought after | Robust | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IS 250 (2.5 V6) · 208 hp Petrol · IS 250 · 4GR-FSE | 4 | 2013–2015 | Automatic RWD | Smooth naturally aspirated V6 with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic. Thirsty (10–11 l/100 km in town) and not quick, but characterful and simple. Rare in Poland; withdrawn when the 2.0 turbo arrived. | ||
IS 200t (2.0 turbo) · 245 hp Petrol · IS 200t · 8AR-FTS | 46 | 2015–2017 | Automatic RWD | Toyota's first modern turbo four with dual injection and an 8-speed automatic. The quickest mainstream IS in Europe (0–100 in about 7 s) and the one to pick if you want a petrol IS that drives like a 3 Series. Scarce. | ||
IS 300 (2.0 turbo) · 245 hp Petrol · IS 300 · 8AR-FTS | 5 | 2017–2020 | Automatic RWD | The same 2.0 turbo after the facelift, renamed IS 300 (do not confuse with the hybrid IS 300h). Kept only in some European markets and rare in Poland; most cars are German imports. (some details unverified) | ||
IS 300h (2.5 hybrid) · 223 hp Hybrid · IS 300h · 2AR-FSE | 31 | 2013–2020 | CVT automatic RWD | The definitive IS: Atkinson-cycle 2.5 with a rear-drive hybrid transaxle, 5–6 l/100 km in real use and almost nothing that breaks. Not fast (0–100 in 8.4 s) and the e-CVT drones under full throttle, but it is the reason the IS has a reputation for costing nothing to run. |
Versions
What the badges mean
Elite / Business
commonbase
2013–2020
Entry trim: 17-inch wheels, fabric or Tahara leatherette, dual-zone climate, 7-inch display, LED low beams. Facelift cars add LSS+ as standard.
Elegance / Comfort
commonequipment line
2013–2020
Mid trim with leather, heated electric seats, reversing camera and parking sensors; navigation usually optional.
Prestige
commonequipment line
2013–2020
The common high trim: leather, memory seats, 10.3-inch navigation, 18-inch wheels, Blind Spot Monitor, often Mark Levinson.
F Sport
commonequipment line
2013–2020
Styling and chassis package: mesh grille, 18-inch wheels, sports seats, F Sport steering wheel and sliding instrument dial, firmer springs with AVS adaptive dampers optional. Same engines as other trims.
Watch out: F Sport is not an F performance model: an IS 300h F Sport has the same 223 hp as an Elite. Sellers also fit F Sport grilles and badges to lower trims; check for the sports seats, the instrument dial and the F Sport steering wheel.
Luxury / Premier / Omotenashi
uncommonequipment line
2013–2020
Top comfort trim: semi-aniline leather, ventilated seats, wood trim, Mark Levinson, sunroof on many. Market names differ (Luxury in Poland/Germany, Premier in the UK).
Options
Options that matter
uncommon
Mark Levinson Premium Surround (15 speakers)
The marker of a top-spec IS; standard on Luxury/Premier orders, optional on Prestige and F Sport.
uncommon
Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS)
F Sport option; the IS rides better with it, and a failed damper is an expensive part.
AVS dampers cost several times a standard shock absorber; check for leaks and warning messages.
uncommon
Ventilated front seats
Comes with semi-aniline leather on Prestige/Luxury; a clear sign of a high trim.
common
Adaptive cruise control (Lexus Safety System+)
Standard with LSS+ on facelift cars (2017+); a Prestige feature or option before that. Turns the hybrid into a proper motorway car.
common
Full LED / triple-beam LED headlights
Bi-LED low beams on most cars; facelift Prestige and F Sport got the triple-beam units with adaptive high beam.
uncommon
Electric sunroof
The only glass roof offered on the IS; a small comfort marker.
common
Leather upholstery (or semi-aniline)
Elite/Business cars have fabric or Tahara leatherette; real leather signals Elegance and above.
common
Lexus Premium Navigation (10.3-inch screen)
Replaces the 7-inch display; the maps are dated but the wide screen is far nicer to live with.
uncommon
Blind Spot Monitor with rear cross traffic alert
Common on Prestige/F Sport; rare on lower trims.
common
Electric seats with memory
Power driver's seat with memory and easy-access; standard from Elegance/Prestige.
common
Heated front seats
Standard from the middle trims; absent only on the most basic cars.
common
Reversing camera
Standard on most; missing only on base Elite cars.
common
Smart entry and push-button start
Standard on most European cars.
common
18-inch wheels
F Sport and Prestige item; 17-inch cars ride better and are cheaper to tyre.
Before you buy
What to know
Strengths
- +IS 300h reliability: the 2.5 hybrid drivetrain has no belt, no turbo, no dual-clutch and typically no repairs beyond consumables into 300,000 km
- +Very low running costs: 5–6 l/100 km, low brake wear thanks to regeneration, cheap Toyota-derived parts
- +Rear-wheel-drive balance and a rigid body; the cabin is built like few rivals of the era
- +Full Lexus dealer history is common in Poland and strongly correlates with a good car
Expensive when they fail
Hybrid brake actuatorHybrid battery packTriple-beam LED headlampsMark Levinson amplifierAVS dampers
Polish market
One of the best-supplied Lexus models in Poland. The IS 300h from Polish dealers dominates, usually with full dealer history because Lexus Polska sold many to private owners and small companies. IS 250 and IS 200t/300 are scarce and priced slightly above the hybrid for the same year. F Sport carries a premium and holds value; prices have barely fallen since 2022, so a good early car still asks 60–70k.
Known weak points
- moderateHybrid battery ageing (IS 300h)The NiMH pack in 2013–2015 cars is now over ten years old. Outright failures are uncommon, but weak cells show as rapid charge/discharge swings and reduced electric running. A dealer Hybrid Health Check is cheap; a reconditioned pack or cell replacement costs a few thousand PLN, far less than German rivals' drivetrain repairs.Check: Ask for a recent Hybrid Health Check printout; watch the battery gauge during a 20-minute test drive for erratic swings.
- seriousBrake actuator / brake booster pump (hybrid)The electro-hydraulic brake actuator is the one expensive known failure on Lexus hybrids of this era: a constantly running pump, buzzing under the dashboard or a cascade of brake/VSC warnings. Dealer replacement runs 8,000–12,000 PLN; specialists can do it for less.Check: Listen for the brake pump cycling with the ignition on and the pedal untouched; check for any stored brake system codes.
- moderateIntake carbon deposits (IS 250)The 4GR-FSE is direct-injection only; intake valves coke up over 100,000 km, giving rough cold idle and misfires. Cleaning is a known, moderately priced job.Check: Start it cold and watch idle quality; ask whether intake cleaning has been done.
- note2.0 turbo: few patterns, interval-sensitiveThe 8AR-FTS has built a clean record so far. Being a turbo direct-injection engine it is less tolerant of stretched oil intervals than the hybrid; isolated reports of oil consumption exist.Check: Confirm oil changes every 10,000–15,000 km and check the dipstick level; listen for turbo noise on a cold start.
- noteInfotainment (Remote Touch / touchpad)The mouse-style controller on pre-facelift cars and the touchpad on facelift cars are the weakest part of the car; the maps are dated and there is no Apple CarPlay except on the last model year.Check: Decide whether you can live with it; check the screen and controller respond without lag.
- note12V auxiliary battery (hybrid)The small 12V battery in the boot ages after 5–7 years and a weak one produces a random cascade of warning lights and no-start events that look far worse than they are.Check: Ask when the 12V battery was last replaced; a car that has stood for weeks may need one.
- moderateRear brakes seizing on lightly used hybridsRegeneration means the friction brakes barely work in gentle driving; rear discs corrode and calipers seize, which shows as a burning smell and uneven pad wear.Check: Look at the rear discs for a rusty lip or scoring; feel for pulling under braking and heat at the rear wheels after a drive.
- moderateFront suspension arms and rear bushingsLower control arm bushings and drop links wear from around 120,000 km; knocking over bumps is the symptom. Parts are not expensive.Check: Drive over broken pavement at low speed with the windows down and listen for knocks.
- moderateUS importsIS 250 / IS 350 AWD from the USA appear at low prices, often after accident damage; the specification differs (no LSS+, different lights) and the history is harder to verify.Check: Ask for the VIN and check origin; prefer Polish-dealer cars for the same money.
From the market
Real cars on sale right now
From the market
Engines actually on sale
Grouped from 99 live listings: what people are selling, at what price and mileage.
| Engine | Share | Typical price | Median mileage | Gearbox · drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2.0 Petrol · 245 hp 200t / 300 Elegance | 48% | 73 500 PLN | 128 000 km | Automatic · RWD / AWD |
2.5 Hybrid · 220 hp 300h Elite | 31% | 70 000 PLN | 145 000 km | Automatic · RWD |
5.0 Petrol · 423 hp F Sport | 6% | 192 999 PLN | 51 442 km | Automatic · AWD |
3.5 Petrol · 311 hp 350 | 5% | 75 000 PLN | 80 779 km | Automatic · RWD / AWD |
2.5 Petrol · 208 hp 250 Prestige | 4% | 58 900 PLN | 237 000 km | Automatic · RWD |
5.0 Petrol · 472 hp | 2% | 339 000 PLN | 55 000 km | Automatic · RWD |
From the market
Price by model year
Typical price and mileage for each model year on sale.
From the market
Most common versions
- 200t / 300 Elegance9
- 200t Elite6
- 300h Elite4
- 300h Elegance3
- 200t / 300 Prestige3
- 200t Comfort3
- 300h Comfort2
- 200t / 300 F Sport2
From the market
Equipment seen most often
Leather steering wheel 100%Electric front windows 100%Electric rear windows 100%USB socket 92%Heated driver seat 92%Paddle shifters 92%Traction control 92%ESP stability control 92%Driver airbag 92%Passenger airbag 92%Tyre pressure monitoring 85%Isofix child seat anchors 85%Bluetooth 77%Radio 77%
Our picks
Versions worth looking for
Facelift IS 300h F Sport or Prestige (2017–2020)
Lexus Safety System+ standard, the better cabin and the nicest chassis; the car that will still be cheap to run in ten years.
Early IS 300h Prestige with Mark Levinson (2014–2015)
A premium executive car for the price of a mid-spec compact; insist on a Hybrid Health Check and a recent 12V battery.
IS 200t / IS 300 for petrol drivers
245 hp, rear drive, 8-speed automatic and Lexus reliability; rare enough that you buy the one you find.