RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF THREE BY FOUR WITH MILDER BENT SIX: Catering to Upwardly Mobile Professional desires and surviving Urban Active Lifestyle is the prestige compact touring sedan. For their sake the Lexus IS series exists, fitted with four powerplants, ranging from four to eight pistoned and with available all-wheel drive. Having slipped into a shimmering re-wrapped IS 350 AWD F-Sport a year ago, Roadblazing.com editors have now rowed a Re-Drive on the placid blue waters of a 2022 Lexus IS 300 sport sedan.
2022 Lexus IS 300 AWD Driving Hits: (vs. previously reviewed 2021 Lexus IS 350 AWD in parenthesis)
- 260 horsepower 2GR-FKS 3.5L gas V-6 = (-51 hp ≈-16%); 236 pound-feet torque = (-64 lb-ft ≈ -23%)
- 6-speed automatic torque converter planetary transmission
- Confusion lies in that the IS 300 rear wheel drive = by 8AR-FTS turbocharged 2.0L gas I-4 + AA81E 8-speed automatic transmission
- PTU to viscous clutch center differential all-wheel drive to front & rear open differential axles.
- De-rated 2GR-FKS 3.5L V-6 displays impressive forward burst at highway entry speeds
- 26 combined miles per gallon (+18% MPG), 452 miles highway range, on 91 octane AKI unleaded fuel
- Front double wishbone + rear multi-link fully independent suspension
- Bridgestone Turanza EL45Z M+S touring tires on 19″ alloy wheels
- Vented disc brake rotors x 4 exhibits consistent linear feel
- Increased spot laser welding makes this a torsional resistance pace setter for the class
2022 Lexus IS 300 AWD Driving Misses:
- AH760H transmission is two gears < rear wheel drive IS Series
- Hesitant transmission kick down
- Noticeably less eager than IS 350 AWD at triple digits
- Lower lateral load limits from fitted touring rubber
- Lacks F-Sport series electronic variable dampers stiffening
- Still based on a non-modular Toyota New N platform
What the 2022 Lexus IS 300 AWD Has Got:
- Pricing: from $41,700 (incl. destination) for a 6-speed automatic 2022 Lexus IS 300 AWD.
- As tested w/ Premium pkg., in Grecian Water blue finish, at $54,075
- 3rd generation Japanese compact luxury executive sedan series XE30, following a 2020 second update, features a sleek Coke bottle fuselage with lower aft folds, full length Lexus Spindle grille, door mount lateral “L” wing mirrors, inverted inboard facing “L” lighting housings w/ rear mid trunk connecting raceway, and distinctive flared descending rear fascia.
- Accommodates 4 grownups & 14 cubic feet of belongings in the trunk, expanded by √ 60/40% split folding 2nd Row seatbacks
- Precision shape and movement Lexus controls with nary any cribbed from Toyota
- Comprehensive standard feature set
- √ Remote keyless proximity access, push button ignition; √ Power windows, full variable speed express x 4
- √ NuLuxe seating, heated front seats, 10-way driver, 8-way passenger, power adjust
- √ 2-zone automatic, soft touch adjust climate control
- √ LED steering adaptive headlights, √ Rain sensing windshield wipers,
- √ Auto dimming rear view mirror, √ Reverse power tilting side mirrors
- √ TFT twin analog dial instrument cluster w/ 4.7″ color MFD display
- √ 8.0″ Display Audio pod style landscape upper center dash infotainment display w/ remote dial Command & touch control; Voice commands
- 10 speaker, 550W CD & streaming audio, USB-C x 2, 12V x 1
- Bluetooth hands-free communication & SMS messaging
- wireless Android Auto, AppleCar Play phone projection
- Cupholders x 4, Bottle holders x 4
- Excellent safety features & ratings
- IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus +
- 10 SRS airbags; Rear camera
- Driver assist tech (standard – Lexus SafetySystem+ 2.5)
- √ Pedestrian and daylight bicycle detection braking; √ Forward collision avoidance braking; √ Blind spot warning; √ Front & Rear cross traffic detection; √ Lane Departure Warning w/ steering trace assist; √ Full adaptive cruise control w/ variable curve approach speed; √ Autohold electronic parking brake; √ Automatic high beam headlamps; √ Enform Safety & Service Connect
- ADVANCED SAFETY PKG (included on test vehicle): √ Intuitive front & rear park assist w/ auto braking; √ 360° Bird’s Eye camera view; √ Rear cross traffic braking
- WARRANTIES: 4 year / 50,000 miles bumper to bumper, 6 year / 70,000 miles powertrain, 2 year / 25,000 miles maintenance warranties
What the 2022 Lexus IS 300 AWD Has Not (or Not Preferred):
- No cowhide seating available
- Seat cushions limited in length
- Rear seat hip room and legroom tight for large adults
- Front center armrest distant from console shift lever
- Lacks the clever electro-mechanical sliding F-Sport instrument cluster
- Sharp raked front air dam Advanced Driver Assistance sensors collect winter driving snow and ice, blocking effectiveness
Standout Feature(s) on 2022 LEXUS IS 300 AWD w/ Premium, Navigation & Panoramic pkgs.:
- Front heated & cooled w/ driver’s three position memory
- ♦ Power tilt & telescoping heated steering wheel; ♦ 2- position driver’s seat & mirror memory
- ♦ Power moonroof; ♦ Power trunk-lid release and close
- ♦ Power rear backlight sunshade; ♦ Power folding wing mirrors
- ♦ Trunk lid spoiler; ♦ Triple beam LED active headlamps
- 10.3″ touch & Lexus Remote touch pad controlled landscape upper center dash split pane Enform 2.0 infotainment screen
- Native infotainment navigation map + enhanced voice search & guidance by subscription
- 17 speaker, 1800 W, 12-channel, 7.1 DTS Mark Levinson audiophile system w/ CD player
Roadblazing.com Says: Lexus remains committed to Placid Pursuit of Perfection in a compact luxury sedan.
Contributing Editor: G. Straton
SEE ROADBLAZING.COM’s COMPLETE BOTTOM LINE REVIEW AND PHOTO GALLERY OF THE 2021 LEXUS IS 350 AWD BELOW
