The Lexus IS was first released in 1998 as the luxury brand's first entry into the compact market. It was originally offered as both an estate and a saloon, but the larger option was dropped from the lineup in 2005. Through three generations, the IS continued to receive updates and refreshes, keeping it competitive against some of the top models, until it was discontinued in 2020.
127 Used Lexus IS cars for sale
Lexus, IS
2020 - 300h 4dr CVT Auto
24£15,295
Finance available £1,271 pm
- 2.5L
- Miles
83.3K
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- Saloon
CarBrothers NI
Lexus, IS
2015 - 2.5 300h Executive Edition 4-Door
24Low Mileage
£9,500
Finance available £755 pm
- 2.5L
- Miles
32.0K
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- Saloon
Bargain Cars Cardiff ltd
Lexus, IS
2013 (63) - 300h F-Sport 4dr CVT Auto
13£8,995
Finance available £711 pm
- 2.5L
- Miles
136.8K
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- Saloon
Allerton Trade Centre Ltd
Lexus, IS
2013 - 2.5 250 V6 F Sport 4-Door
30Reduced
£10,450
Finance available £840 pm
- 2.5L
- Miles
59.0K
- Petrol
- Automatic
- Saloon
Quality Motors
Lexus, IS
2011 - 2.5 250 F Sport 4-Door
63Low Mileage
£6,495
- 2.5L
- Miles
67.6K
- Petrol
- Automatic
- Saloon
Woodcroft Motors
Lexus, IS
2013 - 2.5 V6 F Sport Saloon 4dr Petrol Auto Euro 5 (208 ps)
38Reduced
£9,495
Finance available £755 pm
- 2.5L
- Miles
58.0K
- Petrol
- Automatic
- Saloon
Ideal Car Centre Ltd
Lexus, IS
2011 (11) - 2.5 250 V6 Advance Saloon 4dr Petrol Auto Euro 5 (208 ps)
17£5,995
Finance available £444 pm
- 2.5L
- Miles
116.4K
- Petrol
- Automatic
- Saloon
Border City Autos Ltd
Lexus, IS
2010 (10) - 2.2 220TD SE-I 4dr
21Low Mileage
£4,495
Finance available £310 pm
- 2.2L
- Miles
74.0K
- Diesel
- Manual
- Saloon
Lexus, IS
2018 (18) - 2.5 300h Advance E-CVT Euro 6 (s/s) 4dr
39£15,591
- 2.5L
- Miles
62.3K
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- Saloon
Prestige Cars by Peter Cooper (Horsham)
Lexus, IS
2014 (64) - 2.5 300h Executive Edition E-CVT Euro 5 (s/s) 4dr
21£7,400
- 2.5L
- Miles
145.0K
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- Saloon
Lexus, IS
2006 (06) - 250 SE-L 4dr Auto
20Low Mileage
£5,495
- 2.4L
- Miles
103.1K
- Petrol
- Semi Auto
- Saloon
Air Force Auto Sales
Lexus, IS
2015 - 300H EXECUTIVE EDITION 4-Door
24Reduced
£11,000
Finance available £889 pm
- 2.5L
- Miles
76.1K
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- Saloon
MMRM Cars Ltd
Lexus, IS
2019 (69) - 2.5 300h Saloon 4dr Petrol Hybrid E-CVT Euro 6 (s/s) (223 ps)
50£17,000
Finance available £1,395 pm
- 2.5L
- Miles
44.0K
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- Saloon
Breckland Vehicle Specialists Ltd
Lexus, IS
2011 (11) - 2.2 200d F Sport Euro 5 4dr
22Low Mileage
£3,289
Finance available £203 pm
- 2.2L
- Miles
108.0K
- Diesel
- Manual
- Saloon
Highway Sales Ltd
Lexus, IS
2020 (20) - 300h 4dr CVT Auto
25Low Mileage
£18,390
Finance available £1,517 pm
- 2.5L
- Miles
30.0K
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- Saloon
Riverside Sports & Prestige
Lexus, IS
2008 - 2.2 220TD SE 4dr
21Low Mileage
£3,750
Finance available £244 pm
- 2.2L
- Miles
48.6K
- Diesel
- Manual
- Saloon
Leicester Car Centre Ltd
Lexus, IS
2015 (15) - 300h Executive Edition 4dr CVT Auto
13£6,990
Finance available £532 pm
- 2.5L
- Miles
150.0K
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- Saloon
Unique Auto Trade Ltd
Lexus, IS
2008 (08) - 2.5 250 SE 4dr
33Low Mileage
£5,000
Finance available £355 pm
- 2.4L
- Miles
69.5K
- Petrol
- Automatic
- Saloon
Grouts Motors Company Limited
Lexus, IS
2018 - 300h Executive Edition 4dr CVT Auto
22Reduced
£14,295
Finance available £1,182 pm
- 2.5L
- Miles
55.6K
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- Saloon
Lexus, IS
2016 (16) - 2.5 300h F Sport E-CVT Euro 6 (s/s) 4dr
27£12,500
- 2.5L
- Miles
82.6K
- Hybrid
- Automatic
- Saloon
Find a specific Lexus IS
Trim
Lexus IS AdvanceLexus IS Executive EditionLexus IS F-SportLexus IS LuxuryLexus IS PremierLexus IS SELexus IS SE-ILexus IS SE LLexus IS SRLexus IS Sport
Body Style
Engine Size
Fuel Type
Transmission
Colour
Registration Year
Why buy a used Lexus IS?
If you're in the market for a car that's refined, reliable and stylish, then a used Lexus IS is a great choice. This premium saloon has a quiet and well-equipped interior that allows all passengers to remain comfortable. Lexus has supplied a good range of powertrain options, and there is a remarkably efficient hybrid option available.
Lexus IS snapshot review
Pros
- Very well refined
- Supreme reliability
- Hybrids produce lower emissions
Cons
- Performance is lacking
- Automatic gearbox is sluggish
- Confusing infotainment system
Lexus IS by type
Used Lexus IS information
Engines and transmission
Over the years, Lexus has offered the IS with petrol, hybrid and diesel engines with an automatic or manual transmission and rear-wheel drive.
Petrol- Hybrid IS 300h uses a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to create 219bhp, offering a 0-60mph time of 8.1 seconds and fuel economy up to 65mpg
- IS 200t utilises a 2.0-litre turbocharged motor to generate 241bhp, with a 0-60mph time of 6.8 seconds and an efficiency rating of 39mpg
- 250 F-Sport generates 205bhp but with a lower 30mpg fuel economy
- Maximum braked towing capacity is 1,500kg with the IS 200t when usinga towing pack and 750kg with the hybrid
- Older 2.2d generates either 147bhp or 175bhp for an 8.6-second or 9.9-second 0-60mph time and an efficiency rating between 44mpg and 55mpg, depending on the variant
Practicality
The Lexus IS is a sporty saloon, but it's also practical and well-equipped, offering comfort and support to all passengers
Interior space- Four adults fit comfortably, but the middle rear seat is better suited for a child
- Rear ISOFIX mounting points for child seats are located on the outer seats
- Third-generation IS model was the largest of the three, offering the most interior space
- 300h has a 450-litre boot, with the 200t offering an extra 30 litres as there are no batteries
- 60:40 split rear seats were available, allowing for more cargo-carrying space
- All three generations have been available as a compact saloon
- C models include a retractable hard top for an open-air experience
IS Sport Cross is an estate, but it's rare among used models
Safety
- 2013 Euro NCAP rating was five stars
- Adult occupant rating is 91%, while both the passenger occupant and pedestrian rating are 80% or higher
- Standard kit includes eight airbags, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights and hill start assist
Technology
- In 2017, Lexus released a larger 10.3-inch touchscreen display to replace the 7.0-inch version
- Premium Navigation multimedia system offers an integrated satnav system
- Available 15-speaker surround sound system
Lexus IS generations
Third Generation (2013 to 2020)
To compete against compact saloons, Lexus released a third-generation IS with a spindle grille and dynamic lines. The styling ensured a brand-new, fresher appearance, especially with the wider taillights added to the back. New powertrains were also released, along with some interior upgrades that were focused on comfort and technology.
A 2016 update refreshed the grille design and reshaped the lower bumper. More cooling was provided for the brakes to offer better performance. Lexus added advanced display systems and enhanced tech equipment, including an available 15-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo within the cabin.
- Fuel type:
- Hybrid - Petrol/Electric / Petrol
- Engine Size:
- 2 - 2.5
- MPG:
- 30 - 67
- Acceleration:
- 7 - 8.4 seconds
- Boot space:
- 450 - 525 L capacity
- NCAP Safety rating:
- 5 / 5 stars
Greenest
300h SE 4dr CVT Auto
Cheapest
250 SE 4dr Auto
Fastest
200t Sport 4dr Auto
Second Generation (2005 to 2012)
Lexus was concerned with adding as much standard equipment into the second-generation IS as possible, to give it an advantage over the competition. Built on a platform shared by Toyota, the new IS came with Bluetooth and push-button start, which were significant upgrades for the model year.
In 2008, Lexus released the F, a high-performance variant of the compact saloon. Its powerful engine helped it to rival the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, the BMW M3 and the Audi RS4. One year later, Lexus offered the open-top C with a retractable hard top that could be opened or closed in 20 seconds.
- Fuel type:
- Diesel / Petrol
- Engine Size:
- 2.2 - 5
- MPG:
- 24 - 55
- Acceleration:
- 4.8 - 10.2 seconds
- Boot space:
- 378 - 583 L capacity
- NCAP Safety rating:
- stars
Greenest
250 F-Sport 4dr Auto
Cheapest
220d 4dr
Fastest
5.0 V8 IS F 4dr Auto
Used Lexus IS FAQ's
Which is the most popular engine in the Lexus IS?
The hybrid engine has been the most popular with its combined output of 219bhp. With ratings of over 60mpg, it's a highly efficient engine and also provides a 0-60mph time of 8.1 seconds.
Which are the most popular model variants?
Lexus offered IS models in the following variants: SE, Executive Edition, Sport, Advance, F Sport and Premier. The most popular has been the mid-range Advance with its leather upholstery, eight-way electrically adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with lumbar support, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
What optional extras should I look out for?
For added safety, you should look for traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist and sway warning. Additional comfort can also be found with dual-zone air conditioning, while keyless smart entry makes it easier to get into the car when your hands are full.
Is the Lexus IS a good family car?
The IS makes a great family saloon with room to hold up to three children in the back. There's also ample boot space, making shopping trips even easier.
Is there a hybrid version of the Lexus IS?
Even though the IS was available with petrol and diesel engines, it's most known for its efficient hybrid powertrain. With efficiency of more than 60mpg, it has been a top choice among used car models.
Is the Lexus IS available as an automatic?
The majority of the used IS models available come with an automatic transmission. There are also some with a manual gearbox for drivers who prefer more control.
Is there a four-wheel drive version available?
Since its introduction, the IS has only been built with a rear-wheel drive configuration. This setup ensures sporty handling and a more enjoyable drive, especially around corners.
Buying a used car checklist: what to look for
Buying a used car can be a daunting task, but with our checklist, you can make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.
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