Compare the2019 BMW 4 Series Gran CoupeVS 2018 Lexus IS Series

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The IS Series doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional Side and Top View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The IS Series only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the 4 Series Gran Coupe and the IS Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and blind spot warning systems.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the IS Series’ (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4 Series Gran Coupe for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Lexus only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the IS Series.

There are over 43 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s warranty.

The camshafts in the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s engine are driven by a hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs. A rubber belt that needs periodic replacement drives the IS 300 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.’s camshafts. If the IS Series’ cam drive belt breaks the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The battery on the 4 Series Gran Coupe is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The IS Series’ battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 4 Series Gran Coupe first among compact premium cars in their 2017 Initial Quality Study. The IS Series isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 15th, below the industry average.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has more powerful engines than the IS Series:

On the EPA test cycle the 4 Series Gran Coupe gets better fuel mileage than the IS Series:

Regenerative brakes improve the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The IS Series doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The IS Series doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Lexus IS Series is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

For better stopping power the 440i Gran Coupe’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the IS Series:

The 4 Series Gran Coupe stops much shorter than the IS Series:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 4 Series Gran Coupe has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the IS Series. The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the IS Series.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 4 Series Gran Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The IS Series doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 4 Series Gran Coupe is .6 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the IS Series.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the IS Series’ (53.1% to 46.9%). This gives the 4 Series Gran Coupe more stable handling and braking.

The 430i Gran Coupe handles at .89 G’s, while the IS Series AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the 430i Gran Coupe xDrive is quieter than the IS 350 F Sport (40 vs. 42 dB).

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the IS Series.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has a larger trunk with its rear seat up than the IS Series (17 vs. 10.8 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The IS Series doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The IS Series doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the 4 Series Gran Coupe and the IS Series have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 4 Series Gran Coupe is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The IS Series prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The IS Series’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The IS Series doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Both the 4 Series Gran Coupe and the IS Series offer optional heated front seats. The 4 Series Gran Coupe also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the IS Series.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The IS Series doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The BMW 4 Series comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Lexus IS Series isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

Insurance will cost less for the 4 Series Gran Coupe owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the 4 Series Gran Coupe with a number “1” insurance rate while the IS Series is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is less expensive to operate than the IS Series because typical repairs cost much less on the 4 Series Gran Coupe than the IS Series, including $301 less for a starter, $425 less for fuel injection, $259 less for a timing belt/chain and $355 less for a power steering pump.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 4 Series Gran Coupe third among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The IS Series isn’t in the top three.

The 4 Series was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2014. The IS Series has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The 4 Series was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2014. The IS Series has never been an “All Star.”

The BMW 4 Series outsold the Lexus IS Series by 50% during 2017.