Compare the2019 Lexus IS SeriesVS 2019 Chrysler 300

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus IS Series have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Chrysler 300 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The IS Series’ optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 300 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the IS Series and the 300 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lexus IS Series is safer than the Chrysler 300:

	IS Series	300
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	271/602 lbs.	617/568 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.9 inches
Neck Compression	64 lbs.	113 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Lexus IS Series is safer than the 300:

	IS Series	300
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	122	222
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	2/2.4 kN	3.7/3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.73/.43	1.21/.58

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus IS Series is safer than the Chrysler 300:

	IS Series	300
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	99	236
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.4 inches
Abdominal Force	193 G’s	315 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	89	134
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	50 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	295	302
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	806 lbs.	910 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the IS Series the rating of “Top Pick” for 2018, a rating granted to only 85 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 300 was not even a standard “Top Pick” for 2018.

Warranty

The IS Series comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 300’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS Series 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Chrysler covers the 300. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the 300 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The IS Series’ corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the 300’s (6/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the IS Series have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the 300.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the IS Series’ reliability 52 points higher than the 300.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 112 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 31st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2018 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in reliability. Chrysler is ranked 17th.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the IS 350 is faster than the Chrysler 300 V8:

	IS Series	300
Zero to 60 MPH	5.3 sec	5.8 sec
Quarter Mile	13.9 sec	14.2 sec

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the IS Series’ standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the 300:

	IS Series	300
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	12.6 inches

The IS Series’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the 300 are solid, not vented.

The IS Series stops much shorter than the 300:

	IS Series	300
80 to 0 MPH	226 feet	231 feet	Road and Track
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	121 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the IS Series has larger standard tires than the 300 (225/45R17 vs. 215/65R17).

The IS Series’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 300 Touring’s standard 65 series tires. The IS Series’ optional 225/40R18 front and 255/35R18 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the 300S/300C/Limited’s 45 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The IS Series offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The 300’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The IS Series AWD handles at .89 G’s, while the 300 pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The IS 350 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the 300 (26 seconds vs. 27.2 seconds).

For better maneuverability, the IS Series’ turning circle is 4.5 feet tighter than the 300’s (34.2 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The IS Series AWD’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the 300’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

Chassis

The Lexus IS Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 650 pounds less than the Chrysler 300.

The IS Series is 1 foot, 2.3 inches shorter than the 300, making the IS Series easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Lexus IS Series amounts to more than styling. The IS Series has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is significantly lower than the 300 (.32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the IS Series get better fuel mileage.

The IS Series 300 RWD offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The 300 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the IS 350 F Sport is quieter than the 300S:

	IS Series	300
Full-Throttle	73 dB	80 dB
70 MPH Cruising	65 dB	69 dB

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the IS Series offers cargo security. The 300’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Chrysler. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in service department satisfaction. With a 83% lower rating, Chrysler is ranked 26th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional in the 300 (except Touring/Touring L), the IS Series offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The IS Series’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The 300’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the IS Series the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (Your Lexus service department must activate this window function.) The driver of the 300 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The IS Series’ headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the 300’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the IS Series is less expensive to operate than the 300 because typical repairs cost much less on the IS Series than the 300, including $1281 less for a muffler, $52 less for front brake pads and $528 less for front struts.

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