Compare the2019 Lexus IS SeriesVS 2019 Ford Taurus

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
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 Ford Taurus 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 Taurus doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The IS Series has standard Pre-Collision System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Taurus offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Lexus IS Series has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Taurus doesn’t offer Daytime Running Lights.

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

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 Taurus:

	IS Series	Taurus
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	4 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	0%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Tibia index R/L	.73/.43	1.19/.41

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 Ford Taurus:

	IS Series	Taurus
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	99	103
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.2 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	89	284
Hip Force	691 lbs.	910 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	15 inches	18 inches
HIC	295	376
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	53 G’s

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 Taurus 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 Taurus’ 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 Ford covers the Taurus. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Taurus ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The IS Series’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Taurus’ (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

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 Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 53 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2018 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in reliability. Ford is ranked 15th.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the IS 350 is faster than the Taurus SHO:

	IS Series	Taurus
Zero to 60 MPH	5.3 sec	5.4 sec
Quarter Mile	13.9 sec	14 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the IS Series gets better fuel mileage than the Taurus:

		IS Series	Taurus
2WD	300/Auto	21 city/30 hwy	n/a
	350/Auto	20 city/28 hwy	18 city/26 hwy	V6/Auto
AWD	300/Auto	19 city/26 hwy	17 city/24 hwy	V6/Auto
	350/Auto	19 city/26 hwy	16 city/24 hwy	Turbo V6/Auto SHO

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus IS Series, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Taurus.

Brakes and Stopping

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 Taurus are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

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 Taurus SE’s standard 60 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 Taurus 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 Taurus’ suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The IS Series’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Taurus’ (60.7% to 39.3%). This gives the IS Series more stable handling and braking.

The IS Series AWD handles at .89 G’s, while the Taurus SEL pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The IS 350 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Taurus SEL (26 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the IS Series’ turning circle is 5.2 feet tighter than the Taurus SHO’s (34.2 feet vs. 39.4 feet). The IS Series AWD’s turning circle is 4.1 feet tighter than the Taurus’ (35.4 feet vs. 39.5 feet).

Chassis

The Lexus IS Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 600 pounds less than the Ford Taurus.

The IS Series is 1 foot, 6.6 inches shorter than the Taurus, 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 Taurus (.32 to .33) 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 Taurus doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

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

	IS Series	Taurus
At idle	42 dB	47 dB
Full-Throttle	73 dB	73 dB
70 MPH Cruising	65 dB	70 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 Taurus’ non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the IS Series is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Taurus. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in service department satisfaction. With a 60% lower rating, Ford is ranked 24th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Taurus Limited/SHO, 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 Taurus’ passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

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 Taurus can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The IS Series has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Taurus doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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 Taurus’ headlights are rated “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the IS Series offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Taurus doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The IS Series’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Taurus SEL/Limited/SHO.

When the IS Series with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Taurus’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The IS Series has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Taurus SEL/Limited/SHO.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the IS Series is less expensive to operate than the Taurus because it costs $153 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the IS Series than the Taurus, including $25 less for a water pump, $316 less for a muffler and $7 less for front brake pads.

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