Compare the2023 Lexus ISVS 2023 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus IS 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 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The IS’ optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Lexus IS are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The IS offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 2 Series Gran Coupe only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the IS and the 2 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the IS its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 96 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 2 Series Gran Coupe is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 2 Series Gran Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the 2 Series Gran Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in overall reliability. BMW is ranked 12th.

The IS has more powerful engines than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

As tested in Consumer Reports the IS 300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the 228i Gran Coupe:

The IS has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (17.4 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The IS stops shorter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

For better traction, the IS has larger standard tires than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (235/45R18 vs. 225/45R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the IS 300 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the IS’ wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the 2 Series Gran Coupe (110.2 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the IS is .7 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The IS’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (54% to 46%) than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s (58.3% to 41.7%). This gives the IS more stable handling and braking.

The IS 350 F Sport handles at .93 G’s, while the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The IS 500 Performance executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe (25.2 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 25.8 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s (34.2 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The IS AWD’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The IS has 3.4 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the IS offers cargo security. The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

The engine in the IS is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the 2 Series Gran Coupe. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 31% lower rating, BMW is ranked 7th.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the 2 Series Gran Coupe, the IS 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’ standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The IS’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The 2 Series Gran Coupe does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Consumer Reports rated the IS’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

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’ headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

A power rear sunshade is optional in the IS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the IS keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus IS and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The 2 Series Gran Coupe isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Lexus IS outsold the BMW 2 Series by 44% during the 2021 model year.