Compare the2023 Lexus ISVS 2023 BMW 3 Series Sedan

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The IS’ standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

The IS has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the 3 Series Sedan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the IS has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

Both the IS and the 3 Series Sedan 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 is safer than the BMW 3 Series Sedan:

	IS	3 Series Sedan
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	162	305
Spine Acceleration	28 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	438 lbs.	532 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	39 G’s

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

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 3 Series Sedan is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 3 Series Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the 3 Series Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The 3 Series Sedan isn’t in the top three in its category.

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.

Engine

The IS has more powerful engines than the 3 Series Sedan:

	Horsepower	Torque
IS 300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6	260 HP	236 lbs.-ft.
IS 350 F Sport 3.5 DOHC V6	311 HP	280 lbs.-ft.
IS 500 5.0 DOHC V8	472 HP	395 lbs.-ft.
330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	255 HP	294 lbs.-ft.
M340i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	382 HP	368 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Consumer Reports the IS 300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the 330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

	IS	3 Series Sedan
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	3.7 sec	4.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	14.8 sec

As tested in Motor Trend the IS 500 5.0 DOHC V8 is faster than the 330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

	IS	3 Series Sedan
Zero to 60 MPH	4.3 sec	5.5 sec
Quarter Mile	12.7 sec	14.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112.7 MPH	98.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The IS has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the 3 Series Sedan (17.4 vs. 15.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the IS 500 Performance’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the 3 Series Sedan:

	IS	IS 500 Performance	330i	M340i
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	14 inches	13 inches	13.7 inches

The IS stops shorter than the 3 Series Sedan:

	IS	3 Series Sedan
70 to 0 MPH	159 feet	165 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	114 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the IS has larger standard tires than the 3 Series Sedan (235/45R18 vs. 225/45R18). The IS Performance’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 3 Series Sedan (F:235/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. F:225/40R19 & R:255/35R19).

The F Sport Design’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 3 Series Sedan’s optional 40 series front tires.

Suspension and Handling

The IS 350 F Sport handles at .93 G’s, while the 330i xDrive 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 1.4 seconds quicker than the 330i xDrive (25.2 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 5.2 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan’s (34.2 feet vs. 39.4 feet). The IS AWD’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan’s (35.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the 3 Series Sedan, 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 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Consumer Reports rated the IS’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the 3 Series Sedan’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

A power rear sunshade is optional in the IS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the IS is less expensive to operate than the 3 Series Sedan because it costs $190 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the IS than the 3 Series Sedan, including $213 less for a water pump, $468 less for a muffler, $105 less for front brake pads and $237 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus IS and the BMW 3 Series Sedan, 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 3 Series Sedan isn’t in the top three.

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