Compare the2023 BMW 3 Series SedanVS 2023 Lexus IS

The 3 Series Sedan has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The IS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The 3 Series Sedan’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The IS doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 3 Series Sedan and the IS 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, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors 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 BMW 3 Series Sedan is safer than the Lexus IS:

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

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 BMW 3 Series Sedan is safer than the Lexus IS:

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

The 3 Series Sedan’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the IS’ (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 3 Series Sedan for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the IS (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 44 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 3 Series Sedan’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the 3 Series Sedan’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the IS’ camshafts. If the IS’ belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The battery on the 3 Series Sedan is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the 3 Series Sedan’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The IS’ battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW 3 Series Sedan is faster than the Lexus IS:

On the EPA test cycle the 3 Series Sedan gets better mileage than the IS:

Regenerative brakes improve the 3 Series Sedan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The IS doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 3 Series Sedan’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. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The IS doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 3 Series Sedan’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The IS doesn’t offer launch control.

The 3 Series Sedan stops much shorter than the IS:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 3 Series Sedan can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The IS doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 3 Series Sedan’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the IS (112.2 inches vs. 110.2 inches).

The 330i handles at .99 G’s, while the IS 500 Performance pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M340i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the IS 300 AWD (25 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 25.9 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

The design of the BMW 3 Series Sedan amounts to more than styling. The 3 Series Sedan has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .26 Cd. That is lower than the IS (.29 to .3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the 3 Series Sedan get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the 3 Series Sedan uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The IS doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 3 Series Sedan has .5 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the IS.

The 3 Series Sedan has a much larger trunk than the IS (13 vs. 10.8 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 3 Series Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The IS doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the 3 Series Sedan offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The IS doesn’t offer a power trunk.

The 3 Series Sedan offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The IS doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the 3 Series Sedan and the IS have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 3 Series Sedan is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The IS prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The 3 Series Sedan’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The IS’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The 3 Series Sedan’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’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the 3 Series Sedan has standard extendable sun visors. The IS doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the 3 Series Sedan and the IS offer optional heated front seats. The 3 Series Sedan also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the IS.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 3 Series offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The IS doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The 3 Series Sedan M340i’s optional Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The IS doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the 3 Series Sedan owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the 3 Series Sedan will cost $405 less than the IS over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 3 Series Sedan is less expensive to operate than the IS because typical repairs cost much less on the 3 Series Sedan than the IS, including $372 less for a starter, $162 less for fuel injection, $183 less for a fuel pump, $126 less for a timing belt/chain and $589 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW 3 Series Sedan and the Lexus IS, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW 3 Series outsold the Lexus IS by 42% during 2022.