Compare the2024 Jaguar XF VS 2023 Lexus IS

Both the XF and IS have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XF has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The IS’ child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the XF has standard Rear Traffic Warning with Rear Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Rear Cross-Traffic Braking costs extra on the IS.

The XF’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 XF and the IS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The XF comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The IS’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Jaguar pays for scheduled maintenance on the XF for 4 years and 50,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the IS (5/60,000 vs. 1/10,000).

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the XF’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.

On the EPA test cycle the XF gets better mileage than the IS:

			MPG
XF
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
IS
	RWD	5.0 V8	17 city/25 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/31 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/28 hwy
	AWD	350 F Sport 3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the XF’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 XF’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. The IS doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The XF has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the IS (19.5 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Jaguar XF higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus IS (5). This means the XF produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the IS every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the XF’s brake rotors are larger than those on the IS:

	XF	IS
Front Rotors	14 inches	13.1 inches
Rear Rotors	12.8 inches	11.7 inches

For better traction, the XF has larger standard tires than the IS (245/40R19 vs. 235/45R18). The XF’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the IS (255/35R20 vs. 235/40R19).

The XF’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the IS 300’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XF has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the IS 300. The XF’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the IS Performance.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XF’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the IS (116.5 inches vs. 110.2 inches).

The XF has 4.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the IS (95 vs. 90.2).

The XF has 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 5.5 inches more rear legroom and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the IS.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the XF’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The IS doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the XF uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The IS doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The XF offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed 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 XF and the IS have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the XF 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 XF’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 XF’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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the XF to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The IS doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The XF SE/R-Dynamic offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The IS doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The XF has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the IS. The XF also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the IS.

The XF has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the IS.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Jaguar XF has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The IS doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.