Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2016 BMW 3 Series VS 2016 Lexus IS Near Scottsdale, AZ

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 Series doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The 3 Series Sedan (except 320i) offers an optional Side and Top View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The IS Series only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the 3 Series Sedan and the IS Series 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, daytime running lights, front parking sensors, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and blind spot warning systems.

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 Series:

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 Series:

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 Series’ (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 3 Series Sedan for 4 years and 50,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Lexus doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the IS Series.

There are over 77 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 3 Series Sedan’s warranty.

The battery on the 3 Series Sedan is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures which 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 Series’ battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2015 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 9th.

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

The 3 Series Sedan’s 2.0 turbo diesel produces 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the IS 200t’s standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. The 3 Series Sedan’s 2.0 turbo diesel produces 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 236) than the IS 300’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The 3 Series Sedan’s 2.0 turbo diesel produces 3 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 277) than the IS 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the 328i is faster than the IS 350 (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the 328d gets better fuel mileage than the IS 200t:

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

Regenerative brakes improve the 3 Series Sedan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The IS Series 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. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The IS Series doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

For better stopping power the 340i’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the IS Series:

The 3 Series Sedan stops much shorter than the IS Series:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 3 Series Sedan offers optional 19-inch wheels. The IS Series’ largest wheels are only 18-inches.

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 Series doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the 3 Series Sedan is 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the IS Series.

The 320i handles at .95 G’s, while the IS 350 F Sport pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Road & Track skidpad test.

The 340i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the IS Series (25.6 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 27.1 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

The BMW 3 Series Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 300 pounds less than the Lexus IS Series.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the 328i is quieter than the IS 350 F Sport (40 vs. 42 dB).

The 3 Series Sedan has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the IS Series (96.2 vs. 90.2).

The 3 Series Sedan has 2.1 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more rear headroom, 2.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the IS Series.

The 3 Series Sedan has a much larger trunk than the IS Series (12 vs. 10.8 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 3 Series Sedan’s available trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The IS Series doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The 3 Series Sedan (except 320i) offers an available heads-up display which projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The IS Series doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the 3 Series Sedan and the IS Series 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 Series prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the 3 Series Sedan to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The IS Series doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 3 Series Sedan (except 320i) offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The IS Series doesn’t offer cornering lights. The 3 Series Sedan (except 320i) also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Both the 3 Series Sedan and the IS Series 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 Series.

The 3 Series Sedan (except 320i)’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The IS Series doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The BMW 3 Series Sedan has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its September 2013 issue and they ranked the BMW 340i xDrive first. They ranked the Lexus IS 350 AWD third.

Strategic Vision rates overall owner satisfaction with vehicle quality. The BMW 3 Series Sedan is ranked above average in the Near-Luxury Car category. The Lexus IS Series is ranked below average.

The 3 Series was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 20 of the last 21 years. The IS Series has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The 3 Series was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” for 13 of the last 19 years. The IS Series has never been an “All Star.”

The BMW 3 and 4 Series outsold the Lexus IS Series by over three to one during the 2015 model year.