When speaking about reliability, there is a good chance one brand will stand out among the rest: Lexus. You might go as far as to say the Japanese luxury giant has made their brand synonymous with the term reliability. Yet, is Lexus still offering top tier reliable luxury vehicles in 2024? The short answer is yes. Using J.D. Power's 100-Point Score system, the highest ranked compact premium car in 2024 is the 2024 Lexus IS sport sedan, with an 88/100 score.

This means that the 2024 Lexus IS the highest ranked compact luxury car on the market and the most reliable Japanese vehicle of 2024. If we are talking accolades, the Lexus IS has those in spades. Yet, is this fancy Toyota really that special? Well, the numbers don't lie. When it comes to overall quality, driving experience, resale value, and dealership experience, few cars can go pound for pound with the 2024 Lexus IS.

Since its most recent refresh for the 2021 model year, the Lexus IS line has been dominant in its overall J.D. Power Reliability rankings. We have researched countless vehicles using these rankings, and the 2022 Lexus IS one of the few vehicles of any kind that has ever achieved a 90/100 score.

This makes the 2021+ model year Lexus IS the highest ranked Lexus car of its generation and among the most reliable Lexus models of all time.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Lexus, and Toyota.

The 2GR-FKS V-6 Engine Is As Reliable As It Gets

Lexus IS Engine Options

If there has ever been an appropriate use of the idiom “if it ain't broke, don't fix it”, it would be for describing the 2GR-FKS 3.5-liter V-6 engine found in the 2024 IS 300 AWD and IS 350 RWD/AWD models. The 2GR V-6 engine family has become the very foundation of Lexus' famed reliability, and that fact hasn't changed for almost two decades. The 2GR was first used in Toyota models as early as 2005.

The 2GR-FKS V-6 Defines Reliability

The FKS variant found within the 2024 IS line-up has been used within Toyota products since 2015 and is the most current iteration. It may offer less power than its competition in this segment, but it is the most robust. Toyota will likely continue the use of the 2GR-FKS at least until the end of this IS generation, which has now been in production for over a decade. We are still unsure what would be a suitable replacement for something so legendary in its bulletproof nature.

Alternative Powertrain Options

The Lexus IS line is also impressive with its array of available engine configurations. You will find a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four in the entry-level IS 300 model and a 5.0-liter V-8 engine in the top-level IS 500 models. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 8AR-FTS is a newer unit introduced in 2015. Due to its more niche application for higher-end Toyota products, we are still learning about its long-term robustness. However, the 5.0-liter 2UR-GSE V-8 found in IS 500 models has cemented itself as the go-to high-performance V-8 engine for Lexus for over a decade. You can be assured this V-8 engine is one of the most reliable on the market today.

The Lexus IS Line Is All About Balance

Although the Lexus IS line has garnered a reputation for its reliability, it is the overall package that the IS offers that is its true selling point. The Lexus IS line defines luxury without compromise. Never has the Lexus IS line been the sportiest or highest-performance option in its segment. Yet, when ranking the minimum standard across all ranking categories, it is clear that this Lexus sedan shines above its competition.

Why The Lexus IS Line Beats The BMW 3-Series

Within the compact luxury car segment, no other vehicle poses a larger threat to the Lexus IS line than the famed BMW 3-Series. Yet, year after year, the Lexus manages to beat out BMW at their own game in overall rankings in the segment. Lexus achieves this success by offering better overall quality, reliability, driving experience, resale value, and dealership experience. While the BMW 3-Series is 100 percent the more aptly named “sport sedan”, the Lexus IS shines where the BMW falters.

The Lexus IS Line Is Flexible And Adaptable

The lowest possible entry price Lexus IS available today is the 2024 Lexus IS 300 RWD is priced at $41,235. This price point undercuts its direct competition, the 2024 BMW 330i Sedan, at $44,500 by $3,265.

At the upper end, the V-8 equipped 2024 IS 500 F Sport Performance comes in at $60,020. BMW's 2024 M3 with a similar power output to the IS 500 F Sport Performance is a $16,000 premium. That's a serious gap worth considering if you are in the market for a daily driver performance luxury sedan and aren't looking to set track records.

No Lack Of Comfort or Convenience

If you are looking for the highest-performance luxury sedan on the market, it is likely to be a BMW 3-Series. Yet, if you are looking for the best overall package in that segment, it is going to be a Lexus IS. Yes, the IS 500 F Sport Performance is more than capable of lighting up the rear tires at a moment's notice. Yet, that is probably not the reason you end up leaving the dealership with one in your possession.

The Smoothest Ride In Its Class

If we are at a racetrack, give us a BMW 3-Series. If we are anywhere else, the Lexus IS is the correct choice. The Lexus IS offers without question the most comfortable quality of ride in the segment. The seating position, the seats, and the overall road manners of the Lexus IS are second to none and are a rare standout feature.

No Lack Of Interior Quality And Features

Stepping into the interior of the 2024 Lexus IS 350 F Sport is as nice of an interior as you could imagine at this price point. All the notable driver touchpoints from the steering wheel to the shifter are covered in quality perforated leather. The instrument cluster and infotainment are as functional as they are elegant.

While we have a minor annoyance with the use of gloss black plastics for certain interior trims, the beauty of the central Lexus timepiece quells our anger. The Lexus IS does not lack any significant creature comforts or tech features while offering high standards for convenience across the board.

The Future of The Lexus IS Line

2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the third-generation Lexus IS line being available in the U.S. The 2021 model year saw the most significant refresh for this current generation so far. With the debut of the F Sport Performance line with the IS 500 F Sport Performance in 2022, Lexus is still finding new ways to keep the third-generation IS model interesting.

What “F Sport Performance” Means For The Future

When Lexus introduced the F Sport Performance IS line featuring the same 5.0-liter 2UR-GSE V-8 engine found in the flagship “F” models, we were impressed. This was a bold move by the brand then and is still to this day. Yet, it is clear that they knew there was no other car on the market like the IS 500 F Sport Performance.

BMW, being Lexus' primary competitor in this segment, hasn't offered a naturally aspirated sport sedan with a V-8 engine in over a decade, since the 2006-2012 E90/92 BMW M3. The fact is that it is a RWD V-8-powered Lexus that stands alone as the last of a dying breed of analog sport sedans.

Why Compete When You Can Build Together?

Every day, somebody says that today is the day that the internal combustion engine died. The “woe is me” narrative relating to combustion engineering has never been more prominent in the automotive media. Yet, the fact couldn't be any further from the truth. If anything, next-generation combustion engines will need to be revolutionary at the very least to find mainstream adoption.

Nowadays, we are witnessing some of the most powerful, efficient, and reliable performance engines ever made. Just like BMW and Toyota's engineering prowess came together for the sake of the GR Supra, these types of collaborations will be the future of automotive engineering. With the Lexus IS being one of the luxury brand's most flexible platforms, it is clear that the IS line will be a front-runner for future engine and technology developments within the Lexus brand.