Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Lexus Is.
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With 4,993 currently licensed in the UK, the Lexus Is is one of Britain's well-known cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Is 5 stars in 2013, with 92% adult occupant and 83% child protection scores.
Annual running costs are estimated at £4,444 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £370/month or 56p/mile.
NCAP Safety
2013
Monthly Cost
£370
est. annual total
New From
£38,000
Euro NCAP tested the Is in 2013 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
92%
Child Occupant
83%
Pedestrian
80%
Safety Assist
66%
There are 3 known DVSA recalls affecting the Lexus Is. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2020/060
On affected vehicles the low pressure fuel pump located in the fuel tank could become inoperative.
Build dates: 2017-07-03 to 2019-09-09
R/2016/080
The fuel pressure sensor may not have correctly tightened during assembly. Over time this may affect the seal and allow fuel odour to escape. This could ignite in the presence of an ignition source.
Build dates: 2005-06-03 to 2007-09-14
R/2014/135
The fuel pressure sensor gasket may degrade and allow fuel to leak into the engine compartment. In the presence of an ignition source the risk of fire is increased.
Build dates: 2007-07-13 to 2010-06-25
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Lexus Is are estimated at around £4,444 per year, or £370 per month.
Fuel
£1,831
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,688
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Is achieves a combined fuel economy of around 28.8 mpg (20.8 mpg urban, 36.2 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| IS | PETROL | 28.8 mpg | 2.0L |
| IS | DIESEL | 50.4 mpg | 2.2L |
| IS | PETROL HYBRID | 48.7 mpg | 2.5L |
| IS | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 48.7 mpg | 2.5L |
| IS | PETROL | 31 mpg | 2.5L |
| IS | PETROL | 26.2 mpg | 3.0L |
| IS | PETROL | 24.8 mpg | 5.0L |
| IS 300H, MY18 WLTP | PETROL HYBRID | 61.4 mpg | 2.5L |
Starting from £38,000 new, a Lexus Is typically retains about 62% after 3 years and 51% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 83% | £31,350 | −£6,650 |
| 2 years | 70% | £26,650 | −£11,350 |
| 3 years | 62% | £23,450 | −£14,550 |
| 4 years | 56% | £21,100 | −£16,900 |
| 5 years | 51% | £19,400 | −£18,600 |
| 6 years | 48% | £18,050 | −£19,950 |
| 7 years | 45% | £16,950 | −£21,050 |
| 8 years | 42% | £16,150 | −£21,850 |
| 9 years | 40% | £15,300 | −£22,700 |
| 10 years | 38% | £14,550 | −£23,450 |
There are currently 4,993 licensed and 5,136 SORN Iss in the UK (10,129 total). This makes it a uncommon vehicle on UK roads.
Euro NCAP awarded the Is 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2013. It scored 92% for adult occupant protection, 83% for child occupant protection, 80% for vulnerable road users, and 66% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Is are estimated at around £4,444 per year (£370/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 3 known safety recalls affecting the Is. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
A new Is starts from around £38,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 51% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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