The new 2021 Lexus IS has landed in South Africa and here's what you can expect to pay for the sedan.

The new Japanese sedan will be available to order from the first week of April 2021 from Lexus dealerships. Pitched against the established German opposition like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4, the new Lexus IS comes to market in three levels of trim with one engine across the range.

Sadly for the performance fans, Lexus South Africa has changed its strategy and will be launching the newcomer as a hybrid-only range. To justify this decision, the hybrid market has shown immense growth in the last few years and we're seeing a shift to alternative-propulsion vehicles.

The changes are substantial, with a dramatic new look, but the real work has been done under the skin. The chassis has a 45mm wider front and a 50 mm wider rear track, which Lexus claims will improve vehicle turn-in and stability. Rigidity has been enhanced too, with the aim of improving steering response and cornering prowess. The front suspension setup also features stronger and lighter parts, including a new high-stress material for the coil springs which happen to offer a 20% weight reduction. Other noteworthy suspension tweaks include an upper control arm material change, reshaped bound stopper, wheel bolt fasteners for axle rigidity, while the rear suspension also gets stronger and lighter parts like coil spring changes and a new rear stabiliser bar.

Powering the new Lexus IS is a naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with a hybrid electric assist with outputs of 133 kW and 221 Nm. The total combined output of the petrol and electric powertrain is 164 kW, while a torque figure was not given. The main benefit of this hybrid setup is fuel economy and Lexus claims 5.2 L/100 km. It's not slow either, with a 0-100 kph in 8.7 seconds.

Lexus IS 300h Trim Levels

IS 300h EX

18-inch alloy wheelsSynthetic leather seating materialElectronic parking brakeParking supportApple CarPlay/Android Auto

IS 300h SE

18-inch alloy wheelsPre-collision system (with daytime/nighttime pedestrian detection, cyclist detection)All-speed active cruise controlLane tracing assistBlind spot monitorRear cross-traffic alertPanoramic view monitorHeated seatsPower adjustable front seats17-speaker Mark Levinson sound systemDual zone climate controlApple Carplay/Android AutoElectronic parking brakeSmart entry and start

IS 300h F Sport (SE Grade plus the following)

19-inch alloy wheelsF-Sport bodyworkF-Sport dashboard and instrumentationCooled seatsSatellite navigationVoice controlLED headlampsRear spoilerAdaptive variable suspensionF Sport leather-accented trimSports pedalsDriver memory seats

Customers have a choice of 10 exterior colours, three of which are exclusive to the F Sport.

How much does the Lexus IS cost in South Africa?

The 2021 Lexus IS is sold with a 7-year/105 000km Warranty and Full Maintenance Plan. The vehicle service intervals are pegged at every 15 000km, alternatively once a year.

Lexus IS300h EX R841 300

Lexus IS300h SE R899 800

Lexus IS300h F Sport R916 100

Further Reading

Revised Lexus IS range officially revealed

New Lexus IS 500 F Sport Unveiled

Lexus Dominates 2021 JD Power Again