The 2025 BMW 3 Series and 2025 Lexus IS present an intriguing matchup, blending uncanny similarities with some significant differences. The most telling is in newness. While the BMW 3 Series has recently undergone a refresh, the Lexus IS is approaching the end of its current generation. Yet, despite their distinct timelines and the advantages that gives BMW, these compact sport sedans share more in common than one might expect.
Both the 3 Series and IS are designed to deliver a driving experience that's far more engaging than your average four-door sedan. They also aim to mimic the premium style, comfort, and convenience of larger luxury sedans. Both models feature extensive equipment lists, including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), robust connectivity options, and multiple powertrain choices. Their available all-wheel-drive (AWD) systems not only improve traction in inclement weather but also enhance handling and performance on dry roads.
Historically, the BMW 3 Series has offered a variety of body styles, but for 2025, it is available solely as a four-door sedan, with other models, such as the 4 Series, branching off its platform. The Lexus IS, by contrast, has always adhered to its identity as a four-door, five-passenger sedan, without any closely related coupe or convertible variants springing from it.
Both sedans provide an array of high-end features in terms of luxury and convenience. Even their more modestly equipped versions maintain high comfort and technology. Options such as heated and ventilated seats, semi-autonomous driving capabilities, and premium audio systems are all readily available on the options list.
When comparing these two appealing sedans, the 2025 BMW 3 Series and Lexus IS offer different advantages, but neither can be easily faulted. Each has its strengths, making the choice between them a matter of personal preference. This article aims to give you the information you need to make the best decision based on your priorities.
2025 BMW 3 Series
The 2025 BMW 3 Series offers two mainstream versions: the 330i and M340i, which come standard with rear-wheel-drive (RWD); AWD is an option. The lineup starts with the 330i at a base price of $45,950, while the M340i begins at $60,200. At the top of the 3 Series range is the high-performance M3 lineup, which includes the M3, M3 Competition sedan, and M3 Competition xDrive sedan. The base M3 starts at $76,700, while the M3 Competition xDrive tops the range at $86,000.
BMW offers 3 Series buyers four years of complimentary roadside assistance and a free maintenance plan covering three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The sedan's standard BMW Connected Package Professional includes real-time traffic and parking updates, navigation, and voice-command capabilities.
The 2025 Lexus IS sedan lineup offers three basic models distinguished by their engines: IS 300, IS 350, and IS 500. The IS 300 comes in Base, AWD, F Sport Design, F Sport Design AWD, F Sport, and F Sport AWD trim levels. The IS 350 comes in F Sport Design, F Sport Design AWD, F Sport, and F Sport AWD trims. The IS 500 comes in F Sport Performance, F Sport Performance Premium, and F Sport Performance Special Appearance trims. At $41,360, the IS 300 is the least expensive model, while the IS 500 F Sport Performance Special Appearance tops the range at $68,895.
All 2025 IS models include four years of unlimited-mileage roadside assistance at no additional cost. LexusCare covers the first two scheduled maintenance services free of charge. Buyers also enjoy a three-year trial of Lexus Remote Connect, featuring a digital key and remote start. Additionally, Lexus Wi-Fi Connect offers hotspot functionality with a complimentary trial.
Advantage: Neither
Why? The Lexus IS is less expensive than the BMW 3 Series, but the 3 Series is newer.
2025 Lexus IS 300
The BMW 3 Series ranks third in the Compact Premium Car segment in the JD Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which assesses owner-reported problems during the third year of ownership.
The 3 Series also ranks third in its segment in the JD Power 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), which tracks problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days.
The 2025 BMW 3 Series offers a standard warranty of four years or 50,000 miles and a powertrain warranty of four years or 50,000 miles.
The Lexus IS ranks highest in the Compact Premium Car segment in the 2024 VDS and 2024 IQS. Its limited-warranty coverage matches the 3 Series, but its powertrain warranty is for six years or 70,000 miles.
Advantage: Lexus IS
Why? The IS leads its segment in initial quality and vehicle dependability. It also offers a longer powertrain warranty.
2025 BMW 3 Series
The 2025 BMW 3 Series offers a range of powertrains, starting with the 330i’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 255 horsepower and the more powerful M340i, featuring a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 386 hp. The high-performance M3 lineup starts with a 473-hp twin-turbo inline-six, while the M3 Competition boosts output to 503 hp. At the top, the M3 Competition xDrive delivers 523 hp plus standard AWD.
According to EPA estimates, the 2025 BMW 330i sedan achieves a combined fuel economy of 31 mpg, while the AWD version slightly reduces this to 29 mpg. The M340i sedan, whether RWD or AWD, also delivers 29 mpg combined. For the higher-performance models, the M3 and M3 Competition sedans offer a combined rating of 19 mpg, with the M3 Competition xDrive dropping to 18 mpg.
For 2025, the Lexus IS offers three engine choices. The base IS 300 features a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 241 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the IS 300 AWD has a 260-hp V6. The IS 350 variants feature a 311-hp V6, and the IS 500 defies the current norm with a 472-hp 5.0-liter V8. The IS 500 is only available in RWD form, while there are AWD variants of the IS 300 and IS 350. Most IS sedans use an eight-speed automatic transmission, but the AWD IS 300 and IS 350 have six-speed automatics.
As of this writing, the EPA has not published fuel-economy ratings for the 2025 Lexus IS models. However, you can expect they will be virtually the same as the 2024 marks, which range from 25 mpg combined for the IS 300 to 20 mpg combined for the IS 500.
Advantage: BMW 3 Series
Why? The 3 Series offers more horsepower up and down the lineup while delivering better fuel economy.
2025 Lexus IS 300
At this point, it is reasonable for any consumer to expect a brand-new vehicle to include the following safety features:
So, how do the 3 Series and IS stack up? Let's take a look.
BMW equips the 2025 3 Series with an extensive ADAS array. Standard across all models is BMW’s Active Guard, which includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise control is available as a standalone option. At the same time, the optional Active Driving Assistant Professional package adds advanced features like traffic-jam assist, automatic emergency steering, lane-centering assistance, lane-changing assistance, and automatic emergency stop assistance. Additional options include a wide-angle parking camera, a surround-view camera, and a head-up display.
Regarding safety ratings, the 2025 3 Series has earned the highest-possible five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2025 3 Series the highest-possible Good ratings in all crashworthiness categories, the Institute stopped short of naming it a Top Safety Pick for the 2024 or 2025 calendar years.
The 2025 Lexus IS treats buyers to a robust ADAS array contained in the Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 (LSS+ 2.5). Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings are not part of LSS+ 2.5 but are also standard on the 2025 IS. Beyond typical ADAS features, the IS includes adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and lane-centering assistance. A surround-view camera system, parking assist with automatic braking, and rear cross-traffic braking are available.
The NHTSA gave the 2025 Lexus IS a five-star overall safety rating—its highest award. At the time of publication, the IIHS has yet to rate the 2025 IS, though the structurally similar 2024 IS received Good scores in all crashworthiness categories, the same as the BMW 3 Series.
Advantage: BMW 3 Series
Why? The BMW has good reviews from the NHTSA and IIHS and features more ADAS.
2025 BMW 3 Series
The 2025 BMW 3 Series features an advanced infotainment system powered by BMW Operating System 8.5, accompanied by a 14.9-inch central digital display. While the touchscreen is the primary interface, users can also control the system via voice commands or the iDrive touchpad. Key features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a complimentary one-year SiriusXM Platinum satellite radio subscription. For those seeking enhanced audio quality, a Harman Kardon premium sound system is available as an upgrade.
Standard BMW Remote Services provides features like remote door unlocking, stolen-vehicle tracking, remote light activation, and climate control. The complimentary Connected Package Professional offers real-time traffic and parking updates, music streaming, weather details, and navigation with natural voice-command functionality.
The performance-oriented M3 offers an exclusive M Driver's package, which increases the sedan's electronically limited top speed and includes a one-day high-performance driving class at a BMW Performance Center. This course allows participants to drive M vehicles through various high-speed exercises, allowing them to explore the vehicle's capabilities in a controlled setting.
Lexus equips the 2025 IS with its Lexus Multimedia infotainment system, which includes a standard eight-inch touchscreen display, but a 10.3-inch display is optionally available on every model. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a SiriusXM Platinum plan trial subscription are standard. A three-month trial of a wireless hotspot also comes with each IS purchase. The system supports voice commands; you can control it via a touchpad on the console. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system is widely available.
The standard Lexus Enform Remote app offers remote engine start, service scheduling, and vehicle health reports. It’s free for the first three years of ownership. Connected navigation and destination assistance are also complimentary for the first three years.
Lexus models the IS 350 F Sport’s digital instrumentation closely after the gauges in the Lexus LFA supercar. The instrument cluster boasts a dynamic digital display with a sliding bezel that moves in sync with the display, expanding and contracting the digital readouts as the driver accesses new information. Building on that, the IS 500 F Sport Performance adds a unique startup animation for an extra touch of exclusivity.
Advantage: BMW 3 Series
Why? The new BMW 3 Series has more up-to-date infotainment and tech.
2025 Lexus IS 300
The 2025 BMW 3 Series boasts a refined interior that balances style and comfort. The BMW Curved Display is a standout feature, seamlessly combining a horizontally mounted digital infotainment screen with a digital instrument cluster. Even the base 330i trim offers upscale elements such as perforated synthetic leather seats and open-pore wood trim, with options to upgrade to genuine leather seating and aluminum accents. The front seats offer a luxurious experience, while the rear comfortably accommodates two passengers. Fitting in a third may be less ideal.
Standard features in the 2025 3 Series include a glass moonroof and heated and power-adjustable front sport seats with four-way lumbar support. Practical additions like an electric trunk release, a locking glove box, and multiple storage compartments enhance convenience throughout the cabin.
The 3 Series also includes 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats with a helpful "through-load" function, providing increased versatility. It excels in cargo capacity, offering nearly 17 cubic feet of storage space in its traditional trunk.
The 2025 Lexus IS has been on the market in its current form for the better part of a decade, so it is showing its age inside. At the same time, the convenience of physical knobs and buttons makes the interior controls easier to use than some much newer competitors. Ditto for the Old School console-mounted shift lever. The IS has synthetic leather seats that are supportive and multi-adjustable, even after long stints at the wheel.
The 2025 IS has eight-way power-adjustable seats for the driver and front passenger. Ventilated front seats are available on most trims, and the F Sport trims have more heavily bolstered, heated, and ventilated front seats. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard up and down the lineup.
Cargo space is not the IS's strong suit. The four-door sedan has a conventional trunk that offers a scant 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Unlike many competitors, which have 40/20/40 split-folding rear seatbacks, the IS offers a 60/40 split-folding rear-seat arrangement, which adds versatility and helps compensate for the small trunk.
Advantage: BMW 3 Series
Why? The 3 Series has a more modern cabin and a much larger trunk.
If you’d like to learn more about these luxury compact sport sedans, be sure to read our 2025 BMW 3 Series preview, Lexus IS 350 F Sport review, and Lexus IS 500 review. To find out how people like you rate models in this segment, check out our ratings from verified vehicle owners.
Also, please remember that while the information in this article was accurate and valid on December 23, 2024, it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs for over three decades. He also managed the editorial efforts of MotorTrend, JD Power, and Kelley Blue Book. Jack currently hosts the Sports Byline Network program "America on the Road," available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Audacy, Amazon Music, and other outlets.
With the 2027 Lexus TZ, Toyota Motor’s luxury division introduces its first three-row all-electric SUV, featuring a lounge-inspired interior, an enhanced all-wheel drive (AWD) system, and up to 300 ...See More
Read the Full Article
With the all-new 2027 Kia EV3 small crossover SUV, the Korean automaker continues to expand its all-electric lineup while keeping prices accessible.
Read the Full Article
Following a refresh for the 2026 model year, the 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup brings back two familiar variants, the go-anywhere Trailhawk and the premium-yet-capable Overland, offering buyers ...See More
Read the Full Article
Chrysler, the company that launched the modern minivan segment in 1984, is giving its popular 2027 Chrysler Pacifica a nose job and introducing a special edition commemorating America’s 250th ...See More
Read the Full Article