Lexus IS350 F Sport VS BMW 330i Head To Head!

Hey everyone and welcome back to the channel. So in today's head-to-head comparison, let's take a look at the 2026 BMW 330i and the 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport. I borrowed both of these from Hendrick BMW Charlotte and Hendrick Lexus Charlotte, so take a look at their links down in the description along with the full detailed reviews that I have been able to make for both of these sedans. But let's get into their MSRP. This BMW 330i M Sport has an MSRP just over $54,000. The IS 350 F Sport is just over $55,000. So these are very nicely equipped and very similar in their price. Now for the new IS 350, this is powered by the naturally aspirated three and a half liter V6. It's paired to an eight speed automatic, pumps out 311 horsepower, 280 pound feet of torque versus a two liter four cylinder turbo with the hybrid assistance for the BMW paired to an eight speed automatic and it pumps out 255 horsepower, 295 pound feet of torque. Now both of these models are rear wheel drive. However, all wheel drive is available. The curb weight for the three series is 3,600 pounds. It's closer to 3,800 pounds for the Lexus their zero to 60 time is going to be the same at 5.6 seconds. The BMW has a top speed of 155 miles an hour, closer to 143 miles an hour for the Lexus. And then the Lexus does have a slightly larger fuel tank and the MPG for the Lexus is going to be at 19 and 27 and then 28 and 35 for the BMW. Now, as we move on to the exterior styling, they both have a much different look. As you can tell for the Lexus, it has that same hourglass design for the grill, a little less prominent than the previous generation. But for this particular model, there's also the sensor for distance pacing, a forward camera. There's also lots of gloss black accents and a dark housing for the LEDs with that iconic DRL strip and the Lexus badge is now placed on the top. Very similar to where the BMW badge is, where this has the kidney design for the grill. Everything's finished off in gloss black. There's parking sensors, no forward camera for this specific model, but there's a sensor for a distance pacing and then some gloss black accents on both sides and a dark housing for the headlights. They come off of the grill very nicely. Both of these have a great integration for their separate looks here. And then you have very different lines coming down the hoods for both of these. Now, as we move on to the side profile, now there are a few different wheel options depending on how you'd like to spec them. But for the BMW, this has the gloss black wheels with the red M sport brakes. And then this has gloss black with the red Lexus brakes there, which is nice to see. Now this also has power folding side mirrors and you'll notice just the turn signal. If you opt for the camera system, of course you will have a camera just like on the Lexus here with the power folding side mirrors. Now both of these have a sunroof. The window trim is blacked out as well. And as you can tell, they do have a much different styling for the sides, a little bit more crisp angles and lines for the BMW. They flow a little bit differently for the Lexus here, some smoother lines, especially in back. Now for the IS 350, this has a very large gloss black spoiler. Lexus is also now spelled out just above that trim accent for the lights. There's a backup camera, parking sensors, and then the dual exhaust down below. Now you can use the control on the key fob or the one underneath where this does have a manual trunk lid. And for the cargo space, it's actually pretty good. Now there is a spare tire underneath the floor. And then of course you can fold the back seats down. You do have to do that from inside the second row, so you can't gain access to them from the trunk. And then there's a grab handle up top, makes it easy to close that trunk lid. Now for this 330, this has a gloss black spoiler, not quite as large, so very thin strip here. There's a backup camera, a dark housing for the LEDs, parking sensors, and then a dual exhaust down below with more gloss black. Now this particular 3 Series does have the power trunk, so you can use the control on the key fob or the one up underneath of course, and it will open up where you'll have about the same amount of space. However, there's no storage or spare under the floor. So you do get that in the Lexus, but you can also fold down the back seats from the trunk here. So if you need a little bit quicker access, you can do that. There's also some storage bins on both sides, and then you can close and lock the vehicle with the controls up top. Now as we move to the interior, this IS 350 does have proximity door handles, so you can grab any four to unlock it, and this has a neat trim accent surrounding the window control. There's no storage in the lower section of the door. You do have the speaker there, and then this is the release for the seat in order to fold them down, and you have that cut out in order to place in some larger items. And then there are a few different interior color options for the seats of course, and at 5'10", I have a good bit of space. There's storage pockets, auxiliaries, and vents in the middle. A small bulge for your middle passenger there, but it's not too bad for what it is there, and I am just barely touching the headliner. Now this isn't a large sedan, but it is doable for adults like myself to be in the back. You can put in a car seat. You can have smaller kids. It's practical for its smaller size. There's also the armrest, and then you do get cup holders that pop out of the end there, and a pretty small pillar in the back, just giving you more light and more visibility around that section. Now as we work our way to the 3 Series, there are different configurations where you can set this up. It does still have proximity door handles however, but you can set it up a little bit further than in the Lexus, which is nice in terms of locking and unlocking. Now this has ambient lighting in the back. There's also storage down below with the drink holder, some of those brushed accents, and then with that release already pulled, you'll notice maybe a little bit larger with this opening here. It was kind of cut off in the Lexus there, but you still have a good bit of space and different color options of course for these seats. Now with the BMW, you do not have any storage pockets behind either seat. There's vents and auxiliaries, but you get temperature adjustments and where you'd like the air to go, and the bulge is about the same for your middle passenger. Now I do have maybe a half inch or so more headroom than in the Lexus, so I have a little bit more there where you could be taller than me, but it's still going to be a smaller vehicle nonetheless. Now right in the middle, there's the armrest with cup holders, and then you can fold down this middle seat. So if you need a little bit more space, you can do that, and then that pillar is going to be just as thin to see around this section. So as we work our way up front now, this has memory seating adjustments, the window controls, side mirror adjustments, a trunk release, and more storage. And then the automatic front seats, there is one manual adjustment, and that is for the leg support, so you can adjust that as needed. Now as we hop in, we're greeted with a solid leather steering wheel, flat bottom design to it, with all the brushed accents. But as we start this up now, this has the large curved screen, so you have quite a lot that you can go through. There's also paddle shifters, finished off in brushed aluminum. There's all the cruise control settings on the left, and then right side, there's volume tuning, Bluetooth, and voice commands. Now if I push on the middle button, you can scroll through content within the gauge cluster just depending on what you would like to see. So there's quite a lot that you can get into as needed, and you can also adjust the layout depending on how you want to view the information. Now this particular model does not have the head-up display, however that is an option along with that 360 camera system. Now the steering wheel also has a manual adjustment, so you can pull on that to a telescope and move it up and down. The left side, there's headlight adjustments, one air vent, and then with the infotainment system, everything in the lower section is fixed. So you can quickly get through all this, and you still have controls located down below. So you can use the rotary dial to further get into these, where there's Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, you can get into climate adjustments, there's the interior lighting too, and you have a good bit to set up as needed. Now you can also use those shortcuts to further get into everything, which is super helpful, or you can continue using the controls down below. So on your home screen, there's a split view where you can monitor different information, there's climates, navigation and music, and then this model has heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and there's also temperature adjustments on both sides. Now with some of this information, you can use the voice command, so you can push on this and say, hey BMW, I'm hot, it'll turn the AC on, you can say I'm cold, it'll turn the heat up, there's a few functions like that, even adjusting massaging seats if that's applicable, it is nice to use that, and of course have those fixed there. Now there's ambient lighting, there's vents, volume tuning, hazards and defrosters, there's also wireless charging with auxiliaries and cup holders, there's a few different trim accents that you can get for the surrounding piece as well, and then this is the selector, so this has the backup camera and parking sensors, and then there's drive, manual mode to use the paddles, and then parks located behind that. There's also traction control, parking sensors, engine start stop, and then this model has a few different driving modes, so this will change the throttle input slightly, and the exhaust slightly as well. There's also auto hold and the e-brake, and then an auxiliary with storage in the armrest, there's a locking glovebox, and then up top are garage door buttons, dome lights, and controls for the sunroof and sunshade, those are both automatic. And then here's a look at visibility with the thin pillars in the back, it's very easy to see over both the shoulders there, so while this is a small sedan there's really not many blind spots. I've been able to drive both of these to be able to tell, and let's work our way to the latest Lexus now, where this does have memory seating adjustments, the window controls, side mirror adjustments, and then storage down below. The trunk release is actually located down below with the hood release there, and then these are full automatic for the seats, and of course you have different color options as well. Now as we hop in, this is split between solid and perforated leather, and then as we start this up, this has some dark gray paddle shifters, the F-Sport badge down below, cruise control settings are on the opposite side, where there's also mode and and then the left side, there's voice commands, volume, and the arrows to go through the full digital gauge cluster. So this is new for the IS model, and you can go between three different settings here, depending on what you would like to set up. So when you hit on OK, now you can customize the left, the center, and the right. So just like the layout in the BMW, you can configure this a little bit more with what you would like to see, but everything else is going to be fixed, in terms of your miles per hour, the tach, outside temperature and time, and then the vitals in the lower section. But it's nice that you can go between the three different screens, depending on what you would like to see while you are driving. Now there's also the sensor up top, just to make sure you are paying attention, and then this has an automatic steering wheel, so you have that adjustment to get that dialed in. Now this also has a rear sunshade, and there's a view button for the camera system. Since this has the full 360 camera system, you have two different angles that you can monitor while you are in park, just to give you another view before you start moving the vehicle. Now there's also odometer reset, along with dimmer switches, there's one air vent, no head-up display for this model either, and then this is the larger infotainment system. Now it is strictly a touchscreen system. In previous IS models, there was the touchpad down below, and that has been taken away, so it is strictly a touchscreen system. And you have fixed info on this left side, so you can quickly get into all of this, you can look at your climate adjustments, your driving assistance, where there's a lot of standard safety features. There's even an active sound, so you can actually turn on some pipe in exhaust noises by going through those adjustments, and then there's various settings to get into, even with your vehicle customization. There's some interior lighting, not quite as prominent as in the BMW, but you still have that nonetheless, and you can go through a good bit of information there. It's about as easy to use as the BMW, not quite as much info, but you can even pair your phone to this system and go through that of course. Now there's air vents underneath that, and then for the climates, there's temperature, fan speed, where you'd like the air to go, along with some defrosters, and then auxiliaries, wireless charging, and three different driving modes, just like in the BMW. And that will change the exhaust note, it's mainly that piped in exhaust noise, and of course the throttle response too. Now there's the snow mode, track control, auto hold, and then an actual gear selector here. Now since this has the 360 camera system, you can go through a few different angles of course, and then when I put it in drive, it will automatically pull up that forward angle too, and you have an automatic setting that is going to be similar in the BMWs with the 360 camera system. Now you can shift using the shifter, unlike in the BMW, and you have the paddle shifters, which are the same there of course. Now this has heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, there's a volume knob, cup holders, you get an auxiliary in the armrest, a locking glove box, and then up top there's garage door buttons, dome lights, and then controls for the sunroof. The sunshade in this model is manual. And then those pillars are going to be fairly similar over both shoulders, just because it is somewhat similar being a sedan, but with the exteriors and interiors wrapped up, let's get both of these sedans out on the road and see how they drive. So we'll start off behind the wheel of the IS350 in sport mode second gear, and just with a minor acceleration, what you can hear is that piped in exhaust noise. So I currently have it on high, and it gives you a nice feel for the interior, even though it's not all of the exterior exhaust. It definitely sounds really good, even under a bridgeway here it echoes slightly. And with the 350, this particular model has had some mechanical updates with the suspension and the steering to really give you some quicker responsive time with both the adaptive suspension and you have better power steering to give you some more control. So this is a fantastic refresh for the brand, and like I mentioned earlier, this is the model now from Lexus. So if you're looking for the IS model, it's the 350 with everything that you see here. And this is a really nice vehicle. It's sporty to give you those characteristics, but if you're not looking for the next level, like the IS500, this will give you a good bit of power. It's got plenty of get up and go to it, and you have that NA engine. So it's something that is going to be reliable and it lasts you for a long time. With this engine too, you can also wring out the gears a lot more. So this red line is close to 7,000. And it means that you can have some sporty driving fun with this and not have to shift as much. You can really go through them and just have a fun driving vehicle. Now I have been able to drive this before I did the full detailed review. And after driving this, and of course the previous model, it's a fantastic vehicle to be in. It's super comfortable, plenty of headroom at five foot 10. I have about two or three inches of headroom with the height adjustable seat all the way down. And so for its smaller size, it's definitely super comfortable for your driver. And with the updates on the interior too, it's definitely easy to go through everything. So it's a nice refresh for this model. And the paddles are very responsive. And of course you have the other driving modes as well, just depending on how you'd like to drive for the day. But a nice place to be, good outlook for visibility while driving. The side mirrors are pushed out a good bit. So you can even see on that passenger side there as well. But let's go ahead and hop into the 330 now and see the differences. And behind the wheel now for the 330 sport mode, second gear, here we go. Now this model also has the piped in exhaust noise. So that is something within the settings that you can turn on and off just to give it that same feel of course, like the Lexus, but for the BMW here, this is a great layout as well. I know a lot of people aren't a huge fan of the large screen, but you do have the controls down below, which oddly enough, Lexus has decided to take away and just to have a touch screen. You do have the voice commands, however, though, which will really help in both vehicles too. And with the M sport suspension here, it does give the vehicle a better feel around turns. Now, like I mentioned, I haven't been able to drive this and the Lexus before. So with this short test drive, I won't really be able to convey it, but you can take a look at those longer test drive videos to really see how these feel. And then the paddles are going to be just as responsive to get up to speed. And as far as headroom goes at five foot 10, I have about the same, about two inches or so right now with the seat all the way down. So it does have the height adjustment to it. And this is a vehicle that will just be very comfortable to drive. You'll notice too, that the mirrors are also much closer to the pillar. So you do get a little bit more visibility on that passenger side in the Lexus versus in this. And then with the IS as well, it's going to handle very similar in terms of taking some turns like this, where again, it's not a, it's an M light. So it's not a true M car, just like with the F sport. It's not like an RCF or something like that, but they give you the handling characteristics to take these on some back roads, some twisty roads, and really have some fun performance style driving. So coming back to final thoughts now between the Lexus IS 350 F sport and the BMW 330i M sport, these are two really fantastic luxury focused vehicles to go with. It really just boils down to, do you want that NA V6 engine or do you want a four-cylinder turbo? Personally, for me, I think these are both great. I would step up to either the M340i or the IS 500. Now for 2026, the 500 is no longer available. So for the IS lineup, you only have the 350 to choose from, but with the power output that both of these have, they're nearly identical. And with the interior features as well, both of these are great. I have a Toyota, I have a BMW myself. So I'm torn between both of these because I am used to both of the infotainment systems and the tech features that are available. So really exterior styling as well is something to consider. What vehicle are you going to enjoy and what is going to work best for you? Very similar size for both of these sedans. They're both very fuel efficient and they have those sporty driving characteristics to them to give you a great daily driver, but also to have some of the sporty fun if, and when you choose to do it. These are not performance type vehicles, but with the M sport and F sport, you get some of those handling characteristics to make these fantastic daily drivers. So I'm torn between both of these because I would enjoy driving both of these models here. Comment down below and let me know your thoughts. Do you want to go with that NA V6 or are you looking to go with the turbo four-cylinder with that hybrid assistance? I hope you all enjoyed today's head-to-head comparison. If you did give it a huge thumbs up and consider smashing that subscribe button so you can stay up to date with our daily uploads and I will see you all in the next video.