Used 2021 Lexus IS for Sale nearWashington, DC

How much does the 2021 Lexus IS cost?

Prices are up 1.07% year-over-year — a sign of continued demand for this model year.

There are 508 listings available, which gives you a meaningful amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 Lexus IS a good car?

Yes — 4.62/5 owners rate it, and the expert rating is 7.33/10. The model scores 8/10 across Look and feel and Cost effectiveness.

Owners consistently praise the stylish design, sporty feel, luxurious atmosphere, handling, and value for money. The overview also frames it as a compact luxury sports sedan aimed at enthusiast drivers and luxury buyers who want something more engaging than a typical comfort-first sedan.

The main trade-offs are the underwhelming base engine, the irritating transmission, and outdated technology. That said, the car’s sporty personality and premium feel line up well with buyers who care more about driving enjoyment than maximum practicality.

With 35.8% of listings marked as good or great deals, you still have room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Lexus IS reliable?

Owners rate it 4.62/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner summary points to a car that feels dependable, with buyers highlighting its strong safety features, luxurious feel, and overall satisfaction over time. The expert notes also emphasize Lexus’ reputation for quality and reliability, which supports the idea that this is a car you can count on for the long haul.

The performance notes add to that impression by describing the car as crisp, precise, and balanced, which suggests a well-sorted chassis rather than a fragile one. The cost-effectiveness notes also reinforce Lexus’ quality-and-reliability reputation.

For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is less about basic durability and more about living with the car’s dated tech and powertrain compromises.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Lexus IS?

At 71.9% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a careful inspection of bodywork, panel alignment, and repair quality. Because accident history is common enough to matter, condition should be a bigger part of your decision than mileage alone.

Pay close attention to how the transmission behaves on a test drive, and make sure the infotainment and driver-assistance features work as expected. If you’re comparing multiple listings, focus on the one that feels cleanest mechanically and cosmetically, not just the one with the lowest price.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The IS comes in four flavors, and the base IS 300 RWD is the least expensive entry point. The IS 350 RWD F Sport and IS 350 AWD F Sport add a more aggressive setup and are the trims most clearly aimed at buyers who want the sportiest feel.
• Powertrain: The IS 300 RWD uses a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the IS 300 AWD uses a 3.5-liter V6 with 260 hp and 236 lb-ft. The IS 350 models use the same V6 tuned to 311 hp and 280 lb-ft. RWD models get an eight-speed automatic, while AWD models get a six-speed automatic.
• Safety package: Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 is standard, and it includes pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, low-light pedestrian detection, daytime bicyclist detection, left-turn intersection support, lane-departure warning with steering assist, road-sign recognition, enhanced lane-tracing assist, full-speed dynamic adaptive cruise control, and intelligent high beams. Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is also included.
• Infotainment: The touchscreen infotainment system supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Lexus Enform Safety Connect comes with a three-year trial, Service Connect comes with a 10-year complimentary subscription, and Lexus Enform Remote is free for three years.
• Fuel efficiency: The IS 300 RWD is rated at 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. The IS 300 AWD is rated at 19/26/22, the IS 350 RWD at 20/28/23, and the IS 350 AWD at 19/26/22.

Which 2021 Lexus IS trim should I buy?

The 2021 Lexus IS is offered in 4 trim levels: IS 300 RWD, IS 300 AWD, IS 350 RWD F Sport, IS 350 AWD F Sport.

Here's the short version:

• IS 300 RWD: This is the best-value starting point if you want the lowest entry price and the standard rear-wheel-drive setup. It gives you the core IS experience without stepping up to the pricier V6 models.
• IS 300 AWD: Choose this if you want the added traction of all-wheel drive and are willing to pay more for it. It makes sense if your priorities lean toward all-weather confidence rather than maximum performance.
• IS 350 RWD F Sport: This is the strongest pick if you want the most engaging balance of power and rear-drive character. It adds the more potent V6 and is the trim most likely to satisfy enthusiast buyers.
• IS 350 AWD F Sport: Pick this if you want the top-end V6 with all-wheel-drive traction. It is the priciest version, so it suits you best if you want the most capability and are comfortable paying for it.

Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 is standard across the lineup, so you do not need to move up a trim to get the core safety suite.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Lexus IS?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 35.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 508 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices are up 1.07% year-over-year.
• Clean inventory: 71.9% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $33,075, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Lexus IS's resale value?

The current average of $34,517 sits slightly above last year's $34,153.

That modest increase suggests the market has held up reasonably well for this model year. If you buy well and keep the car in clean condition, you should have a decent chance of preserving value better than a weaker-priced or less desirable alternative.

The year-over-year gain also signals that demand has remained steady enough to support pricing. For a future seller, that means a clean, well-kept example should still attract interest, especially if it has the right trim and a strong service history.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.62/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Lexus IS safe?

The 2021 Lexus IS hasn’t yet been rated for crashworthiness by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), nor has it received an overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 is standard, and it includes pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, low-light pedestrian detection, daytime bicyclist detection, left-turn intersection support, lane-departure warning with steering assist, road-sign recognition, enhanced lane-tracing assist, full-speed dynamic adaptive cruise control, and intelligent high beams. Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a backup camera with dynamic gridlines, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect are also included.

The main caveat is that the car lacks published crash-test results in the source data, so you should lean more heavily on the standard safety equipment and the condition of any used example you consider.

Should I buy a 2021 Lexus IS or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 35.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 71.9% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices are up 1.07% year-over-year.
• Owners rate it 4.62/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 model introduces the new generation’s sharper design, updated infotainment, and standard Lexus Safety System+ 2.5.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $37,304, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $34,517 average.
• It adds a significant performance boost, including the new IS 500 F Sport Performance V8.

The bottom line: If you want the better value and a broader pool of listings, the 2021 is the smarter starting point. If you care most about stronger performance and can stretch your budget, the 2022 is the more exciting choice.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 13, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.