Budget Buy: Audi A4 vs Lexus IS for $12,000
The Audi A4 and Lexus IS offer different takes on the time-tested used luxury sedan. Which is worth your dollars at $12,000?
Reasonable Luxury
One nice thing about exorbitantly priced luxury cars, used examples tend to depreciate steeply which makes them a bit more sensible financially. The Lexus IS and Audi A4 are small luxury sedans large on comfort and style. Though similar in size and price, they offer distinct personalities on the road. And while both exude quality inside and out, one has a distinctly better track record when it comes to reliability.
At a budget of $12,000, you’ll typically find a 2011 model year Audi A4 north of 100,000 miles, often well-equipped. For the same price you’ll be looking at a 2010-ish Lexus IS, in either 250 or 350 form, with, again, mileage above 100,000. Now let’s dig into which is the better used car buy.
Specs
The 2011 Audi A4 comes with just a single engine option, a 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 making 211 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. Drivetrains are plentiful, however, with either front-wheel paired to a CVT or Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive coming with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. Fuel economy impresses with the FWD CVT-equipped version getting 22 city and 31 highway mpg while the AWD versions get 21/31 mpg for the manual or 21/29 mpg for the automatic.
The 2010 Lexus IS offers two powertrain options. The IS 250 comes with a 2.5L V6 producing 204 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. of torque and the choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. The beefier IS 350 gets a 3.5L V6 making 306 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torque and pairs exclusively with a six-speed automatic complete with paddle shifters. Fuel economy, while not quite at the A4’s level is still good with the IS 250 getting 18 city and 26 highway mpg with the manual transmission and 21/29 mpg with the automatic. The IS 350 doesn’t give up much for the added power at 18/25 mpg.
Driving & Performance
The Lexus IS 250 may offer the smaller of our two engine options, but it’s still rather spry around town with the little V6 proving an admirable motivator. Still, the larger 3.5L in the IS 350 is what we’d recommend. Power is good here and there’s almost no fuel economy penalty to speak of. Like the rest of Lexus’ lineup, the IS seeks a balance between comfort and sportiness while leaning distinctly toward the former. Cornering is agile enough but not up to the level of the Audi A4, even with the optional sport suspension upgrade.
The Audi A4 doesn’t even have the benefit of greater displacement and yet it’s puny 2.0L turbo-four delivers more punch than either Lexus engine. Steering is impressive, providing good road feel, an even weight, and being nicely taught on-center without feeling like a go-kart. The firm ride is more befitting a luxury sport coupe than a luxury sedan but adds to the A4’s nimble handling. Braking is a bit of letdown, however, feeling grabby and lacking the stopping power we expected from a car with performance airs. Both the six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic are laudable transmissions. The less evolved CVT and front-wheel drive set up detracts from what makes the A4 worthy of consideration in the first place. Especially since there’s very little to gain in efficiency.
Comfort & Interior
The Lexus IS’s real attraction is its interior space. Inside you find a good mix of high-quality materials and a great fit and finish. Which makes sense given Lexus’ reputation for impressive build quality. The front seats are a particular highlight that are at once supportive and forgiving, making them ideal for long road trips. The same can’t be said for the back seat. The seats themselves are decent enough, but the IS skimps on rear legroom, measuring 30.6 inches. The IS does do a good job contending with tire and road noise for a tranquil ride.
The Audi A4 matches the Lexus IS in both build quality and the quality of materials, and bests the IS in looks with a more modern design. The standard leather seats are very comfortable here too, and though the back seat is also tight, it’s not nearly so as the IS. Here measuring 35.2 inches of rear seat legroom. The now dated LCD screen is bright and responsive for stereo and navigation display. The cabin is decently quiet around town, but under hard throttle the engine can sound harsh above 4,000 rpm.
Trims & Features
The 2010 Lexus IS possesses an extensive list of standard features starting with power front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, 17-inch wheels, fog lamps, an eight-speaker stereo with CD-player, Bluetooth, satellite radio, USB port, auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, sunroof, cruise control, and the all-wheel drive version adds heated seats. Options from there include a 14-speaker Mark Levison premium stereo, navigation, adaptive cruise control (automatic transmission only), rearview camera, memory power front seats, power rear sunshade, auto-dimming side mirrors, wood interior trim, heated and cooled front seats, automatic wipers, and sport package that adds 18-inch wheels, and sport suspension.
The 2011 Audi A4 isn’t quite as generously equipped right out of the box. It comes standard with satellite radio, power seats, sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, cruise control, and power front seats. Options, however, are plentiful and start with Bluetooth capability, tri-zone climate control, heated front seats, auto-dimming mirrors, a Bang & Olufsen premium stereo, wood interior trim, navigation with voice controls, blind spot warning, HD radio, DVD player, and LED daytime running lights.
Achilles’ Heel
At first blush, decade-year-old versions of the Audi A4 and Lexus IS match up pretty closely. And the A4 nudges ahead on drivability and a more attractive (by degrees) interior. But a ten-year-old German luxury car tends to carry some mechanical baggage that a similarly aged Lexus isn’t encumbered by. A used Lexus tends to be the polar opposite of most used luxury cars. Engineered for longevity and reliability first and novelty second (or third), used Lexus are a solid bet in a minefield of potential wallet-busters.
If you’re comfortable with the higher potential for repairs as a trade-off for a sportier drive, then the Audi A4 will serve you well. But if reliability and comfort rank higher on your list, go with the Lexus IS.
