Complete configuration comparison

2025 Audi S4 vs. 2026 Lexus IS

iSeeCars says for engine performance, the Audi S4's base engine makes 349 horsepower against the Lexus IS 350's 311 hp, giving the S4 the fuel-efficiency advantage at an average of 24 mpg with a 444-mile highway range, versus the IS 350's 23 mpg and 487-mile highway range, giving the Lexus the maximum-range advantage, while the S4 has more interior volume including rear headroom, rear shoulder room, rear legroom, and cargo space, and the IS 350 has more front headroom and front legroom, with the IS 350's reliability rating of 8.5 out of 10 topping the S4's 7.4. TrueCar says the Lexus IS's $46,895 MSRP undercuts the Audi S4's $55,595 by $8,700, a gap that stretches to $11,144 based on what buyers actually pay on average, while the S4 wins on fuel economy at 21 city/29 highway mpg versus the IS's 19 city/27 highway mpg.

Which to choose, and why

349 hp versus 311 hp

iSeeCars (opens in a new tab) says for engine performance, the Audi S4's base engine makes 349 horsepower against the Lexus IS 350's 311 hp, giving the S4 the fuel-efficiency advantage at an average of 24 mpg with a 444-mile highway range, versus the IS 350's 23 mpg and 487-mile highway range, giving the Lexus the maximum-range advantage.

More rear room for the S4, more front room and reliability for the IS

iSeeCars (opens in a new tab) says the S4 has more interior volume including rear headroom, rear shoulder room, rear legroom, and cargo space, and the IS 350 has more front headroom and front legroom, with the IS 350's reliability rating of 8.5 out of 10 topping the S4's 7.4.

$8,700 to $11,144 cheaper

TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says the Lexus IS's $46,895 MSRP undercuts the Audi S4's $55,595 by $8,700, a gap that stretches to $11,144 based on what buyers actually pay on average, while the S4 wins on fuel economy at 21 city/29 highway mpg versus the IS's 19 city/27 highway mpg.

Questions buyers ask

Which has more horsepower, the Audi S4 or Lexus IS 350?

iSeeCars (opens in a new tab) says the S4, at 349 hp versus the IS 350's 311 hp.

Which is more reliable, the Audi S4 or Lexus IS?

iSeeCars (opens in a new tab) rates the IS 350 8.5 out of 10 versus the S4's 7.4.

Side-by-side matrix

The published fields that can change the decision.

Audi S4: 1 records · Lexus IS: 2 records.

Decision field	Audi S4	Lexus IS
Exact EPA records	1	2
Model / option labels	1	2
Drive layouts	All-Wheel Drive	All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive
Engines / propulsion	3L 6-cyl SIDI	3.5L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI
Transmissions	Automatic (S8)	Automatic (S6), Automatic (S8)
Fuel types	Premium	Premium
EPA classes	Compact Cars	Compact Cars
Combined efficiency	24 MPG/MPGe	22 MPG/MPGe
Electric range	Not listed	Not listed
Annual fuel / energy estimate	$3300 per year	$3650 per year

Head to head

Audi S4 vs. Lexus IS: size, power, capability and price.

Measure	Audi S4	Lexus IS
Starting price (KBB base)	$56,195	$46,795
Top trim price (KBB base)	$62,795	$51,245
Horsepower	349 hp	311 hp
Torque	369 lb-ft	280 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	4.4 sec	6 sec
Curb weight	3,847 lb	3,913 lb
Length	187.5 in	185.8 in
Wheelbase	111 in	110.2 in
Cargo volume	12 cu ft	10.8 cu ft
Seating	5 seats	5 seats
Basic warranty	4 years	4 years

Figures are ranges across each model’s trims from Kelley Blue Book records (2025 and 2026 model years); prices are KBB base prices.

The Lexus IS starts $9,400 lower: $46,795 against $56,195 before options and fees.
On peak horsepower, the Audi S4 leads: 349 hp against 311 hp.
On peak torque, the Audi S4 leads: 369 lb-ft against 280 lb-ft.
The Audi S4 is quicker to 60 mph: 4.4 sec against 6 sec.
The Audi S4 is lighter, comparing lightest trims: 3,847 lb against 3,913 lb.
On length, the Audi S4 leads: 187.5 in against 185.8 in.
On wheelbase, the Audi S4 leads: 111 in against 110.2 in.
On cargo volume, the Audi S4 leads: 12 cu ft against 10.8 cu ft.
Both list the same seating capacity: 5 seats.
Both list the same basic warranty: 4 years.

Background on each vehicle

What public sources say about the Audi S4 and the Lexus IS.

2025 Audi S4

The Audi S4 is the high performance variant of Audi's compact executive car A4. The original Audi S4, built from 1991 until 1994, was a performance-oriented version of Audi's 100 saloon/sedan. All subsequent S4s, beginning with the "B5" platform car in 1997, have been based on the Audi A4; and as the A4 has evolved from one generation to the next, so has the S4.

Source: Audi S4 (Wikipedia)

Motorsport. In motor racing, APR Motorsport has currently entered a B8 S4 in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Grand Sport (GS) class.

2026 Lexus IS

The Lexus IS is a compact executive car (D-segment in Europe) sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota, since 1998. The IS was originally sold under the Toyota Altezza nameplate in Japan from 1998 until 2005 (the word Altezza is Italian for 'height' or 'highness'). The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model positioned below the ES in the Lexus lineup.

Safety: Safety equipment on the IS models ranged from multiple airbags to stability control systems. A Pre-Collision System (PCS) was the first offered in the entry-luxury performance sedan market segment.

Source: Lexus IS (Wikipedia)

Equipment. Toyota Racing Development (TRD) F Sport parts for the Japanese IS sedan include a front spoiler, side skirts, rear spoiler, sport muffler and rear diffuser, diamond-like carbon fibre shock absorbers, 19-inch aluminium wheels (measuring 19x8.5J front and 19x9J rear, 45 mm front and 50 mm rear insets, 245/35ZR19 front and 265/30ZR19 rear tyres), member brace and performance dampers.

Awards. Power and Associates named the second-generation IS 250/IS 350 sedans the best vehicles in the entry luxury class in its 2006 Initial Quality Survey. Power and Associates named the first-generation IS 300 sedan and IS 300 SportCross the best vehicles in the entry luxury class in its 2005 Initial Quality Survey.

Open both dossiers

Resolve the exact engine, drive and EPA ID.

01 · 2025Audi S41 configurations →02 · 2026Lexus IS2 configurations →

Comparison answer desk

13 answers for this exact pairing.

Q01Which is more efficient: the 2025 Audi S4 or the 2026 Lexus IS?

Efficiency

The 2025 Audi S4 lists the higher combined-efficiency midpoint in this snapshot (24 vs. the 2026 Lexus IS's 22 MPG/MPGe).