Audi A4 vs. Lexus IS 250
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Audi A4 and Lexus IS 250 contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Audi A4 and the Lexus IS 250.
When comparing the Audi A4's and the Lexus IS 250's specifications and ratings, the Audi A4 has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency, interior volume and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Audi A4's and the Lexus IS 250's specifications and ratings, the Audi A4 is a better car than the Lexus IS 250.
Pricing: A used 2015 Audi A4 ranges from $8,944 to $19,223 while a used 2015 Lexus IS 250 is priced between $14,422 to $24,727.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Audi A4’s base engine makes 220 horsepower, and the Lexus IS 250 base engine makes 204 horsepower. The A4 is rated to deliver an average of 27 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 515 miles. The IS 250 is rated to deliver an average of 24 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 522 miles.This gives the Audi A4 the advantage in fuel efficiency and the Lexus IS 250 the advantage in maximum range. Both models use gasoline.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Audi A4 has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more rear head room, rear shoulder room and rear leg room. The Lexus IS 250 has the advantage in the areas of front head room, front shoulder room, front leg room, and cargo space.
Safety Ratings: The Audi A4 has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$35,500
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$38,801
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$21,065 - $62,000
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$36,550
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$38,801
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$21,065 - $62,000
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$13,797
Price Range:
$8,944 - $19,223
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$17,656
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$11,301 - $37,852
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
123
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
92,876
# Good or Great Deals:
52
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$19,316
Price Range:
$14,422 - $24,727
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$17,656
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$11,301 - $37,852
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
177
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
96,584
# Good or Great Deals:
57
Audi A4 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.5 / 10
Reliability:
8.1 / 10
Retained Value:
7.4 / 10
Safety:
10.0 / 10
Lexus IS 250 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Audi A4
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
2.1
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.5 - 5.4
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
1.3%
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Lexus IS 250
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
3.7
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
2.1
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.5 - 5.4
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
47.4%
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.2
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
3.2
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.8 - 27.2
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
0.8
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
3.2
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.8 - 27.2
Audi A4 Rankings
Ranking
3 out of / 36Ranking
5 out of / 36Ranking
6 out of / 36Ranking
6 out of / 36Ranking
7 out of / 31Ranking
7 out of / 12Ranking
27 out of / 36Ranking
29 out of / 36Ranking
30 out of / 36Ranking
31 out of / 36Lexus IS 250 Rankings
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Flex Fuel, Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Audi A4 Trim Levels
2.0T Premium, 2.0T Premium Plus, 2.0T Prestige, 2.0T quattro Premium, 2.0T quattro Premium Plus, 2.0T quattro Prestige
Lexus IS 250 Trim Levels
Base, Crafted Line
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
6 years / 70000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
220 hp @ 4450 rpm
Torque:
258 foot-lbs @ 1500 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.061 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
204 hp @ 6400 rpm
Torque:
185 foot-lbs @ 4800 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.059 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT Automatic)
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
24 / 32 / 27
Range (city/hwy):
386 / 515 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
V
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
21 / 30 / 24
Range (city/hwy):
365 / 522 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Roof Rack:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Roof Rack:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Available
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.3 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.5 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.5 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.2 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.3 inches
Cargo Space:
12.4 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
91.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.2 inches
Front Leg Room:
44.8 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.9 inches
Rear Head Room:
36.9 inches
Rear Leg Room:
32.2 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
53.4 inches
Cargo Space:
13.8 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
90.2 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3583 lbs
Width:
80.3 inches
Height:
56.2 inches
Length:
185.1 inches
Wheelbase:
110.6 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3461 lbs
Width:
79.8 inches
Height:
56.3 inches
Length:
183.7 inches
Wheelbase:
110.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.3 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P245/45R17
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P225/45R17
Exterior Colors
Black
Brilliant Black / Mythos Black Metallic
Blue
Moonlight Blue Metallic / Scuba Blue Metallic / Utopia Blue Metallic
Gray
Dakota Gray Metallic / Florett Silver Metallic / Monsoon Gray Metallic / Tornado Gray Metallic
Red
Brilliant Red / Volcano Red Metallic
Silver
Cuvee Silver Metallic
White
Glacier White Metallic / Ibis White
Exterior Colors
Black
Obsidian
Blue
Deep Sea Mica
Gray
Nebula Gray Pearl
Red
Matador Red Mica
Silver
Atomic Silver / Silver Lining Metallic
White
Starfire Pearl / Ultra White
Interior Colors
Beige
Beige with Black / Beige with Brown
Black
Not available
Gray
Not available
Purple
Not available
Interior Colors
Beige
Flaxen / Parchment
Black
Black / Black w/ Matte Black trim / Black w/ Silver Performance trim
Gray
Stratus Gray / Stratus Gray w/ Matte Black trim / Stratus Gray w/ Silver Performance trim
Purple
Rioja Red
