The 5-Year-Old Lexus Car That's Still Worth Buying In 2026

With brand-new vehicle prices hovering near record highs in 2026, many value-conscious buyers are increasingly turning to the used car market. Buying a used car can help you sidestep the heavy depreciation that often hits cars in the first few years of ownership. That said, some used cars are better buys than others, like the 2021 Lexus IS 300. A 2026 iSeeCars study estimates that this five-year-old luxury sedan still has 13 years of life remaining — 5.6 years more than the average vehicle of the same age.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price of a 2021 IS 300 is just under $30,000 — about $10,000 less than its original $40,025 starting price. While that may seem pricey for a used car, it is a steep discount considering the luxury car has over a decade's worth of ownership left. As of 2026, Lexus has discontinued the entry level gas-powered IS 300 trim, meaning any new IS seekers would instead have to buy the upgraded $46,895 IS 350 F Sport Design trim. That means the average 2021 IS 300 is about $17,000 cheaper than any brand new IS option in 2026, while still meeting broadly the same needs and carrying the same nameplate. 

2021 might seem dated for a 2026 car shopper, but buying a used luxury car can be worth it. For the Lexus IS 300 specifically, the technology gap is surprisingly narrow. Lexus refreshed the sedan in 2021 with new cabin technology, smartphone integration and smart driving safety features — the same technology and equipment found in the most recent 2025 IS 300 model but for less money.

The 2021 IS also holds up well against other luxury cars, especially on safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the 2021 IS a Top Safety Pick+, its highest award under that year's criteria. It earned Good ratings in all six crashworthiness tests, while its standard Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 received Superior scores for vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime pedestrian crash prevention. Unlike the 2021 BMW 3 Series, which only earned a Top Safety Pick designation with specific headlights, or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which earned the Plus designation only when built after January 2021 and fitted with optional front crash prevention, the IS award did not require a particular option or build date. This Lexus model is also among the cars more reliable than the BMW 3 Series, and CarEdge places the IS 300 among the top luxury cars with the lowest 10-year maintenance costs, projecting $5,849 over that period.