Comparison Test: 2013 Audi S4 vs 2014 Lexus IS 350

Review and photos by Jonathan Yarkony and Jeff Wilson

These are not cars you buy lightly. You do not end up getting a sport sedan north of $50K simply because you were looking for a good commuter appliance or even something luxurious and capable. No, these are purchases of passion and calculation, sure to elicit many hours poring over specs, options, and perhaps lease rates vs your corporate car allowance, or the car you’ve long had your heart set on and finally spring for.

These are neither muscle cars, nor are they underpowered scalpels meant solely for driving engagement. No, these cars are about balance: the power to thrill, the handling to reward, an acceptable compromise for daily driving, and luxury to impress. They’re not cheap, nor are they out of reach for many with a healthy household income and might be pressed into family duties or used as a personal commuter. However, these are not the base luxury sedans, so they have a certain cachet that speaks to driving enthusiasts of various types. While not a vehicle destined for the masses, they must still deliver on all these fronts, preferably with a unique character that will draw new customers to the brand, or feed the dreams and aspirations of brand loyalists looking to climb their way up the product ladder.

Comparison Test: 2013 Audi S4 vs 2014 Lexus IS 350. Click image to enlarge

After proving itself in a trial by fire in our Sport Sedan Comparison Test and then surviving unscathed in family shuttling, commuting duties and even a short road trip, the Audi S4 has earned a place in the Autos.ca Hall of Fame (if we had one, that is).

However, notably absent in that Comparison were the Infiniti Q50 and Lexus IS, cars that have a huge amount of anticipation surrounding them because of their past records as challengers to the German dominance in this arena. While we have yet to drive the Q50, James Bergeron sampled the IS at its launch in Austin, Texas this past spring and came away duly impressed: “The sum of the minor changes to the suspension, steering, chassis dynamics and interior refinements add up to what feels like a giant leap forward in sophistication, sport and luxury and a huge blow for the German mainstays.“

To say we’ve been itching to get the two together would be a massive understatement. After months of repeated begging, haranguing and pestering, Lexus delivered a Matador Red Mica IS 350 F Sport on our final weekend with the S4. Now, some might argue that this is a comparison of unequals, but we find it all the more fascinating for that. Audi’s Quattro AWD against the IS’s rear-wheel-drive power delivery, traditional design compared to hyper modern, forced induction versus natural aspiration and a price discrepancy that could buy you a subcompact car (okay, you might need some incentives to actually drive away in a car for less than $14K).

Comparison Test: 2013 Audi S4 vs 2014 Lexus IS 350. Click image to enlarge

Now, we have our regular legion of fans who would dismiss this comparison because of all (or any of) these differences, but we want to see how they feel and drive compared to each other, to test the value proposition each offers, and to judge the new IS against the stiffest competition. Anyone who thinks the IS 350 and S4 are not competitors in every sense of the word simply isn’t looking at the same market we are. Then again, we love to hear your take on this niche, so chime into the conversation in our comments below for any reason whatsoever.

Comparison Test: 2013 Audi S4 vs 2014 Lexus IS 350. Click image to enlarge

Power

Here is the first big gap between our competitors, and one that simply cannot be erased through upgrades or options packages.

The Audi S4 is powered by their new sweetheart, the 3.0T. As noted in our long-term test of the S4 and elsewhere, that “T” stands for “supercharger”, and 3.0 the displacement in litres of Audi’s new signature V6. Horsepower is rated at 333, peaking from 5,500 to 6,500 rpm, but the near constant stream of 325 lb-ft of torque is available from 2,900 to 5,300 rpm, but we wouldn’t be surprised if this engine was underrated considering how it feels; as Jeff Wilson said: “Those extra 30 or so horses over the Lexus must be winged Clydesdales.”

The rush of in-gear acceleration in the S4 is addictive and satisfying in every way, especially when undiluted by torque converters or controlled by dual clutch auto-manuals – this car is blessed with a manual transmission. The always-on boost of the supercharger propels this 1,750-kg (3,858 lb) car up to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds according to Audi estimates, and as low as 4.4 seconds to 96 km/h (60 mph) in Motor Trend testing.

The 2014 Lexus IS 350 returns with the same 3.5L V6 engine in the previous generation IS (not to mention a host of other Lexus and Toyota products). Its 306 hp at 6,400 and 277 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm might seem like quite the disadvantage on paper, but the RWD IS 350’s weight is only 1,630 kg (3,593 lb), and the eight forward gears in its automatic transmission (available only on RWD IS 350s) help it reach 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, according to Lexus.

Comparison Test: 2013 Audi S4 vs 2014 Lexus IS 350. Click image to enlarge

Out on the road, the Audi launches like a catapult down low in its rev band, but it is accompanied by a thrum and bass that might or might not suit your tastes. The Lexus, on the other hand, builds more slowly, but reaches a crescendo in both power and a racy whine of the naturally breathing V6, very similar to Cadillac’s 3.6 in the ATS. Jeff took a different view: “The normally aspirated V6 in the Lexus is buttery smooth, but whispers much too quietly for a sport sedan. There should be some visceral passion in the way a true sporting machine goes about its business and the Audi’s baritone voice resonates better with me.”
While the numbers alone give the S4 a clear win in the power department, it’s not as wide a gap as you’d imagine on the road, and the Lexus, too, is capable of fierce acceleration, and the seemingly infinite number of gears and paddle shifters mean you can keep it where it delivers.

For anyone out there concerned about fuel consumption, however, the Audi actually returns better fuel consumption in our experience, managing 11.5 L/100 km, while the Lexus showed 11.8 for the one tank we burned through in its week with us. US EPA estimates predict 10.7 L/100 km combined (22 mpg) for the RWD IS 350, and the S4 at 11.8 (20 mpg), so perhaps the Lexus’s low mileage meant it wasn’t yet operating at peak efficiency yet. Both require premium gasoline.

Comparison Test: 2013 Audi S4 vs 2014 Lexus IS 350. Click image to enlarge

Ride and Handling

Going in, the Audi S4’s Quattro AWD sounds like a significant advantage, but on the day we drove, perfect weather and dry roads leveled the playing field for an evaluation of the vehicles’ more dynamic properties, perhaps favouring the lighter rear-drive Lexus. In our efforts to feel out the limits, we took them to the twistiest road we could find. However, being a public road, we were still limited by a measure of restraint and a healthy fear of law enforcement.

Within these constraints, I found the dynamic behaviour almost too close to call. The S4’s weight is felt in tight quarters, but Quattro shifts power to the back wheels when pressing out of corners, and the torque-vectoring Quattro Sport Differential will even push power to the outside rear wheel to counteract the S4’s innate understeer tendencies. The S4’s grip was tenacious, helped along by the 19-inch wheels shod with 255/35 R19 Continental ContiSportContact tires.

The Lexus IS features a traditional rear-wheel-drive setup, the chosen configuration of performance drivers (on dry roads). Lexus does offer AWD in both IS 350 and IS 250 trim, but at the expense of the eight-speed gearbox found only in the IS 350. The Lexus IS 350’s contact patches were 18-inch wheels with Bridgestone Turanza rubber – a slightly disappointing selection for a car with the F Sport package.

The eight-speed autobox is lightning quick and can be put on high alert in Sport and Sport+ modes, or dialed back for commuting in Eco mode. On our test route, the transmission kept the engine in the right spot every time, though you are welcome to try your hand with the paddle shifters in manual mode, or you can just grab the occasional gear change in any mode.

Comparison Test: 2013 Audi S4 vs 2014 Lexus IS 350. Click image to enlarge

There is no question that this transmission is fantastic (and a shame it is only on one out of four IS trims), but it still falls short of either of Audi’s transmission options. Granted, the six-speed manual transmission might be a legacy nod to a shrinking group of “God Save the Manual” aficionados, but it is brilliant. Engaging, mechanical, and yet without any punishing effort required, even when tootling along in stop-and-go traffic. Audi’s twin-clutch S Tronic seven-speed is also lightning quick, adaptable to daily driving or performance mode, if not as smooth as this Lexus auto.

The Lexus also trumped the Audi in its ride and handling compromise. While nearly matching the S4’s capabilities in the corners, there was no question that the IS delivered a more comfortable ride in normal or Sport+ mode, in which the Adaptive Variable Suspension firms up the damper response along with edgier engine, transmission and steering.

2014 Lexus IS 350. Click image to enlarge

Speaking of steering, Jeff found the IS 350’s noticeably lighter, even in its most aggressive Sport+ mode, and less communicative overall, while I was indifferent to the Lexus steering and feedback, and swear by the Audi’s precisely metered adaptive variable power assist, which always seems to be the right weight, from light and free for parking lot maneuvering to a firm tight resistance at highway speeds and in aggressive driving.

Perhaps a track would reveal the better balance of the RWD IS 350, but on public roads roads, and in our climate, the S4 would be the year-round handling champ and the level of engagement between man and machine, even if it does give up in daily comfort with its firm, unyielding suspension.

Interior

Considering the Lexus IS is a brand new 2014 model, we expected it to be a step up in quality and innovation from the S4, which was updated last year after launching in 2008. This is both true and yet debatable. I found the design striking, the two-tier dash, signature industrial-chic vents, centrepiece analog clock and rising centre console clean yet modern and functional. The seats, while looking plain compared to the S4’s two-tone leather sport seats, were actually more comfortable and more supportive, and the matching perforated leather and bronze plastic trim on the steering wheel and shifter were subtle and unique. The steering wheel, inspired by the LFA, is a looker, but can’t quite match Audi’s divine flat-bottomed wheel in feel and functionality.

Surprisingly, the quality of the materials in the IS still seemed a generation behind the S4’s deep, plush plastic, genuine metal and carbon-fibre trim and thick, deep leather. However, the design is starting to look dated even if familiarity has bred an intuitive understanding of the MMI and navigation interface. Lexus’s system was a fairly basic knob and screen, with no navigation, so it was very straightforward, and I far preferred it to my experiences with Lexus’s mouse-like haptic controller in the GS350.

2014 Lexus IS 350. Click image to enlarge

The gauges on the Audi are a classic two-binnacle setup, big analog tach on the left, big analog speedo on the right with Audi’s traditional grey-faced S-line gauges, plus a customizable digital display that can house anything from music or phone info to speed and fuel consumption. The Lexus features a cool, central digitally reproduced dial-tach with large visible speedo displayed in numerals, and ancillary info flanking. With the press of a button on the steering wheel, that central gauge slides to the right to reveal a typical multi-information display panel with fuel consumption, music and vehicle information. Another neat party trick in the Lexus is that the outer ring of the digital tach turns white in Sport and Sport+ modes, and the inner edge of it glows an angry red as you wind the engine up. So again, Lexus is modern and a bit gimmicky, and the Audi traditional and a bit old-fashioned.

Functionally, the S4 is a larger car, with more trunk space (352 L to 306), and both have split-folding rear seats, but the Audi adds a ski pass-through (part of their rear comfort package).

Comparison Test: 2013 Audi S4. Click image to enlarge

While the specs say the Audi has superior legroom in back, it doesn’t necessarily feel that way when sitting back there or installing a child seat. Both have similarly raised, uncomfortable centre seats, but Audi’s child-seat anchors are more widely spaced, allowing more room for a third passenger to squeeze in the middle.

Overall, despite the improvements in interior space, comfort and technology in the IS 350, the materials and features of the S4 are notably better without giving up much ground in space and comfort.

2014 Lexus IS 350. Click image to enlarge

Features and Value

Value, as always, is one of the trickiest categories to pin down. The engineering and quality are inherently part of the value consideration, and they are, but we’ve devoted enough space to that. In this category, we probe which car gets you the most stuff for your money. As tested, the Audi clearly has the most stuff, but at great expense. The base Audi S4 starts at $54,995 with its $1,995 Freight charge, while the IS tops out at $53,495 for a fully loaded IS 350 AWD, so if you’re going the route of matching feature for feature, you’re clearly looking at the Lexus for that kind of value.

Jeff has a theory: “The IS 350 is a car for accountants who believe they have a wild streak. It’s precise, it’s calculated, it’s well built, but it’s also a bit sterile and soulless compared to the Audi. For those nutso number-crunchers, the IS 350 will dole out just enough performance to get their hearts racing, but be long-term reliable enough to show good sensible numbers on the amortization table compared to other new sport sedans.”

No question, if you’re shopping by features, you can’t argue the IS 350’s value in that department. However, the Audi delivers a different value proposition, and it doesn’t fall far from their “Truth in Engineering” marketing slogan: the rock-solid platform, a suspension dialed into its sporting stance (albeit at the expense of comfort), high-tech lighting and features, and interior quality that leaves no doubt as to the brand’s genuine luxury status.

Conclusion

From the outset, we were excited to drive the new IS 350. While some might find the styling overwrought, I at least find it stunning, particularly in aggressive F Sport trim, the sharp creases, pointed elements, gaping grille and bright LEDs promising performance and excitement. Personally, I was not in the least bit disappointed. The steering is crisp, the handling sharp, and the engine and transmission are capable of performing well beyond the needs of any car on public roads. The Lexus IS nails a balance between comfort and sport that is on par with anything in the segment. It’s a brilliant machine and an excellent progression for the IS and delivers all this at a price that will have many brands rethinking their pricing strategy in the luxury market.

But you already know what’s coming next, don’t you?

2013 Audi S4. Click image to enlarge

As good as the Lexus IS is, the S4 is better. First I’ll let Jeff wax poetic: “There’s a specialness to this car – the feel, the solidity, the sounds and of course the performance that remind the driver this isn’t simply basic transportation; it’s a vehicle for those who covet track days and empty country roads.”

The Audi S4 transcends the sum of its parts, with a chassis that underpins A4 right up to the incredible RS 5, transmissions that resonate with enthusiasts, an engine that can serve in even Audi’s flagship and the best AWD system in the class when paired with that Quattro Sport Differential. Despite the higher cost of entry, there is no question that it is worth the price, blessed with an interior that envelops you in richness from the incredible steering wheel and shifter to the body hugging seats and the carefully tempered response of every button and stalk.

It is a car that marries luxury with sporting capability and practicality with passion in a package that seems timeless in its design, yet modern in the details, a sport sedan that remains at the top of its game and the segment.

Pricing: 2013 Audi S4 Premium
Base Price: $53,000
Base Price (Premium): $57,800
Options: $4,800 (Audi quattro sport differential – $1,500; Monsoon Grey paint job – $750; Carbon Atlas interior trim – $500; 19-inch five-arm rotor titanium colour wheels – $500; tire pressure monitoring system – $350; rear comfort package – $1,200)
Freight & PDI: $1,995
A/C Tax: $100
Total: $64,795

Pricing: 2014 Lexus IS 350 RWD F Sport
Base Price: $44,500
Options: F Sport package $3,950 (VGRS (Variable Gear Ratio Steering), three-Spoke F Sport Steering Wheel, Steering Wheel Paddle Shifters (A/T), Front and Rear Adaptive Variable, Suspension (AVS) with TEMS , 255/35R18 (Rear) , P225/40R18 (Front) ,Performance Summer Radials , F Sport Center Wheel Ornament , 18-inch F Sport Wheels, Larger Diameter Front Ventilated Discs , Rear Seat Side Airbags , 60/40 Split , Rear Seat Fold Down Centre Armrest , F Sport Shift Knob, F Sport Scuff Plates, Fog Lamps Delete, F Sport Aero Package, F Sport Shift Knob, F Sport Scuff Plates)