Lexus IS review: New luxury sedan is for people who love to drive

Buyers on the lookout for a top-shelf luxury car now have a fresh new option that is a genuine rival to the BMW 3 Series.

This is the Lexus for people who love to drive. Folks who want to be fashionable can choose crossovers such as the Lexus UX and NX duo and people who prioritise space and luxury should check out the plush ES sedan.

No longer the entry point to the Lexus range, the new IS has a clear objective as the brand’s sports sedan: to win the hearts, minds and wallets of people who want an attractive and engaging four-door.

Lexus has made massive improvements to the way the IS drives.

Crisp new looks and a more focused mission translate to an updated car that looks lower, wider and sharper than before.

Priced from $61,500 plus on-road costs (about $69,000 drive-away) in entry-level IS 300 Luxury trim, the Japanese sedan costs a little more than Audi’s A4, but undercuts BMW’s 3 Series by $5000 or so.

Generous standard features include a new 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with satnav, a digital radio, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, smart keys and much more.

The IS undercuts the more expensive German machines.

A broad array of standard safety features includes front and rear auto emergency braking, active cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring and lane keeping assistance — stuff you won’t find as standard on some competitors.

Comfortable and beautifully finished, Lexus’ cabin remains a highlight.

The new touchscreen is an important upgrade, as it means customers aren’t forced to use a fiddly laptop-like touchpad for media and navigation functions. The old school foot-operated parking brake has also been ditched in favour of an electronic unit. IS 300 models are powered by a thirsty carry-over 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo that needs 8.2L/100km to make 180kW and 350Nm. Customers can spend $3000 more for a more efficient IS 300h hybrid model that sips 5.1L/100km to produce a combined 164kW of petrol and electric power.

There is a long list of standard equipment.

Enthusiasts could gravitate toward a V6-powered IS 350 F Sport that trades 9.5L/100km thirst for 232kW/380Nm grunt and sporty additions priced from $75,000 plus on-road costs (about $84,000 drive-away), though they might consider waiting for a rumoured “IS F” model with much more power.

Optional extras include a sunroof ($2000) and a $5500 “Enhancement Pack” for four-cylinder models. The pack includes larger 19-inch rims, ventilated genuine leather seats, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo, a 360-degree camera and other niceties. Performance-oriented F Sport trim is standard on the IS 350 and an $8500 option on the cheaper cars, bringing 19-inch wheels, adaptive suspension, chiselled looks, ventilated sports seats and an 8-inch digital dash.

Customers who choose premium variants this year also benefit from Lexus’ Encore Platinum program, which brings bonuses such as the opportunity to swap their car for another Lexus (such as a four-wheel-drive or V8 sports car) for up to eight days on four occasions.

Premium variants also get access to Lexus Encore Platinum program.

Unlike other sub-$80,000 Lexus models that share their bones with the Toyota Camry or RAV4, the Lexus IS has a conventional (and expensive) front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. That translates to a more dynamic driving experience with superior balance to most cars in the range — a trait amplified by low-profile tyres and sports suspension in F Sport models.

Quiet and refined four-cylinder versions make for easy progress without really pressing a driver’s buttons. The IS 300h’s impressive urban fuel economy is offset by a CVT transmission that saps fun on winding roads, while the IS 300’s weight makes it feel slow in the hills.

The sedan is about 200 kilos heavier than BMW’s best-in-class 3 Series, which remains a better bet for enthusiasts. But you get more for your money with the Lexus, as well as a longer four-year warranty and the promise of superior customer service.

VERDICT 3.5/5

Beautifully finished and generously appointed, the driver’s Lexus is let down by heavy weight that blunts its performance and fuel economy.

LEXUS IS 300 VITALS

Price: About $69,000 drive-away

Warranty/servicing: 4 years/100,000km, $1485 for 3 years

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo, 180kW/350Nm

Safety: Not yet rated, 10 airbags, automated emergency braking front and rear, active cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert,

Thirst: 8.2L/100km

Cargo: 480 Litres

Spare: Temporary

Originally published as Lexus IS review: New luxury sedan is for people who love to drive