Prestige to race pulses

WITH challenging price settings, the IS350 throws down the gauntlet to German marques.

The IS350 throws down the gauntlet to German marques.

AN exciting Lexus. Years ago that was an oxymoron – like an academic professional rugby league player, or a good song from Justin Bieber.

But it came to life a couple of years back in the form of the IS F, a compact sedan with a throbbing V8 under the bonnet.

Now there's another release which will set pulses racing, not quite as potent as the range-topper, but punchy enough and at a price good enough to make the big German marques blush.

The IS350 has a burly 3.5-litre V6 under the skin boasting a healthy power output, and with a long list of luxury trappings for less than 65 grand.

Opt for something similar in terms of equipment and power with a propeller, star or four rings badge and you'd be looking in the vicinity of $100,000.

So is the Japanese carrot of premium value enough to lure buyers away from the European big guns? Our first impressions are positive.

Comfort

Rarely are you disappointed with the riches inside a Lexus. The trademark Japanese fit and finish combined with opulent touches make the cabin a welcoming environment.

The IS350 comes in three grades, including the entry Prestige, the top shelf Sports Luxury and the new mid-range F Sport specification that is accompanied by a harder edge.

Despite being at the foot of the IS350 tree, our Prestige test machine lived up to its name.

Supple leather finishes made it a pleasure to park your rear end on the plush seats. The front pairing have heating functions and offer impressive upper body support, but are relatively flat at the base – something you only really notice if you get too excited in corners.

This model comes with some refined new additions over the previous IS250 range, including a steering wheel which feels great in your hands and a chic black metallic centre console.

The wheel drops back into the dash to make getting in and out easier.

Once again the striking feature is cabin silence and a silky smooth ride – two hallmarks of this brand.

On the road

Adding this zestier V6 to the IS range enables you to get the most from the chassis.

Suspension changes, along with heftier brakes, deliver a much livelier performance in comparison to its IS250 stablemate.

Much like the four-cylinder, you need to exercise your ankle to reveal the powerplant's full potential, yet the V6 is remarkably more rewarding.

Flicking the shifter into sport mode and making use of the paddle shifters brings the IS350 to life.

It will potter around the metropolis or highway with ease, but make use of the available muscle and it feels almost un-Lexus.

You still can't hear the exhaust note when you sink the boot, so the greatest indication of its power is the blurred scenery.

It has a standstill to 100kmh time of just over five seconds – extremely respectable and quicker than many of the dedicated sports cars.

Sinking the slipper doesn't come with a shunt that will shove you back into the plush seats. It's linear and controlled acceleration right up to redline.

What do you get?

Entry level prices can be deceiving on these luxury machines.

The base models are exactly that, and tick a few of the optional extras and you're up for thousands more than original estimations.

Not in the IS350s.

All models include satellite navigation, electrically adjustable front heated seats, LED daytime running lights, reversing camera, Bluetooth connectivity, metallic paint, eight airbags and stability control.

Step up to the top-of-the-line Sports Luxury and you get 18-inch alloy wheels, active cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry and start, 14-speaker Mark Levinson audio, ventilated/heated seats, sunroof and self-dimming and heated side mirrors.

Other options

Among the others in this genre are the Audi A4 3.2 FSI quattro ($91,000), BMW 335i M Sport ($110,900), Mercedes-Benz C300 ($90,850) and Volkswagen Passat V6 CC ($64,990).

Practicality

Interior space is impressive for the genre, with good head, leg and elbow room.

There are five seats, although the centre pew in the back has limited legroom due to the sizable transmission tunnel.

The back seats fold to improve luggage space, although the boot allocation is deep and good enough for three large bags.

Funky factor

All models in the IS range have received minor interior changes, and there is little to distinguish the 350 from the 250.

Although they are beginning to look dated. The IS250 was first launched in 2005 and it doesn't look much different from those early days. It's still a premium looking car – especially with the LED running lights, but it could do with a groovy makeover.

Running costs

Fuel usage hovers around nine litres per 100km on average, although our journeys with ample highway driving saw the average drop to just over eight (that's in the realm of four cylinders).

The low-down

Costing an extra $9000 over the IS250, it's money well spent.

You can reward yourself for the extra investment every time you depress the right foot.

The performance is sporting refinement rather than raucous.

Buyers will appreciate the premium finishes and specs at this price, along with the unfaltering cabin comfort.

Exciting times indeed.

VITAL STATISTICS

Model: Lexus IS350 Prestige.

Details: Four-door rear-wheel drive premium compact sedan.

Engine: 3.5-litre V6 generating maximum power of 233kW @ 6400rpm and peak torque of 378Nm @ 4800rpm.

Transmission: Six-speed automatic with sequential shift and steering wheel mounted paddles.

Performance: 0-100kmh in 5.6 seconds; top speed 270kmh (electronically limited).

Consumption: 9.4 litres/100km (combined average).

CO2: 223g/km.

Bottom line: $64,800.

Originally published as Prestige to race pulses