Lexus

IS 250/IS 300h

With a generous equipment level that comes as standard and excellent safety features, the Lexus IS range has plenty to offer for its price tag. It boasts sweeping lines and plenty of space for all the family with all their luggage. Its fuel economy figures are guaranteed to impress too.

The good

Styling, technology, economy and handling

The bad

Stiff competition from other premium marques

Tech Specs

Price from

£28,995

Combined Fuel up to

67.3mpg

0-62 from

7.0 seconds

max speed up to

143mph

co2 from

97g/km

Test Drive

Lexus IS 300h Premier (2017)

When cars go through a mid-life or mid-generation facelift it can mean all sorts of changes – some dramatic such as new engines, redesigns and updates to onboard technology. Others may be somewhat insignificant and can really be classed as simply keeping the model in the limelight.

But one car that certainly falls into the first category is the very latest Lexus IS which is currently in its third generation. It still looks very athletic with its long coupe roofline, but it now appears far more confident thanks to a stronger grille, large air intakes in the bumper, chrome finished exhaust tips, along with full LED lighting. In addition, there are new alloy designs along with additional colours to choose from.

Step inside the premium-styled cabin and there is a bigger centrally-mounted 10.3-inch high resolution screen which is the focal point. The test car featured new precision laser-etched dark wood trim inserts along with a 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system. Other techno treats included a rearview camera, leather upholstery with seats that have eight-way power adjustment and can be both heated and cooled, Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone climate control and Lexus’ premium navigation system.

Comfort levels within the vehicle are excellent and worthy of a car competing at the higher end of the market. It is spacious and there is ample room for back seat passengers to stretch out in style. The boot is generously-sized too and can accommodate 450 litres of luggage. Elsewhere there are deep door pockets, a central bin, a good-sized glovebox, cup holders and a couple of handy trays.

The test car was priced at £39,875 (£41,485 with options) and it was powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine mated to a CVT automatic gearbox. It could sprint from 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds and maxed out at 125mph. According to official figures, the Lexus IS 300h achieves combined fuel economy of 61.4mpg with carbon emissions of 107g/km.

In order to access the majority of the car’s features, there is a control dial which initially takes a little getting used to as it clicks across the menu options. But after a short while it becomes very simple to operate and can be used without taking your eyes from the road. Another clever feature is the large infotainment screen which can be spilt into two sections to deliver varied information at a glance.

Being a full hybrid model, the petrol engine works in conjunction with an efficient electric motor and the car can be driven in various different modes. By moving the rotary control dial the driver can switch through Eco, Normal and Sport modes and the readouts adjust accordingly with data such as charge and power levels being highlighted when in Eco mode and a more traditional rev counter when in Sport. In addition, there is an EV-only mode along with a Snow setting.

The Lexus IS 300h proved an absolute delight to drive and I clocked up more than 600 miles on both motorways and twisting country lanes during my week-long loan. In busy traffic the car cruised along weaving through the crowds with ease and parking was made simpler thanks to the reversing camera.

But in all honesty the Lexus was really in its element on faster motorways and dual carriageways. The acceleration through the CVT gearbox was instant and there was a constant supply of power on tap at all times which made light work of overtaking. There are steering wheel mounted paddles if you fancy taking more control of the gear changes.

Even when pushed hard, very little sound filters through to the cabin and the car’s efficient suspension system irons out many of the road creases along the way helping to deliver a composed and comfortable ride.

As one would expect, the Lexus IS boasts a comprehensive range of safety kit too, including a pre-crash safety system, lane keep assist, sway warning, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam, plus traction control, hill-start assist, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert and numerous airbags.

All in all, the Lexus IS 300h is a fabulous piece of kit and is a genuine all-rounder for anyone looking for a dynamic drive, high standards of comfort, great build quality and loads of on-board technology.

Test Drive

Lexus IS 300h Premier

Long gone are the days when business drivers who clock up thousands of miles every year are faced with very little variety when choosing their next company car.

These days, the choice is plentiful – there are super premium models, the more traditional variants and even hybrid versions if you want to plump for the more economical option.

The Lexus IS 300h is one of the latter alternatives and is certainly a very tempting offer for any business drivers who want to set themselves apart.

And despite the rather hefty initial outlay of just under £40k, there won’t be any addition unexpected costs as the car is very richly equipped as standard – a concept that is certainly not endorsed by many other manufacturers (I’ll mention no names).

The IS 300h looks pretty snazzy from any approach thanks to its sharp defining lines, smart alloys, LED daytime running lights, front fog lamps plus electric, folding, heated, auto-dimming door mirrors.

Once inside, it’s impossible not to be wowed by the premium styling and build quality within the driver-focused cabin.

For example, the leather sports seats can be heated or ventilated and are electrically adjustable with memory settings. Creature comforts are plentiful and include a pitch-perfect 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system with DVD player and DAB tuner, sat nav, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, a rear-view camera, cruise control, and a Drive Mode Select system which allows you to choose from Eco, Normal or Sport to alter the vehicle’s handling and dynamics accordingly.

Many of the car’s functions are operated via a remote touch controller similar to a mouse which does take a little getting used to initially as it’s very sensitive but after about five minutes it is very simple to navigate around the menus.

Comfort levels are excellent and the IS 300h can easily accommodate four adults – five at a bit of a squeeze. Back seat passengers benefit from ample leg, head and elbow space.

One gentle word of warning though – if you are sitting behind the driver watch your knees. If the ignition is turned off, the driver’s seat automatically slides backwards to make it easier to alight.

However, that tiny issue aside, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the IS 300h and clocked up more than 850 miles during my week-long test.

The car pulls away in complete silence in electric vehicle mode and even when the petrol engine is in full flow and being pushed hard, there is very little noise to speak of. Acceleration is beautifully smooth via the CVT automatic gearbox especially in Sport mode where there is certainly a noticeable increase in power and the instrument dial showing the charge and Eco driving stats is replaced by a more traditional rev counter.

The road-holding is flawless meaning tight bends can be attacked with confidence and there was always plenty of power on tap.

According to official figures, the IS 300h can achieve combined fuel efficiency of 60.1mpg and during my test I was seeing average mpg figures in the mid-50s which is pretty close to the official mark.

And as one would expect, the safety specifications are very comprehensive with anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, vehicle stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, numerous airbags and lots more besides.

All in all, the Lexus IS 300h is an ideal choice for the driver who enjoys their time behind the wheel, appreciates good value and likes to go about their business without any fuss.

Test Drive

LEXUS IS (2013)

Lexus has just revamped its IS range and for the first time a hybrid model will be available.

In fact, the entry level hybrid IS can deliver 99g/km of carbon emissions which means huge tax savings for any fleet managers looking to invest in a new line-up.

The IS model made its debut back in 1999 with the intention of attracting a younger audience to the Lexus range via a sporty, compact and feature-rich model and with three quarters of a million IS models sold globally, it has certainly made its mark.

So with agile handling, sporty performance and excellent driving dynamics all vital factors to the IS, Lexus’ deputy designer Naoki Kobayashi explained how the company took a pioneering approach to gathering feedback during its extensive testing programme.

He said: “We built a prototype and got company directors to drive it.

“Then we took on board all their comments. It’s the first time this has been done.”

The end result is the new longer and wider IS with extra room for back seat passengers, additional storage space and a fresh-look interior with a very driver-focussed cockpit.

Buyers can choose from two powertrains – a 2.5-litre V6 petrol model and the 300h hybrid model with a 2.5-litre engine working alongside the electric motor.

And there is added versatility with a choice of four trim levels – SE, Luxury, F SPORT and Premier.

Lexus believes the most popular car will be in the Luxury trim level so we took both the petrol and hybrid models in that spec on an extensive road route incorporating hair-pin bends, fast motorways and open country lanes.

First impressions are vital and the IS looks great from any angle thanks to a number of new eye-catching features such as a redesigned grille, newly designed headlights and LED daytime running lights shaped in a sloping L one side and a mirror image of it the other.

First up was the 300h hybrid model priced at £30,995. This car can sprint from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds and has a top speed of 125mph. According to Lexus statistics, it can return 64.2mpg on a combined run and has carbon emissions of 103g/km.

Apart from its striking design, one of the first factors that really grabs your attention is the advanced build quality within the IS. It simply oozes premium class and almost all features come as standard with just a limited number of optional extras available. That’s a real bonus with extras often costing as much as a small city car!

Comfort levels are excellent and the cabin displays an air of luxury that has become synonymous with the Lexus name over the years.

Technology is plentiful and focuses around a colour infotainment screen with sat nav which is fully compatible with all modern smart phones and multi-media devices. The Mark Levinson audio system delivers concert hall sound quality via 15 speakers.

And the list of mod cons seems endless with dual-zone air con, parking sensors, drive mode control to alter the car’s handling and a whole lot more.

There is also an Active Sound Control feature to make accelerating and decelerating sound more authentic, although this can be deactivated if a quieter driving environment is preferred!

During its lengthy test run, the 300h coped well and acceleration through the automatic transmission was smooth and responsive. Hill climbs were tackled with ease and the car’s more grounded stance was a bonus when conquering tight bends.

Next up was the IS 250, which again proved itself capable of dealing with steep inclines and winding roads. This model is priced at £27,995 and can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 8.1 seconds and tops out at 143mpg. It can achieve 32.8mpg on a combined run and has emissions of 199g/km.

The handling seemed slightly more edgy, but in reality buyers will have to decide whether power or economy is their priority and then select the model to match their criteria.

Safety specifications are very comprehensive across the IS range with all models featuring anti-lock brakes, vehicle stability control, traction control, numerous airbags, electronic brakeforce distribution with brake assist, blind spot monitoring and a pop up bonnet which helps to protect pedestrians.

All in all, the hybrid is a welcome addition to the stylish new IS range and global sales should reflect that over the coming months.

Test Drive

Lexus IS250C Auto SE-L

If that bright yellow ball in the sky puts in an appearance this summer there’s no better convertible to be seen in than the Lexus IS250C… and if it doesn’t appear then no matter because there’s still no better convertible to be seen in.

And that’s down to one factor – the 250C looks just as dazzling with the roof raised or lowered and is guaranteed to stop onlookers in their stride.

Admittedly at £43k-plus it’s not exactly cheap, but when you take into consideration the design and build quality throughout, value for money is apparent at every turn.

The beautiful cream leather heated seats, leather upholstery and eye-catching black dashboard with neatly crafted wooden inlays cannot fail to impress the fussiest of motorists as they take their seat behind the wheel – cream leather of course.

And these seats can be adjusted every which way in eight directions to find the perfect driving position with three memory setting options should you ever let anyone else drive the car. The push start button brings the engine to life and the gentle rumble as it ticks over is a little taster of just what’s in store.

From the second you put the six-speed automatic transmission into drive (paddles shift option on steering wheel) the Lexus bursts into life and the 2.5-litre petrol-driven engine delivers awesome power as it cruises to higher speeds with ease. In and around town, it is an absolute pleasure to drive thanks to the excellent manoeuvrability although visibility through the rear window is somewhat limited as it is on all convertibles.

But it’s out on the open road that this Lexus is in its element, coasting smoothly at motorway speeds with virtually no cabin noise and effortlessly absorbing all the bumps and potholes the winter weather has left in its wake.

The three part retractable hardtop roof is easily raised or lowered from the comfort of the driving seat by pushing a button and elsewhere creature comforts are aplenty with cruise control, an excellent sound system with eight speakers, electronic air con, remote folding rear headrests, one-touch electrically operated windows front and rear, sat nav and a whole lot more besides.

There is room for back seat passengers to travel in comfort although the legroom is a little limited and there is plenty of storage options throughout the car.

And as one would expect, Lexus has kitted the IS250C with outstanding safety features including anti lock brakes with brake assist system, traction control system, tyre pressure warning system, vehicle stability control, numerous airbags, rollover protection and plenty more.

I have to admit I was instantly impressed with every aspect of this car and as the week-long test drive progressed it continued to leave me awe-struck. All in all quite a car.