Lexus IS: 2nd Generation

Motor Trend took delivery of a Lexus IS 250 deked out with the entire F-Sport catalog, and was generally impressed with the difference the factory modifications made:

The brakes, for example, are of the same six-piston front, four-piston rear, two-piece ventilated and drilled rotor design found on the IS F -- and they're brilliant, hauling the car down from freeway speeds with tenacity and a firm pedal. The clutch is fantastic too, with wonderfully predictable take-up and a firm, but unobtrusive feel. The suspension, on the other hand seems a bit of a let down on Southern California roads.

Oh, and Lexus has also tested its equipment on the track, unlike so many posers. In fact, at their California testing venue, Lexus claimed the full F-Sport equipped IS 250 ran an average of just over three seconds faster per lap than a stock version. Assuming accurate timing, it's hard to argue with that.

With all the F-Sport mods applied to a single car, the cost is substantial, jumping from the IS 250's base price of $31,220 to $45,548. Of course, I don't imagine that would be a very common occurrence, it's much more likely to be bought piecemeal based on the driver's preference.

Edmunds has posted up a comparison test of 2007-2008 sports sedans, pitting the 2007 Lexus IS 350 and Infiniti G35 Sport against 2008 models of the Cadillac CTS, Mercedes C350 Sport and BMW 335i.

How did Lexus fare? Fourth place:

Not one editor who scored this test was able to find the kind of personal connection with the Lexus that they felt behind the wheel of the top-scoring cars. Its awkward, synthetic steering, soft brake pedal and slow-responding transmission kept us from maximizing the Lexus' man-machine interface. Synthesizing the IS 350's abilities with one's own limits was near impossible, and it earned less confidence in its abilities than any other car in the test. And it's not because the IS is slow — far from it actually, as the IS's accelerative surge will tear your head off — but it just doesn't encourage the at-the-limit driving that we think should be a part of every true sport sedan's abilities. If this doesn't matter to you, then you should consider it more highly.

The sport sedan market is a fierce segment, and ranking these cars is like making a list of your favorite foods, it all depends on your mood. In the end, the Infiniti won, mostly due to price and a desire to put BMW in second place. The redesigned CTS came in third, and there's every appearance that it's going to be a huge success for Cadillac. The poor new Mercedes C350, with so much riding on its shoulders, came in last.

British car mag Auto Express has pitted the Lexus IS 250 against the Europe-only C200K version of the new Mercedes C-Class, with the Mercedes coming up with the win:

The IS’s V6 has more character than the C-Class’s four-cylinder engine, but isn’t any pacier, unless pushed hard. The IS250 costs more in SE-L trim, too, and it doesn’t ride as well, either.

Yet these aren’t the only reasons why the Mercedes takes victory. The new C-Class is simply more talented. Yes, the cabin is plain and finished in brittle plastics, but it has extra room, plus the driving position is better and the boot bigger. What’s more, the C200K offers a smooth ride, sharp steering and excellent composure in corners – the Lexus is uninvolving in comparison.

The IS has always been renowned for comfort, and that’s still the case: for refinement, the Lexus is unsurpassed. But against the C-Class, that’s not enough.

As Mercedes' best selling model, the C-Class needed to make a real statement with its latest version, and reviews have been extremely favorable, so it's not all that surprising to see it best a car now three years into production.

(Europe has the craziest cars, seriously, a four-cylinder C-Class? Wow.)

Having to make due without the IS 350, Australians will have now have another IS option, the IS 250X. Limited to a run of 260, the IS 250X boasts the following upgrades over a base IS 250:

• Sports Tuned Suspension
• 18" Alloy Wheels
• Revised Front Spoiler
• Alloy Pedals
• X Badging

Starting at $64,390 AUD with a manual transmission (roughly $5,000 AUD over a comparable IS 250), the IS 250X will come in three colors: Vermillion (red), Silver, and Onyx. The release is expected later this month.

[Source: Australian Car Advice]

Edmunds has posted a road test of the IS 250 with the X sports package, and save for the gripes about the embarrassing shift stick and its rubbery gear shifts, Lexus seems to have created a sports sedan capable of competing with the best in its class:

Though it's often overshadowed by the 306-hp IS 350, the IS 250 is actually Lexus' best effort at renewing some of the connection between the driver and the pavement that you expect in a sport sedan without giving up too much comfort in the process.

Although the new Lexus X Package is offered for both the IS 250 and the more powerful IS 350, it's more worthwhile when paired with the six-speed manual in the IS 250. It all adds up to a livelier Lexus, one with more personality.

As the only Lexus with a manual transmission, the IS 250 has to balance two conflicting aspects, appealing to the driving enthusiast while maintaining the company's central goal of comfort and luxury. Judging from this review, I'd say Lexus is almost there.

(Here's a photo of the offensive shift stick):

It's now almost two years old, but I've seen few comparisons as detailed as Autoweb's head-to-head showdown between the 2006 BMW 330i and the 2006 Lexus IS 350.

No stone is left unturned as they pit the two cars against each other, comparing them in convenience, design, comfort, and driving. The results couldn't be considered all that surprising, but the thoughtfulness in the examination certainly was. Not to play spoiler, but here's how it shook down:

Convenience

1. IS 350 2. 330i

Design

1. IS 350 2. 330i

Comfort

1. IS 350 2. 330i

Driving

1. 330i 2. IS 350

Like I said, not all that surprising, though it did raise my eyebrows to see the IS 350 top the 330i in the Design category. Here's their justification of the result:

In the end, our editors gave a slight edge to the Lexus’s aggressive, muscular stance and look-at-me styling that was just one massive rear wing shy of being over the top. But, without that hopped-up Honda Civic add-on, the 2006 Lexus IS 350 makes a powerful statement, something that should be required of any sport luxury sedan with an as-tested sticker in the $45,000 range. The 2006 BMW 330i, on the other hand, represents with a powerful stance, but the off-the-shelf look of the taillights, for example, relegates the Bimmer to the Lexus IS 350’s shadows.

As you probably guessed, with a 3-to-1 margin, the IS 350 came out on top of the comparison. The BMW will perpetually win any battle when it comes to the driving experience, but when the main concern is commuting, as it is with most drivers, the IS 350 has the 330i beat.