Lexus IS 3rd Generation, Back to The Popularity Premium Sedan

At the height of its popularity in the 2007 Lexus sold 15,000 examples of the premium four-door on this continent - 9000 went to British households. It is always a fraction of the turnover of German rivals Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series, but it shows what the press said Lexus for years: that's just would flesh until he blessed for his opposition with a credible engine with low emissions.

The new third-generation Lexus IS was finally greater inroads into the German hegemony in this class, however. It is certainly reinforced for, always the fifth model in Europe are offered by the luxury brand of Toyota hybrid electric drive - and the first sedan in its class with carbon dioxide emissions of less than 100g/km.

Image of Lexus IS 3rd Generation

For this reason alone - combined with very competitive prices - the IS requires serious consideration by thousands of British drivers of company cars.

Equipped with Lexus completely abandoned diesel engines, there are actually two derivatives of the new IS - but that's really just a suggestion for sensitive property.

The essence IS250 both run on steam maybe £ 3000 cheaper than the IS300h, but its 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine can be used for all of the efficiency, reduced in comparison with gasoline turbo four cylinder now populate this class. It's smooth operation and reassuring familiar in some ways, but it is almost twice the cost of road tax, as some of its competitors, and is probably a good 25 percent more fuel than it should be using.

On paper, the IS 300h could not be more different. Powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder 178bhp petrol engine combined with a rear-mounted the 141bhp electric motor, they are "out of the system to a maximum of 220 hp. But as the shadows of the IS250 of only a handful of horses, it emits half as much carbon as companion range: as little as 99g/km in the case of the entry-level SE IS300h.

Even the powerful BMW 320d EfficientDynamics against the Lexus could save motorists pay 40 percent tax company £ 600 per year.

The interior of the IS is made perfectly and feels really luxurious. The two lower levels of the data does not come with standard leather upholstery, but a base SE IS300h not cruise control, a 7-inch multimedia screen, a DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone air conditioning, keyless go and xenon headlights. Lot for under £ 30k. The quality of materials is unparalleled in the class, and in partnership with the excellent refinement camp is a very relaxing atmosphere to create. Margin of the second row is the only limit to the practicality.

Revised new technical panel assembly and chassis-wide management systems and improves the performance of the Lexus a bit compared to where he was. A low driving position is a step in the same direction as a steering column that fits into a larger scale.

You can sit comfortably in the SI and carve your way along a winding road just to enjoy respectable balance in corners and the sharp steering response. Levels of feedback, both through the management and the brakes are good, and body control is carefully balanced against the driving comfort - especially when you issued the adaptive variable suspension with adaptive damping system option, available IS300h F-Sport.

But it is not to be mistaken for the IS sport sedan. The hybrid drive - fully adapted softly blowing efficiency - immediately feels out of his depth when you call for maximum performance. Each proportionality between the vehicle speed and engine speed goes, and it starts to rev loudly without ever serving acceleration, you. Effort with his apparent

This is at least partly a matter of perception: the IS300h never seems to be able to get out of its own way. But neither the "Sport +" to make the Drive Select system model or the manual mode on the transmission mode much difference. It is coveted sporting dimension of the performance of the car is simply not available. And the IS250 is not much fun, either driving, missing some acceleration in the mid range to move.

Lexus is therefore looks a little crazy to try to sell this car as a viable alternative to a sedan sporting affairs. Not to keep the IS on the participation of most interest to drivers, and he will not have the same range of abilities of the best cars, it is against.

Sold more suitable - in the assessment of quality, attractive design and excellent design as an option for low-emission luxury outstanding Class - SI still has many happy homes to be found. We can only hope that the car owner feel better than its creator.