Extraordinary Handling and Refined Operation Stir the Soul I couldn't imagine anyone demanding better handling from a premium-level, 4-door sedan. Out of the box, the 2006 LEXUS IS 250 exhibits handling characteristics well beyond the needs of most, if not all non-competitive drivers. Sure, the
3-Series BMW might edge out the IS 250 in a head-to-head dash around the cones but in real life driving, any such edge would be too minimal to be noteworthy. Plus, any car capable
of surpassing the handling competency of the IS 250 is unlikely to match its impressive ride quality and outstanding operational refinement- and that's what I take away from this week's road test.
This is the second generation IS from Lexus. It's larger and completely new for 2006, encompassing L-Finesse styling- Lexus's latest styling theme. The car projects a stubby, athletic stance emphasized by a sleek, wedge-shaped contour defined by a bold waistline. I find the look appealing, although not quite as dramatic or attention-getting as the stamping in a 3-Series Bimmer. Like its German competitor, the IS 250 is very well assembled. Panel gapping is precise and ultra slim. Doors open and close with the prerequisite "whump" while giving access to a first-rate cabin. On the whole, it's difficult to find fault in the design and construction of a Lexus interior, and the IS 250 simply reinforces that
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
assumption. From its beautifully stitched leather wrapped steering wheel to the hides covering the finest seats in the industry, (in the case of my fully-loaded tester, the soul hugging front perches were both heated and cooled), the IS 250 uses high quality, soft touch materials everywhere human skin may contact.
Along with all the power-operated apparatus and luxury-car features stocking my IS 250, it spoiled me with a sensational sounding audio system whose sound was only second to the polished notes produced by the car's all-new 2.5 litre, variable valve-timing equipped, 204 horsepower V6. Now here's where things get good and bad simultaneously; this is one sweet mill but it lacks punch. Winding the IS 250 through its six gears is an auditory delight- but not a fast one. And in view of the 306 horsepower produced in the IS 250's Herculean twin - the IS350 - this may be a completely unfair complaint; no doubt to some degree it is. In fact I would lay down a stack of greenbacks supporting the proposition that the majority of IS 250 owners will be completely satisfied with their under-hood heat. I guess I just want it "all"
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
in an entry-level Lexus. Look for 0-96kph (0-60mph) times of 7.5 or so seconds, which Lexus terms as "briskly propelled." While I might argue that the IS 250 is more breezy than brisk, I applaud Lexus for sending the engine's 185 foot-pounds of torque to the proper wheels.
Unless the all-wheel-drive (AWD) option is chosen, the IS 250 is pushed, not pulled. I have always found rear-wheel-drive (RWD) sports sedans infinitely more controllable than front-wheel-drive models, especially on rutted roads. The IS 250's RWD was the foundation of the delight I experienced behind its wheel. Burying the throttle out of a curve hunkers down the rear end of the little Lexus, while inducing the perfect amount of whip in its tail to keep the car stable and composed. This is a very forgiving chassis; it loads progressively while always remaining predictable thanks in part to a sophisticated, beautifully calibrated fully-independent suspension setup. A double-wishbone design is in place at the front while a multi-link format keeps the rear of the IS 250 in tight. Lexus engineers have incorporated anti-dive and anti-squat geometry into the suspension architecture to minimize nosedive under hard braking and body roll during aggressive cornering.
