Want a premium sedan? Not interested in undue attention from aspiring rappers? Be sure to jot ‘Lexus IS’ down on your ‘To-Test-Drive’ list.
Unlike many competitors, Lexus’s smallest non-hybrid sedan plays the ‘modest’ card where visuals are concerned—skipping the chrome, huge wheels, and child-eating grille in favour of a look that doesn’t scream for attention.
This machine is engineered to duke it out with models from Audi, Infiniti, Mercedes and Acura for the dollars of premium sedan shoppers—though it’s dressed modestly for the fight. Some may find the IS boring or plain, but it’s a legit contender for those after a
premium performance motoring experience that flies under the radar.
And I do definitely mean flying.
Despite the relatively understated visual execution of the IS 350 AWD, engineers have held little back under the hood. This car is thrilling in numerous ways that’ll make you want a radar detector.
Curiously athletic
Restrained clues dotted throughout the IS’s subtle body give its high-performance intentions away. Those looking closely will notice things like brake cooling ducts, a wide, planted stance and a dual exhaust system.
The latter is attached to a magnificent 3.5 litre four-cam V6 with variable cam and intake systems. It’s rated, perhaps somewhat modestly, at 306 horsepower. It’s the kind of horsepower that makes other similarly-powered cars feel comparatively sluggish. These are some pretty darn athletic ponies.
Best of all, the IS isn’t a huge car—so it’s relatively small, relatively light, and has the power-to-weight ratio of a model rocket.
Jam galore!
Jam it off the line, and the IS 350 AWD hooks up, squats down, and gets to building up speed in a serious hurry. The recent marriage of an AWD system to the up-level V6 engine nullifies traction-related issues, even in the snow or rain. A smaller V6 with rear-wheel drive is standard, and there’s a V8-powered IS-F variant with over 400 ponies, too. The latter is bad news for your driver’s license.
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| Added up, the modest looks and heaps of power make this IS 350 one of Japan’s ultimate sleeper sedans. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |
Unlike many competitors, Lexus’s smallest non-hybrid sedan plays the ‘modest’ card where visuals are concerned—skipping the chrome, huge wheels, and child-eating grille in favour of a look that doesn’t scream for attention.
This machine is engineered to duke it out with models from Audi, Infiniti, Mercedes and Acura for the dollars of premium sedan shoppers—though it’s dressed modestly for the fight. Some may find the IS boring or plain, but it’s a legit contender for those after a
premium performance motoring experience that flies under the radar.
And I do definitely mean flying.
Despite the relatively understated visual execution of the IS 350 AWD, engineers have held little back under the hood. This car is thrilling in numerous ways that’ll make you want a radar detector.
Curiously athletic
Restrained clues dotted throughout the IS’s subtle body give its high-performance intentions away. Those looking closely will notice things like brake cooling ducts, a wide, planted stance and a dual exhaust system.
The latter is attached to a magnificent 3.5 litre four-cam V6 with variable cam and intake systems. It’s rated, perhaps somewhat modestly, at 306 horsepower. It’s the kind of horsepower that makes other similarly-powered cars feel comparatively sluggish. These are some pretty darn athletic ponies.
Best of all, the IS isn’t a huge car—so it’s relatively small, relatively light, and has the power-to-weight ratio of a model rocket.
Jam galore!
Jam it off the line, and the IS 350 AWD hooks up, squats down, and gets to building up speed in a serious hurry. The recent marriage of an AWD system to the up-level V6 engine nullifies traction-related issues, even in the snow or rain. A smaller V6 with rear-wheel drive is standard, and there’s a V8-powered IS-F variant with over 400 ponies, too. The latter is bad news for your driver’s license.
 |
| The latter is attached to a magnificent 3.5 litre four-cam V6 with variable cam and intake systems. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |