Lexus is known for many things. Building sporty cars is not one of them. You can enjoy your time behind the wheel, but the emphasis is usually put on comfort and luxury. With that in mind, driving the 2011 Lexus IS 350 AWD proved a lot more interesting than I initially expected.
Let's face it, aside from the high-performance IS-F or the almighty LFA supercar, the IS happens to be the closest thing to a sports car from Toyota's premium division. As far as compromises go, this is a successful one – more so than what most people could have hoped for.
Visual finesse
You might have caught the play on words, here. For a couple of years now, Lexus has been selling us their 'L-Finesse' design language, which I never quite understood. It gave birth to the current-generation IS.
Overall, the lines are unambiguous. The long hood sets an aggressive tone that's emphasized by the mean-looking headlights, while the ultra-aerodynamic roofline unapologetically slices through the air. Only the rear section kind of breaks the mould.
Inside, it's business as usual. Premium materials are flawlessly assembled and finished to create a sumptuous environment. However, the dashboard looks heavy, especially the chunky upper panel and cluttered centre stack. A number of controls are oversized and/or wrapped in rubber, which only adds to the massive design and somewhat detracts from the rich, sophisticated flavour of the entire package.
Another irritant, a big one (pun intended, of course), is the lack of room. The interior feels a lot smaller than what the exterior might suggest. Front occupants won't have any problems, but serious contortions become necessary for those who want to experiment the back seat. The swooping roofline obviously limits headroom. In fact, at 5'9'', I either had to stoop uncomfortably or stick my noggin against the headliner!
Let's face it, aside from the high-performance IS-F or the almighty LFA supercar, the IS happens to be the closest thing to a sports car from Toyota's premium division. As far as compromises go, this is a successful one – more so than what most people could have hoped for.
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| Driving the 2011 Lexus IS 350 AWD proved a lot more interesting than I initially expected. (Photo: Lexus) |
Visual finesse
You might have caught the play on words, here. For a couple of years now, Lexus has been selling us their 'L-Finesse' design language, which I never quite understood. It gave birth to the current-generation IS.
Overall, the lines are unambiguous. The long hood sets an aggressive tone that's emphasized by the mean-looking headlights, while the ultra-aerodynamic roofline unapologetically slices through the air. Only the rear section kind of breaks the mould.
Inside, it's business as usual. Premium materials are flawlessly assembled and finished to create a sumptuous environment. However, the dashboard looks heavy, especially the chunky upper panel and cluttered centre stack. A number of controls are oversized and/or wrapped in rubber, which only adds to the massive design and somewhat detracts from the rich, sophisticated flavour of the entire package.
Another irritant, a big one (pun intended, of course), is the lack of room. The interior feels a lot smaller than what the exterior might suggest. Front occupants won't have any problems, but serious contortions become necessary for those who want to experiment the back seat. The swooping roofline obviously limits headroom. In fact, at 5'9'', I either had to stoop uncomfortably or stick my noggin against the headliner!
 |
| Inside, it's business as usual. Premium materials are flawlessly assembled and finished to create a sumptuous environment. (Photo: Lexus) |