Both the car and engine may be small, but refinements demanded and standards set for even this, the most basic of Lexii, still stands.
 |
| After pushing the engine start button, the 2.5-litre V6 quickly hushes to a sound level that rivals the top-line LS. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
After pushing the engine start button, it quickly hushes to a sound level that rivals the top-line LS. On the move, it's apparent that this efficient powerplant has the same tractability and smoothness of the previous car, although the accompanying soundtrack is slightly grainy. In everyday, normal driving this vehicle simply calms; like any V8 powered luxury car, it takes wide open throttle or heavy turbulence to break the acoustic seal.
Having also driven the IS 350, I must say that I personally prefer the 250. While it may not have the Saturn V rocket thrust of its more expensive sibling, the IS 250 more than fulfills my everyday needs for performance. Acceleration is actually quite brisk, taking around seven and a half seconds to hit 100 km/h with plenty of mid-range pull and first-rate flexibility. While the motor pales slightly towards
 |
For much of the morning's events, I stuck with an IS 250 RWD with the newly designed six-speed manual gearbox. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)
|
the top end, the speedo must be buried well into triple-digit velocities before any negative effects are noticeable.
For much of the morning's events, I stuck with an IS 250 RWD with the newly designed six-speed manual gearbox. With the fame of having super-slick automatics, it's easy to question Lexus' abilities to create a good manual given its limited experience in the field, but those who opt won't be disappointed. The shifter's action is BMW-like in that it is slightly rubbery, but very accurate. The clutch is also extremely user friendly, with a light action that was easy to modulate even in bouts of urban Torontonian traffic. Interestingly, manual-equipped vehicles feature a regular style parking brake, whereas automatic vehicles have a footbrake.
