All controls of importance fall nicely to hand including a pair of steering wheel shift paddles that also form part of the F Package. A large tachometer twinned by the speedometer face the driver, dominating the instrument panel.
My tester’s cabin was dressed in charcoal leather highlighted by white stitching. Fit and finish within the IS 250’s living space was first class. The heated and cooled front seats ensured plenty of comfort but it should be noted that the IS 250 is not a large car, and that translates into a fairly tight cabin and a smallish trunk that doesn’t benefit from a pass-through to the cabin.
I had no problem with leg and headroom up front but that couldn’t be said for the rear seats. Large adults will find it cramped in all directions; that said, they’re not likely to complain about the vehicle’s operational refinement.
Smooth V6 power
Beneath the hood of the compact Lexus sports sedan sits an exceptionally well-polished 2.5-litre DOHC V6 engine that dispenses 204 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm and 185 pound-feet of torque @ 4,800 rpm. A six-speed manual gearbox or, an optional six-speed automatic transmission manages the smooth flow of power.
In the case of my tester, the autobox presided over gear changes unless the shift paddles were put into play. In either case, shifts were precise and predictable. And they should be, given the performance orientation of this luxury car.
Spirited pleasure behind the wheel
If the ES 350 is all about spoiling occupants with quiet luxury, then the IS 250 is about spoiling them with responsive handling. The IS 250 rises to that challenge with plenty of control and composure, which was enhanced by the “F Sport Suspension” underpinning my tester.
I’m not sure how much firmer this arrangement is than the standard IS 250 setup but I can certainly attest to it being significantly stiffer than the hardware beneath the pillowy ES 350. It’s by no means unbearably stiff but those expecting typical Lexus absorbency should carefully assess the vehicle’s ride comfort before committing.
Nicely augmenting the whole IS arrangement is its RWD platform. I remain a fan of RWD cars, and feel that it’s an essential component of anything that claims “sport” in its promotional material. In addition to RWD, the IS 250 can be acquired with all-wheel-drive (AWD) for those demanding maximum traction.
Thanks to the RWD architecture, there’s no fear of torque-steer when the V6 is exploited. But the degree of exploitation available may disappoint.
The IS 250’s 2.5-litre mill possesses sufficient heat to light my fire but it’s not going to satisfy those looking to keep up with some of the hotter competition. For that, it may be necessary to raise one’s sights to the IS 350 and its stable of 306 horsepower.
IS 250 wrap
The little Lexus brings a lot to the table for those seeking to blend luxury and refinement with sport and spirit – without contributing too many dollars. For them, the IS 250 supplies an impressive degree of performance and luxury within its base MSRP of $34,150.
My tester’s cabin was dressed in charcoal leather highlighted by white stitching. Fit and finish within the IS 250’s living space was first class. The heated and cooled front seats ensured plenty of comfort but it should be noted that the IS 250 is not a large car, and that translates into a fairly tight cabin and a smallish trunk that doesn’t benefit from a pass-through to the cabin.
I had no problem with leg and headroom up front but that couldn’t be said for the rear seats. Large adults will find it cramped in all directions; that said, they’re not likely to complain about the vehicle’s operational refinement.
 |
| Beneath the hood of the compact Lexus sports sedan sits an exceptionally well-polished 2.5-litre DOHC V6 engine that dispenses 204 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm and 185 pound-feet of torque @ 4,800 rpm. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com) |
Smooth V6 power
Beneath the hood of the compact Lexus sports sedan sits an exceptionally well-polished 2.5-litre DOHC V6 engine that dispenses 204 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm and 185 pound-feet of torque @ 4,800 rpm. A six-speed manual gearbox or, an optional six-speed automatic transmission manages the smooth flow of power.
In the case of my tester, the autobox presided over gear changes unless the shift paddles were put into play. In either case, shifts were precise and predictable. And they should be, given the performance orientation of this luxury car.
Spirited pleasure behind the wheel
If the ES 350 is all about spoiling occupants with quiet luxury, then the IS 250 is about spoiling them with responsive handling. The IS 250 rises to that challenge with plenty of control and composure, which was enhanced by the “F Sport Suspension” underpinning my tester.
I’m not sure how much firmer this arrangement is than the standard IS 250 setup but I can certainly attest to it being significantly stiffer than the hardware beneath the pillowy ES 350. It’s by no means unbearably stiff but those expecting typical Lexus absorbency should carefully assess the vehicle’s ride comfort before committing.
Nicely augmenting the whole IS arrangement is its RWD platform. I remain a fan of RWD cars, and feel that it’s an essential component of anything that claims “sport” in its promotional material. In addition to RWD, the IS 250 can be acquired with all-wheel-drive (AWD) for those demanding maximum traction.
Thanks to the RWD architecture, there’s no fear of torque-steer when the V6 is exploited. But the degree of exploitation available may disappoint.
The IS 250’s 2.5-litre mill possesses sufficient heat to light my fire but it’s not going to satisfy those looking to keep up with some of the hotter competition. For that, it may be necessary to raise one’s sights to the IS 350 and its stable of 306 horsepower.
IS 250 wrap
The little Lexus brings a lot to the table for those seeking to blend luxury and refinement with sport and spirit – without contributing too many dollars. For them, the IS 250 supplies an impressive degree of performance and luxury within its base MSRP of $34,150.
Article Gallery