3rd place: Lexus IS F
Less than 5 points out of a possible 400 separate the second runner-up from our overall winner -- a testament to the quality of these cars and the parity between them. But there had to be a last-place finisher...
Oddly enough, what ultimately cost the Lexus IS F a few points is the smooth, uneventful ride, which felt rather unusual for a performance-tuned sedan. The test drivers were unimpressed with the responsiveness of the steering and the general lack of feedback on the road.
On the other hand, the IS F offers superior comfort and suspension adjustability, especially in daily use. A short detour on bumpy country roads (due to some unexpected roadwork) allowed us to fully appreciate the exceptional ride quality and quietness of this Lexus.
The IS F is a sports sedan for sure, but a tad less sporty than the two German rivals under acceleration. Power comes along a little too late, which resulted in the slowest time from 0 to 100 km/h. Still, 6.1 seconds is pretty reasonable.
On the track, despite remarkably powerful brakes and supremely comfortable bolstered seats, the Japanese sedan is handicapped, ironically, by its fuel-saving 8-speed automatic transmission, which requires too much intervention from the driver in manual mode.
The interior, though, is sleek and flawlessly built. It lacks a bit of visual punch to become a radical sports sedan. Also, Lexus designers could have made the IS F stand out more from other IS models.
If comfort is your priority but you still want to enjoy decent speed and a spirited driving experience, this is clearly the pick.
"The 2008 Lexus IS F trails the two other cars by a hair. Handling could be more precise, but the ride is much more flexible in daily driving conditions. It's a great sedan, one that's slightly less extreme." Amyot Bachand
Less than 5 points out of a possible 400 separate the second runner-up from our overall winner -- a testament to the quality of these cars and the parity between them. But there had to be a last-place finisher...
 |
Oddly enough, what ultimately cost the Lexus IS F a few points is the smooth, uneventful ride, which felt rather unusual for a performance-tuned sedan. The test drivers were unimpressed with the responsiveness of the steering and the general lack of feedback on the road.
On the other hand, the IS F offers superior comfort and suspension adjustability, especially in daily use. A short detour on bumpy country roads (due to some unexpected roadwork) allowed us to fully appreciate the exceptional ride quality and quietness of this Lexus.
The IS F is a sports sedan for sure, but a tad less sporty than the two German rivals under acceleration. Power comes along a little too late, which resulted in the slowest time from 0 to 100 km/h. Still, 6.1 seconds is pretty reasonable.
On the track, despite remarkably powerful brakes and supremely comfortable bolstered seats, the Japanese sedan is handicapped, ironically, by its fuel-saving 8-speed automatic transmission, which requires too much intervention from the driver in manual mode.
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The interior, though, is sleek and flawlessly built. It lacks a bit of visual punch to become a radical sports sedan. Also, Lexus designers could have made the IS F stand out more from other IS models.
If comfort is your priority but you still want to enjoy decent speed and a spirited driving experience, this is clearly the pick.
"The 2008 Lexus IS F trails the two other cars by a hair. Handling could be more precise, but the ride is much more flexible in daily driving conditions. It's a great sedan, one that's slightly less extreme." Amyot Bachand
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