Super stylish Lexus IS first full hybrid W
HILE other manufacturers are trying to play catch up, Toyota are already there with their premium brand. It is almost 30 years since the journey began for Lexus, and it has to be said that some of the early models did look a little, well, dull.
Not so now as this week’s test car is the super stylish (and super fuel efficient) IS 300h - which is also the first IS to be a full hybrid.
This means the car can be used in Electric Vehicle mode, using no fuel during periods of slow driving like in traffic jams or around town.
Unlike plug-in hybrids the battery only charges from the petrol engine during normal running and also recovers energy during braking, which allows this 2.5-litre car to return a shade over 61mpg combined, although I only managed a shade over 40 during a week of mainly local driving.
Having a 178bhp engine and a 141bhp electric motor also means a 0 to 62 time of 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 125.
Now none of those figures are exceptional by today’s standards, but it is the way this Lexus delivers effortless driving and comfort which make it a compelling package.
Mind you, with prices from £36,995 for our near top-of-therange F Sport version it needs to be good as the opposition in this medium premium sector is fierce indeed. The IS range starts from £32,895 for the entry level SE and all have the same petrol engine/ electric motor set up.
F Sport Premier Pack models come with a standard adaptive damping system. This lets you switch between Normal and Sport+ modes and both resists body roll well and generally offer a comfortable ride. It means the car corners like it is on rails.
Also in higher-spec models a mouse-like Remote Touch interface controls most infotainment functions, but this can prove fiddly and distracting to use on the move.
The IS driving position is quite low so you really feel ‘part of the machine’ although a tapering rear end and smaller back windows restrict the view - but that is not a problem in higher spec models like ours with standard parking sensors and a rear view camera.
There is plenty of room for sixfooters in the comfy electric, heated and cooled front seats (with memory function for the driver) while in the back the IS offers as much rear legroom as a BMW 3 Series and more than an Audi A4 or Mercedes C-Class.
Boot access is a little restricted although capacity is on par with premium rivals and all but the entry-level SE model get 60:40 split-folding rear seats.
Even entry-level SE cars do come with climate control, cruise control, stability control, Bluetooth and a digital radio, while Luxury spec adds front and rear parking sensors and automatic wipers and our F Sport gets trim details and 18-inch F Sport 10 spoke alloy wheels, which make it feel sportier.
Also, aside from entry-level SE models, all versions get the Lexus Safety System Plus, which incorporates automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.
After a week at the wheel of the IS I really noticed just how good on fuel the car is - doing my usual commute and a few errands with the tank remaining over half full.
The IS defaults to Normal mode on start-up and there is a choice of Eco and Sport settings with the latter making things a little more noisy as the CVT gearbox allows revs to climb rapidly.
One touch I thought was very cool in the quality leather interior was a sliding digital instrument binacle to display different vehicle information.
So the IS is definitely an alternative to the usual suspects in the premium medium saloon sector and well worth considering.
More info at www.lexus.co.uk THIS ultra rare, and ultra slow, 1956 DKW Schnellaster Kastenwagen will also be going under the hammer at the Classic Car Auctions CCA sale on June 2 at the Warwickshire Event Centre.
The quirky commercial vehicle is one of only 3,727 vans and pick-ups built by Auto Union, which went on to become Audi.
The ‘Rapid Transporter’, capable of achieving a maximum speed of 43mph, was a pioneer of engineering in its day. What it lacked in speed it offered in space, with an unparalleled cargo area for a van of its size as well as a flat loading floor 16 inches off the ground.
This right-hand drive model began its life in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and then travelled to South Africa before being imported into the UK in 2017. When it arrived here the Schnellaster had only 17,000 miles on the clock.
It has undergone cosmetic refurbishment and will be offered with a sale estimate of £12,000 to £15,000 alongside over 160 other classics at CCA’s upcoming June Sale. More information at classiccarauctions.co.uk