Quiet style from hybrid Lexus

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With diesels falling out of favour... Lexus has played a clever game

Lexus has never embraced diesel power. Instead, the Japanese luxury car maker has used petrol-electric hybrids to give similar economy without needing to get your fingers oily at the pump.

With diesels now falling out of favour as scientists discover more about their potentially harmful emissions, it looks as if – intentionally or not – Lexus has played a clever game.

The IS300H driven here is an alternative to the German triumvirate of the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-class.

It’s powered by a 2.5 litre, 178bhp four-cylinder petrol engine married to a 141bhp electric motor. Prices stretch from just under £33,000 to around £43,000 – not cheap, but comparable with its rivals, and dealers may offer a discount if you haggle.

It’s a good-looking car with sharp, angular lines. Critics might say it doesn’t have the distinctive “brand identity” of a BMW or Mercedes but I’d argue individuality is no bad thing.

Slip into the car’s interior and you immediately feel cocooned from the outside world. It’s brimming with technology and Lexus uses sumptuous materials that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Range Rover.

The IS300’S greatest strength is comfort and ease of driving. The seats are cosseting, the engine’s whisperquiet and wind and tyre noise are kept to a bare minimum.

Couple that with strong fuel economy and seamless gear changes and you have a cruiser that will cover long distances with consummate ease and without breaking the bank. Around town, it can run on electric power alone for short distances.

It’s not a dynamic, driver’s car like the 3 Series, but at least the engine doesn’t have the raspy whine when pushed that previous hybrid Lexus models were blighted with. This engine remains smooth even under hard acceleration.

I drove a Premier model, which is the top of seven trim levels. From heated and cooled seats to variable drive modes and electric everything, it wanted for nothing. Even entry-level models are well equipped, however.

It’s a comfortable car for four people, although very tall rear occupants may wish for more headroom, and the boot’s spacious enough – although as a saloon it lacks the flexibility of a hatchback.

Lexus also has a reputation for bulletproof reliability. If you’re one of those who buys a new car and keeps it for years, that’s reassuring.

jmckeown@thecourier.co.uk