Stunning looks, sharp handling but OK engines . . . for now
With buyers’ neverending tilt toward tall wagons, there are noticeably fewer sedans to be had these days, especially from domestic-based automakers.
If you prefer your car with a trunk lid instead of a fifth door at the back, there are plenty of choices at the premium end of the spectrum. In this bracket, the Lexus
IS is one of the more reasonably priced and one of the most fun to drive.
The first IS arrived in North America two decades ago as a competitor to the
BMW 3 series and has been on a constant path of updating ever since. The 2021 version underwent subtle (but visually enhancing) changes that included a slightly enlarged “spindle” grille, narrower headlight pods, widened fenders and more prominent rocker panels. The trunk lid was lowered and a thin light bar now connects the tail lamps.
The interior adjustments were also minor, including the tablet-style 8.0- or optional
PHOTO: LEXUS
10.3-inch touch-screen positioned closer to the edge of the dashboard for easier viewing. A console-mounted touchpad controls the infotainment system, which might not be to everyone’s liking, but the work-around is to use the touch-screen to make selections.
The car’s basic measurements — length, width and the distance between the front and rear wheels — were basically unaltered. That makes sense since the platform was mostly a carryover, although Lexus said it has made it more rigid to provide a quieter ride while improving overall drivability. A number of new suspension components are lighter, such as the control arms and front stabilizer bar.
For 2021, the IS comes in three distinct strengths. The rear-wheel-drive (RWD) IS 300 is fitted with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
The all-wheel-drive (AWD) IS 300 gets a non-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 that puts out 260 horsepower and 236 poundfeet.
The V-6 installed in the IS 350 F Sport has 311 horsepower and 280 poundfeet. AWD is also an option with this powerplant.
Premium-grade gasoline is recommended for all.
The RWD models get eight-speed automatic transmissions, while a sixspeed automatic is standard for AWD models. Torque is split evenly between the front and rear wheels in normal driving situations, but up to 70 percent of it shifts to the rear when front slip is detected.
According to Lexus, the RWD IS 300 can accelerate to 60 mph from rest in 6.9 seconds. The RWD IS 350 F Sport reduces that time to 5.6 seconds.
If that’s not quick enough, the 2022 IS 500 that’s expected here this fall gets a 5.0-liter V-8 with 472 horsepower and 395 poundfeet of torque.
RWD units come with Eco, Normal and Sport S modes, with a Snow mode added when AWD is selected.
PHOTO: LEXUS
Lexus IS 300 pricing starts at $40,100, including destination charges. The car
includes plenty of up-level content plus active-safety technologies such as blindspot warning and cross-traffic backup alert, pedestrian and cyclist detection and lanedeparture alert.
The IS 350 F Sport costs $44,000, but you’ll pay extra for the dynamic-handling package that should really
be considered a must-have. Included is a constantly variable adaptive suspension, limited-slip differential, 19inch BBS-brand alloy wheels, carbon-fiber rear spoiler and wood-trimmed interior.
Other F Sport options include an 1,800-watt 17-speaker Mark Levinsonbrand sound system, navigation package and a power moonroof.
The F Sport can cover ground at a rapid pace, but perhaps without the neck-snapping thrust that turbocharged V-6 versions of the BMW 3 series, Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C class deliver.
What the F Sport might lack in off-the-line performance, it and other IS trims make up for with a smooth, secure ride, a quiet interior and comfortable, supportive seating.
In the world of upscale sedans, these attributes count for plenty.