|
|
|
|
17/03/2011
REVIEW by EWAN KENNEDY
|
|
|
The new Lexus IS 350 Sports Luxury sedan is one of a number of models aimed at getting away from the conservative image normally associated with this upmarket branch of Toyota.
Lexus Australia has been lobbying for right-hand-drive variants of the Lexus IS series since before the IS 250 was launched here in 2005. The IS 350 had been available in the US for several years, now Australians can enjoy its dynamic performance.
Before talking about performance we should say that the strongest of all attributes of Lexus, quietness and a serene ride, remain very much part of the equation. The IS 350 offers relaxed long distance travel thanks to its well-shaped front seats that can be either heated or cooled according to your tastes and/or outside conditions. We really liked the cooling during the hot and steamy weather that is typical in our home area at this time of the year. Indeed, summer was late in arriving and is not proving late to leave and we appreciated tuning up the seat temperatures to tame the weather.
The rear seat has good headroom, and plenty of shoulder room for two adults. However legroom in the back is adequate rather than generous and it’s probably best that the three in the rear are children if you’re travelling any great distance.
Luggage space in the IS 350 is surprisingly good for a car that has a differential under the rear floor so the designers have done an excellent job of solving the problem that can afflict cars of this size with a sporting powertrain.
Despite its conservative look, the Lexus IS 350 is a real powerhouse that Lexus test drivers tell us will out accelerate a BMW 335i in the 0-100 km/h sprint by about two tenths of a second, the Lexus recording an impressive 5.6 seconds. It not only goes hard, but feels great at the same time thanks to excellent response to the throttle.
At the heart of all the Lexus IS 350 models is a 3.5-litre V6 that develops 233 kW of power and 378 Nm of torque. The engine is naturally aspirated and revs out beautifully anywhere in the range. This really is a delightful engine, providing not only plenty of performance but also doing so in such a way that driving enthusiasts will smile over the way it works.
The engine is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shifter. The car also has steering wheel paddle shifters that engage by touch without moving the gear lever across into sport mode.
Standard in the IS 350 range are satellite navigation, heated seats, reversing camera, HID headlamps with daytime running lamps and metallic paint.
Safety gear includes dynamic management on all models, with stability control, traction control and hill start assist on automatic models with active cruise control and the Lexus pre-collision safety system on the Sports Luxury grade we reviewed.
On the road the IS 350 is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The car points beautifully into corners at speed and despite our best efforts we could not induce understeer or for that matter oversteer, such is the car's grip on the road.
The suspension of the Lexus IS 350 Sports Luxury isn’t as firm as that in the IS 350 F Sport so is comfortable while still providing that nicely balanced road holding, the latter being the biggest reason for choosing rear-wheel drive in a car of this class.
Large ventilated disc brakes ensure the Lexus slows down as well as it sprints and a series of fast stops on our road test route didn’t show any signs of overheating or brake fade.
At the launch of the Lexus IS 350 the Australian importer introduced a mid-to-late life facelift to the rest of the IS range. The IS line now has 10 models, with IS 250, IS 250 C (hard top coupe-convertible and IS F. The Lexus IS 250, IS 250C and IS 350 have a choice of three equipment levels with two twin-cam V6 engines.
Lexus IS 250 and IS 350 come in Prestige, F Sport wand Sports Luxury models with F Sport a new grade level in the IS sedan range. The 2.5-litre Lexus IS 250 is offered in Prestige, Sports and Sports Luxury.
The top of the range V8 IS F is powered by a 5.0-litre twin-cam V8 driving through an eight-speed sequential automatic transmission. It has very firm suspension but enjoys tremendous road grip because of that. This model is probably best left to the full-on driving enthusiasts.
One advantage of having to wait four years for the Lexus IS 350 is that it has been nicely sorted out following consumer comments. Not that there was a lot to complain about given the exhaustive research before the latest IS series was introduced.
The Lexus IS 350 rightly qualifies as a competitor to the hot versions of the big name German companies and its lower price makes it a tasty offering. It will be interested to see how many buyers opt for it.
MODEL RANGE
IS350 Prestige 3.5-litre four-door sedan: $64,800
IS350 F Sport 3.5-litre four-door sedan: $71,800
IS350 Sports Luxury 3.5-litre four-door sedan: $81,300
Note: Prices does not include government or dealer charges. Contact your local Lexus dealer for driveaway prices.
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Electronic Stability Program: Standard in all models
Rear Parking Sensors: Standard in all models
Reversing Camera: Standard in all models
USB/Auxiliary Audio Inputs: Standard in all models
Bluetooth: Standard in all models
Steering Wheel Mounted Controls: Standard in all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Lexus IS 350 3.5-litre four-door sedan)
ENGINE
Engine Capacity: 3.456 litres
Configuration: V6
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 11.8:1
Bore/Stroke: 94.0 x 83.0 mm
Maximum Power: 233 kW @ 6400 rpm
Maximum Torque: 378 Nm @ 4800 rpm
DRIVETRAIN
Driven Wheels: Rear
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 4.083:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4585 mm
Wheelbase: 2730 mm
Width: 1800 mm
Height: 1425 mm
Turning Circle: 10.2 metres
Kerb Mass: 1580-1645 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 65 litres
Towing Ability: Not supplied
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, double wishbone, upper A-arm, lower L-arms, coil springs, gas dampers, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent, multi-link, coil springs, gas dampers, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated disc
FUEL CONSUMPTION/EMISSION RATINGS:
Fuel Type: Petrol 95RON
Fuel Consumption - Combined Cycle (ADR 81/02): 9.4 L/100 km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 5.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 6.5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Four years/100,000 km |
|
|
|
|
|
Print Article
Submit Feedback
Email This Article
