Lexus IS250
No manhood test needed |
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By Richard J. Newman
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Nits: Sleek styling produces very small, rear quarter windows, which limits visibility out the back.
G forces: Fast, or furious? The IS comes in two models: the IS250, with a zesty 204-horsepower V-6 engine, and the IS350, with a 306-horsepower V-6 that roars from zero to 60 in 5.3 seconds, about as fast as you can go in this price range. Rear-wheel drive helps keep that power under tight control in the curves.
Gizmology: A minor blemish on this artful canvas is an overbusy dash, with buttons spread everywhere and some complex radio controls. But there's lots of great storage space, and all the interior moving parts are elegantly solid.
Kidmarks: There's great space in the back, along with storage pockets for kids' junk and rear A/C vents. The center armrest contains two cupholders and a storage tray that worked well as a corral for my kids' chicken nuggets.
Hot or not: Hot: Brawny and well dressed.
Pain at the pump: Modest. Mileage for the IS250 ranges from 20 mpg/city to 32 mpg/highway, and for the IS350 from 21 mpg/city to 28 mpg/highway. For the power, those are excellent figures. But on the downside, the IS requires costly premium fuel.
Crash course: Not yet crash-tested by the government or by private testing groups.
Standard safety equipment: Side-impact and side-curtain airbags, stability control, antilock brakes, traction control.
Price points: Base prices range from $30,580 to $36,030. Price as tested: $35,569. (All prices include delivery fees.)
More info: www.lexus.com
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Model year tested: 2006
Everybody tries to copy BMW, right? Well, maybe not. Just as a new 3 series hits the street, leading critics to gush about the sport sedan being "redefined," Lexus follows up with something notably different: its own entry-lux sedan that is plush and potent but wears loafers instead of high-tops.
We're talking gradations here, not orders of magnitude, but in the realm of automotive psychoanalysis, the new IS is an identity statement. And the statement is, we're comfortable in our own skin. Lexus is the auto industry benchmark for engineering and manufacturing excellence, but the longtime rap on the brand has been that its products are dull. Lexus spiced up the new IS under the hood, where the engine on the base IS250 is a quick 204-horsepower V-6. Upgrade to the 306-horsepower IS350 and you're burning rocket fuel. But the design is more stately than sporty, with long, sloping lines from back to front and a swollen hood that makes a pronounced entrance. Handling is forgiving, not feisty. And the cabin is more reminiscent of an easy chair than an airplane cockpit. The IS could easily pass the entry-lux manhood test, it just chooses not to take it.
Prove itself the IS does, however. That classy interior is one of the best in the neighborhood of $30,000, with sleek, angular armrests on the doors, and other hints at modernity to accent an otherwise classic look. There are the usual, delightful little Lexus surprises, like an armrest that glides forward and back as if it's on well-oiled ball bearings, and a touch-activated ashtray cover that recedes with the flick of a fingertip. Gotta love it when the Lexus engineers show off. The IS is larger than other sedans in the segment, leaving copious room in back for the family. And a nice array of creature features is standard, such as a moon roof, 10-way power seats, fingertip radio controls on the steering wheel, and cool mini map lights that focus the beam only where you need it. The IS isn't the street fighter that other luxury sedans are, but with a package this nice, what is there to fight about?
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