Lexus has given its popular IS compact sedan a mini makeover to help it keep up to date in the booming prestige segment.
Refreshed for the 2017 model year with revised front-end styling, a new 10.3-inch infotainment screen and a host of subtle suspension changes, Lexus is confident the subtle facelift will help it keep momentum against a competitive set of compact luxury sedans.
The Japanese luxury brand hasn't altered the lineup for its IS range, with three distinct engine variants; the turbocharged four-cylinder IS 200t, the petrol electric hybrid IS 300h and the performance skewed IS 350 with a free-revving naturally aspirated 3.5 litre V6.
Each of those engine variants is offered with three distinct trim levels: Luxury, F Sport, and Sports Luxury, with the F Sport boasting unique styling touches inside and out to give it a more aggressive look.
Pricing spans from $59,340 to $84,160 (plus on-road costs), giving Lexus a broad spread of models to counter the seemingly endless variety of European competitors available.
Building on the extensive suite of safety systems that already existed - including a cabin with 10 airbags, a reverse camera and tyre pressure monitor - all IS variants are now fitted with Lexus Safety System+ which adds 'Pre-Collision Safety System' with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with steering assist, and automatic high beam.
Sport and Sports Luxury models also add feature blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.
At the Victorian launch of the new IS, time behind the wheel was limited (and the weather was anything but friendly) but we jumped behind the wheel of the IS 200t and IS 300h - the two bulk sellers of the range - to see if the minor tweaks make much of a difference to the IS' overall demeanour.
First of all, changes to the cabin design are minimal over its predecessor, highlighted by the new larger central infotainment screen and supported by subtle alterations with some new finishes and optional trim colours.
Access to the infotainment system is via the Lexus Remote Touch Interface which has been updated with a larger palm rest pad and an 'enter' button on both sides. Using the system is still via a computer mouse-like toggle switch, and, frustratingly, access to many functions is locked out when the car is in motion.
F Sport models get a unique instrument cluster with a full LCD display and large central tacho, while the Luxury and Sports Luxury trims feature a more traditional two-dial instrument cluster with redesigned graphics and new finishes.
The seat design itself is unchanged, and arguably there's no need to change something so right, as they are comfy up front and provide the driver and passenger with support in all the right places. The rear seats too, while not limo-like, also offer good comfort and a reasonable amount of space for a fairly compact sedan.
Trim details in either Naguri-style aluminium on the F-Sport and laser-cut wood on the Sports Luxury look properly high end, but some of the non-matching finishes around the air vents and instrument binnacles look a little out of place in an otherwise premium interior.
As for how it drives, the IS 200t starts with an almost imperceptible idle and maintains a smooth and quiet character as the revs rise while working in concert with the eight speed automatic to keep the engine spinning in its optimum window to save fuel.
The particular car driven at launch was box-fresh with less than 25km showing on the odometer at the start of the drive, and there were a few moments where the turbocharged 2.0 litre engine didn't feel like it was delivering its full 180kW and 350Nm potential. With a few more kilometres under its tyres things should feel slightly more lively.
With German competitors as benchmarks, the IS 200t matches them for refinement in most areas, but highway driving revealed an un-Lexus-like amount of road noise from the rear axle on our particular test vehicle.
No qualms from the adaptive suspension though, which blots out harsh bumps without sending shockwaves into the cabin. The weather during our preview drive (either thick fog in the morning or constant rain in the afternoon) prevented a thorough exploration of the IS' dynamic capabilities.
Swapping into the IS 300h makes things even quieter and smoother, with the 2.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine out of action at standstill, or when moving off slowly, and the car relying on its electric motor to build initial momentum.
Unlike newer plug-in hybrids from Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the Lexus can't go long distances on battery power alone, instead the electric motor acts as a helper to reduce fuel consumption.
Though the petrol-electric hybrid exists as a green option in place of a regular diesel engine, it still manages to feel lively on the road, with more than enough get-up-and-go in reserve for overtaking or bounding away from green lights.
The CVT automatic operates seamlessly in normal situations making for smooth progress, but can be manually shifted with six preset ratios via the steering wheel paddles for enthusiastic driving.
Light and accurate steering helps the IS feel nimble, but feel and feedback aren't upthere with the best in the class, and, even with the drive mode set to the sportier end of the scale, the steering doesn't gain much extra weight.
Changes have also been made to the suspension bushes, front-end geometry, and stabiliser bars to provide better road feel without sacrificing comfort, and the IS maintains its driver appeal. The adaptive damper system can even stiffen the front suspension to prevent dive under heavy braking - clever stuff.
In a fairly conservative market the unique style of the Lexus IS line helps it stand out amongst a crowd of sombre faces - helped out even more with bold new LED headlights and that unmistakable spindle grille.
Beneath the surface, the IS remains a great option for enthusiastic drivers, with a commendable balance between ride and handling. And the interior, though not perhaps quite as lavish as an Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class, still feels genuinely premium and built with the kind of perfection Lexus is renowned for.
In the end, the improvements aren't significant enough to alter the IS' competitive position against its rivals.
2017 Lexus IS prices and specifications
Price: From $59,340 (IS 200t); $61,890 (IS 300h); $65,390 (IS 350)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol; 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid; 3.5-litre V6 petrol
Power: 180kW, 164kW; 233kW
Torque: 350Nm; 221Nm (petrol engine only); 378Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic (IS 200t and IS350), CVT Automatic (IS 300h); rear-wheel drive
Fuel use: 7.5L/100km; 4.9L/.100km; 9.7L/100km
3 Comments
ekim | 2016-11-28 05:06:13
Why do you need a centre tachometer on a CVT automatic, to emphasise the disconnection between the engine and the road?
Steve 0 | 2016-11-28 09:13:31
It's ugly, and it's a Toyota... So of course it's ugly.
ibstltr | 2016-11-29 08:35:44
Plenty of non-ugly Toyota's SteveO. Pretty much every Camry up to the current one isn't ugly. Plain, dull, boring sure but not ugly. The earlier IS's weren't ugly (which were glammed-up Toyota Altezza's but without the decent engine option for the 200) - the first gen is one of their better efforts, the second gen is a bit average in the rear quarter. The current generation though I would agree. The updates show the 3rd gen as still behind the competition, and with the next generation another 5 years away this is going to be a very dated car by 2020. The late release of the IS200t, and subsequent death of the 250 (you'd be fairly miffed if you bought a 250), didn't help. Unfortunately it would appear Toyota's plan to use well tested parts in Lexus models means outdated...