Lexus IS sedan is boxing on, but can it make a comeback?
The Lexus IS has some new features for 2017 - and one big problem.
If you're a car enthusiast of a certain age, compact rear-drive sports sedans represent the essence of a premium brand.
But that's rapidly becoming an old idea in many markets. Like New Zealand, for example, where the fascination for all things SUV applies as much to the luxury segment as it does to mainstream models.
Consider the plight of the Lexus IS. A critically acclaimed rival to the likes of the BMW 3-series and Mercedes-Benz C-class, it was the most important model in the Japanese marque's lineup when it was launched in 2013, accounting for 37 per cent of sales.
Bit fussy, perhaps? Intricate new front bumper marks the facelift Lexus IS sedan.
Talk about a fall from grace: last year the IS made up just 11 per cent of Lexus sales. SUVs now account for 72 per cent of Lexus volume; the RX is the biggest, but the NX (ostensibly the SUV alternative to the IS, launched in 2014) alone sells at a rate two-and-a-half times the little sedan.
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Tail-lights now have LED techology and more prominent L-shaped pattern. See what they've done there?
What hope for this very traditional but very rewarding three-box sedan? Well, there is some. When overall volume is low, the percentage changes are more marked. Lexus sold just 720 cars last year, or around one-third that of top-ranked luxury brand Mercedes-Benz. So there's an opportunity for the facelift IS to make more of an impression in the Lexus world.
New-vehicle sales and the luxury market are still climbing, according to January's record figures. The sales target for IS in 2017 is 90 cars, but if the market remains particularly strong Lexus reckons it could boost that to 120: a 15 per cent share of a best-case-scenario of 800 total Lexus sales for the year. Every little bit helps.
Car-company sales projections are serious business... to car companies. But they sound a bit pie-in-the-sky, don't you think? A better question is what Lexus is doing to make the IS more appealing.
Redesigned centre console and a new 10.3-inch screen are the big changes for the IS interior.
It's fair to say that it hasn't thrown the (cheque)book at the car for its 2017 facelift, for obvious reasons. See above. The lineup is the same, the powertrains are carried over and the styling is only mildly tweaked.
But there have been some equipment upgrades, interior finessing and the opportunity for more driver-customisation of the powertrain and chassis on top-specification models.
The entry IS 200t is still available in all three model variants: standard, F Sport and Limited. It retains the 2.0-litre turbo-four engine with 180kW/350Nm.
F Sport models get a unique sliding tachometer, similar to that used on the LFA supercar.
The IS 300h hybrid comes in standard and Limited grades, with the 164kW 2.5-litre four and battery pack. Naturally, it's the economy champion with a Combined figure of 4.9 litres per 100km (200t 7.5l).
The range-topper is the IS 350, which comes only in F Sport trim and is powered by a 233kW/378Nm 3.5-litre V6 (9.7l/100km).
Prices are up $400 to $1000, depending on model. The 200t ranges from $74,300-$87,200, the 300h $77,300-$88,700 and the single 350 F Sport variant is $107,900.
F Sport (pictured) and Limited models have larger 18-inch wheels than the 17in rim on the entry specification.
Styling changes for the IS are focused on the front, with new grille shapes, more aggressive front bumpers and LED headlights. At the rear, there new LED tail lights. While the rear bumper is carried over, there are new diffuser designs underneath.
As always, different models get different looks. The F Sport has a unique grille and front spoiler, for example, while the hybrid wears a different diffuser that puts much less emphasis on the exhaust pipes.
The entry-level IS (200t and 300h) wears new-design 17-inch alloys and has gained RC-style square buttons for the steering wheel remote controls, minor changes to trim and colour and a 10.3-inch high-res screen. The often-frustrating joystick-type controller with haptic feedback has been retained (the NX SUV has a flush touchpad instead), but it's gained Enter and Back buttons. The base car now also has card-key access.
All models have a slimmer rearvision mirror, redesigned centre-console controls and a larger palm-rest behind the controller.
As with the previous model, the F Sport (200t and 350 only) has a body kit, 18-inch wheels, Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) and an extra Sport+ setting on the drive-mode controller.
The Limited (200t and 300h only) has different interior styling and interior trim/equipment again (including laser-cut wood inserts), distinctive triple-LED daytime running lights and a unique 18-inch wheel design. It's most easily identifiable by its horizontal grille slats.
All models have the so-called Lexus Safety System+ package of equipment, which includes automatic high beam for the lights, lane departure alert and sway warning, dynamic radar cruise control and pre-crash system, which also incorporates autonomous braking for emergency situations.
If you're stepping out of a 2016-model IS, don't expect a revelation in the driving dynamics. The 200t remains the standout model of the range: the turbo-four engine is a beauty and the handling is more nimble and balanced than the heavier hybrid and V6-powered models.
The 200t also represents the best chance for further conquest sales from the German establishment. Entry-level fours in this segment from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are a tad underwhelming compared with the more powerful models, but the reverse is the case for Lexus: the 200t is packed full of character.
There are detail changes to the suspension across the range including anti-dive control for the AVS, but the most obvious upgrade is the addition of a Customise mode to the Drive Mode Select system for top-line models. Hybrids aside, the regular IS models get Normal and Sport modes. The F Sport and Limited versions have an additional Sport+ mode. But all make global changes to steering, powertrain and suspension.
The F Sport and Limited IS variants now have an additional Customise feature, which allows the driver to mix-and-match different settings. For example, you can choose any combination of Normal/Eco/Power for the powertrain, Normal/Sport for the steering, Normal/Sport for the AVS and Normal/Eco for the air conditioning.
- Stuff
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