A Sport Sedan Worthy of 3-Series Association
Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press
Lexus introduced its first IS as a competitor to BMW’s 3 and Mercedes’ C, and while it was a credible sport sedan its Toyota roots showed through too strongly to pull in many of the upwardly mobile. Lexus made sure that when its second generation IS hit the streets it wouldn’t suffer the same fate by endowing it with the one thing its predecessor lacked, killer styling.
Even in its fourth year of production the IS looks crisp and edgy, and while sales are up significantly from the previous generation, Lexus’ smallest hardly suffers from ubiquity. It just might wear the L-finesse design language better than any other Lexus, well proportioned and assertive in its stance. And with the new F-Sport alloy wheels and modified grille and spoilers it looks ready for the track.
2010 Lexus IS 250 F-Sport
More than just enhancing appearances, the larger diameter 18-inch rims and 225/40R18 all-season performance tires they’re wrapped in add grip. The IS is already an excellent handler, whether in 250 or 350 guise, but the upgraded wheels and tires make a marked improvement amid fast, tight curves. My IS 250 tester tracked with precision and poise when pushed hard, and when driven laid back and relaxed was a comfortable traveling companion, albeit with a slightly firmer ride than it would have had with the stock 16-inch wheel and tire package.
The IS 250 is not only a competent handler, but I must admit that this sedan’s DOHC, 24-valve, 2.5-litre V6 is more engaging than its numbers foretell. Horsepower is a reasonable 204 that comes on at 6,400 rpm, while torque is merely 185 at 4,800 rpm, but something about how this all comes together makes the IS 250 a hoot to drive, and my example didn’t even have the standard six-speed manual, but rather the six-speed automatic with manual mode.
The 250 is the only IS that offers all-wheel drive, and while it delivers greater traction in foul weather it also adds 89 kilos (196 lbs) to the base IS 250’s 1,567-kilogram (3,455-lb) curb weight that, together with driveline drag, is a bane to fuel economy with a comparative estimated rating of 9.8 L/100km in the city and 6.8 on the highway for the similarly optioned automatic transmission-equipped rear-wheel drive version and 10.5 L/100km in the city and 7.6 on the highway for the all-wheel drive model. There’s also an argument for going with an automatic, as the rear-drive car with a manual transmission gets 11.4 L/100km in the city and 7.5 on the highway. Something to consider is the IS 250’s thirst for premium fuel, however, a significant additional cost over regular.
If you’re concerned that the AWD model’s ride height, which is up 15 mm (0.6 inches) over the rear-drive car, slightly increases its centre of gravity, don’t worry as it comes standard 17-inch alloy wheels that no doubt make up for any nominal handling discrepancy.
The upgraded 18-inch rims and exterior add-ons I spoke of a minute ago are new for 2010 and come as part of the F-Sport Package. It also includes adaptive bi-xenon headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and auto-dimming exterior mirrors with reverse tilt function on the outside, plus premium seats, aluminum sport pedals, a wallet-size smart key card, and stainless steel scuff plates on the inside.
Other new for 2010 features include standard integrated XM satellite radio, USB audio connectivity, and a windshield de-icer. These items get added to standard dual-zone automatic climate control, power locks with proximity sensing keyless entry and pushbutton start, auto up/down on all windows, heated mirrors, variable intermittent wipers, a six-CD/MP3 stereo with auxiliary input, audio controls on the spokes of the leather-wrapped tilt and telescopic steering wheel, cruise control, sport cloth seats, and a rear seat pass-through (hmmm… no 60/40 split rear seatbacks).
The pass-through is handy for a set of skis or two, and the trunk holds a reasonable amount of cargo at 378 litres (13.3 cubic feet). Keep in mind that this is a small car, despite its premium image. It measures only 4,575 mm (180.1 inches) long, 1,800 mm (70.9 inches) wide and rides on a wheelbase of merely 2,730 mm (107.4 inches), so if you need a cargo hold sized more like the Camry you’re moving up from, you might consider something larger like Lexus’ ES 350.
Now that we’re being so practical, safety features include driver and passenger knee airbags and all the expected airbags, standard traction and stability control, plus of course, ABS-enhanced four-wheel discs designed for performance driving. Oh, and I almost forgot. There’s a first-aid kit included too. The standard warranty is 4 years or 80,000 km limited bumper to bumper, and 6 years or 110,000 km for the powertrain, which is better than most in the premium sector.
I know I’m being all pragmatic about a car that’s really designed to spark enthusiasm from the sport sedan crowd, but the reality is you’re going to have to live with it day in and day out, so it’s important to factor in all the variables. And doing so, puts the 2010 Lexus IS 250 in a good light. It’s a great looking car, especially in F-Sport trim, delivers surprising off-the-line performance and handles like a dream. Properly fitted it delivers a nice luxurious experience too, with most of the features premium buyers demand. Add up all the benefits and then factor in a starting price of $34,400, and it starts to make sense. Lexus really got the second generation IS right. It’s a sport sedan worthy of 3 Series association.
