Lexus IS FL - not only the appearance
Lexus is putting up an updated IS for sale. The car, despite the modest offer of engines, has many advantages, thanks to which it is not at a disadvantage in front of the still very strong German competition.
This year marks 18 years since the debut of the Lexus brand in Poland and the presentation of the first generation of the IS model. The start was really bad, in the first two years the number of Lexus cars sold in Poland was single digits, during the next two years it did not exceed 100 units. However, Toyota Motor Poland was confident in its premium products, slowly and painstakingly building up its position. The breakthrough came in 2006 with the release of the second generation of the IS model. Over 600 cars were sold at that time, more than half of which were produced by the debutant. A series of further increases was put on hold by the financial crisis, but in 2013, when the third generation IS debuted on the market, the sales bar began to rise again. In the past four years, the Lexus brand has been under attack in our country, breaking new sales records and gradually increasing its market share. In 2016, customers received more than 3,7 thousand Lexus, 662 of which are IS models.
The Lexus IS is no longer the best-selling Japanese brand in Poland, this role has been taken over by the NX crossover, but in the premium segment interest in classic mid-range sedans is returning. Over the past two years, their sales have grown by 56%. It is all the more worth seeing what the Japanese say in this area.
modest changes
The third generation Lexus IS debuted in mid-2013. From the very beginning, the car received a daring and aggressive look, which turned out to be a bull's-eye. Therefore, the changes are planned rather modest. The front belt has changed the most and, I must admit, it causes very mixed feelings in me. The original design suited me better, the new headlights, although they can be made with Full-LED technology, attract me less with their external shape, although it is good that the LED daytime running lights have remained in their original sharp form.
Depending on the version, IS still offers a different style of characteristic grille - for the sporty F-Sport and other models. Much less spectacular was the work at the rear, where the biggest novelty was the modified look of the parking lights - also LED. Rounding out the list of body modifications are rectangular chrome tailpipes, two new wheel designs and two paint shades: Deep Blue Mica and Graphite Black.
In the basic configuration, it is difficult to notice new interior elements, because the biggest novelty is the optional screen of the multimedia system with a diagonal of 10 inches. By the way, the Enter button has been added to help in its work, but it is still not completely intuitive and without a manual it is difficult to learn how to navigate all the options.
Fans of "spot 10 differences" games will probably find that the air conditioning control panel was "sandwiched" between the sides of the central tunnel, which is purely a visual game though. As well as the new wood planks on the top-of-the-line Prestige with decorative lines laser-cut by Yamaha. Practical improvements have also been thought out, such as the combined cupholders on the center console, into which, for example, you can throw a large smartphone. It seems like a trifle, but it's nice that someone thought about it.
For lovers of fast driving
The appearance of the car is very dynamic, which we owe to the exterior stylists. It was chief engineer Naoki Kobayashi's job to make sure the chassis met customer expectations. Mr. Kobayashi is a lover of fast driving, which explains the modifications made. For the double wishbone front suspension, the lower one will now be made of aluminum alloy, which will increase the rigidity of this element by 49%. The design of metal-rubber bushings front and rear was also improved, the design of the front anti-roll bar was redesigned. All this to make the improved IS more stable and more accurate for driving at higher speeds and during tight turns.
Is our taste different from the Western one?
One thing hasn't changed since the beginning. Compared to German competitors, Japanese premium brands still offer modest powerplants. For example, the Mercedes C-Class can now have under the hood a petrol engine in one of eight power versions, a diesel with a choice of three specifications, and a hybrid. The Lexus IS has a much more modest arsenal, with only two power units. Both comply with the Euro 6 standard and have not been facelifted.
80% of Polish sales of the IS palette in 2016 came from the 200t base model. It is powered by a four-cylinder 2,0-litre petrol engine, but is assisted by direct fuel injection, VVT-i and turbocharging. The end result is 245 hp. and maximum torque of 350 Nm. The latter value is available in a wide range of 1650-4400 rpm, which translates into excellent driving dynamics. Acceleration to hundreds is also not bad, and this is 7 seconds. The same can be said for fuel consumption, which averages a respectable 7,0 l/100 km. Rear-wheel drive is provided by a standard six-speed automatic transmission.
In Europe, the opposite is true. As much as 90% of IS sales come from the alternative combination drive. Is our taste very different from the Western one? Well, no, inverse proportions are obtained, among other things, due to the current tax policy in our country. When Lexus started selling this generation in 2013, the promotion offered both powerplants at the same price. As a result, in the first two years, the share of the 300h version was more than 60%. Today, a hybrid is several thousand more expensive. PLN, which led to a decrease in interest. In Germany, the difference in price between the two versions is symbolic and amounts to 100 euros. Most likely, the new excise rates, which will come into force in our country in the coming days, will convince importers in the coming months to reduce prices for cars with engines larger than 2 liters. However, they must first get rid of imported and already cleared stocks.
The average fuel consumption of the Lexus IS 300h is 4,3 l/100 km. Even if we realize that this is a theoretical value and in practice it will be higher, the difference in relation to 200 tons is still obvious. This is due to the 143 hp electric motor that works with the base petrol unit. This one also has four cylinders, but the volume is already 2,5 liters - hence the higher excise tax and, finally, the higher price of the IS 300h. Here we also find direct fuel injection, a VVT-i system, as well as an efficient exhaust gas recirculation system that helps keep the exhaust gases clean. Power 181 hp and a torque of 221 Nm don't tell us much, what's more important is the value for the entire combined drive. The total power is 223 hp. and that's basically all we know, because the total moment remains a mystery. But with the flexibility of a powerful electric unit, you don't have to worry about performance. Acceleration from 0-100 km / h is 8,3 seconds, and the dynamics at higher speeds are impeccable.
On the road
During our first rides in a modified Lexus IS, we were given a 300-hour version of the F-Sport. Already the first kilometers confirmed that the continuously variable transmission, which is standard for 300 hours, should not be afraid, because its performance does not differ from modern automatic machines. The engine does not whine even during hard acceleration on the highway, and driving at very high speeds does not change anything. The cabin is quiet, which is not surprising, because the IS has been considered the quietest model in its segment for 18 years.
The modified sports suspension gives a good feel to the car. The driving mode system is standard for each version. We can choose from Eco, Normal and Sport. The latter is replaced by Sport S and Sport S+ modes (with anesthetized ESP) if the vehicle is equipped with the optional Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS). The differences are obvious, especially between extreme modes, because the nature of the gas pedal, steering and AVS suspension interferes with the system. In sport mode, the chassis is pleasantly springy and allows you to use the power of the drivetrain. If we don't opt for the F-Sport version, the IS chassis will focus on comfort. Pleasant surprise and sports seats, tight-fitting front seats, although comfortable even for slightly "broad-shouldered" drivers. If you add to all this excellent workmanship and high-quality materials, you get a product that is hard to complain about.
But what would not be so rosy ... The problem of Lexus, like many premium brands that compete with technologically advanced German "models", is the lack of top-end solutions that pamper the driver to the bottom. Fans of connected cars will be disappointed by the lack of options such as intelligent adaptive headlights that turn off high beams only in oncoming traffic, or a HUD. Fortunately, there are no such shortcomings in safety engineering. The new IS has on the list of options such systems as Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), driver fatigue warning (SWAY), road sign recognition (TSR) and a pre-crash protection system (PCS).
How much will we pay for the Lexus IS?
Prices for the new Lexus IS start from PLN 162 for a 900t Elegance, in this case the surcharge for up to 200 hours is PLN 300. zloty However, customers can count on attractive discounts in advance. Basic equipment with an attractive Sense package (including dual-zone air conditioning, heated seats, rain sensor, parking sensor, cruise control) is available from PLN 12. For drivers who love dynamic cars, we recommend the IS 148t F-Sport version, available for PLN 900. If you're seriously considering a hybrid, you might want to wait a little; prices may drop a bit in the near future due to the government's new excise policy.
