Lexus IS 250 - Test Drive

Served with an opportunity to take the all-new Lexus IS 250 out for a run via a scenic high country route, we naturally expected comfort, luxury and elegance to be part of the ingredients. What we didn’t expect was a healthy dose of aggression, athleticism and almost Teutonic levels of dynamism thrown into the mix as well.
Two variants were made available to us for the somewhat epic route across the Cameron Highlands, which featured a good mix of loops, switchbacks and flat straights: the IS 250 Luxury and the IS 250 F Sport.
Both look identical on paper, powered by the same direct-injected 2.5L V6 engine driving the rear wheels that’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission – with paddles for manual shifting.
The F-Sport, however, has additional exterior trims and appears to have been tuned for a shorter gear ratio and endowed with a firmer suspension setting – though the difference between the two felt nominal, at best. But that’s not a bad thing because both types supplied an exhilarating ride.
The first hint of the excitement ahead came in the form of the IS 250’s all new design, which honestly makes it look fast even when it is standing still. Masculine lines seem to swoosh across the car, starting at a nose made prominent by its spindle shaped design that reaches out to the rear via the high shoulder line.
Sharp, angular headlights and taillights lend an extra sporty feel to the whole picture, which makes you eager to find out if it walks the talk. It does.
The IS pushes off the mark with an instant answer to the question posed by your right foot, and then it seems to want to say more... much more.

Much to our delight, our tight cross-country convoy to the far western coastline of Perak moved at a very “energetic” pace, which allowed the IS 250 to say plenty.
Things are a little louder in the F Sport variant, thanks to an intake sound generator, but sadly it was a feature that didn’t come off as “fully committed” and the result was not as obnoxious as some may prefer – probably the unfortunate result of finding a balance between a sporty sensation and the cabin comfort expected from a Lexus.

Along the long straights and when overtaking, we found that power was most satisfyingly delivered when the pedal was punched down at full throttle, where we were pushed off in a huff with nice early thrust and served the full buffet of 252Nm which kicked in at about 4,800rpm – 5,000rpm.
It is undoubtedly a car that likes to rev in the high ranges. It needs to be worked a little before you are rewarded with a sensation of maximum exhilaration, which we must say makes for a very sublime and engaging driving experience.

The B-road portion of the journey took us through some challenging hillside twisty bits with plenty of hard corners to put the IS 250’s handling and agility to the test. Honestly, though, the car seemed to be only mildly challenged, as it remained thoroughly composed even when dipping in and out of curves at an eyebrow raising pace.
It felt planted all the time, but adding to your confidence behind the wheel is the fact that the steering is direct, predictable and supplies ample information to the driver.
Over the span of 428km, we had a chance to sample both the Luxury and F Sport variants in similar conditions and can confidently say that both performed very similarly, though the F Sport probably gave off a slightly edgier feel.

As a matter of personal preference though, the Luxury made a better impression, coming off as the more wholesome and resolved of the two. But we won’t be surprised if more than a few disagree.
Travelling in a convoy that allowed for a number of driver changes, with three drivers per car, had its advantages. Among them, a chance to take a breather from a hectic pace, a chance to finally pay proper attention to interior detail and an opportunity to sample the car from an often overlooked vantage point – the rear seats.

From the front passenger seat, for example, it is much easier to note that the new IS is a little more spacious than the last, with plenty of leg room up front and back, provided you are comfortable with the cockpit-feel. The high position of the centre console tucks you in quite snugly in the front, but the high setting of the transmission tunnel in the rear assertively states that it fits just two, with little room for argument.

There are plenty of buttons and switches to play with if you’re riding shotgun, but the main highlight is the touch-sensitive climate control, which can be adjusted with a simple touch and slide motion – definitely a plus point for the new touchscreen generation of technophiles.
Another feature worth highlighting is the speedometer on the instrument cluster, which induced much fiddling of the button located on the steering wheel. It doesn’t achieve much, other than reconfigure the cluster to your preference, but the novelty takes a very long time to wear off. Drivers can also choose to change the colour of the digital speedometer needle.

The overall tactile feel was good, befitting a brand that is competing in the luxury segment, but in the new IS, it must be said that everything has been stepped up a notch.
That’s a good thing because at its asking price, the Lexus IS 250 is definitely hovering around a playground full of German players saying quite clearly: “Hey, I’d like join the game”.

From our experience, this is one Lexus that deserves a spot, inching ever so close to the calibre expected of the Germanic giants competing in the same segment.
And while there may be room for improvement in some aspects, in terms of delivering an engaging driving experience, dare we say it, the Lexus IS 250 may have just trumped a certain Bavarian player that carries the number 3.
Just maybe.

Specifications of the Lexus IS 250 (Luxury/F Sport)
Engine: 2,499cc, V6, D4 direct fuel injector
Max power: 204bhp @ 6,400rpm
Max torque: 252Nm @ 4,800rpm
Transmission: 6-speed AT Sequential, super ECT with A.I. shift
Acceleration (0 - 100km/h): 8.1sec
Top speed: 225km/h
Fuel consumption (combined): XXXL/100km
CO2 emissions (combined): XXXg/km
Safety features: Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, ABS, brake assist, electrinic brake force distribution, traction control, Vehicle stability control system, SRS airbags, ISOFIX child seat tethers


Price: RM307,970 (Luxury)/RM341,928 (F Sport) OTR with insurance