Lexus IS 250

GOT MUNICH'S MEASURE?

Amid the countless reams of information that the publicity machine of Lexus spews out, the one salient question that will make or break their IS250 model lays hanging in the air. It's not a question to which Lexus itself can proffer an answer, instead leaving it up to the press and, ultimately, the public to pass judgement upon. If the answer is yes, the IS250 will be a huge success. If not, it'll likely be another interesting Japanese executive car that services a small niche. The question is simple. Would you have an IS250 over a BMW 3 Series?

Think about it before you jump to a conclusion. Many of you will be swayed by the neat, tight styling of the Lexus and the rather unresolved finish of the Three. For such aesthetes, that will be enough. This impression will be hammered home the moment they slip into the driver's seat of both vehicles. Pitch the mid-Range IS250 SE up against a similarly priced car like the BMW 325i SE and the Japanese saloon instantly feels £10,000 more car. Specify the BMW to the level of the Lexus and the bottom line will show that the IS250 is in fact, something like £3,000 less car. That's a decisive advantage.

Drive the two cars back to back and the decision isn't quite so easy to make. The Lexus feels a younger car. It's eager, with sharp steering, a firmer ride and the handling balance is more playful than the 3 Series. While this is entertaining when driving at sensible speeds, it's only when you turn up the wick that the German car's quiet steering and damp chassis come to the fore, offering superb body control and instilling huge confidence. The IS isn't quite so well tied down, and the electronic control systems don't offer the same multi-layered subtleties as the BMW's. The trouble with the 3 Series is that you don't appreciate how good it is until you're travelling at speeds that would result in a hair dryer from any competent traffic cop. The Lexus feels more entertaining at more sensible velocities and is more endearing.

"Lexus have forensically deconstructed the best bits of their rivals"

The Lexus V6 engine certainly isn't its weakest link. Although 204bhp isn't a huge amount of power for an engine of this ilk, the power delivery is smooth and creamy and works very well when mated to an automatic gearbox. A manual car betrays a very slight hole in low-down torque that can prove slightly annoying when pulling out of junctions. The fact that the peak torque figure is reached at a relatively high 4,800rpm demonstrates that this is an engine that likes to register a few revs on the board. Once you've got it dialled in, the IS250 shows a fair turn of speed. It'll make 60mph from rest in 7.9 seconds and run on to 146mph. Fuel economy is so-so, with real world users probably eking around 22 or 23 miles from a gallon of 95RON. Plus, an emissions of rating of 231g/km isn't a standout figure from a manufacturer of eco-friendly hybrid vehicles.

As with any Lexus, the IS250 impresses with its sheer depth of electronic engineering. A full colour display shows images from a camera mounted in the number plate surround for easy parking. The Lexus Navigation System is also something to behold, with a DVD-based mapping system that offers lightning quick draw rates and speed of calculation. A super-detailed map function of many major European cities even offers drivers advice on when they need to change lane to make an impending turn. Voice activation allows English, French or German drivers the ability to marshal the audio, air conditioning and phone systems. The touch screen and voice combinations make the IS250's 'infotainment' system a whole lot easier to use in traffic than many rivals systems. A Bluetooth phone system allows for hands free phone control with twenty voice tags stored and 1,000 contact numbers from a phone being accessible via either the touch screen, steering pad switches or voice control.

It's worth spending a while on the optional Mark Levinson premium sound system that's supplied with the Multimedia pack. With fourteen speakers and 300-watts, this system uses an in-dash six-DVD autochanger to offer hours of high quality music. Offering the segment's first complete 5.1 home theatre entertainment experience, no detail has been left to chance. Mark Levinson even requested that certain components in the Lexus IS's cabin be made more rigid to prevent unwelcome resonances. An auxiliary socket concealed in the centre console box allows iPods to be linked in.

One of the key design elements of the old IS - the chronograph style instruments - has been been dropped in favour of a more conventional fascia. This means that although the quality and ergonomic excellence of the Iatest IS interior is virtually beyond reproach, there's now no longer a signature styling point to really catch the eye. The side air vents at first seem a little oddly positioned, but Lexus attribute this to the principle of 'Hazushi' - to 'shift out of phase'. This expresses the notion of something that is part of the whole but, at the same time, retaining its independence. A strong and independent air vent must be a happy air vent.

One complaint levelled at the old IS was the rather tight rear quarters and the addition of another 60mm to the new car's wheelbase has done much to solve this problem. Consult the specification sheet and it becomes apparent that in one fell swoop, the IS has gone from being one of the meanest in terms of rear knee room to near the top of the class. Boot space at 378 litres isn't great, Lexus still having lessons to learn when it comes to packaging plenty of useable space into a tight overall footprint.

In offering sharper looks, a more entertaining driving experience for 90% of the time and a massive advantage in terms of equipment, the Lexus IS250 has what it takes to convince a meaningful slug of buyers that it has one over on the 3 Series. It's not enough for a knockout victory, but a split points decision is no shabby result.

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