2006 Lexus IS 350 Review
Starting MSRP $35,440
Test Drive
Closer to the Mark
Lexus' latest compact sport sedan is a definite improvement. But is it competitive enough to thrive in this tough segment?
By Fara Warner
The all-new 2006 IS 250 and IS 350 are vast improvements over the model they replace and put Lexus on par with competing compact sport sedans from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and the newly invigorated Acura and Infiniti brands. But they don't quite deliver the exhilarating performance that makes top contenders, especially BMW's 3 Series and Infiniti's G35, so popular with younger drivers and enthusiasts.
Lexus has redesigned everything about the IS sedan. Two new models replace the outgoing IS 300: The IS 250 features a 204-horsepower V6 engine powering the rear, or all four wheels; the IS 350 is rear-wheel drive only and comes with a 306-hp V6. A sophisticated six-speed sequential-shift automatic transmission comes standard on all but the base model — the rear-wheel drive IS 250 — which gets a six-speed manual.
Lexus launched the IS five years ago — a sub-$30,000 sporty, near-luxury, compact sedan to woo the under-30 crowd. This first generation seemed little more than a plainly styled afterthought spawned from Toyota's Japanese-market Altezza. While endowed with Toyota's outstanding quality and reliability, the IS 300 never quite held its own in such a highly competitive segment dominated by the fun-to-drive BMW 3 Series.
Fewer than 10,000 IS 300 sedan and wagon models were sold in 2004, according to CNW Market Research. By comparison, BMW sold 10 times more 3 Series sedans, wagons and convertibles that year. Lexus hopes to boost IS sales to more than 3,000 per month with a target of 40,000 per year, says Deborah Wahl Meyer, Lexus vice president of marketing.
The new IS is more stylish, more powerful and better appointed than its predecessor — all of which go a long way to make it worth putting at the top of any entry-level luxury-car shopping list.
The irony may be that Lexus' strengths in creating supremely quiet and coddling vehicle dynamics may actually become weaknesses in a category where drivers expect some visceral feedback — like the roar of an engine under full acceleration, or the nuances of road surface transmitted through the steering wheel. And while sequential-manual gearboxes seem poised to be the next great advancement in automotive-transmission technology, Lexus' choice to offer only the sequential-shift automatic on the more powerful IS 350 — instead of also making available a six-speed manual on this model — seems at odds with the cars' sporting intentions.
Exterior
The 2006 IS exterior design is more sophisticated and less plain-vanilla than its predecessor. The new generation shares its platform with the larger Lexus GS line of midsize sedans and has a higher beltline and shorter windows.
The roofline's arc flows far back over the trunk, creating a short rear deck-lid and a sharply tapered tail. Shorter and wider than the model it replaces, the car's dimensions and swooping roofline give a sense of rakish muscularity.
Such distinctive styling is a marked departure for Lexus. But the overall effect is still conservative, especially in a category where more radical looking cars, especially from Infiniti and BMW, have become trendy style statements.
The IS is pleasant enough to behold, but doesn't prompt double takes.
Interior
Lexus seems to have covered every detail to make the IS interior lush, quiet and comfortable. That's a nice change in the entry-level segment where creature comforts often get stripped away.
The lengths Lexus goes to ensure a sense of quality and refinement are borderline obsessive: The wood used in the interior is finished by Yamaha, digitally tagged and sent out to three different suppliers. They cut and shape the wood for specific areas. Once finished, the pieces of wood are reunited using those digital codes so the three pieces end up in the same car to look like one continuous piece.
The IS features an acoustic windshield that is "tuned" to counterbalance wind and engine noise. Almost no wind or road noise creeps into the cabin even on the highway, making quiet conversations possible.
The car's higher beltline adds to the cocooned quiet feeling, but makes the backseat a little claustrophobic. This is mitigated by pleasant ambient lighting, which lends warmth. Despite plenty of legroom, only two fit comfortably back there, a third person would make it cramped.
The cropped backend allows for only a medium-size trunk. Further hampering luggage capacity, there's only a small pass-through behind the rear-seatback center armrest for long items, instead of what has become the standard 60/40 split folding-rear seatback in many vehicles.
The front seats are great and hug in the right places. But larger folks might find them a bit tight as they have deep side bolsters, like on a race car.
The car has standard ventilation and safety features often not seen on cars in its price range. Smog sensors can be adjusted to ward off the worst ozone days. The heat and air conditioning system is designed to find hot and cold spots in the vehicle and shift temperatures accordingly.
All versions come with twin-chamber air bags designed to apply pressure to the torso instead of the nose and face. The cars also come with knee airbags.
Both IS models are equipped with a standard six-disc in-dash CD changer and a jack located in the center console to plug in external devices such as an MP3 player for playback through the stereo system. An optional navigation system features a rear-facing camera that shows the rearview on the LCD screen in the center control stack to aid backup maneuvers.
The navigation system offers a voice-command system, allowing users to enter addresses verbally instead of manually. While it's a great improvement over keying in information, the technology does take some training, because it requires users to hit the "talk" button on the steering wheel each time they want to speak a command. Then users must wait for a "beep" before speaking, which isn't natural. Despite the quietness of the cabin, the system also has a difficulty hearing the difference between similarly sounding letters such as D and T. Both limitations made the system frustrating to use.
Performance
Lexus rolls out two new V6 engines on the IS. The 2.5-liter engine on the IS 250 offers 204 horsepower and comes with either an automatic or manual transmission. The 3.5-liter engine in the IS 350 delivers 306 horsepower with a 0-to-60 mile-per-hour time of 5.6 seconds. Models equipped with the sequential-shift automatic have steering-wheel-mounted paddles for changing gears.
While we think a manual six-speed still offers the most control and sporting experience, the paddle shifters do a good job of engaging the driver. Unlike many less sophisticated automatic transmissions, the Lexus version is responsive enough to transform a boring commute into a fun driving experience. It adjusts hydraulic pressure electronically for smoother shifts and can even "learn and respond" to driving style, Lexus says.
Still, to compete effectively against the likes of BMW, a six-speed manual is virtually a requirement in the top-end model. Notably, there are few discernible differences in handling and performance between the all-wheel drive version and the rear-wheel drive versions of the IS 250, which we think is a good thing.
The IS is balanced, handles exceptionally well in the curves and isn't fatiguing. It has a stiff ride, but not in an uncomfortable way, and is more fun to drive than most of Lexus' other offerings, which tend to have much softer suspensions. Only those who prefer suppleness over responsiveness might find the suspension too firm.
The IS 350 comes standard with a sophisticated Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management System, which pulls together anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control to anticipate and correct when the car is at the outer limits of handling such as in a skid or a sharp steering maneuver.
For the most part, adapting to the Lexus Is wasn't onerous. The two exceptions are the navigation system's finicky voice recognition program and the keyless start function, which replaces a traditional metal key with a small transmitter and a start/stop engine button. As long as the key fob is in your pocket or a bag, all you have to do is hit the start/stop engine button to power up. This also means that the doors open automatically when approaching the car, which can be very nice on cold days or with rain coming down.
Is the IS 350 For You?
Buy This Vehicle If
You want an entry-level luxury sedan with lots of safety features and creature comforts; you prefer luxury over sport.
Keep Looking If
You prefer an engaging driving experience with more feedback from the road and engine.
Who Fits?
A broad range of adults in the front seats, but the backseat can be a tight fit for more than two.
Options Worth Splurging On
Mark Levinson digital audio system with 14 speakers and surround sound.
Closest Competitors
Acura TL
Audi A4
BMW 3 Series
Infiniti G35
Lincoln Zephyr
Mercedes C-Class
