Lexus builds the IS sports sedan to challenge the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. But we'll cut to the chase: Forget it; the IS doesn't even come close to the German pair's ride and handling prowess, fun to drive character, technology features, or luxury appeal. Add in the IS's cramped interior and mediocre fuel economy, and it's clear that Lexus phoned this one in. Its best qualities are quintessential Lexus assets like reliability and customer service.
Here's what's good about the IS: it has eye-catching styling and a smooth V6 that's quiet and refined. Still, while the IS 300's engine provides competitive performance that keeps pace with its peers, its paltry 20 mpg overall is even worse than some three-row SUVs. New for the 2016 model year, a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine replaces the previous 2.5-liter V6. But if you want all-wheel drive you're forced to get the IS 300 with its 255-hp, 3.5-liter V6, which is what we tested.
Sporty handling should be the main event in a sports sedan but, alas, that's not the case here. While body roll is fairly well contained, the IS isn't particularly agile and its responses are rather ordinary, missing the nimbleness that makes a car fun to drive. That's true on the road and carries over to the track.
Sedans in this segment are also supposed to deliver a comfortable ride. You might think that Lexus skewed the car toward a luxurious ride at the expense of handling, but that's not the case. The IS's ride comfort is neither plush nor tied down and feels needlessly jittery.You'll also be disappointed if you expect the quietness of a typical Lexus. The IS 300's road noise creates a din that's not befitting a $48,000 car.
Don't be dazzled by the center infotainment screen, either. Interacting with it proves tedious and distracting. An optional fussy, mouse-like controller found in other Lexus models is used for audio, phone and navigation functions. At least you get some steering wheel shortcuts, but they're limited. Instead of streamlining things, the infotainment system becomes a game of cat and mouse, with a small, tricky-to-hit landing area on the screen for each clickable function.
Even by the modest standards of the sports sedan class, the interior is extremely tight. The narrow cabin, wide center console, and large overhanging dashboard caused many of us to feel cramped and closed-in. The front seats are comfortable enough, but not up to par with the better competitors and they lack height-adjustable lumbar support. Making matters worse is the lump on the floor that protrudes into the driver's right leg on all-wheel-drive versions.
The litany of shortcomings doesn't stop there. In-cabin storage is inadequate. Simply getting in and out of this low-slung car is an ungraceful chore. Passengers will feel like they're donning skinny jeans as they try to get into the tight confines of the rear seat. And interior ambience and fit and finish are nice enough, but not a standout for the class.
In the end, despite a few virtues, the IS scores too low to be recommended.