Another good review by Alex. I like his review because he touches on prices and reliability when he sums up his reviews unlike most online/magazine reviews. Price and reliability are the two most important factors which are downplayed a lot.
It's nearly 50/50 in the IS250 F-Sport, jumping up to nearly 54% in the front for the IS350 AWD. This is inline with BMW. The 328i is the only 3 series with a perfect 50/50 balance and one you get up to the 335 with xDrive you're at 53% front. As a side note, the 320i is an interesting car for BMW because it's 49.9% up front and 50.1% in the rear.
Nice review, Alex. Really like how you take in a lot of factors and don't just throw out #'s. Always better to hear a qualitative assessment rather than a quantitative one. If I were in the market for a sport sedan the IS would be high on the list, and above its German competitors. Glad I stumbled on your channel.
2001 IS300 owner I still love driving my Lexus. 1st year, 1st GEN IS owner it's come a long way and I'm thrilled!! Lexus gives its all year after year, always improving you have to love that.
Oops, you are correct, I misread the technical documents. Only the F-Sport 350 has the Sport + mode. Lexus does make changes mid-year on occasion, so you should always check with the dealer to see if Lexus has done anything different.
This guy has the most DETAILED and meticulous reviews! He ACTUALLY knows his shit and isn't afraid to kneel down on the pavement and get a little dirty to show us the details. Mad probs!!!
Excellent review, both in objective analysis and camera work. A good point you made is that most drivers are not driving on the track, which makes this car the ideal mix of luxury, sport, comfort and reliability. This review makes me want to consider this as my next car. I currently drive a C class, which is pretty awesome in it's own right.
That is what we were told by Lexus. However since these were pre-production cars you can always check with Lexus to see if there were any last minute changes for the American market.
There was very little tire slip in the IS350 when 0-60 testing and we did note that the 2014 was slower than the 2013 IS350. We do not have an explanation for this delta other than the car tested was a pre-production prototype. In the models Lexus provided (they provided a 335i to test) the BMW was 8/10ths faster to 60 which is a significant number. On the track the BMW's trap speeds were considerably higher in the straights. The Lexus is the better handling and better feeling sedan however.
You mentioned no fog lamps in the US market, but in the grill comparison @ 2:35 the IS250 did have fog lamps. Is this because the IS250 was also pre-production?
The shortest way around a track is usually the fastest. As a result most racing instructors will tell you to use the whole track when it makes sense including running over the red/white portions you see in the video.
As always Alex - awesome review. Having have both the Bimmer and Lexus - thanks for reminding that although the BMW is the ultimate driving machine, it can't beat Toyota in term of reliability.
Those are the standard rims on that model as I recall. You can hop over to Lexus' website for up to date details on options since things weren't 100% firm when this video was shot and some of the cars we were driving were pre-production models that were not "production correct" (That's Lexus-speak) meaning they may have had parts jumbled together on one car.
Because of this review, I am going to get an IS. Going next month, hopefully, to get the IS250 F Sport (IS350 F Sport was too expensive). Thank you for putting out this very detailed review!
The problem is how the IS350's horses are delivered and the torque is a huge factor. In our instrumented testing the IS350 got to 60 in 5.6 while the 335 did it in 4.8 (much lower than BMW's quoted numbers.) It is worth nothing that MotorTrend's comparison resulted in similar number, so it wasn't just us. The reason is the turbo charged engine in the BMW. Turbos tend to create torque and HP "plateaus" instead of peaks which has a big impact on the numbers.
Engine sharing is very common, pretty much every car maker has a longer production cycle for drivetrain parts than chassis and platform parts so you find this in most cars. At least Lexus tossed in new transmissions.
Thanks for a great all round review even to talking about reliability/ownership costs. When you factor in the latter on many euro models the Lexus really stacks up!
Depending on how pre-production the car is, they may not be able to be sold to the public. Often cars of this sort live out their lives with the press or Lexus employees and are then destroyed.
I agree with Dave Dunn. My girlfriend keeps trying to talk me into the Lexus. She has been a Lexus lover and I a German car lover. Since her suggestion I have been researching the IS 350 F sport. (IS 250 6 cyl is too weak in power and torque for the money) 2015 VW GTi has more power and torque. but his review is making me look more at IS 350 F Sport.
yeah. a lot of Toyotas and Lexus' had a 'recall nightmare' in 2009-2010 even on their most cared about cars. after they got a new boss, the grandson of the company's founder, he had to deal with all the trouble but he got the company back on track
@ Mark Alolo yes, lexus is releasing new engine as of next year, these 14 ISs kept the previous IS engines but they will be replaced soon. Lexus announced the new engines earlier this year and they will focus in offering more performance in the F sport trim. There will be a V6 mated to a 6spd manual capable of over 330 hp to be offered in the fsports
I noticed though in the video, you mentioned that the model you were in at about 5:24 was the IS250 F Sport. You said that the current model you were in doesn't come with the Sport+ mode. Was that because it was a pre-production model?
Most cars that get traded-in with so called "performance mods" are sent to auctions/wholesale because people will complain about drive-ability and warranty issues. .Putting an aftermarket suspension and rims affects your alignment, premature and abnormal tire wear. I doubt it helps in performance but only reduces ride comfort which would defeat the purpose of having a sport luxury car. ECU tune has to be done regularly on a dyno or else the car will run rich and have engine knock codes.
@ 5:02, I noticed all the extra space around the 7 inch nav display. Are there other notifications that pop-up in those corners or is that just a waste of space? I just think there is a lot of space to make that screen into a windscreen display. It look so much better.
agreed. one of the most detailed reviews about this car i ve seen. thank for the same. and as davewhodavedunn has put it, it seems that this guy knows what hes talking about and isnt afraid to speak the truth.
Great detailed review! i think the IS does make a compelling competitor to the 3 series but a lot of poeple does not like the look especially if u don't go for F sport styling. I actually prefer the look of last gen IS, it was the best looking car in it's class at its time. I think the biggest let down of new IS is it's transmission, 6 speed is just not good enough. However the same thing cant be said to the engine as both the engine choice are extremely refined and 2.5V6 equals to a 328i
True. I wish they should of done a better job with the navigation. The recall ranges from 2006-2010 for the gs300 and is250. I hope they come out with the turbo 4 already.
I have a question about the IS. Which model has the Sport+ mode? Is it only on the RWD IS350 F Sport? Also, does the 250 F Sport have the LFA Instrument Cluster and does it come in red interior? Sorry for the long question. Just really curious about this car and not many people have responded to me.
In my experience, you need to keep a car for at least 5 years to completely understand it. Unfortunately many people do not get to this point in the driver-to-car relationship cycle because they leased their car or they bought it and traded it for a different car.
Yes, the 335 does have a flatter, wider torque curve, which is nice for the street, but on the track where you spend most of your time in the upper end of the rev range, it doesn't matter very much. That is also an extraordinarily slow 0-60 for the IS. I remember when the 2nd gen came out, most mags were recording times from 4.9 to 5.3. I wonder if they 3rd gen comes with worse rubber and/or if it got heavier in the wrong places... Still I think you were exaggerating the power difference.
This car is spectacular! In all aspects of value for money, it blows other competitors out of the water. You don't get these kind of options/quality/reliability anywhere else for the money. All the negative I hear about this car is with regards to fuel consumption/engine...if you are so concerned with the fuel consumption of the Lexus V6 engine over the other competitors' 4-Cyl turbos, you probably shouldn't be buying a luxury sedan if you can't afford another $500/$1000 a year, stick to a Honda or Kia.
They have to focus on different aspects of the car since cars are so complicated these days. Engines get refreshed every few years when there is actually new tech to put in there.
The latest IS Lexus's look great. My only knock on the IS250 is the engine and interior. Luxury connotes effortlessness and comfort. One aspect of comfort is space. There is no spare space in these cars. Similarly, there is no effortless in the performance. You cant zip across a busy intersection, nor overtake a semi, with ease. The engine must rev high to do things...and high revs = some noise.
Those who are bashing on this car are clearly Ford, GM & Chevy owners who still think we are still living in the muscle car era. Driving a Mustang or a Camaro is no longer cool!
I drive a 3-series, but it seems like Lexus has jumped ahead of BMW with this generation of IS compared to the F30 3'er. At this point, the only reason I'd consider buying an F30 is because it offers a manual gearbox. Automatic? Get the Lexus, it'll be more reliable and from this review, probably more fun to drive.
I laugh at those who compare Lexus with BMW and Mercedes and conclude that Lexus is not a drivers car, etc. While the customers obviously prefer Lexus so that those Germans change their hard core handling machines into softer more comfortable cars. Bad mouth the competition but imitate the competition. LOL!
Fussinated What would you say is overpriced about it? Of course there's a price markup, as is the case with every luxury item in the world, but for a car as reliable as this one with such solid parts I think it's perfectly priced.
i think he meant it as a tongue in cheek response. the IS isn't really comfortable for tall people for its low hanging ceiling. coming from an ex owner of IS
Alex, you contradict yourself. You say the 3 is less confident feeling, Then you immediately state that it is more confident right after that. Which is it? I suspect the lack of steering feel and more body motion in the 3 series leaves it less confidence inspiring.
I watch sports car racing so I do that a lot everyday driving, but one thing I don't know is whether it will hurt the car's suspension overtime. Do you know if there's more advantages than disadvantages driving like that in everyday driving? Such as fuel economy, suspension damage,......Maybe I should stop doing fast turning at edges of intersection?
Another good review by Alex. I like his review because he touches on prices and reliability when he sums up his reviews unlike most online/magazine reviews. Price and reliability are the two most important factors which are downplayed a lot.
It's nearly 50/50 in the IS250 F-Sport, jumping up to nearly 54% in the front for the IS350 AWD. This is inline with BMW. The 328i is the only 3 series with a perfect 50/50 balance and one you get up to the 335 with xDrive you're at 53% front. As a side note, the 320i is an interesting car for BMW because it's 49.9% up front and 50.1% in the rear.
Nice review, Alex. Really like how you take in a lot of factors and don't just throw out #'s. Always better to hear a qualitative assessment rather than a quantitative one. If I were in the market for a sport sedan the IS would be high on the list, and above its German competitors. Glad I stumbled on your channel.
BMW's tend to fall apart after their warranties expire.
tom11zz884 very very true.😌😞👎🏼
2001 IS300 owner I still love driving my Lexus. 1st year, 1st GEN IS owner it's come a long way and I'm thrilled!! Lexus gives its all year after year, always improving you have to love that.
This was one of the best reviews on youtube! Keep up the good work guys
Oops, you are correct, I misread the technical documents. Only the F-Sport 350 has the Sport + mode. Lexus does make changes mid-year on occasion, so you should always check with the dealer to see if Lexus has done anything different.
This guy has the most DETAILED and meticulous reviews! He ACTUALLY knows his shit and isn't afraid to kneel down on the pavement and get a little dirty to show us the details. Mad probs!!!
I think this guy provides the most informative and detailed reviews on the web. Keep up the good work my friend.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST REVIEW VIDEOS I HAVE EVER WATCHED and I've watched PLENTY!
Best test drive/review of the Lexus IS 2014 I've seen so far. Thanks
Excellent review, both in objective analysis and camera work. A good point you made is that most drivers are not driving on the track, which makes this car the ideal mix of luxury, sport, comfort and reliability. This review makes me want to consider this as my next car. I currently drive a C class, which is pretty awesome in it's own right.
That is what we were told by Lexus. However since these were pre-production cars you can always check with Lexus to see if there were any last minute changes for the American market.
Very good and fair review. Probably one of the few people who speaks about reliability in the reviews.
There was very little tire slip in the IS350 when 0-60 testing and we did note that the 2014 was slower than the 2013 IS350. We do not have an explanation for this delta other than the car tested was a pre-production prototype. In the models Lexus provided (they provided a 335i to test) the BMW was 8/10ths faster to 60 which is a significant number. On the track the BMW's trap speeds were considerably higher in the straights. The Lexus is the better handling and better feeling sedan however.
Great review! The stock exhaust sounds really good too.
The detail in this review is awesome!
You mentioned no fog lamps in the US market, but in the grill comparison @ 2:35 the IS250 did have fog lamps. Is this because the IS250 was also pre-production?
The shortest way around a track is usually the fastest. As a result most racing instructors will tell you to use the whole track when it makes sense including running over the red/white portions you see in the video.
All F-Sport models get Sport+ according to the Lexus documentation we have. The 250 F-Sport does get the LFA instrument cluster and the red interior.
The Q50 is very high on the list and it should happen before the end of the year.
I own a 2017 IS200t F-sport (gray with red interior) & its been an excellent car so far & a big improvement over my previous 2015 Toyota Camry XSE V6.
As always Alex - awesome review. Having have both the Bimmer and Lexus - thanks for reminding that although the BMW is the ultimate driving machine, it can't beat Toyota in term of reliability.
Those are the standard rims on that model as I recall. You can hop over to Lexus' website for up to date details on options since things weren't 100% firm when this video was shot and some of the cars we were driving were pre-production models that were not "production correct" (That's Lexus-speak) meaning they may have had parts jumbled together on one car.
Your reviews are great, detailed and in-depth. I enjoy them a lot!keep it up!
Alright. Thanks for the reply. You're the only person to respond to my question and I love that. Great channel and great content!
Gorgeous design inside and out. Lexus dealer here we come to bring one home!
did you ever buy one?
Another great video Alex! You are my favorite auto reviewer.
Wonderful review! Thank you so much. Bonus points on comparing the IS and Sport versions. Really insightful to know the differences.
Because of this review, I am going to get an IS. Going next month, hopefully, to get the IS250 F Sport (IS350 F Sport was too expensive). Thank you for putting out this very detailed review!
Now that's how you do a f****ng review. Extremely well done. That's excellence in action...
I just subscribed to your channel and do appreciate the professional detailed reviews. keep up the good work.
Im going to wait 2 years for this one
I love the shape!
The problem is how the IS350's horses are delivered and the torque is a huge factor. In our instrumented testing the IS350 got to 60 in 5.6 while the 335 did it in 4.8 (much lower than BMW's quoted numbers.) It is worth nothing that MotorTrend's comparison resulted in similar number, so it wasn't just us. The reason is the turbo charged engine in the BMW. Turbos tend to create torque and HP "plateaus" instead of peaks which has a big impact on the numbers.
Love your videos. Top quality material.
Engine sharing is very common, pretty much every car maker has a longer production cycle for drivetrain parts than chassis and platform parts so you find this in most cars. At least Lexus tossed in new transmissions.
I like the way the is looks its unique and sets it aside from the other competitors especially the front end
@ROB NAVAEI its a sports sedan, its not trying to be a full on sports car. For that they made the coupe version the rc-f and rc-f 350.
This man has the gift of gab. Thumbs up
Thanks for a great all round review even to talking about reliability/ownership costs. When you factor in the latter on many euro models the Lexus really stacks up!
Thank you so much for the very articulate review. I don't think you could go wrong with either the 335 or the 350.
Our hope is soon, we understand that there will be an invite only press event in July(ish). Stay tuned to see if we're on the list!
Depending on how pre-production the car is, they may not be able to be sold to the public. Often cars of this sort live out their lives with the press or Lexus employees and are then destroyed.
I agree with Dave Dunn. My girlfriend keeps trying to talk me into the Lexus. She has been a Lexus lover and I a German car lover. Since her suggestion I have been researching the IS 350 F sport. (IS 250 6 cyl is too weak in power and torque for the money) 2015 VW GTi has more power and torque. but his review is making me look more at IS 350 F Sport.
yeah. a lot of Toyotas and Lexus' had a 'recall nightmare' in 2009-2010 even on their most cared about cars. after they got a new boss, the grandson of the company's founder, he had to deal with all the trouble but he got the company back on track
Excellent review!
Very nice review!!!
that's what makes your videos great. keep up the good work. subbed. :)
im loving the pre production cars!! they look soo good!!do they sell to public?
@ Mark Alolo yes, lexus is releasing new engine as of next year, these 14 ISs kept the previous IS engines but they will be replaced soon. Lexus announced the new engines earlier this year and they will focus in offering more performance in the F sport trim. There will be a V6 mated to a 6spd manual capable of over 330 hp to be offered in the fsports
I feel cheated. Who else stole our idea for the exclusive Trunk Comfort Index?
Very nice review this is how they should be done!
Thank you for the in-depth answer regarding 50/50 weight-specs.
Best review / thank you! I'm seriously considering this car after this
I noticed though in the video, you mentioned that the model you were in at about 5:24 was the IS250 F Sport. You said that the current model you were in doesn't come with the Sport+ mode. Was that because it was a pre-production model?
great reviews!
haha the trunk comfort lol wtf
i remember driving my ex's ES once, it was as soft as tofu. i had an 2009 IS and it was still tofu, just extra hard sofa.
Best review I ever seen
Most cars that get traded-in with so called "performance mods" are sent to auctions/wholesale because people will complain about drive-ability and warranty issues. .Putting an aftermarket suspension and rims affects your alignment, premature and abnormal tire wear. I doubt it helps in performance but only reduces ride comfort which would defeat the purpose of having a sport luxury car. ECU tune has to be done regularly on a dyno or else the car will run rich and have engine knock codes.
great review! so informative!
hey that's actually a great idea! i'd love to see the two present together
excellent insight and commentary! thx!
Thank goodness you can fit a body in the back
@ 5:02, I noticed all the extra space around the 7 inch nav display. Are there other notifications that pop-up in those corners or is that just a waste of space? I just think there is a lot of space to make that screen into a windscreen display. It look so much better.
10:00 8/10 trunk comfort score... for the Mofia segment.. great review.
agreed. one of the most detailed reviews about this car i ve seen. thank for the same. and as davewhodavedunn has put it, it seems that this guy knows what hes talking about and isnt afraid to speak the truth.
Great detailed review! i think the IS does make a compelling competitor to the 3 series but a lot of poeple does not like the look especially if u don't go for F sport styling. I actually prefer the look of last gen IS, it was the best looking car in it's class at its time. I think the biggest let down of new IS is it's transmission, 6 speed is just not good enough. However the same thing cant be said to the engine as both the engine choice are extremely refined and 2.5V6 equals to a 328i
I was in a busy parking lot. Needless to say that people look at you very strangely when you hop in a trunk and close the lid...
True. I wish they should of done a better job with the navigation. The recall ranges from 2006-2010 for the gs300 and is250. I hope they come out with the turbo 4 already.
Could you do a more comprehensive review just on the IS 350 F-Sport model on road and a review of their infotainment system?
I have a question about the IS. Which model has the Sport+ mode? Is it only on the RWD IS350 F Sport? Also, does the 250 F Sport have the LFA Instrument Cluster and does it come in red interior? Sorry for the long question. Just really curious about this car and not many people have responded to me.
Road and track clock the 2007 IS 350 doing 0-60 in 4.8 1/4 mile at 13.5 seconds and the 2008 BMW 335i at 4.8 seconds 1/4 mile at 13.4 seconds.
In my experience, you need to keep a car for at least 5 years to completely understand it. Unfortunately many people do not get to this point in the driver-to-car relationship cycle because they leased their car or they bought it and traded it for a different car.
I love how you have to curl up in that trunk in every review. Excellent review though, as always.
Yes, the 335 does have a flatter, wider torque curve, which is nice for the street, but on the track where you spend most of your time in the upper end of the rev range, it doesn't matter very much.
That is also an extraordinarily slow 0-60 for the IS. I remember when the 2nd gen came out, most mags were recording times from 4.9 to 5.3. I wonder if they 3rd gen comes with worse rubber and/or if it got heavier in the wrong places...
Still I think you were exaggerating the power difference.
Great review. I would love to see you do a joint review with Cooley
Great review...the Lexus stereos are indeed distracting
This car is spectacular! In all aspects of value for money, it blows other competitors out of the water. You don't get these kind of options/quality/reliability anywhere else for the money. All the negative I hear about this car is with regards to fuel consumption/engine...if you are so concerned with the fuel consumption of the Lexus V6 engine over the other competitors' 4-Cyl turbos, you probably shouldn't be buying a luxury sedan if you can't afford another $500/$1000 a year, stick to a Honda or Kia.
thats right good point
Or get a bmw that is faster and provides better mpg ;)
did you get the car? if you did how is it going? how do you like it so far?
very good review thank you.
They have to focus on different aspects of the car since cars are so complicated these days. Engines get refreshed every few years when there is actually new tech to put in there.
The moment the Q50 is available, please review it. Particularly the Q50AWD, and the Hybrid.
The latest IS Lexus's look great. My only knock on the IS250 is the engine and interior. Luxury connotes effortlessness and comfort. One aspect of comfort is space. There is no spare space in these cars. Similarly, there is no effortless in the performance. You cant zip across a busy intersection, nor overtake a semi, with ease. The engine must rev high to do things...and high revs = some noise.
Any idea on when you guys will get to test the 2014 Q50?
The F-Sport has significant chassis upgrades and aesthetic changes... Although it does seem a little pricey for what you get.
Those who are bashing on this car are clearly Ford, GM & Chevy owners who still think we are still living in the muscle car era. Driving a Mustang or a Camaro is no longer cool!
I drive a 3-series, but it seems like Lexus has jumped ahead of BMW with this generation of IS compared to the F30 3'er. At this point, the only reason I'd consider buying an F30 is because it offers a manual gearbox. Automatic? Get the Lexus, it'll be more reliable and from this review, probably more fun to drive.
great review thx
I laugh at those who compare Lexus with BMW and Mercedes and conclude that Lexus is not a drivers car, etc. While the customers obviously prefer Lexus so that those Germans change their hard core handling machines into softer more comfortable cars. Bad mouth the competition but imitate the competition. LOL!
stupid comment
get lost
basel pc
Idiotic response without content.
You are already lost.
basel pc
LOL! you don't even have clue what you are talking about.
Fussinated What would you say is overpriced about it? Of course there's a price markup, as is the case with every luxury item in the world, but for a car as reliable as this one with such solid parts I think it's perfectly priced.
Doesn't the 335i X-Drive also hold a heftier price tag as well once you load it? Doesn't the IS pan out slightly cheaper when adding all the packages?
i think he meant it as a tongue in cheek response. the IS isn't really comfortable for tall people for its low hanging ceiling. coming from an ex owner of IS
lexus has came a long way but i like old school even though new lexus are bigger
Not "yet" is the answer.
can't wait till tom's get their hand on one of these.
Alex, you contradict yourself. You say the 3 is less confident feeling, Then you immediately state that it is more confident right after that. Which is it? I suspect the lack of steering feel and more body motion in the 3 series leaves it less confidence inspiring.
The BMW feels heavier. It's faster and ultimately faster around a track than the IS, but the feel isn't quite as precise.
Alex - can you review the infiniti q50/s at some point and compare it to this car?
I watch sports car racing so I do that a lot everyday driving, but one thing I don't know is whether it will hurt the car's suspension overtime. Do you know if there's more advantages than disadvantages driving like that in everyday driving? Such as fuel economy, suspension damage,......Maybe I should stop doing fast turning at edges of intersection?
Does the car feature an automated service reminder like for example BMW's?