Lexus IS350 AWD – Test Drive, Ratings, Reviews, Spec

An Aspiration for Perfection

While the IS series has floated around market space for nearly three quarters of a century, it is the 3rd and latest generation that Lexus put serious devotion into delivering a sports sedan that held true to its words. It’s got all the qualities that complies with the luxury model. But most importantly, its mechanics have been re-designed from ground level up to promise a harmonized balance of driving comfort and performance.

It is the BMW 3 series that defined the definition of what a sports sedan should be. With that said, they’ve been rightfully awarded with the gain in popularity status. But that’s the past and with the emergence of new technology and design trends, the Lexus IS series jumps the gun and steps in the competition pool with added heat.

New for the 2017 model includes an enhanced front Lexus signature spindle front grille, and all trims now come equipped with the Lexus Safety System+ as standard, which includes: Pre-Collision System (PCS); Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assist; Intelligent High Beam (IHB); and High-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system is also available.

Other cosmetic enhancements include a more sculptured front hood, new headlamps, a larger air intake in the front bumper for improved aerodynamics and down force. A 10.3 inch infotainment system is also available for upgrade and more color choices along with new stitching pattern on the steering wheel is also available.

Exterior and Cabin Design

The Lexus IS is a thing of visual seduction with plenty of distinctive design elements. Up front encompasses an eccentric front headlamp design with razor-shaped chrome plated outlines, a massive symmetric Z-shaped front grille, heavily encrusted front bumper contours accompanied by a pair of circular fog lamps. Visual excitement continues on its side with with its sleek window contours, low hanging side-panels and a low reverse-parabolic contour line converging with the rear wheel-wells. Out in the back, details are concluded and toned down but still hold a distinctive parallel LED strips on its tail lights, a faux-spoiler and a subtle chrome-plated exhaust pipe. All in all, the Lexus IS is a display of exquisite design and a visual enticement of automotive aggression.

Interior space is an aurora of comfort and quality with beautifully trimmed leather seating material, quality panel material and a generally well laid-out cabin controls. Standing up on its front center panel is a 7″ Infotainment display with a fully ensuite of audio entertainment system, bluetoothe and phone connectivity, navigation and historical trip and fuel information. This is all controlled by a haptic-controlled center control knob which is essentially a control knob on a track pad. And while it’s a fancy way of navigating through all the menus on the infotainment system, its responsiveness and ease of use was questionable in my experience.

Driving position pertains a tightened sports-car like position with relaxed lateral support for improved comfort. The steering wheel is wrapped with perforated leather material that’s both soft but durable to the touch. Audio, cruise control and paddle shifters are also mounted on the steering wheel.

With a short wheel base of 2,670mm, its performance-designed chassis compromises a bit for available legroom in the rear seats. But nevertheless, it’s still manageable for two adults in the back seats.

Performance and Driving Impression

Available trim models include the 241 horsepower 4-cylinder turbo charged IS 200T RWD, a 255 horsepower 3.5L V6 AWD, or the highest performing 306 horsepower IS350 AWD. Exclusive to the IS 200t is an eight-speed Sport Direct Shift (SPDS) automatic transmission that integrates advanced G-force Artificial Intelligence (G-AI) system to choose gears intuitively

Suspension setup employs double wishbone with oil springs and gas-pressurized shock absorbers and independent multi-link in the rear. Punch of the throttle, acceleration is quick to respond and acceleration feels close to its claimed horsepower rating. Steering is also well-tuned with tight control and precision for both sharp turns and agility. When thrown around corners, IS remains well behaved and composed with minimal body roll. And this is a positive trait of a well-designed chassis with minimal flex points. Shift between its 6 gear transmission is sharp and even outperforms other competitors with dual-clutch systems out there in terms of smoothness and responsiveness.

Surprisingly, the IS350 provides a good level of comfort under normal driving routine. It’s got a quiet cabin space and its suspensions are capable of delivering a smooth ride when not under pressure. Though a good balance between performance and comfort, there options out there that make the an even finer balance with dynamic-tuned suspension damping systems like the Cadillac Magnetic Ride Control suspensions.

The Lexus IS350 AWD F-Sport model is the top of the line its class with a hefty price tag of $55,424 to drive this bad boy out of the lot. With that said, having AWD capability is always a nice feature to have for climate immunity. And even in damp weather, the added traction helps. But it’s just simply not as fun as its RWD counterpart with the ability to flick its rear tail. And with a more direct mechanical path between the engine shaft and its rear wheel, increase in power output can be realized. Opting for the RWD sibling won’t save you a lot though as its MSRP is stamped at 44,025 for the F-Sport package. Regardless of either option, the Lexus IS350 is a fun car to drive and will most definitely, hold no regrets for any purchaser of this fine automotive specimen.