Overdog

What we like:

Drives so convincingly that German rear-wheel drive cars should fear

What we dislike:

It’s not very spacious anywhere at all

Now that we’ve got the boring bits out of the way, what I will say is that this car looks nothing close to boring.

In fact I think it’s styled much more aggressively than a C-Class on AMG line or a 3 Series on M Sport yet retains a proper balance of charm and grace because it’s supplemented by chrome where it counts and features just the right amount of muscular angles with softer flowing lines.

With such promising looks, you ought to have high expectations of the way this thing drives and boy does it deliver. This new engine has been used pretty much wholesale in three different cars now, and each presents a completely different feeling somehow.

Unlike the RX which was too heavy and underpowered or the NX which was a bit of fun the IS feels linear and quick. There’s no real discernible turbo lag and the engine delivers its power in much the same way your anticipation builds as you approach a corner at speeds too fast for common sense.

In either Sport mode (there’s S and S+ for F Sport cars) the steering is well weighted and delivers your commands to the front wheels with precision and ease. Every other journalist whines about numb steering; I’m just going to say that with electric racks these days it’s pointless to talk about it since the few that can afford these cars here don't care too much either.

With the variable suspension in its hardest setting the car’s body movement is extremely well controlled and you can feel the rigidity of the chassis that give you confidence as the tail slides out when you give it the beans around a bend. Properly balanced and easy to control and correct, the IS has evolved into a proper challenger against the likes of the BMW 3 Series.

The engine delivers its 241/350 bhp/Nm without ever hesitating or missing a beat; the 8 speed gearbox shifts much like the one in a BMW so there’s nothing to complain about anywhere. It even sounds reasonably good too plus it’ll save you money where it really counts over the outgoing 2.5l V6.

In essence you get a car that’s happy to slide its tail out whilst being easy to handle, turns in precisely when you’re not being a complete idiot and delivers creamy smooth power whenever you want it. All this paired to the usual refinement and insulation that is a Lexus hallmark and quality as you ride along in perfect comfort once you return the suspension back to its cruising setting.

The only problem – it costs too much.

Credits: Story and Photos by Alvan Sio