A real winner has the complete make-up to get them over the line, and with the 2021 Lexus IS you get the best athlete in the bunch who delivers the x-factor when and where it matters.  I love the new Lexus IS and here I’ll tell you why.

Looks: Having had a crisp tweak in the looks department, I was worried that the next generation IS was going to lose the stunning lines and detailing that the outgoing model had.  The good news is that the last generation looks were so good that Lexus hasn’t altered this template too much but brought a fresh makeover that keeps these attractive, athletic lines and evolved them a bit more.  Unlike BMW, who seems to go for a bender and change its brand-new model’s looks excessively, and sometimes scarily so, Lexus has taken a more stable approach in their design updates.  I think that most of you will agree that when it comes to impact, Lexus has hit the jackpot and maintained the breath-taking edges, lines and magical proportions of its 2021 IS range.  It’s a very complete exterior design, well proportioned, exciting and flowing, and always a little racy.

Interior: Sometimes you get a little disappointed when you step away from experiencing an amazing exterior on the outside of a car and then enter into a rather dull or flat-looking interior design.  Not so with Lexus!  You slip inside a premium interior space that is elegant, unique, and special.  To compete in a class segment that is very cutthroat, Lexus brings the right mix of vibrance, luxury and modern technology to the new IS interior.  The cabin of the new Lexus IS is a lovely place to be and you always feel like you’re inside a premium brand that’s right up there with the best of them and right up to date with all the technology you need on a day-to-day basis.  The dash design is beautiful, the seats gorgeous and the cabin ambience is written in luxury.

Engine: You’re never short on power when driving a Lexus IS.  The engines are silky smooth, bulletproof and responsive.  Choosing a Toyota drivetrain is never going to end up a sob story; Toyota are masters in engineering perfection, and with Lexus heralding Toyota’s very best engines you are in safe hands.  Reliability is second to none in the flagship Lexus brand, so settle back and enjoy the journey.

The 2021 Lexus IS300 Luxury Auto and the 2021 Lexus IS300 F Sport Auto use a 2.0-litre Turbo DOHC with VVT.  This 95-ULP engine puts out a peak power of 180 kW at 5800 rpm and then blends this with a lusty 350 Nm of torque in the mid-range.  This engine is silky smooth, punchy and gets down to business when you really want it to move.  Boasting a grippy RWD chassis, a supple ride and slick gear changes via an 8-speed sports automatic gearbox, these are lovely small sedans to drive.

The 2021 Lexus IS300h Luxury Auto and the Lexus IS300h F Sport Auto are the two hybrid variants.  What Lexus have done to power these two extremely efficient models is put a 2.5-litre 95-ULP motor with a 105 kW output and marry this with electric propulsion to make a combined maximum of 133 kW in total.  The delivery of power is fluent and responsive, and there is enough grunt to see you covering the ground quickly when you need to.  There is a maximum of 221 Nm of torque, which is more than enough for most everyday tasks and will suit most drivers.  However, the hybrid versions of the stylish IS Sedan have a party piece that everyone will love, and that is that these two models drink gasoline very lightly and boast an average fuel consumption of around 5-to-5.5 litres/100 km.  Who’s not going to like that?  CO2 emissions are also very low at an average of 116g/km.

Those who like to go nuts, take things up to the next level and experience the thrill of maximum speed and acceleration, will opt for the truly exciting 2021 Lexus IS350 F Sport Auto.  Packing a 232 kW power punch and combining that with 380 Nm of torque at 4900 rpm, this is the driving enthusiast’s choice.  Lexus says up to 210kW is achieved with just 2100 rpm on the dial.  The DOHC 3.5-litre 95- ULP VVT 6-cylinder engine is as sweet as sugar and as fiery as a hot chili pepper.  Sure, there are M-Sport versions of a BMW that boast greater power outputs, but the supple chassis, the smooth ride, the comfortable seats, the RWD poise, the 8-speed sports automatic, the sexy looks, the eager acceleration and the swift cruising ability make this the small sports-luxury sedan I’d choose any day over a BMW or Mercedes sports-luxury alternative.  But, that’s my preference, and it may not be yours.  The IS350 F Sport can scamp through to 100 km/h in around 7 seconds and run onto a top out at 230 km/h.  The F Sport also comes standard with adaptive dampers for optimum driving versatility, as well as a set of staggered 19-inch alloy wheels for loaded grip.

Safety: Top notch, 10 airbags, load limiters, seat-belt pre-tensioners, a vehicle tracking system, ABS, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, collision warning and avoidance systems, blind spot sensors, pedestrian detection and avoidance, 360 degree camera coverage, collision mitigation – reversing with braking, cross traffic alert, driver attention detection, a first aid kit, lane departure warning, active lane keeping assist, parking assistance with a graphical display, electronic brake force distribution, a hill holder assist mechanism and lots more…  Good IIHS crash-test ratings across the board give you the peace of mind when driving an IS.

Technology:  Loaded!  Everything you need and more is either at your fingertips, under voice control or present and correct for use when required.  Aux Input Sockets, Aux Input USB Sockets, Bluetooth connections, a multi-function control Screen, a CD Player, a DVD Player, Digital Radio Receiver (DAB+), a 10 Speaker Stereo (awesome!), a colour digital driver’s display, GPS (Satellite Navigation), speed zone reminders, road sign recognition, a trip computer, a tyre pressure sensor system, 2-zone climate control, front and rear cup holders, distance control, entry/exit with fade out lights, footwell lamps at the front, illuminated vanity mirrors for driver and front passenger, keyless start – key/fob and proximity related, map/reading lamps front and rear, a starter button, voice recognition, premium upholstery, heated leather seats with memory functions and more are all standard features.

Drive:  Overall, the 2021 Lexus IS experience is premium, tending towards a ride that has plenty of luxury and comfort.  The powertrain is wonderfully relaxing and quiet out on the highway, with outstanding stability from the chassis and suspension.  The ride is very comfortable, especially compared with some of its sport-focused rivals.  This is a very smooth, swift and stable car to drive.

Check out a new 2021 Lexus IS, and you’ll see why it is one of the most striking and alluring designs in its class.  The small luxury sedan really captures your attention, with its distinctive sharp edges and sophisticated details always looking nice.  This is a sharp and distinctive Japanese design and it offers a range of excellent engines throughout the range.  You can bet on Lexus’s rock-solid build quality.

The 2021 Lexus IS models include the:

• Lexus IS300 Luxury Auto
• Lexus IS300 F Sport Auto
• Lexus IS300h Luxury Auto
• Lexus IS300h F Sport Auto
• Lexus IS350 F Sport Auto

For any more information on a new Lexus IS or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Lexus dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!