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08 February 2012
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Lexus IS road tests and consumer car reviews
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Lexus IS road test reports and car reviews. Submit your own review of the Lexus IS, read other driver's opinions or visit the best road test web sites available on the web.
Lexus IS consumer reviews by year of make: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Questions
- "How many gallons per mile on is 250?" (Mike, 12/04/2011 08:56:39)
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Syed Badshah, England
Lexus IS TD SE - SATNAV, Media Pack 2007
I feel that Lexus is not a brand well known by most in Europe. In the middle east and states it is a Niche Car to own and Lexus owners impose their staus by putting their keys on the table at a party etc.. Hehe. I have driven many cars including BMW, Mercs, Audi not forgetting Honda accord and Toyota. Lexus IS is a driving sensation. Handling: - Very good Comfort - Very Good, Luxury - Very Good, Performance - Very Good, and fuel economy very good as well on average give about 38 - 43 MPG and I am someone who is a performance driver. I have read many negative reviews. If you buy a car from new then complain if it doesn’t deliver. Making an opinion after buying a second hand car isn’t fair ’cos there may be many small technical issues which may vey well be overlooked. In general The EGR valve are faulty in the Lexus causing delayed turbo set in and a discomforting gear box. Get the egr valve checked out if that is okay with the injectors then no problems.
Submitted: 21/02/2011 22:34:58 | ID: 7143
David, France
Lexus IS IS220d 2007
Just jumped out of my 180,000km 2006 BMW 530d into the 40,000km Lexus for a test drive and what a disappointment. No go at low revs. Clutch not nice at all and gearbox not slick. ’A’ pillar in my face. No reversing sensors. No folding rear seats. Is it just me??? Otherwise good. Pleased to get back into my BMW for the 400km drive home.
Submitted: 06/01/2011 13:26:52 | ID: 6787
Seb, Berkshire
Lexus IS IS 220 SE-L Multimedia 2008
I’ve done the 3 top marques Audi, BMW, Mercedes and even an X-type Jag. I was going to go back to a 3 series when I read an article on a IS 2nd Gen. I remember thinking at the time the IS first came out that design really should be what the new 3 series should have looked like. I saw an ad for a SE-L with multimedia and that was it!! I love my gadgets and this had them coming out of its ears (or doors) Mark Levinson 15 speaker sound system 300 watts (5.1 Surround Sound DVD) reversing camera with park assist, voice activation (not as good as Jaguars’) cooled seats , auto rear sunblind the list is endless. The car itself does the job adequately, the weak points are really poor fuel economy my 220 cdi AUTO Merc got 10 MPG more on combined, although the 0-60 makes up for it being 2 seconds quicker, but again pulling away in 1st is a no goer until the turbo kicks in. Handling and ride are good, but not superb, build quality good but some poor design faults. I have to keep this car for two years before looking at changing it, I think that in that time I will enjoy it and it won’t let me down (touch wood) but it won’t inspire me, what the journalists have written is right, it’s an almost ran very close to the 3 Series but just no cigar.
Submitted: 09/09/2010 23:26:38 | ID: 6090
Steve Ireland, Wiltshire
Lexus IS SE 2006
Looking to replace my car with a Lexus, love its looks, lots of road presence. Fabulous dash but what a disapointment to drive! Sluggish acceleration with horrible turbo lag, 6th gear is a joke as when in it and you put your foot down the car vibrates horribly and speed goes up not at all. On the plus side roadholding good, in fact everything about this car is great except for the engine and gearbox! I’m afraid I’ll be sticking with the Jaguar x Type for now as its far more responsive and you can accelerate in any gear immediately!
Submitted: 23/08/2010 22:45:06 | ID: 5977
Gordon Cook, Stirlingshire
Lexus IS 220 SE Nav 2009
Plenty of grunt from the engine but not as much as you’d expect from nearly 180bhp and I’d prefer a little stiffer suspension but that’s my choice and you cannot deny that it’s comfortable to drive. Fuel economy is typically about 32 mpg for rural driving which I think is poor and with really careful driving you can only get that to about 36 and I’m in the IAM if that convinces anyone I’m not a boy racer. AS for 6th gear you’ll need to be doing 70 before going for it as the gearing is all wrong. (Why have a car that can only go into top gear when at the legal speed limit?) The boot space is poor, to the point of one large suitcase and that’s about it - you will NOT be getting two cases in it, but that’s mainly due to the low lid and had they made a hatchback this would have been resolved. This car with a couple of tweeks could be very good, but until they sort the bootlid and fuel economy I won’t be getting another one.
Submitted: 10/04/2010 22:34:35 | ID: 4966
Lar Howes, Northumberland
Lexus IS 2.2td 2010
Just bought the car, fantastic drive. Traded in an Audi A4 tdi. It handles great fuel econ fine, head turner, loads of power, loads of fun, total comfort on long journeys, leaves the old Audi for dust, the boot is small but hey how often do you fill a boot? Insurance group fine for type of car. No complaints.
Submitted: 22/03/2010 10:36:56 | ID: 4856
Albert Holehouse, England
Lexus IS 2006
The IS 220d se is my first diesel car I have owned, it’s only done 30 000 miles and it blows out blue smoke intermittently. Lexus put piston rings in and it is still doing it, now they say it could be the 5 injectors.
Submitted: 04/03/2010 10:36:23 | ID: 4769
Danyal Rana, England
Lexus IS 2008
Well, if you’re looking for an automatic Lexus IS 250 - here it is. All you need to do is keep the keys in your pocket and drive it! And also the person who has the keys can only open the doors and boot. It includes vents at back and front, also the seats are so cormfortable. It even has 8 speakers, air conditioning and a sat nav; not forgetting the radio!!!
Submitted: 27/08/2009 08:37:37 | ID: 3484
Bilal Rana, Hampshire
Lexus IS ss 2008
I absolutely love this car.
Submitted: 21/08/2009 08:32:45 | ID: 3457
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Graham Daniels, England
Lexus IS 220 SE 2008
If you want a car with a real quality fit and finish that looks good this car is for you. If you want a drivers car, forget it. When you need to pull away from rest quickly it takes an eternity until the turbo comes in. It is soggy around twisty roads and we cannot get near the MPG quoted whereas we can with our Audi. I had to get the RAC out when it the turbo pipe fell off and the dealer has still has not replied as to why it was not spotted during the service.
Submitted: 23/03/2009 10:21:05 | ID: 2689
Linda Riches, Nottinghamshire
Lexus IS 2006
Wonderful car to drive - holds the road as if it were on tracks. Great acceleration; very responsive, no worry when overtaking. Have done over 30K in two years and it has never let me down.
Submitted: 30/12/2008 15:39:51 | ID: 2327
Phil, Leicestershire
Lexus IS IS220D 2006
My first diesel and first Lexus. I’ll own another diesel but never another Lexus. Dealership issues aside, the car has proved to be woeful in terms of boot space, (worsened by the lack of split fold rear seats), and mediocre fuel economy. When the IS250 Auto performs virtually identically, why bother with expensive diesel? The car has plenty of gadgets to keep you occupied, but then so does every other car these days. What matters is the relationship between the owner and the dealer. That has been found wanting in so many ways for me; from the day it was collected and hadn’t been valeted with chewing gum stuck on the ashtray and reluctance to admit the problem with the 5th injector. If Lexus want to win their share of the quality compac exec market, they need to work a damn sight harder at it, because I’m going back to one of the big four.
Submitted: 31/07/2008 16:33:55 | ID: 1727
Chris Tavare, Norfolk
Lexus IS 2.2 IS 220d SE-L 2007
This is an attractive and well constructed car. It handles very well. The driving position is excellent and there is a definite feel of "quality" that surrounds the IS. There is a sixth gear available but it is ineffectual at under 85 miles per hour so there are few (legal) occasions on which it can be used. The minus points of the IS include the small boot and the lack of legroom for passengers in the back seats. The fuel economy also leaves a lot be desired, I am getting around 30 miles to the gallon when I expected 40 plus.
Submitted: 01/05/2008 10:55:39 | ID: 1392
Bob Hyde, Devon
Lexus IS 220D SE 2006
The IS220D SE is my first Lexus and it definitely won't be my last. This car is simply superb. Motorway cruising is effortless and the six speed gear box delivers super low revs at high speeds. The motor magazines are just wrong in their reviews about this car. Buy one!
Submitted: 25/02/2008 10:05:11 | ID: 1062
Olu Sokoya, Buckinghamshire
Lexus IS SE Sport 2007
Classy, understated, professional and clearly exemplary up-market image. Gearing and driving needs to be appreciated in a slghtly different way. More powerful, luxurious, comfortable and reliable than all established european rivals. Had a 54 reg Honda Accord before and this car eclipses it effotlessly. Only those in denial of real quality and impressive road manners would ignore the Lexus IS. It is a gem on the road, a beauty to behold, graceful to the eye and an awesome competitor to all rivals. It’s looks says it all - "Bring it on...Europe..Ha"
Submitted: 02/01/2008 16:25:41 | ID: 885
Simon Young, Essex
Lexus IS 220 SE 2007
Beats the boring BMW hands down and is more than capable of beating of Mercedes, Audi ect without too much of a fight. The only things i would have liked is reversing Sensors as standard on this spec as the boot is high and the rear window small.
Submitted: 23/11/2007 09:17:51 | ID: 745
Donald Thompson, Lancashire
Lexus IS 220D SE
Best car I have driven for a long time, so effortless, but could be geared better. Travel at 70MPH and revs are 1600. It even has air conditioned seats as standard. The instrumentation is really snazzy. Best of all, long journeys are effortless. The front seats are huge. Down side, not a lot of room in the rear. Test drive one and you wont be disappointed.
Submitted: 22/10/2007 09:21:44 | ID: 327
Neil Robinson, Surrey
Lexus IS SE
Don’t believe what they say in the magazines, drive one of these cars before taking anything else. Smooth powerful diesel, superb quality and service that the others would do well to try and emulate. I have really enjoyed my IS and would not want to change. SO nice not having to pay for lots of options too!!!
Submitted: 04/10/2007 16:46:21 | ID: 276
Nigel Moore, East Anglia
Lexus IS Lexus IS 250
Having previously had 3 Audi’s before purchasing my Lexus I have to say I don’t think I will ever buy any other make of car again. The drive is smooth, the interior comfortable and it’s so much more fun to drive. Definitely a good buy.
Submitted: 07/08/2007 10:28:50 | ID: 30
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