2006 Motor Trend COTY Finalist: 2006 Lexus IS
Japanese Warrior Steps Back Into The Ring
In 2000, Lexus introduced the original IS--the 215-horsepower IS 300--as a Japanese alternative to the BMW 3 Series. While it never beat the BMW head to head, the first-generation IS was nonetheless a success for Lexus, establishing a sporty, compact, rear-drive car for the brand, which in turn brought younger customers into the showrooms. Fast-forward six years, and Lexus is once again trying to knock the 3 Series off its pedestal. Lexus has come equipped with the right weapons this time around.
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Case in point: the 306-horse IS 350, which outguns its BMW rival, the 330i, by 51 horsepower. Equipped with a standard six-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddles (a six-speed manual is available only on the 204-horse IS 250) the IS 350 ripped from 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds and through the quarter mile in 13.9 ticks at 102.5 mph. Those figures place the IS 350 at least a half-second ahead in each category. Fortunately, the IS has a chassis capable of reining in all those horses, evidenced by its 0.86 g on the skidpad and a 65.0 mph average through the slalom. While numbers can't speak for how the car feels to the driver, the IS 350 did impress on curvy mountain roads, where it was deemed quicker than anything else here.
That said, many were less impressed with the IS's electronic nannies, which occasionally intervened uninvited during aggressive driving, and the overly firm ride that abruptly relayed every road detail. When not being driven hard--a difficult feat in this car--the IS 350 is a posh place to enjoy the latest and greatest in interior accoutrements, which include heated/ventilated seats, a 14-speaker Mark Levinson DVD-audio setup, and a navigation system with voice activation, Bluetooth technology, and a backup camera. The new IS is maybe the biggest improvement from a previously existing vehicle. But for Car of the Year, maybe just isn't enough.
