Lexus IS 2021 Review

This, we’re told, is a fresh direction for Lexus. The 2021 Lexus IS sedan lands in Australia this month as the first proponent of a sportier new brief for the Japanese luxury marque, one that will soon extend to other models within its growing portfolio.

The new Lexus IS renews its fight against the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class with a fresh design, new technology and retuned suspension. While classified as a new-generation model, it also carries over existing engines and a largely unchanged platform.

Let’s see whether the new-look IS has what it takes to topple the German triumvirate.

The new 2021 Lexus IS sedan sees the model range trimmed from nine variants to five, with the range now starting at $61,500 plus on-road costs for the IS 300 Luxury, before topping out at $75,000 plus ORCs for the IS 350 F Sport.

This represents a rise of between $1000 and $1725, although Lexus claims the latest IS series offers much better value given the dozens of new features added across the range.

These include a bigger 10.3-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay – the first time these three elements have been offered on the sedan.

All models are fitted with a number of other firsts for a Lexus vehicle in Australia, including stolen vehicle tracking, emergency steering assist, intersection turning assist, automated collision notification and SOS call.

Base grades are now fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, up from the previous 17-inch rims, and an electric park brake replaces the antiquated foot-operated system.

Safety systems have been boosted further with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) that detects other cars and pedestrians both day and night, and cyclists during the day only. It works between speeds of 10-80km/h for pedestrians/cyclists and 10-180km/h for other vehicles.

All-speed active cruise control adds autonomous acceleration and braking, while lane tracing assist and the aforementioned emergency steering assist and intersection turning assist add autonomous steering functionality.

Also bringing the Lexus IS into line with its European rivals is the fitment of a new road sign assist system, blind spot monitor, parking support brake and rear cross traffic alert and braking, plus LED headlights with automatic high beam.

Smart entry and engine start together with heated and eight-way power-adjustable front seats and dual-zone climate control are designed to make daily driving duties more convenient and are standard on all models, as is a 10-speaker audio system with digital radio, plus sat-nav with live traffic updates and improved voice control.

The Lexus is available with a four-year/100,000km warranty and is also offered with the marque’s Encore subscription, a three-year program inclusive of loan cars, servicing benefits, hotel partnerships and events.

The Lexus IS range is also available with a capped-price servicing program that costs $1485 over three years, based on 12-month/15,000km intervals.

Lexus might have simplified its IS range for 2021, however there’s some familiarity in terms of powertrains.

As before, the Lexus IS 300 Luxury and IS 300 F Sport models are powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine (180kW/350Nm) hooked up to a “retuned” eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Lexus IS 300h Luxury and IS 300h F Sport models are powered by a 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain (133kW/221kW) with a combined output of 164kW and claimed combined-cycle fuel consumption of 5.1L/100km.

The top-spec Lexus IS 350 F Sport features the 3.5-litre V6 (232kW/380Nm), also with an upgraded eight-speed automatic transmission.

All models require 95 RON premium unleaded fuel.

Elsewhere, the IS range receives a comprehensive overhaul aimed at improving its performance on the road, including a 45mm-wider front and 50mm-wider rear track (for better turn-in and stability), improved rigidity courtesy of extra bracing at the front-end and spot welding from front to rear, and additional use of high-strength (and lightweight) steel and aluminium across the body.

The double-wishbone front and multilink rear suspension also now features lighter and stronger components, which were fine-tuned at Lexus’ brand-new technical centre in Shimoyama, Japan.

The IS claimed to be up to 30kg lighter than before despite its new equipment and extra sound-deadening material added for improved refinement. All IS models tip the scales at about 1700kg.

Upon settling into the cabin, it’s clear the new 2021 Lexus IS plays to some traditional Lexus strengths, including an eye for detail in the fitment and presentation of its interior panels, thick carpet, comfortable front seats and quality instrumentation.

The introduction of touch-screen functionality on the larger 10.3-inch centre display is welcome, and promises much more useability than Lexus’ much-maligned touch pad display, which also carries over. In practice, however, we found the touch-screen too far out of reach for most drivers, undermining navigation of its various menus.

In a similar vein, although the latest Lexus IS introduces Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the cabin feels dated in its button-laden presentation.

Two USB ports and plenty of oddment storage ensure the IS caters well for those riding shotgun on long journeys.

The rear seat is a mixed bag. On one hand there’s adequate (though not class-leading) legroom, offset against a huge transmission tunnel, no door pockets whatsoever, no charging ports and limited room in other areas – headroom, shoulder-room and space for the feet under the front seats.

Similarly, the boot area is accessed via a small opening and is impinged upon by boot arms that take up valuable space. At least you get split-fold seats and a spare tyre, although the latter is a space-saver type.

Our time with the new Lexus IS takes in the occasionally rugged back roads of Oberon, Taralga and Goulburn in the NSW Southern Tablelands.

Straight away, the car’s sportier brief is evidenced by more direct steering, confident changes in direction and surefooted body control over ribboning, undulated sections of bitumen.

As ever, the IS enjoys a natural rear-drive bias that feels better exploited with its new-found sportier premise. When pushed, the car reacts to inputs with moderate balance and grace, though it lacks the light-footed attributes and neutrality of the excellent new G20 BMW 3 Series, and from a strict dynamic standpoint, wants for better tyres than the Dunlop SP Sportmaxx rubber fitted.

Thankfully, Lexus hasn’t introduced the sportier brief at the total expense of ride comfort, either. Entry versions of the IS fitted with smaller 18-inch wheels reflect inconsistencies without jarring or crashing, while higher-spec versions with larger 19-inch wheels tend to introduce at-times brittle progress over broken bitumen.

In terms of drivetrains, we spent most of our time in the entry IS 300, and found its four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine well suited to daily conveyance, finding peak torque from a lowly 1650rpm and working suitably with its eight-speed automatic transmission.

Ultimately, the engine’s smaller capacity feels a tad undernourished in terms of outright power and fuel efficiency. During overtaking manoeuvres or headier driving the turbo-petrol felt a bit languid under full throttle, while real-world fuel use hovered close to 10L/100km – more akin to an inline six.

The larger V6 petrol found in the IS 350 F Sport evokes a more soul-stirring climb of the dial, and a broad spread of power, though you could argue whether the additional outlay and fuel consumption are truly justifiable over the four-cylinder.

Conversely, the hybrid option offers adequate performance and went close to achieving its official fuel consumption rating – no small feat given the spirited driving.

All told, the IS feels well resolved over a circa-500km journey. It still doesn’t live up to segment benchmarks dynamically, nor in terms of ride comfort or refinement, undermined by persistent road noise.

The redeeming feature with the 2021 Lexus IS sedan, as ever, is value.

Even though the Japanese luxury marque has made in-roads on the segment dynamically, the truth is that for all the marketing promise, it doesn’t feel eons away from its predecessor.

The entry Lexus IS 300 represents strong value and decent kit for its $61,500 plus ORCs outlay.

Whether that’s enough to raise the stakes against the competitive German triumvirate remains to be seen.

How much does the 2021 Lexus IS 300 Luxury cost?
Price: $61,500 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 180kW/350Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.2/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 191g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)

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