2007 Lexus IS 350 Road Test

Since it began producing cars, Lexus has always been known for doingjust what its advertising slogan suggests, and that is pushing forward in its “relentless pursuit of perfection.” We’ve driven many examples from the brand, and can safely say that this claim is not merely lip service. Rather, Lexus has always endeavored to build the most luxurious and refined luxury cars around, if not the most engaging. Lexus vehicles have always been competent performers, but sporty? Uh, no. The company seems to have recognized this, and focused their efforts on a willing platform, the IS series. The car was a real change of direction for Lexus in its first iteration—so much so that some people began calling it the Un-Lexus. The new one adds stunning styling and a better interior to the mix, not to mention countless other improvements.

We wanted to test the top dog—the IS 350—to see just how sporting the car really is. It certainly looks the part. It’s a handsome evolution over the previous generation IS 300, offering up a nice balance of rounded edges and sharp creases formulated by Lexus’ L-Finesse design language. It’s a proportionally sound look, and our metallic powder blueexample seemed to complement the car’s aesthetic. With purposeful 18-inch wheels mounted on meaty performance tires, a few eyebrows were raised at various stoplights and café patios. Was this simply an appearance enhancement exercise, or is this baby the real deal?

Getting into the IS did nothing to stimulate the adrenal glands, except for a set of gorgeously large aluminum shift paddles peeking out from behind the steering wheel. Settle into the supple seats, and you feel as if you’re gently being held by an old friend. One feature we grew particularly fond of was the cooled seats; very nice over a few days of hot weather. The sensation you get feels a little odd at first (a little like your pants are damp), but once I got used to it, it was bliss. The only fly in the ointment is the back seat, specifically how little room is present. Staffers not lucky enough to drive or sit shotgun began to miss the front buckets a whole lot, due to the shortness of legroom and thenarrow rear door aperture. As long as your passengers aren’t particularly tall and the driving distances are short, you should be OK.

Typical Lexus fit and finish is present in spades; we defy you to find a surface that has unseemly edges and contours or isn’t finished in quality materials. Dashboard legibility is its usual first rate backlit Optitron self, and navigation and audio controls work so well and intuitively that the owner’s manual may go unread for the life of the car. Speaking of audio systems, the 14-speaker 6-disc DVD-enhanced Mark Levinson sound system is so good that we heard things that we’ve never heard before while listening to our favorite tracks. It remained distortion free up to noise levels that should bode well for hearing aid sales.

Driving around town, the Lexus is a model of docility. You can see, hear and feel the painstaking work the engineers undertook to isolate youfrom the ills of commuter traffic. Impacts are merely a soft thump in the distance, and road and wind noise are startlingly absent, especially for a sport sedan. A leisurely cruise on the highway further reinforces the sensory-deprivation chamber motif, whisking you along in a refined silence so profound you begin to notice the sound of your own breathing. The ride is firmer than other Lexus products we’ve sampled, although never harsh. You begin to wonder if this machine will embarrass itself when you drop the hammer.

The big direct-injected 3.5-liter V6, which felt passive and dainty while cruising, suddenly becomes a broad shouldered linebacker under heavy prodding by an equally heavy right foot. Charging to redline with remarkable alacrity, it hurtles the IS forward in stunning fashion. The 60 mph mark passes by in a hair over 5 seconds, andkeeps on pulling hard well past that.

So the IS 350 has some serious suds under the hood. Thankfully, it’s got a chassis that is quite capable of handling the power. Balance is sublime, and the suspension movements are so well calibrated that we were reminded of a certain brand from Munich that’s particularly skilled at tuning ride and handling. The car has a fierce bite on turn-in, and understeer is pleasingly minimal. The brakes operate with the same precision, offering great feedback and minimal fade. They engaged so quickly yet never felt grabby. Even the steering, which felt a little too light for some, allows you to trace a scalpel precise path of direction.

There were a couple of demerits that kept us from being completely smitten by the IS 350. First on our list is the Orwellian stability control. There’s a switch on the dash that presumably deactivates the system. However, at the first sign of any judicious slip angles or loss of traction (read: fun) it rearms itself while beeping angrily at the driver. It’s not an enjoyable companion when carving up your favorite roads. Speaking of which, you’re better off leaving the transmission in Drive and leaving those beautiful paddles alone. The manumatic mode simply can’t keep up with the racy engine. One of the best kept secrets about this car is the ECT (Electronically Controlled Transmission) switch mounted just below the Start button. It offers Normal, Snow and Power modes. We usually dismiss switches like these as gimmicky, but not this time. While in the Power setting, we noticed a palpable difference in the way the car felt. Not only did it simply sharpen throttle response, it sharpened the wholecar’s response. Despite that, even during the most spirited driving, the IS felt a little too refined, always feeling a touch too distant.

The IS 350 is still a huge departure from the Lexus status quo. It offers a tantalizing taste of what Lexus is capable of when it flexes its sporting muscle. And while this top-line version has plenty of muscle on offer and is always willing to share it, there is still a touch of finesse lacking, or perhaps it is simply a lack of confidence that would take it to the next level, especially in the way VDIM won’t allow YOU to dance along the razor’s edge, despite my feeling that the chassis is a willing partner. Although we’d love a manual gearbox in this car, those that wish to shift their own gears will be able to do so only in the rear-wheel drive IS 250.

Still, the “Un-Lexus” IS 350 is worth a serious look for any sports sedan shopper.