The first avatar of the Lexus IS made its global debut back in 1998. Unfortunately, at that point, it was more of a Toyota with some fancy add-ons than a full-blown Lexus. That changed in a year or so, and this is when the IS truly became a real Lexus. The posh Japanese carmaker realized the need for an entry-level luxury sedan, but it had to be smaller and more affordable than the larger ES sedan. This turned out to be the right move for Lexus, as buyers in the segment soon sweetened up to the IS.
Presently, the third generation Lexus IS, which was launched in 2013, is still around – albeit with some design revisions and added technology. The 2019 Lexus IS is the most up-to-date iteration of the model, though an all-new new one should be on the horizon soon. In the UAE, the Lexus IS competes with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, and Infiniti’s Q50.
Exterior
The exterior styling of the 2019 Lexus IS has started showing its age, especially when compared to some of the newer offerings from the brand. As mentioned earlier, the outgoing third generation IS was introduced in 2013 and since then, there have been no drastic changes in its overall appearance. The front of the IS wears the Lexus hallmark ‘Spindle’ grille, flanked by rather small headlamps with a bi-beam projector. Right below these and on the bumper is the Nike-inspired ‘check mark’ design LED DRLs, and a massive air intake scoop on either side of the sculpted bumper.
The taut and composed side silhouette of the IS portray a sense of dynamism and sportiness. This trait of the IS is further emphasized by the muscular fender flares, smart-looking 18-inch alloy wheels, and a strong shoulder line along with a sporty lower body trim. The back end features a chunky bumper with stylish dual exhausts and air diffuser. The stubby boot with a lip spoiler looks cool, though I’m not quite sure about the design of LED rear lights. The 2019 Lexus IS measures 4.665 meters in length, 1.810 meters in width, 1.430 meters in height, and has a wheelbase of 2.800 meters. Also, the IS’s boot space is actually pretty decent at 480 liters.
Interior
The cabin of the 2019 Lexus IS looks premium, modern, and feels really sturdy. There are some hard plastic bits on the center dash area, though they don’t feel cheap or flimsy. Most of the interior is covered with soft-touch materials, and the soft leather with its stitching looks and feels top-notch, too. The front seats offer enough space and even tall passengers will be fine. However, the rear seats feel a bit cramped, especially in the middle because of the large central tunnel on the floor.
This Lexus sedan is crammed with features, and you get adaptive cruise control, adaptive dampers, auto LED headlights, electric sunroof, ambient lighting, power tailgate, electrically-operated leather seats with ventilation, and a 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. Safety tech includes up to 8 airbags and several passive and active electronic measures as well.
Engine and performance
The Lexus IS can be had with either a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder or 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine. Both come mated to an 8-speed torque converter and send drive exclusively to the rear wheels. The V6 motor makes 312 hp with 375 Nm of torque, and can send the IS to a top speed of 230 km/h, while 100 km/h arrives in 5.8 seconds.
Verdict
Prices for the 2019 Lexus IS range between AED 150,000 to AED 225,000, while insurance costs between AED 3,375 and AED 5,063.
