What Car? Readers Check Out the New Lexus IS

The folks at What Car? recently brought in readers to check out the new Lexus IS 300h and asked them to share their first impressions.

(The reactions were extremely positive — the only complaint was rear headroom.)

Watch the What Car? IS Reader test

Comments

http://www.facebook.com/LexusandThePursuit WorldofLuxury

Looks like rear headroom is not easy to fix. The new car has an awkward roofline, and it is still a bit tight. I assume these people are very tall.
BlackDynamiteOnline

I have 3 problems with the car:

1. The interior/dash only comes in black. Considering it will basically be a $40k+ car, I’d want more color. Actually reminds me more of 80′s interiors. Strikes of cost-cutting

2. A “sports sedan” with no manuals? Why not carry over from last year? the base engine is the same…..

3. The extra inlets on the F-Sport next to the grille are overkill. Minor irritation.

Considering the fact that the 3-series is losing it’s edge, and looking to become more Lexus than Ultimate Driving machine, I expect the Lexus to make up for these issues in actual driving feel.

The car is far from perfect, but the focus is sharper, and there is quite an upside. A work in progress, but the foundation is quite strong. The grille is the best one yet!
BD
dhgjatg

did that old guy said “rear headroom is a bit tight for 6’4″ (or) 6-footer”?
Dunraven77

He says 6 foot
LexusLVR

Black interiors aren’t cheap. They’re very “serious and businesslike”. I agree that the new IS could use more individuality when it comes to pepping up the interior for personal tastes, though.

Regarding the manual, there’s no real market for it. The vast majority of IS buyers won’t be interested in a manual transmission. I am not sure how BMW manages to offer one, but I am betting it has to do with economies of scale and their production process. For BMW, it’s no financial issue to offer a manual in certain cars, whereas for Lexus it is.
Dewey Webber

The IS 350 F Sport integrated fog lamps are on the outer edge of the bumper, the vents are the two center ones.