2014 Lexus IS 250

SPECIFICATIONS

1. The 2014 Lexus IS 250 is powered by a 2.5L V6 that delivers 204 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. 2. A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard, with an eight-speed unit offered on the rear-drive IS 350 F-Sport. 3. Fuel economy is 21/30 mpg (city/hwy). 4. Pricing starts at under $37,000 including destination.

PREVIEW

Quality is the foundation on which the Lexus brand has been built since 1989. Parent company Toyota is a leader in this area but Lexus takes things even further, they’re almost obsessive-compulsive about. All of their handwringing… make that hand-washing, has resulted in some impressive accolades.

But reliability is never exciting; it’s about as much fun as a liquid diet on Thanksgiving. However it’s an extremely important part of the vehicle ownership experience, and a major reason for the brand’s sales success. To sidestep being perpetually typecast as bulletproof but boring, the people at Lexus are looking to add some excitement their product lineup. Consider it mission accomplished because the 2014 IS jolts like a space heater in the bathtub.

INTERIOR

One particularly nice flourish on the car is a twisting swoosh that starts in the rocker panel trim and curves up along the fender and carries through into the tail lights at the rear. It adds some tension and excitement to the design and really pops in different lighting conditions. It hints at the car’s dynamic nature.

If the 2014 Lexus IS’s exterior is a grand slam its interior is merely a home run. The cabin is certainly a nice place, with lots of soft materials and stitched trim, but the design seems a little over the top. There are all kinds of surfaces, cut lines, nooks and crannies. Like the cockpit of a fighter plane there’s a lot going on.

In spite of its carnival atmosphere the gauges and secondary controls are easy to decipher and manipulate; the ergonomics seem exemplary, but that’s tough to judge that after a relatively brief test drive. Dear Lexus, can we snag a long-term IS for the AutoGuide test fleet?

There’s big news in the back seat as well. Legroom has been increased by 1.6 inches adding about 1,000 percent to passenger comfort. The car’s rearmost accommodations are now actually usable by real adults, and they’re genuinely comfortable. The front chairs are nearly an inch lower, lending to the car’s sporty feel.The cabin’s most interesting feature is found on high-end F-Sport models. It’s a unique digital instrument cluster that comes directly from the brand’s LFA supercar. Unlike inheriting your older siblings worn-out Air Jordans this is a hand-me-down actually worth having. Its highlight is a moving center ring that slides left and right to reveal additional information in the display. Now you see it – things like the trip computer and fuel economy – and now you don’t, focusing the driver’s attention on a giant center-mounted tachometer.

The new IS is also somewhat of a pioneering vehicle for Lexus. Unbelievably, it’s the company’s first sedan with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. And you thought there was nothing special about your 2000 Oldsmobile Alero!

UNDER THE HOOD

On the track IS 350 models feel fleet and frisky, but the IS 250 is a different story. These cars are powered by a miniscule 2.5-liter V6. Unlike its “big-block” sibling this unit puts out a much more pedestrian 204 horsepower. Torque is 185 lb-ft, compared to nearly 280 from the 3.5.

IS 250s should take about 7.7 seconds to sprint from zero to 60 miles an hour. Rear-wheel-drive versions of the IS 350 can accomplish the same feat in a claimed 5.6 seconds.Putting it in motion the IS 250 is considerably slower than its big brother, exactly as one would expect. Like many small-displacement, naturally aspirated engines this one is torque-challenged. It doesn’t start to pull with any real vigor until the tachometer needle passes 4500 RPM. After that it sprints to a little less than seven-grand, then the transmission grabs the next gear and the process starts all over again. It’s enormous fun, but it all seems to be happening in slow motion on the track.

Despite the 250’s velocity deficit its chassis is every bit as playful and willing to dance. Chuck it into a corner and it responds promptly. When it’s time to slow things up the brakes chomp down like a crocodile, converting forward momentum into heat and stink. After a few laps the pads started to smell, though surprisingly the binders did not fade to any noticeable degree.

When it comes to efficiency rear-wheel-drive IS 250s should be able to travel 21 miles on a gallon of 91-octane gasoline in urban conditions. On the highway that number increases to 30. Those are both short of turbocharged 4-cylinder options from BMW and Cadillac. According to the EPA it should average 24 in mixed motoring. Understandably the optional all-wheel drive drops those scores by a couple MPG.It may sound like the IS 250 was a bit of a letdown compared to its more powerful stable-mate. It was a bit lacking on the track, but drive it like a normal human being and everything falls into place. In real-life conditions the little V6 is plenty quick; you’ll probably never be wanting for power, or economy.