Review of the new Lexus IS250 SR

It wasn't long ago that Lexus really didn't have to be sporty. The brand could leave that kind of thing to rival German marques and concentrate on delivering sheer, undiluted luxury. No longer. The Japanese are beginning to want to challenge the Teutonic marques at their own game.

Proper evidence of this came with the launch of the storming 417bhp V8 IS F model, aimed directly at BMW's M3 and Mercedes' C63 AMG. The problem is of course that not everyone wants or is able to spend £50,000 on an executive saloon. But that doesn't mean they wouldn't be open to a compact executive saloon with just the right balance between luxury and sportiness. Something perhaps with the allure of a Lexus IS F that feels more purposeful than a standard IS 250 Sport. Enter the Lexus IS250 SR.

This carefully targeted addition to the IS range expresses its performance credentials with a full body kit and 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels on the outside. Aluminium scuff plates and pedals add subtle visual enhancements on the inside. Heated front seats are also fitted as standard. In total, this model is packed with features that have a combined customer value of more than £3,500, yet the price tag (£24,990 for the manual and £25,800 for the automatic) is less than £1,000 greater than that being demanded for a standard entry-level IS 250 variant.

Key standard features include 10 airbags, climate control, cruise control, smart keyless entry and engine start and sequenced LED interior lighting. The car's already powerful lines are enhanced with deep skirts to the front, rear and sides and a rear spoiler. Owners who want an even more sporty statement can specify five-spoke 18-inch Tsuki rims. Three exterior colours are available: Velvet Black and Cadoxton Slate and Argento Ice metallic finishes. All are matched to Worcester Black interior fabric trim.

The Lexus V6 engine certainly isn't this car's weakest link. Although 204bhp isn't a huge amount of power for an engine of this ilk, the power delivery is smooth and creamy and works very well when mated to an automatic gearbox. The manual car betrays a very slight hole in low-down torque that can prove slightly annoying when pulling out of junctions. The fact that the peak torque figure is reached at a relatively high 4,800rpm demonstrates that this is an engine that likes to register a few revs on the board.

"This is one of those cars you really have to drive to appreciate."

Once you've got it dialled in, the IS250 shows a fair turn of speed. It'll make 60mph from rest in 8.1 seconds and run on to 146mph. Fuel economy is so-so, with real world users probably eking around 22 or 23 miles from a gallon of 95RON. Plus, an emissions of rating of 231g/km isn't a standout figure from a manufacturer of eco-friendly hybrid vehicles.

As with any Lexus, the IS250 impresses with its sheer depth of electronic engineering. A full colour display shows images from a camera mounted in the number plate surround for easy parking. The Lexus Navigation System is also something to behold, with a DVD-based mapping system that offers lightning quick draw rates and speed of calculation. A super-detailed map function of many major European cities even offers drivers advice on when they need to change lane to make an impending turn. Voice activation allows English, French or German drivers the ability to marshal the audio, air conditioning and phone systems. The touch screen and voice combinations make the IS250's 'infotainment' system a whole lot easier to use in traffic than many rivals systems. A Bluetooth phone system allows for hands free phone control with twenty voice tags stored and 1,000 contact numbers from a phone being accessible via either the touch screen, steering pad switches or voice control.

It's worth spending a while on the optional Mark Levinson premium sound system that's supplied with the Multimedia pack. With fourteen speakers and 300-watts, this system uses an in-dash six-DVD autochanger to offer hours of high quality music. Offering the segment's first complete 5.1 home theatre entertainment experience, no detail has been left to chance. Mark Levinson even requested that certain components in the Lexus IS's cabin be made more rigid to prevent unwelcome resonances. An auxiliary socket concealed in the centre console box allows iPods to be linked in.

One of the key design elements of the first generation IS - the chronograph style instruments - has been dropped in this Mk2 model in favour of a more conventional fascia. This means that although the quality and ergonomic excellence of the Iatest IS interior is virtually beyond reproach, there's now no longer a signature styling point to really catch the eye. The side air vents at first seem a little oddly positioned, but Lexus attribute this to the principle of 'Hazushi' - to 'shift out of phase'. This expresses the notion of something that is part of the whole but, at the same time, retaining its independence. A strong and independent air vent must be a happy air vent.

One complaint levelled at the original IS was the rather tight rear quarters and the addition of another 60mm to the latest car's wheelbase has done much to solve this problem. Consult the specification sheet and it becomes apparent that in one fell swoop, the IS has gone from being one of the meanest in terms of rear knee room to near the top of the class. Boot space at 378 litres isn't great, Lexus still having lessons to learn when it comes to packaging plenty of useable space into a tight overall footprint.

Check out the specs of rival German models and it's clear that none can offer a comparably equipped package at the £30,000 price point. Overall though, this is one of those cars you really have to drive to appreciate. Not because it's the sharpest steer in the class but because at the end of the day, you may well conclude that on most roads, most of the time, the balance between comfort and sportiness of an IS 250 is one that works better.

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