Trunk room measures 10.8 cubic feet, which is down from last year’s 13 cubic feet and near the bottom of the segment. ![]() It’s a high point for an otherwise diminished cargo situation. That’s a big change from the last IS, which we named one of seven backseats to avoid (read it here).Ī standard 60/40-split folding backseat replaces last year’s fixed seat - a welcome addition given competitors like the Acura TL still have a fixed seatback. Adults should find backseat legroom fine. Lexus cites a full inch of extra headroom and 1.5 inches of extra shoulder room up front, plus 1.6 inches of additional rear legroom. Overall cabin volume is now 90.2 cubic feet that’s up a significant 4.5 cubic feet versus the last IS. They should suit drivers of all sizes my 6-foot 6-inch co-driver even said he had enough room. ![]() Eight-way power seats are standard, with a longer adjustment range this year. Minus the faint smell of cowhide, the NuLuxe looks and feels like its pricier counterpart. Most sport sedans have gone that way for years, though the Audi A4 and Acura TL beat the norm with standard leather. Lexus’ NuLuxe vinyl upholstery is standard, with leather seating optional. Skip the optional Mark Levinson stereo, however it sounds no better than the last IS’ lackluster Levinson system. Lexus’ available Enform system integrates various apps - Bing, Facebook Places, iHeartRadio,, OpenTable, Pandora and Yelp - from compatible smartphones. The shoe drops on materials below knee level, but the IS has eye candy where you see it.Ītop the dash, a standard 7-inch display governs the CD stereo, which includes HD radio, USB/iPod integration plus Bluetooth phone and audio streaming. Even the F-Sport’s fake carbon fiber has a convincing 3-D pattern. Materials are decent, with consistent graining toward the center console and optional real wood trim. The cabin features overlapping layers and splashes of upscale stitched vinyl here and there - a welcome improvement over the Toyota Camry-grade molded faux stitching in the Lexus ES. Seventeen-inch wheels are standard, with 18s optional. Despite the extra size, overall curb weight stays about the same. Overall length is up 3.4 inches, and wheelbase increases 2.7 inches. Standard dual tailpipes are a nice touch - some competitors have single pipes with their base engines - and an interesting cutline sweeps from the rocker panel through the rear taillights. ![]() I prefer the styling on the standard IS Dorothy threw water on this one. The grille swaps straight crossbars for a hulking mesh abyss, and the whole of it swims in a droopier front bumper. Get the F-Sport Package and the melting spreads. The headlights sort of melt into the front bumper, with a swoosh of LED daytime running lights strung a few inches ahead. ![]() The IS’ headlights steal attention from Lexus’ spindle grille, which now graces almost every car in the brand’s lineup. At a press preview in Austin, Texas, I drove various rear-drive configurations of the IS 250 and IS 350. As before, either car comes with rear- or all-wheel drive, with sportier F-Sport packages optional for either car. The 2014 IS 250 and IS 350 sedans go on sale this summer. The car’s strengths extend beyond that, however. The IS has its moments, but Lexus doesn’t drub the class on the fun-to-drive scale. Yeah, but so does everyone else - and every major luxury brand, from Acura to Volvo, has a gladiator in this arena. With its redesigned third-generation IS sedan, Lexus throws down a familiar gauntlet: It wants to build the most fun-to-drive sport sedan in its segment. The redesigned 2014 Lexus IS boasts a number of practical improvements - and that, rather than the hit-and-miss drivability, is what might appeal most to sport-sedan shoppers. To see what’s new for 2015, click here, or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years. Little of substance has changed with this year’s model. Editor’s note: This review was written in October 2013 about the 2014 Lexus IS 250.
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