There are premium brands in Germany that are losing their fans' trust in the brand's core competencies. As always in life, however, a competitor is immediately on hand to take on these demands for driving pleasure that are freed up. In this case, the similarities between the philosophies of brand competence of the two manufacturers are also clearly visible for less involved car fans.

Classic limousine design with sporty lines. Emphasizes dynamic design of a classic drive layout with the engine lengthwise at the front and the drive via the rear axle. While the Munich candidate is currently looking for a completely new sustainability, the other candidate has already covered the chapter “efficiency” and conservation of resources for many years.

Presentation LEXUS IS 300h

The premium brand of the largest automobile manufacturer in the world (according to sales figures) is not as present in Germany as one might expect given the variety of models. In particular, the IS series, a direct competitor to the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4, has only recently been sold in Germany in homeopathic cans. At Lexus Germany, it is no longer a bad thing. Lexus will always be a small but nice alternative to the big brands.

I'm not sure, after a first test drive in the new IS 300h. The qualities of the new IS are impressive. The driving pleasure, the handling, the suspension comfort, the first impression of the interior and the opportunity to buy a hybrid in this class, that all are good arguments for the fresh IS series and also for an increasing sales.

The test car:

Model Name: Lexus IS300h F Sport
Vehicle class: Premium sedan middle class
For sale: From 29.Juni
Power: 223 PS

Base Price:

45.9k € 

What struck me

My test car was a Lexus IS 300h with the F-Sport equipment variant and this model has an even sharper design language at the front. Lexus calls the catchy radiator grille “Diabolo” and the “F Sport” uses a grid look instead of the slats. In addition, a pronounced chrome bar around the grill further sharpens the design.

In addition to the grill, the bumper impresses with impressive cooling air openings and the message of the “F Sport” is clear even when it is stationary: “Space for the Dynamiker in the Lexus range!"

The rear of the IS is characterized by the taillights, which dive into the side line at a tapering point and narrow in the area of ​​the boot lid. The back of the IS is characterized by athletic and well-trained. Again, the design of the new IS series (especially as F Sport) speaks a clear language: dynamic and well-trained.

Hybrid in the middle class

With the IS 300h, Lexus is now the first automobile manufacturer (in the world!) to offer a model with hybrid drive in every series. In the case of the 300h, Lexus combines a longitudinally installed four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and the continuously variable drive via a branched planetary gear. With a system output of 223 hp, the 300h is rightly included in the price list in an “F Sport variant”.

Performance gasoline:

181  PS

Power electric motor:

143  PS

Sprint 0-100 km / h:

8.3 sec.

Only in everyday life does the claim to the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle fail completely.

What does not work

Hybrid drive and sporty, i.e. dynamic driving. This remains a contradiction even in the shell of the IS (F-Sport), which has an emphatically progressive design. The hybrid drive may be the smartest solution in everyday life. However, as soon as I turn the switch from ECO to Sport or Sport+ in the “F Sport”, I expect more than what is probably the best chassis in its class. I expect more than an extremely good response to my steering commands. The powertrain in a hybrid vehicle (and I'm already talking about the most dynamic hybrid!) is not able to generate the necessary load change torques that a driver of a sporty sedan is waiting for. Even the shift paddles behind the handy and properly sized three-spoke leather steering wheel with an alibi function are just unnecessary ballast. Anyone who drives the IS 300h F Sport on the entertaining country roads of the Eifel wants to feel a direct reaction of the drive after braking, to the request expressed to the accelerator for pressure on the chain. Full failure of the hybrid drive. 

Anyone who waits for pressure on the rear axle after pressing the accelerator pedal against the floor panel will also be disappointed when they scurry through the gears in vain using “flappy paddles”. Virtual gear wheels. Virtual switch box. The changing numbers in the beautifully animated digital cockpit do not change the painful reality of the “sports limousine driver” who focuses on sustainability.

The sad recommendation is to return to “Normal” or “ECO mode”.

The factory details for the IS300h are impressive:

emissions:

99 g / km CO²

Consumption:

4.3  l / 100km

Efficiency rating:

A+ 

(All data is the minimum information for the IS 300h)

I liked it a lot

In every other discipline the IS 300h is a force. Rarely has a sedan from Japan so dynamically deflected, the chassis is spicy directly, but never too hard or uncomfortable tuned. Load change reactions are alien to the premium eco-athlete.

The equipment as F Sport is as good as complete, only an active Lane Keeping Assistant is missing, which is not available for a surcharge. Lexus offers only a warning function when leaving the lane. Bi-xenon with high beam assistant, cruise control with distance radar, a daringly finely animated navigation and entertainment system and also ventilated leather seats. Everything in the F Sport package included.

And finally ...

What you can no longer do in Munich, others can do it all the better: Construct unique limousines that both master dynamic cornering and meet ecological demands. If you want to feel the full dynamism of the new IS series, however, you would prefer to use the IS 250 and its classic 208 hp V6 engine. You get this with a six-speed automatic.

Who wants the full technology charge and then with less than 7 liter (Test round, standard consumption 4,7l / 100km) wants to move through everyday life, which finds in 300h a fascinating and likeable alternative in the otherwise boring monotony of the premium middle class.

All photos: Bjoern Habegger