Lexus IS 220d Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Lexus IS 220d range
Prices: £22,015-£26,585 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 12E-13E
Emissions: 148g/km
Performance: 0-60mph 8.9s / Max Speed 135mph
Fuel Consumption: (urban) 39.8mpg / (extra urban) 58.9mpg / (combined) 50.4mpg
Safety: Twin front, side & curtain airbags / ABS / ESP

IS 220d: Adequate Oil-burner

Our Rating: No Rating Available

For decades Lexus has shied away from selling a diesel engine under the bonnet of their car, but the time has finally come to include at least one in their line-up. The car they chose to fit with a diesel is in the IS line-up. Lexus has dubbed this model the Lexus IS220d. IF the outward appearance is any indication the power under the hood will be substantial. The exterior styling of the Lexus IS 220d looks very much like a GS, but on steroids. Lucky for Lexus steroids are legal in car making.

Lexus has equipped the IS220d with a 2.2-litre diesel oil burning engine that provides 175bhp of power that is also found in the Toyota Verso. Some may complain that this engine just isn't enough for a car in the compact executive class, but there is more to like about a diesel engine than just raw power.

The Lexus IS220d lowers the CO2 emissions found in the Verso engine from 163g/km to an impressive 148g/km which puts it in a lower car tax bracket which also allows corporations who use it for company business to write it off against their corporate taxes. Fuel consumption is all impressive with an estimated 39.8mpg in the city, and estimated 58.9mpg on the motorways and an estimated 50.4mpg combined. These numbers are also sure to please the fleet managers across the UK.

Lexus has paired the diesel engine with a standard six-speed manual that is adequate, but wouldn't win any shifter awards if there were such a thing. The most impressive part of the driver's experience is the perfectly weighted pedals. Both the accelerator and the brake move with easy, but the brake pedal offers a nice peace of mind feel when stopping quickly.

One thing that one can rarely complain about when it comes to the Lexus line-up is the way the car rides on all types of roads. The steering is responsive and the VDIM stability control helps it handle like a dream at any speed. This new stability control system is a huge step forward for Lexus compared to their older stabilizer. This new system helps manage the brakes as well as the throttle and the steering to ensure that the driver is under control at all times no matter how far they push the vehicle.

Standard features on the Lexus IS220d include; climate control, cruise control, privacy glass, power assisted windows, central locking system and an impressive 13-speaker stereo system that sits at the top level audios systems in any car. All the IS models are also equipped with an excellent security system that will make the care nearly impossible to break into or steal.

Given the fact that this is the first diesel attempt by Lexus the IS220d is a very nice offering. AS with most first releases it is not perfect, but with a little work this little and that may very well become the engine that can and will. Lexus isn't one to just something flounder so we can all bet there will be a better version soon.