Why the Lexus IS is a great luxury car bargain

The luxury car segment in the Philippines offers you a wide selection of vehicles to choose from. While you have the likes of expensive marques dominating the segment, we have Lexus Philippines which offers you the same amount of luxury but at reasonable prices. 

For those looking for an economical yet sporty luxury vehicle, then the Lexus IS is ready to heed this call. It checks all the right boxes for those looking for a bit of premium look and feels with the benefits of being thrifty on fuel as well. For those who want something a little bit more sporty the F-Sport variant is also there if you want a more performance-oriented version of the IS. With that said, we take a look at why the Lexus IS is a car and why it's a great “bargain” for those looking to get a luxury vehicle.

The Lexus IS comes with the brand's signature styling sloping and muscular hood, wide grille, and sleek LED headlights. While design preferences are subjective from person to person, we think that the IS is definitely a stunner thanks to its clean and crisp body lines along with its great proportions as well. 

Now, if you want something a little bit sportier, the F-Sport model is also available to fulfill that need. It comes with its own unique front mesh grille, front lower grille, rear spoiler, rear bumper, and aluminum wheels. Overall it's a good balance between luxury and sportiness that many will surely appreciate about the sedan.

The interior of the Lexus IS, no matter which variant you go for in the Philippines, is as beautiful as any other vehicle in its segment. It comes with premium materials along with pleasant-to-the-touch materials that are equally as beautiful to the eye. It also comes with the right amount of interior amenities that one would expect from a luxury car of its status.

If there is one thing that Lexus is good at, it's giving its vehicles a smooth and comfortable ride. The suspension is tuned well and wind noise is kept to a minimum even with the lower variants. Aside from this, Lexus has also tweaked its transmission to deliver smooth shifting so you don’t feel it on the road. 

The Japanese automaker has also given the sedan a well-damped suspension which if you want to go on a spirited drive will do you wonders in the twisties. Lexus has tuned the IS to give it predictable cornering characteristics which help enhance a balanced and enjoyable ride. Something to note is the steering feel is also crisp which is great for those who want a communicative sedan. 

The Lexus IS model range in the Philippines gives you access to two different powerplants. The first is the 2.5-liter hybrid engine that gives you a substantial amount of power that is paired with a hybrid system that is frugal at the same time. It's a balanced option as it gives you just the right amount of power at 220 hp and great fuel economy numbers thanks to its battery pack and CVT.

If you want something with a bit more pep in its step, Lexus also has you covered as it offers the IS with a 3.5-liter gasoline V6 engine that pushes out 310 hp and 380 Nm of torque with power being sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

With these two powerplants available it gives you the best of both worlds. If you want a fuel-efficient luxury car the hybrid system is there to help, but if you want something a little more sporty then the F-Sport model is there to heed the call with its mighty V6.

The Lexus IS comes with an abundance of features ready for you to use. Whether it be for safety or just for entertainment, the Japanese sedan has got you covered. You get an 8-inch Lexus Display that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, a 10-speaker sound system with a digital processor and automatic sound leveler, and Bluetooth functionality for hands-free calling.

In terms of safety, the IS is also well equipped as it comes with the brand's Lexus Safety System which gives the vehicle a pre-collision system, dynamic radar cruise control, automatic high beam, lane tracing assist, and a lane departure alert. Aside from this the sedan also gets a Parking Support Brake (PKSB), Traction Control System (TRC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAS),  Anti-lock Brake System (ABS,  Emergency Brake Signal with stop lamp, Drive-start Control, Rain Sensing Wipers, 3-eye Bi-Beam LED headlamps; auto-leveling system, Headlamp cleaners,  LED turn signal lamps (Front), LED DRL (Daytime Running Lamp), LED rear fog lamp, Dual-stage SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags (Front seats), SRS knee airbags (Front seats), SRS side airbags (Front seats), SRS curtain shield airbags (Front and rear door windows), 3-point ELR seatbelts (All seats), Pretensioners and force limiters (front seats), Child Restraint System (CRS) top tether anchors (Outboard rear seats), Security system; alarm, immobilizer system, intrusion sensor, inclination sensor, and Auto Location-Tire Pressure Warning System (AL-TPWS). 

Now here’s the kicker, the Lexus IS comes with a starting price of P2,978,000 and goes all the way up to P3,808,000 for its F-Sport variant. While the pricing isn’t for everyone, its price point is more affordable than that of its German counterparts comes with higher price tags but with the same interior quality and similar features. This makes the Lexus IS models great bargains for those looking for a balanced luxury car that can do a bit of everything and do it well.