Lexus IS300H ordered.
Discussion
So have just spent the last 24hrs driving the Lexus IS300H as a replacement for our diesel Civic, I thought I share my views on it.
Interestingly I think the hybrid drivetrain is both the best thing and worst thing about the car
IS300H vs our BMW 335i as a 'sports saloon':
There is no contest. The IS300H with the hybrid engine/CVT gear box combination is just not designed for any kind of 'enthusiastic driving', and despite putting out 220bhp feels slow, laggy, and under full acceleration makes awful noise. The 'active noise control' it's worse than even the real noise at full load. The steering paddles are a gimmick, the 6 speed ZF box in our 335i is x10 more responsive.
When thrashed the hybrid drive train is also pretty un-economical. It's a shame because the actual car handles well, but sorry Lexus to pretend the car has any 'sporty' potential is a joke. Don't get me wrong, the car isn't slow, and will hold it's own in a traffic light GP, but drive something like a 335i/S4/Golf R back to back against the IS and
But compare the IS300H to our Civic diesel as a 'family run around':
The hybrid drive train/cvt box is so smooth and noise free at town traffic it makes the diesel engine in the civic feel like something from the industrial revolution. Over a day of driving covering some 70 miles, including my little bit of 'spirited' driving we averaged 50 mpg. In urban stand still traffic some of the mpg readings it was reporting was frankly astounding, it's the only car I've driven that's returns higher mpg numbers the worse the traffic!!!
I know some diesels can achieve that, but not in the same smooth, rattle free style. The full EV mode where you can hit 30mph on battery alone is amazing, and a real head turner. Our car will also be doing mainly a daily 3-4 mile commute so that's a good recipe for DPF issues on any diesel.
As a luxury family car it's a pretty compiling package, we were so impressed have ordered a brand new one
So in summary the hybrid unit in the IS300H makes for a great luxury family car, it's bring a level of refinement I've not experienced before and make the noisy diesels found in equivalent cars feel totally outdated. But it's unlikely I'll be replacing the 335i with any kind of hybrid, however a full EV car like a Tesla is whole different matter, and am 100% sure full EV is the future of motoring.
The crunch point for us was when we went to the Jag show room and another IS300 glided in under EV mode, a few minutes later a £70K diesel XJ pulled in. The first thing I noticed about the Jag was the engine rattling away. At that point both me and my wife pretty much agreed there was no point in us even going to look at the Mer C class in the show room down the road.
Frankly I think any manufacturer not investing in hybrid/EV tech now runs a serious risk of becoming irrelevant as we ahead towards the next decade. Though the IS300H is not a performance car, so not for me, I'm now 100% convinced the replacement for my 335i will be an EV machine....I cannot wait
Interestingly I think the hybrid drivetrain is both the best thing and worst thing about the car
IS300H vs our BMW 335i as a 'sports saloon':
There is no contest. The IS300H with the hybrid engine/CVT gear box combination is just not designed for any kind of 'enthusiastic driving', and despite putting out 220bhp feels slow, laggy, and under full acceleration makes awful noise. The 'active noise control' it's worse than even the real noise at full load. The steering paddles are a gimmick, the 6 speed ZF box in our 335i is x10 more responsive.
When thrashed the hybrid drive train is also pretty un-economical. It's a shame because the actual car handles well, but sorry Lexus to pretend the car has any 'sporty' potential is a joke. Don't get me wrong, the car isn't slow, and will hold it's own in a traffic light GP, but drive something like a 335i/S4/Golf R back to back against the IS and
But compare the IS300H to our Civic diesel as a 'family run around':
The hybrid drive train/cvt box is so smooth and noise free at town traffic it makes the diesel engine in the civic feel like something from the industrial revolution. Over a day of driving covering some 70 miles, including my little bit of 'spirited' driving we averaged 50 mpg. In urban stand still traffic some of the mpg readings it was reporting was frankly astounding, it's the only car I've driven that's returns higher mpg numbers the worse the traffic!!!
I know some diesels can achieve that, but not in the same smooth, rattle free style. The full EV mode where you can hit 30mph on battery alone is amazing, and a real head turner. Our car will also be doing mainly a daily 3-4 mile commute so that's a good recipe for DPF issues on any diesel.
As a luxury family car it's a pretty compiling package, we were so impressed have ordered a brand new one
So in summary the hybrid unit in the IS300H makes for a great luxury family car, it's bring a level of refinement I've not experienced before and make the noisy diesels found in equivalent cars feel totally outdated. But it's unlikely I'll be replacing the 335i with any kind of hybrid, however a full EV car like a Tesla is whole different matter, and am 100% sure full EV is the future of motoring.
The crunch point for us was when we went to the Jag show room and another IS300 glided in under EV mode, a few minutes later a £70K diesel XJ pulled in. The first thing I noticed about the Jag was the engine rattling away. At that point both me and my wife pretty much agreed there was no point in us even going to look at the Mer C class in the show room down the road.
Frankly I think any manufacturer not investing in hybrid/EV tech now runs a serious risk of becoming irrelevant as we ahead towards the next decade. Though the IS300H is not a performance car, so not for me, I'm now 100% convinced the replacement for my 335i will be an EV machine....I cannot wait
Edited by gangzoom on Sunday 16th November 06:50
Very interested to know how you get on. The local Lexus dealer is keen to do business with me...(and is being really helpful)
I am tempted by the F-Sport version because you get the funky grille and the TFT instruments. Which one did you go for and if you don't mind me asking, what sort of deal did you get?
What do you think of the TFT screen and the mouse thing? Is the screen big enough (it felt quite far away when I sat in the car) and can you get on with the mouse thing?
Can you turn the active noise thing off? Does it stay off, or do you need to turn it off every time you start the car? When I am king, all synthetic engine sounds in cars will be banned
I am tempted by the F-Sport version because you get the funky grille and the TFT instruments. Which one did you go for and if you don't mind me asking, what sort of deal did you get?
What do you think of the TFT screen and the mouse thing? Is the screen big enough (it felt quite far away when I sat in the car) and can you get on with the mouse thing?
Can you turn the active noise thing off? Does it stay off, or do you need to turn it off every time you start the car? When I am king, all synthetic engine sounds in cars will be banned
Nice review, thanks!
I currently drive a GS450h, so the big brother to the IS. I've also found the fuel economy gets better the worse the traffic becomes - very hard to get your head around! I'm currently averaging about 35mpg, although mine's the older model with an Otto engine, not the new Atkinson cycle. My OH has a RX 450h, and for a 4x4 the size of a small barn, also averages about 33-35mpg, whether she's stuck in traffic, or doing high speed along the motorway.
They're really very good cars, and ours have been, over the last 3 years, perfectly reliable. They're just not a drivers car, and I wish Lexus had appreciated this a little more - making them ride a little softer over potholed roads, rather than trying to compete with the BMW 5er. Effortless wafting, with a decent turn of speed when you need it!
I currently drive a GS450h, so the big brother to the IS. I've also found the fuel economy gets better the worse the traffic becomes - very hard to get your head around! I'm currently averaging about 35mpg, although mine's the older model with an Otto engine, not the new Atkinson cycle. My OH has a RX 450h, and for a 4x4 the size of a small barn, also averages about 33-35mpg, whether she's stuck in traffic, or doing high speed along the motorway.
They're really very good cars, and ours have been, over the last 3 years, perfectly reliable. They're just not a drivers car, and I wish Lexus had appreciated this a little more - making them ride a little softer over potholed roads, rather than trying to compete with the BMW 5er. Effortless wafting, with a decent turn of speed when you need it!
AmitG said:
Very interested to know how you get on. The local Lexus dealer is keen to do business with me...(and is being really helpful)
I am tempted by the F-Sport version because you get the funky grille and the TFT instruments. Which one did you go for and if you don't mind me asking, what sort of deal did you get?
What do you think of the TFT screen and the mouse thing? Is the screen big enough (it felt quite far away when I sat in the car) and can you get on with the mouse thing?
Can you turn the active noise thing off? Does it stay off, or do you need to turn it off every time you start the car? When I am king, all synthetic engine sounds in cars will be banned
The screen is good, easy to use. The mouse thing takes getting use to, but actually after about 1hr in the car it become second nature. The colour scheme on the satnav is a bit garish though with no way of changing it, but I hope a future update will solve that. I am tempted by the F-Sport version because you get the funky grille and the TFT instruments. Which one did you go for and if you don't mind me asking, what sort of deal did you get?
What do you think of the TFT screen and the mouse thing? Is the screen big enough (it felt quite far away when I sat in the car) and can you get on with the mouse thing?
Can you turn the active noise thing off? Does it stay off, or do you need to turn it off every time you start the car? When I am king, all synthetic engine sounds in cars will be banned
The active noise can be tuned off via physical dial, so it stays off
We've gone for the Luxury spec, with electric leather seats and the 'pro' nav.....deal wise I'm still working on it, but I would be surprised if I have to pay that much more than £30-31K, list price is £35K.
Just scouring the net for some reviews on this, I have a test drive next Thursday for the day as it's coming up to new company car time and I am sick of being rinsed on the car tax!!
I don't think in this sort of segment/price range there is anything that beats it?
The Merc C300 hybrid looks great but being realistic is probably going to sneak out of my allowed price range.
The CC tax on the IS300h fully fuelled is well under half what I'm paying now on my VW CC GT.
Looks like a winner to me.
I don't think in this sort of segment/price range there is anything that beats it?
The Merc C300 hybrid looks great but being realistic is probably going to sneak out of my allowed price range.
The CC tax on the IS300h fully fuelled is well under half what I'm paying now on my VW CC GT.
Looks like a winner to me.
Have had my company IS300H Exec Edition for 9 thousand miles and 4 months now. Use is mainly M25 and inner London. Average fuel consumption in this weather is 42/44mpg (oddly about the same as my previous BMW). After many years of petrol vehicles and latterly diesels (last one being a BMW 120 D Sport Auto) it is my first Lexus and first Hybrid. I am 'sold' on it - it is so smooth, quiet and relaxing in stop/start London traffic - a really 'chilled' drive. Whilst not a performance car in the true sense and no match for the BMW for 'fun' driving it can be surprising quick when you wish, especially at higher motorways speeds. You do need to very careful however 'hoofing' the car around in urban traffic conditions as the conventional/hybrid/CVT transmission whist responsive under acceleration has a lot of 'momentum' which is less than ideal when backing of the 'gas' pedal and can require a very quick braking response to counter things!
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