Here's their take on the IS250 AWD:
The 2014 IS is Lexus’ latest attempt to design a BMW 3 Series fighter, which has long been considered the benchmark for upscale sports sedans. But, alas, the IS 250 isn’t very sporty, fun to drive, or luxurious. Add in a cramped interior and mediocre fuel economy, and the IS ends up with a road-test score of only 52, which is too low for us to recommend it.
The IS 250’s high points include eye-catching styling and a silky smooth 2.5-liter V6 that’s quiet and refined, especially when compared with the turbocharged four-cylinder engines in many competing models. But its performance is rather pokey, and its 21 mpg overall is comparable to a midsized SUV.
Handling is nothing special. Body roll is fairly well contained, but the car isn’t particularly agile. The steering is appropriately weighted, but it feels vague and doesn’t telegraph much feedback. When pushed to its handling limits at our track, the IS was secure and forgiving, but overly pronounced understeer diluted the handling finesse and enjoyment that drivers expect from a sports sedan.
Moreover, the car’s ride comfort doesn’t compensate for the its lack of agility; it’s neither plush nor tied down.
You’ll also be disappointed if you expect the quietness of a typical Lexus interior. The road noise penetrating into the cabin creates a din that’s not befitting a $40,000-plus car.
The interior is very tight, even by the modest standards of this class. The narrow cabin, wide center console, and large overhanging dashboard caused many of our drivers to feel cramped and closed-in. Making matters worse is a lump on the floor protruding into the driver’s space on all-wheel-drive versions.
Other gripes: In-cabin storage is inadequate. Simply getting in and out is an ungraceful chore. And rear-seat passengers must put up with very tight confines. Fit and finish is decent, but it’s not up to today’s top-flight standards.
The IS controls now include the fussy, distracting mouse-like controller found in other Lexus models. You select items in the display by moving the controller, but it’s easy to overshoot your intended target.
This redesigned model is too new for us to have reliability data, but historically, most Lexus models have been very reliable.
Best version to get. We bought the IS 250, which accounts for about 80 percent of IS purchases. But if you want quicker acceleration, get the IS 350. With more than 100 additional horsepower and an excellent eight-speed automatic transmission, its powertrain is much more satisfying. Still, it isn’t a sporty handler, and it suffers from the same cramped packaging and other demerits of the 250. We suggest buyers get the optional backup camera ($350) and blind-spot warning system ($600), which are available individually or as part of option packages.
