Articles by Matt Campbell

The Lexus IS 2021 model is a major overhaul of the existing model. What's good about that? It's got a new look front and rear, is wider and longer, and has also been made to look more, well, appetising than before. Plus there's new tech and safety spec. But while it may look all-new, it's actually pretty old - and it's feeling its age, too.

The Lexus IS 2021 range still has a hybrid hero in its ranks - the IS300h, which is a carryover from the pre-facelift model range.The IS300h can be had in two different trim levels - you can choose it as a Luxury grade version at $64,500 (MSRP), or in F Sport trim for $73,000 (MSRP).What’s the difference between the two, you may ask? Well, here are the specs.The Luxury grade has LED headlights and daytime running lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, proximity keyless entry with push-button start, a 10.3-inch touchscreen with sat nav and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus a 10-speaker sound system. There are eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating (plus memory settings for the driver), power steering column adjustment, not to mention dual-zone climate control, auto dusk sensing headlights with auto high beam, rain sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control.Luxury spec models can further be equipped with the $2000 Enhancement Pack, which adds a sunroof, or Enhancement Pack 2 (or EP2 - $5500) which nets 19-inch alloy wheels, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system - which is excellent!, cooled front seats, high-grade leather-accented interior trim, and a power-operated rear sunshade.The F Sport models cost more but get a body kit, 19-inch alloys, adaptive suspension, sports front seats with cooling (and heating and electric adjust), sports pedals, and five drive modes, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster and leather-accented trim.The Enhancement Pack for F Sport IS300h is $3100 and includes the sunroof, 17-speaker sound system and rear sunshade.All IS models see upgraded safety technology including AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with auto braking, lane keeping assist, intersection turn assist and new Lexus Connected Services for emergency backup.The important part of this IS’s model name is that little ‘h’, which signifies it’s the hybrid model - a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric powertrain in fact. It has 164kW of peak power, and uses just 5.1 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle. The IS300h runs a continuously variable transmission (CVT) auto, and is rear-wheel drive.It has a smaller boot than the non hybrid models - 450L vs 480L - because of its nickel metal hydride battery pack, and it also lacks a spare wheel, instead coming with a tyre repair kit.

The range opening Lexus IS 2021 model is the IS300, which used to be known as the IS200t. That name would have been more fitting, because it has a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine.The outputs are decent at 180kW and 350Nm, and it has an eight-speed automatic transmission sending drive to the rear wheels. Fuel consumption is claimed at 8.2L/100km.The IS300 can be had in Luxury or F Sport grades. The IS300 Luxury opens the 2021 model range at $61,500 (MSRP). It comes as standard with 18-inch alloy wheels (with a space saver spare), auto LED headlights with auto high beam and LED daytime running lights, proximity keyless entry with push-button start, a 10.3-inch touchscreen with sat nav and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus a 10-speaker sound system. There are eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating (plus memory settings for the driver), power steering column adjustment, dual-zone climate control, rain sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control.Need more? The $2000 Enhancement Pack adds a sunroof, while the $5500 Enhancement Pack 2 (or EP2) sees the addition of 19-inch alloy wheels, an excellent 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, cooled front seats, high-grade leather-accented interior trim, and a power-operated rear sunshade.Want a sportier looking IS300? The F Sport model, at $70,000 (MSRP), is your go. It has a body kit, 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, sports front seats with cooling (plus heating and electric adjust), sports pedals, and five drive modes, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster and leather-accented trim.Buying the F Sport Enhancement Pack for the IS300 costs $3100 and includes the sunroof, 17-speaker sound system and rear sunshade.Safety kit has been enhanced across the IS range for 2021, including AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with auto braking, lane keeping assist, intersection turn assist and new Lexus Connected Services for emergency backup.

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The IS350 is the flagship model in the Lexus IS 2021 range, and unlike the previous model, it now only comes in F Sport trim.That seems pretty fitting really, as this is the most powerful engine of the range, and the F Sport name fits better here than anywhere else in the range. It runs a 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine producing 232kW of power and 380Nm of torque. It has an eight-speed auto with paddle shifters, and is rear-wheel drive. Fuel consumption is claimed at 9.5L/100km. The IS350 F Sport lists at $75,000 (MSRP) and comes pretty well kitted out for the cash. It has a body kit, 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, sports front seats with cooling (plus heating and electric adjust, plus driver’s seat memory settings), sports pedals, and five drive modes, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster and leather-accented trim.That’s in addition to the other standard gear: auto LED headlights with auto high beams, LED daytime running lights, proximity keyless entry with push-button start, a 10.3-inch touchscreen with sat nav and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The steering column has power adjustment, there’s dual-zone climate control, rain sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control.Buying the F Sport Enhancement Pack for the IS300 costs $3100 and includes the sunroof, 17-speaker sound system and rear sunshade. If only you could just get the stereo!Safety spec is well accounted for, with AEB comprising pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with auto braking, lane keeping assist, intersection turn assist and new Lexus Connected Services for emergency backup.

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