Lexus IS250 2006 review: first drive

The Toyota off-shoot was established in the early '90s to sell luxury vehicles in the United States, hence the name: Luxury EXport to the US.

The brand was so successful, they began exporting to other countries, including Australia, and last year it became a separate brand in Japan.

Lexus carries with it the reliability of the Toyota brand and has become known for its low cabin noise, with Hyundai even using the GS model as its benchmark in that category in its new Grandeur sedan.

Explore the 2006 Lexus IS range

• Lexus IS250 2006 review: road test
• Lexus IS250 2006 review: first drive
• Lexus IS250 2006 review: snap shot
• Lexus IS250 2006 review

Over the past couple of years, new styling has helped Lexus overcome its boring looks and confront the stylish German marques head-on with products such as the GS, which is a stylistic cross between the gorgeous Mercedes-Benz CLS and the Audi A6.

Lexus sales for 2005 were 6005, almost 1000 up on the previous year, which puts it about 1000 ahead of Audi, but still a long way off BMW (15,910) and Mercedes-Benz (17,661).

To truly tackle the Germans that dominate the luxury market with their sporty compact sedans, Lexus needed a quality competitor.

The previous Lexus IS200 small sedan was too doughy at 114kW, beating only the BMW 320i four-cylinder, some Audi A3s and the Benz C180 K for power.

The IS300 was a genuine contender with a beefy 157kW, which put it close to the 325i and better than some V6 C-Class models and all four-cylinder A4s.

But they lacked sparkle both in the styling department and driving dynamics.

The two-model range has now been swapped for the one-model, three-spec IS250 line.

Power is slightly down to 153kW, but it's not all just a power game, otherwise you should try a Subaru Liberty GT.

Driving dynamics in the new IS250 are now far better and styling is a quantum leap forward.

British TV motoring show Top Gear named the 3 Series as its ugliest car of the year so, in the styling stakes, the compact Lexus with bulging muscular wheel arches has a head start.

I recently drove the IS250 Sports Luxury, which is a real honey. And finished in white pearl paint that resembles the inside of a clam shell, it highlights those muscular bulges. In the sun, it is gorgeous beyond belief.

Inside, you are cocooned in a high-sill, low-seat, high-dash, low-roof cabin that can be a bit claustrophobic, especially in the rear behind the high head restraints of the front seats.

However, you are surrounded in luxury with a touch of sportiness. There is plenty of tasty woodgrain, the simple-to-use touchscreen Satellite Navigation and on-board computer, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, active cruise control, and the best stereo on four wheels — the 14-speaker sound system designed by Mark Levinson.

The Sat Nav screen also shows images from the reversing camera, a feature which should be in every car and SUV, and is now available in all Lexus models except the big LX off-roader, but it is coming.

The new Sat Nav also features a recording function called "bread crumbing" which can find its way back on a route it has previously taken.

Add all these features to the comparable German car and watch the price go through the roof.

The sportiness of the cabin is in the six-speed auto with paddle shifts on the stylish saddle-stitched leather steering wheel. This feature is available only in the Sports Luxury model.

But it is in the driving dynamics that this car now competes with the Germans.

The Sports Luxury model does not have the lowered suspension of the Sports variant, but takes corners flat with a neutral balance.

If pushed hard, the rear-wheel-driver shifts weight to the back under that creamy on-demand torque before the driver aids, including swerve control, come into play.

The steering is sharp, responsive and precise. So precise it takes a little getting used to, especially around suburban "traffic calming" chicanes.

Ride is smooth, without being plush. If you hit a sharp bump, you will feel it, but it won't upset you or the car, even in a brisk corner.

The GS and IS models are now taking on the Germans at their own game — style, power and driving dynamics — and the LS460 luxury saloon will complete the sedan passenger range makeover when it arrives later this year.

Then Lexus will become a serious consideration on the luxury shopping list.