The 2014 IS represents an opportunity for Lexus to capture the imagination of the younger buyers venturing into the market for the first time. And from the looks of it, it does appear as though they have capitalized on it. The design has been revamped and the IS packs more power than before.
Here is an overview of the 2014 Lexus IS broken down into its various components and aspects.
Interior
Starting off with the interior, the design remains the same. After all, Lexus isn’t going to change its signature design for the sake of selling more cars. However, the main change has been in the seating arrangement. The angle of the steering wheel has been reduced by around 3 degrees and the driver’s seat’s hip point has been lowered by ¾ of an inch. This has made driving the car easier and more comfortable.
As far as the seating goes, the two front seats can be adjusted in eight different ways. With solid lumbar support and modifiable headrest positions, the seats are incredibly comfortable. The design of the rear seats has also been upgraded, with the 60/40 split as well as folding options available. The interior also features a new 4.2-inch display which provides navigation control as well as seat temperature adjustment among other features. The display has been designed especially to minimize distraction.
Exterior
The new Lexus IS comes with a spindle grille out front, which is fast becoming a Lexus standard. The beltline has also been modified with a horizontal design. The bodyline goes from the taillight all the way up to the rocker panels. Coming to the lights, the car features LED daytime running lights along with HID headlights. Special LED headlights are also available as an add-on. These intelligent headlights can detect approaching traffic and turn the high beams off automatically.
Suspension
The suspension has been changed, with the shock absorber and coil spring now separate. Plus, the toe control arm has also been placed in the rear. These changes have enhanced the tire grip when cornering by 15%. Also, this has increased the overall trunk space available.
Drivetrain
The engines remain the same as that of the previous generation of the Lexus IS, with the IS 250 and IS 350 returning with minor adjustments. The main change to the drivetrain is in the IS 350 RWD that comes with an eight-speed transmission. The other models carry the standard six-speed transmission.
Space
The size of the new Lexus IS has increased with 70mm added to the wheelbase and 10mm to its width. This makes the overall increase come around 85mm. This is great news for buyers as there is more room inside. The front legroom has increased by 23mm and the rear legroom by almost 41mm. Also, the headroom and shoulder room for the front seats has increased by 25mm and 38mm respectively.
Driving Mode
All models apart from the F-Sport 350 will come with the following driving modes:
- Normal: Enhances fuel efficiency while maximizing driving performance
- ECO: Focused more on fuel efficiency
- Sport: Focused more on driving performance
Safety Features
The 2014 Lexus IS comes with a number of standard and modern safety features, including:
- 10 airbags
- Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Pre-Collision System
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Lane Departure Alert
Verdict
The 2014 Lexus IS is definitely a notch above the previous generation. With a host of new features and a safer and more comfortable design, the car offers everything one would expect of a luxury sedan. The bottom-line is that the 2014 Lexus IS offers great value for money.