New Lexus IS 220D Review
With the BMW 3 Series now outselling the Ford Mondeo it is little wonder that other manufacturers have taken this into consideration. Lexus have certainly noticed this fact and the introduction of the first diesel powered Lexus, the IS 220d is a direct assault on the market place of the BMW 320d.
Lexus have always built quality cars and the IS 220d is no exception, panel gaps are kept to an absolute minimum, road noise is suppressed to a whisper, in fact the overall appearance and build quality not only match the BMW, but in some departments the Lexus IS 220d has stolen the march over its German rival.
Lexus really do pay attention to detail, from the outstanding fit and finish of the interior to the aerodynamic undertray, everything has been thought through, to make the overall driving experience as pleasurable as possible. Add to this the fact that CAP (the company that predicts residual values) has predicted that the IS 220d will beat both the equivalent Mercedes and BMW models by retaining 54 percent of its value over a three year / 60,000 mile period and you can see why the Lexus appeals to those who want to stand out from the crowd.
All Lexus models have good standard specification and the IS 220d is no exception, amongst other things it has 16" alloy wheels, Anti-lock braking System (ABS), Traction Control System (TCS), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Brake Assist System (BAS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), an MP3 compatible 6-CD player with 13 speakers and AUX socket, central locking with deadlocks, climate control with clean air filter, cruise control, curtain airbags, driver and front passenger front and side airbags, electrically foldable, heated exterior mirrors, extensive anti-corrosion protection, front and rear armrest, front and rear electric windows, front passenger airbag cut-off switch, in-dash Multi Information Display, LED interior illumination, LED rear lamp and stop lamp, leather steering wheel and gearknob, metal-effect trim, rigid high-tensile steel cabin cage, smart entry and start system, super-high quality finish featuring multi-layer paint treatment, green tinted rear side and rear glass and two-step double locking all fitted as standard.
Move up to the IS 220d SE and you also get 17" alloy wheels and leather upholstery with electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats. A step further up the ladder is the IS 220d SE-L, with this trim level you also get rain-sensing windscreen wipers, HID headlights with Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS), front and rear parking sensors and an electrically adjustable steering column with memory settings for the steering wheel, front seats and door mirrors. Last up in the IS220d range is the sport level of trim, this model has the addition of sports suspension, sports style pedals and 18" alloy wheels.
So with the BMW 3 Series now being more common than a Ford Mondeo, it may be time to think outside the box and take a look at the Lexus IS220d, at least you should be the only one on the street to have one.
Like the looks of the Lexus IS 220D, why not check out the Alfa Romeo 159, the BMW 3 Series, the VW Passat, the Audi A4, or the Mercedes C Class.
Finance your new Lexus IS 220D on a PCP car loan work out your monthly payments using our Car Finance Payment Calculator.
