Category: Compact Executive 
Price Range: £25,670 to £25,670
A stylish and high-quality alternative to the usual German line-up.
Diesel not as refined as it should be, rear space not great.
A hugely competent follow up to the original, the latest IS isn't a class leader but does deserve a place on buyers' shortlist.
The level of standard active safety kit is predictably high on the IS, including ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, traction control and an advanced electronic stability control programme.
Lexus claims the IS is also the first car to be equipped with dual chamber airbags for front passengers. Basically, twin chambers create a depression in the middle of the bag when it inflates, which cradles the passenger's face while allowing the physical impact of the bag to be spread across other parts of the head, shoulders and upper torso. Clever - and there are also knee and curtain airbags as standard.
We tried the optional Pre-crash safety (PCS) system - on a closed track, I hasten to add. This works with a radar sensor that can determine when an impact is inevitable based on speed, steering input, distance to object and so forth. If it knows the crash is going to happen, it tensions the front seatbelts (actually, quite aggressively) and also adjusts the brake assist system to deliver maximum braking power as soon as you step on the anchors. We deliberately drove into a large plastic post (harder to do than you'd think&) and the system worked every time. Impressive.
Also optional, an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system that maintains a constant distance to the vehicle ahead in traffic. Both PCS and ACC are only available on the top-spec IS250 SE-L, though.
Security measures are impressive, too, with deadlocks, locking wheelnuts, intrusion sensor and alarm and security window etching linked to a 24 hour helpline.
