Test Drive and Review of the 2021 Lexus IS

You have a soft spot for anything refined, you enjoy a sporty drive, you never leave room for compromise and for you, style is as important as performance? If you're looking for a sports sedan, the 2021 Lexus IS is definitely the one for you. Stylish, provocative, sexy, powerful, safe and smart, this stunning luxury sedan will give you everything you want and more. In fact, the following will give you a better idea of its capabilities and qualities. Here is the Lexus IS test drive.

New features for the 2021 Lexus IS

For the new model year, the Lexus IS 300 AWD, our test model, is 30 millimetres longer, its grille is larger, its taillamps are linked by a light bar to great effect, and for the first time, this stunning sedan is available with 19-inch wheels, which gives it an even more badass appearance! In addition to the 5 new colours on the menu, including Infrared for versions equipped with F SPORT packages, the air intakes have been enlarged, the rear tires widened and a new spoiler, new lower body mouldings as well as a new exhaust system were added.

Apart from these upgrades, the new Lexus adopts a sturdier structure than the one it replaces, and this translates into optimized handling and greater stability. It also benefits from Lexus Safety System+, which this year enhances the camera and pre-collision system, more sensitive to more easily detect a pedestrian in darker conditions, for example. What is more, with better control and improved stability, we really enjoyed its exhilarating, clearly more dynamic drive.

The superb powertrain of the new 2021 Lexus IS

While this sedan was already a lot of fun to drive, the new variant sits a notch above, and taking a curve has never been so exhilarating, as it responds instantly to your every move. On top of that, its 3.5-litre V6 engine with 260 horsepower gives you all the fire you need to make you smile with every enthusiastic push of the accelerator. So we can easily imagine that the 311-horsepower V6 engine available under the hood of the IS 350 AWD will not only make you smile, but will probably also give you some thrills.

The interior welcomes you with great pomp and circumstance, and the exceptional quality of the materials and impeccable finish are evident at first glance. If you don't feel like listening to the engine's music, a Mark Levinson surround sound system with 17 speakers will give you the distinct impression of sitting in a concert hall. A real treat for the ears.

All in all, the new IS is definitely worth your interest if you're shopping in this class of vehicle, and even though it's taking on the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, with all its strengths and improvements, it will likely perform as well as they do. And with the Japanese manufacturer's proven track record, I'd even say it's a step ahead of its rivals.

In short, with exciting driving dynamics, outstanding handling and manoeuvrability, a stunning and eminently comfortable interior, not to mention tons of infotainment and safety technology, and an exceptionally efficient all-wheel drive system, the Lexus IS deserves all the attention.

Other models include the IS 300 RWD and IS 350 AWD. The former offers a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower, the latter a 311-horsepower V6. All come standard with Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Smart Key with Push Button Start, Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection and Bicycle Detection, Left Turn Intersection Support, and Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, among others.

Come try it for yourself at Spinelli Lexus Pointe-Claire in Montreal

Also, if you like to customize your ride, there are several optional packages available, such as the F SPORT Series 1 and 2, which include a rear spoiler, Active Sound Control, 19-inch F SPORT alloy wheels and much more. The Premium, Luxury and Ultra Luxury packages add features such as heated steering wheel, power moonroof and driver seat memory system, to name a few. Come and choose the model that will thrill you at your Spinelli Lexus Pointe-Claire dealer in Montreal, easily accessible from Laval or the South Shore, we await you!