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CNET editors' rating:
4.5 stars
Outstanding
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 32 reviews
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Product summary
CNET Editors' ChoiceSep 06
The good: The 2006 Lexus IS 350 features excellent cabin technology, including a crisp navigation screen and a top-notch audio system. Its performance doesn't disappoint, either, with an automatic transmission that hits the right gear at the right time.
The bad: We have a few minor criticisms of the IS 350: its voice-command system doesn't offer a full range of car control; we had to dig down to display song and album information; and phone address-book entries can be copied over only one at a time.
The bottom line: The 2006 Lexus IS 350 uses the highest-quality cabin electronics, and its strong engine and good handling make it a lot of fun to drive. At its relatively low price, it is one of the best values in a luxury sport car we've seen.
Specifications: Trim levels: 350; Available Engine: Gas See full specs
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 09/15/2006
Lexus makes a sedan feel like a luxury sport coupe with the IS 350, a perfect car in almost every way that comes in at a price making it the best luxury value available. This car sits below the GS and the LS series in Lexus's model lineup, yet the only thing it gives up is size and a little performance. It has a full range of well-implemented cabin tech, an amazing driving experience, and sharp styling.
With our tech-centered review, one of the first things that stood out was the pleasant graphic design of the navigation and telephone keypad displays on the central touch-screen LCD. The navigation system comes in a package with a premium Mark Levinson sound system, which is one of the best we've ever heard. Cabin materials and switch gear, with quality fit and finish, enhanced the luxury feeling. Power tilt steering wheel and a power rear sunshade round out the interior luxury tech.
Although the 3.5-liter variable valve-timed V-6 and its six-speed automatic transmission sound similar to what can be found in many other cars, this power train uses engineering and electronic controls that contribute to a very sporty driving experience. The transmission is in perfect sync with the engine and the road, picking the correct gears flawlessly. And the engine never feels wanting for power.
Safety gear on the 2006 Lexus IS 350 is as high-tech as it gets, with Lexus's VDIM system combining traction control and antilock brakes to intelligently improve road-holding. Our test car also came with radar-based cruise control, which tracks the car in the lane ahead, automatically using brakes and throttle to maintain distance.
The base price of the 2006 Lexus IS 350 is $35,440, but ours came with the $3,495 luxury package, the $3,990 stereo/navigation package, the $2,850 radar-based cruise control, and sundry other options that ran the final tally up to $46,593.
Although the level of luxury in the 2006 Lexus IS 350's cabin isn't quite up to that of the Mercedes-Benz S550, it's more refined than the Acura RL. The cabin has quality switch gear and materials, well-placed accents, excellent fit and finish, and very comfortable seats. The roof liner of our test car was made of a material that felt like cashmere, while the dash had a rubberized feel, much better than the hard, slippery plastics found in many other cars. The 10-way power adjustable front seats had heating and ventilation controls available on the console. As an example of the car's well thought-out ergonomics, the map pockets in the doors fold down on spring-loaded hinges for easier access.
As with most high-tech cars, the center LCD controls the cabin systems. The IS 350 uses a touch screen, buttons and dials on the steering wheel and the center stack, and voice commands to control its heating, air conditioning, stereo, navigation, Bluetooth telephone integration, and other car systems. The controls are set up with good redundancy. For example, stereo volume can be changed from the steering wheel or central stack. We found the stylish graphic design of the control panels on the LCD a very refreshing change from other carmakers' dull grey input screens. One of the few drawbacks we found on this car is that the voice-command system isn't as intuitive as the one in the Acura TSX. We needed to consult the manual to find out which commands it would accept, and the voice commands didn't control as many of the cars systems as in the TSX, leaving us, for example, to adjust the climate control by hand (a small sacrifice).
On the options list, the navigation and premium Mark Levinson sound system are packaged as one very worthwhile $3,990 package. Expensive, yes, but the audio quality is right up there with the THX system found in the Lincoln Zephyr. With 7.1-channel architecture, 300 watts, and 14 speakers, this system produces fully immersive surround sound that comes through incredibly crisp but with a rich bass note. The six-disc in-dash CD changer handles standard RedBook, MP3, WMA, and even DVD audio formats. And, just for kicks, it will play DVD video on its LCD screen when the car is stopped, with better sound than in most living rooms. It also has an auxiliary input in the center console, with a conveniently placed 12-volt outlet right next to it, for an iPod or another MP3 player. Another small gripe: although it can display song and album information, getting to it requires digging through a submenu or two. It can't be set to stay on the screen.
The navigation system uses a very nice, clear display and includes a full set of points of interest in its database, with retail stores, restaurants, and other destinations for weekend errands. The destination input screen uses predictive entry on its alphanumeric keypad, dimming out letters that couldn't possibly follow the previous entry. The black background and blue-trimmed soft keys are a nice graphic design element, another bit of attention to detail that most other automakers ignore. After destination entry, the system shows the point on a map, along with radiating arrows that let the driver fine-tune the address, another nice detail not seen on many other navigation systems. Route guidance worked quickly, helpfully, and unobtrusively during our testing.
As for the Bluetooth integration, we had no problem quickly pairing up our cell phone with the car. Again, the car gave us a nicely designed keypad interface on the LCD for entering phone numbers. Audio quality was fine for both parties on the line, helped along by the IS 350's well-insulated cabin. Unlike on some BMWs we've tested, there is no command to load a phone's entire address book into the car. The Lexus IS 350 does have an address book, but the phone's address book entries can be pushed in only one at a time.
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