2009 Lexus IS 350 review

This touch-screen interface is attractive and easy to use.

The navigation system is a simple DVD-based unit. It reacts reasonably quickly to user input, but lacks advanced features present in competitors' systems, such as live traffic or weather. The destination screen layout looks good and is easy to use, and we're impressed that it even lets you look up addresses by phone number, a feature that works for locations stored in its POI database. But because the maps are stored on DVD, you have to change regions when you want to range further than a couple of states over.

The stereo system offers XM satellite radio, a six-disc changer that can read DVDs and MP3 CDs, and an auxiliary input. iPod integration won't come until the next tech update, nor is there an internal hard drive. The interface for browsing an MP3 CD uses a simple folder and file paradigm, but you can view ID3 tagging on a track by hitting a button labeled Detail.

A 7.1-channel Mark Levinson audio system comes with the navigation option. The sound, coming from 14 speakers powered by a 300-watt amp, is excellent. The system produces a surround effect that envelops the cabin in quality audio, with good clarity that doesn't seem to favor any frequencies.

The phone system includes a phone book, but we had to make entries manually.

The IS 350 also includes a Bluetooth phone system with a good on-screen interface and voice command. The car has an onboard phone book, but we weren't able to push contacts from an iPhone into it. You can manually enter contact names and numbers.

Not present on our car was the available adaptive cruise control system, which uses a forward-facing radar to detect and match the speed of any car in the lane ahead of the IS 350. But, as part of the navigation option, the IS 350 includes a reverse camera.

Under the hood
The standard engine in the 2009 Lexus IS 350 is a 3.5-liter V-6 making 306 horsepower at 6,400rpm and 277 pound-feet of torque at 4,800rpm. That's enough to get the IS 350 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, according to Lexus. The upgraded air intake from the F Sport line probably adds a few horsepower, while the F Sport exhaust gives an aggressive sound.

The F Sport air intake can be seen here running across the left side of the engine.

That engine feels ready to go in city traffic and on the open road, delivering easy acceleration from the responsive throttle. We noted the transmission's lack of aggressive downshifting above, but in normal driving it works transparently, finding the right gear without a lot of bother.

And the transmission's six gears assist the fuel economy, keeping engine speed low when driving at freeway speeds. The EPA rates it at 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. In our driving, we averaged about 21 mpg, coming in near the middle of the EPA range.

Lexus gets a lot of efficiency out of this engine by using variable-valve timing, on both intake and exhaust, along with a unique injection system that uses port injection for low engine speeds and direct injection when the revs climb. That technology helps the IS 350 earn a ULEV II rating for emissions from the California Air Resources Board.

For safety, the IS 350 gets Lexus' Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management system (VDIM), which ties antilock braking, traction control, and the stability program together. We felt this system was a little bit intrusive in some of our driving, but you can turn it off, something to consider for track days. We would like to see an intermediate setting that dials it down without turning it off entirely.

In sum
The 2009 Lexus IS 350 goes for a very reasonable base price of $36,605. But the navigation and Mark Levinson audio system add $3,990 to that price. Our car also included the Luxury package, which includes adaptive head lights, power-adjustable steering wheel, and rain-sensing wipers, for $2,380. We estimate that the F Sport accessories on our test car added an additional $11,750 to the car, bringing our total up to $55,550.

Because of the age of its cabin tech, the IS 350's electronics only rate just a little above average, mostly buoyed by the excellent audio system. It earns a much better score for performance, as we like its handling, power, and fuel economy. The F Sport accessories give it a bump, although the transmission keeps it from achieving an outstanding rating. And we also give the car an excellent rating for design, as the cabin tech interface is easy to use and the body is distinctly a Lexus.