Along with the 2014 IS model, Lexus is claiming that the hegemony of the 3 Series is over. A lot of big talk from the luxury branch of Toyota but does it stack up in real life?
Well, we've seen a couple of comparisons done between the most powerful versions of the two, for the moment, and some hurried to claim the Lexus victorious. No need to tell you what we though about those reviews, we guess…
However, in the real world, where people actually work for their money, the more modest models will be the top sellers. The guys from Auto Express sure know that and took the best sellers out for a drive.
They had the 2014 Lexus IS300h pitted against a 2013 BMW F30 320d EfficientDynamics and an Audi A4 TDI. The Germans came prepared with diesel engines and you might find that peculiar but since Lexus decided to drop diesels altogether and go for a single hybrid instead, that's what its competition is.
The IS300h has a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine that works in tandem with an electric motor, together developing 220 HP. We're not going to mention that the internal combustion engine develops 177 HP and the electric one 143, or did we?
The EfficientDynamics 320d has 163 HP and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque on the other hand, and returns an average fuel consumption of 57.4 mpg (4.1 l/100 km), even more than the hybrid Lexus that does 54.7 mpg (4.3 l/100 km).
That being said, in a straight line, the Bimmer is also on pace with the Lexus, both of them being recorded to do the 0-60 mph sprint in 7.8 seconds, whilst the Audi did it in 8.4 seconds.
Ok, so let's say performance isn't everything, and truly it isn't, especially in busy traffic. Going over comfort and the interiors, the Lexus falls behind too. The infotainment system of the IS is hard to get used too, whilst the iDrive is lightyears ahead.
Also, in the back, the BMW has the most space for its occupants and feels better on the road. As for the transmission, it's useless to starting talking about how brilliant the 8-speed ZF is and how miserable the CVT in the Japanese car performs.
Overall, the Lexus could win this comparo and BMW pulled away, yet once again. Maybe the top guns of each model are a different story, but in real-life, people go for efficiency and low costs, rendering the IS300h useless.
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