Lexus 220d SE-L

The Lexus IS 220D SE-I is a lovely car to look at but several areas bother me. The ride get very unsettled in rough roads. Not quite the ride I would have expected from a Prestige car. The centre consul looks like it was designed in the 90's. Very much like a ghetto blaster with lots of little buttons and meaningless display lights that are hard to read. The plastic materials in the centre consul do not match the superb quality found elsewhere in the cabin. Think hollow feel plastic, and you get the picture.

The car does not like to drive in 4th gear ( it has 6 gears) in town traffic i.e. around 30mph. Too highly geared and don't believe the economy figures that Lexus claim. You will not get close to them. As for 6th gear, you have to go beyond the motorway speed limit before the engine is comfortable in that gear.

Will I change for another car in three years time? I will certainly consider Lexus along with the usual German suspects and perhaps the Korean car manufacturers will have moved into this market, like they have in the US They seemed to have ramped up quality ten fold in the small family car market, so who knows?

Summary, Lexus, you win all the plaudits for best dealerships, reliability, green credentials etc. However, you really need to outsource your consul designs to Italy, Germany or perhaps California. Get a grip on the gearing. You have designed a car that is every bit as good looking as the benchmark i.e. BMW 3 Series. However, make the drive more exciting. The steering is great, but both BMW and Audi really know how to make a Diesel. Lexus's Toyota Diesel although smooth, is nowhere near as good as its German rivals.

I have been a VW-Audi man all my life.

I have now made the change to a Lexus I S 220d, and I am so pleased I did so.

Everything about Lexus ownership is first class.

The dealers are so helpful,especially Andrew at Lexus Stockport !!

The car is just beautifully inside and out

I think the Germans have to watch out for Lexus.

I know its early days, but my advice is buy one

I have Before of this car a BMW 320d (The E90 Series) and the Lexus is better in almost all aspects. Confortable, Full Equiped, Fiability, Beautiful, Good performance.