Have your cake and eat it too with the Lexus IS350

• By STEVE WHEELER
• Advocate Wheels editor
• Published: May 29, 2009

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The Lexus IS350 is a 4-door sedan that drives more like a sport coupe.

It’s little wonder, considering the IS350 has a 3.5-liter, 306-horsepower V-6 engine pushing it around.

The IS350 is a sibling of the IS250, but it’s still considered a compact sedan. Nevertheless, with seating for five in this sporty sedan, owners can have their cake and eat it too.

Whenever you get into a new car that has sport pedals on the floor, you have to expect that acceleration and speed will be a part of the equation. The rear-wheel drive IS350 can bring you from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in just over five seconds.

The IS250 is available in all-wheel drive, but the 350 is RWD only. The 6-cylinder engine sends 277 lb.-ft. of torque to a six-speed electronic transmission, which has paddle shifters. 

For 2009, Lexus has installed a new suspension and tuned the steering to improve stability and control. Standard on the IS350 is Lexus’ Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system, which integrates the car’s dynamic control systems for better handling and traction.

The IS350 is a really fun car to drive. It is tight in the turns, and the little Lexus sticks to the road like a tongue to a frozen flagpole.

The VDIM system can apply brakes and/or throttle to help keep the car on the road when the system detects a skid. It’s all pretty sophisticated safety technology, which makes it a bit surprising that the IS350 earns four rather than five stars in the government’s safety tests for driver and passenger protection in frontal crashes.

The car has anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, an advanced airbag system including side curtains, and even front seat knee airbags.

The vehicle gets five stars in side crash protection for front seat passengers and a rare five stars in rollover protection.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the IS350 is $36,605. The sport package — which includes a sport suspension with lowered ride height, aluminum scuff plates, 18-inch alloy wheels with summer tires, adaptive headlights, heated and ventilated memory seats, a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel and rain-sensing wipers — adds $3,140.

The test car also has the navigation package, which includes a Mark Levinson premium audio system that brought the out-the-door price of the 2009 IS350 sedan to $44,633.

Outside of the optional packages, the IS350 is well-equipped. Standard are smart access entry with pushbutton start, leather trim with a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, a power moon roof, automatic dual-zone climate control, cruise, heated mirrors and a 6-disc CD changer with 13 speakers and an MP3 jack.