insideKENT Magazine Issue 62 - May 2017 | Page 152

MOTORS
THE LEXUS IS 300h
F-SPORT
words by Luke Yates
HAILED BY ALAN PARTRIDGE AS 'THE JAPANESE MERCEDES', LEXUS, (OR LEXII, AS ALAN WOULD
REFER TO THE PLURAL), IS FAMOUS FOR ITS ABILITY TO EXUDE CLASS AND QUALITY, WITHOUT
BEING OVERLY OSTENTATIOUS. A PROPER CAR FOR PROPER DRIVERS, LEXUS IS DESIGNED
WITH PEOPLE IN MIND FOR WHOM IMAGE ISN'T EVERYTHING — THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR
CARS PERHAPS, BUT DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO BRAG ABOUT IT. AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE
USUAL GERMAN OFFERINGS, THE IS 300H F-SPORT WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ROAD TESTING
RECENTLY, AFFORDS THIS DESCRIPTION PERFECTLY.
Impressive from the onset, the IS 300h F-
SPORT looks sleek, sporty and stylish. To the
uninitiated, the word 'hybrid' may conjure up
feelings of a milk-floaty pace and strange
electrical noises; this is absolutely not true
with the IS 300h. A car that was famously
designed to go tyre-to-tyre with the BMW 3
Series, this is a proper red-blooded sports
saloon, and don't you forget it!
Looks-wise this really is a beautiful car to
behold: sculpted, long flowing curves, a
dynamic looking grille and that assertive 'tick'
on the front give the Lexus a feeling of
confidence and certainty. Resting on elegant
alloy wheels, and sporting the familiar modest,
152
but stylish blue 'L' badge on the front and back,
the IS 300h really is a good-looking motor
vehicle.
To say the interior of the Lexus is just as
impressive would be a massive
understatement. As you slide elegantly into
the protective surrounds of the sumptuous
leather heated seats, you are instantly
reminded of the Batmobile. Not so much a
mere interior as a high-tech cockpit for a
driving machine.
The well thought out driving position gives
you an excellent view of the road without the
A-pillars getting in your way, and refreshingly
the cockpit feels as though it was positioned
with the driver in mind, as opposed to being
split between the driver and front passenger.
Long journeys start to sound appealing when
you know you can wile away the hours in
comfort.
Entertainment is not sparse in the IS 300h
either. Once you're bored marveling at the
LCD display that advises you on the car's
energy levels, there is a very impressive sound
system, complete with the now prerequisite
Bluetooth and iPhone options.