— Photos by Mark Kennedy
Fast facts
– Model: 2016 Lexus IS 200t – Exterior color: Ultra White – Interior color: Rioja Red – Engine: 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo – Horsepower: 241 – Transmission: Eight-speed automatic – Fuel economy: 33 mpg highway, 22 mpg city – Local Dealer: Lexus of Chattanooga – Price (as tested): $45,195
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Is Lexus a luxury brand or a performance brand?
It’s obvious that the folks at Lexus headquarters in Nayota, Japan, would love to have it both ways.
Witness the zippy little 2016 Lexus IS 200t compact sedan, which arrives this year equipped with a turbo-charged four-cylinder engine previously only found in the brand’s NX small crossover.
Designed as a BMW 3-series fighter, the IS 200t maintains some of the trappings of luxury, like a booming Mark Levinson sound system and expressive Rioja Red Nuluxe seats in F Sport trim. Yet its new high-revving, fuel efficient engine also gives it the performance chops to compete with the best German sports sedans from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.