It's easy to forget the virtues of a rear-wheel-drive automobile: light steering, squealable tires and kick-in-the-pants power.
I was driving on the W Road up Walden's Ridge one night last week when the rear tires on the IS 350 cut loose and squealed around a hairpin turn.
"What was that?" asked my car-crazy 10-year-old son.
"Remember, it's rear-wheel-drive," I reminded him.
"Oh, cool," he replied.
The interior of the Lexus IS 350 is luxurious and functional.Cool, indeed. In fact, if I had to pick one adjective to describe the Lexus IS 350, "cool" is the perfect modifier. Cool grille. Cool interior design. Cool V-6 engine with 306 horsepower. Cool combination of highway charms and backroad reflexes.
Last redesigned in 2014, the IS 350 was built to compete with the BMW 3-series luxury compacts; but in some ways it feels more highly evolved, with more facets to its driving personality than the Bimmer.
While technically an entry-level luxury car, the IS 350 can top $50,000 with options. Our from-the-factory test car weighs in at $50,364 including handling fee. (If it makes you feel better, you can skip the $425 illuminated door sills and limbo dance under under the magic $50,000 price point.)
The government says to expect 28 miles per gallon highway and 19 mpg city.
DESIGN AND FEATURES
Of all the Lexus sedans the brand's hourglass-shaped "spindle grille" looks best on the IS 350 sedan. Cars with smaller dimensions can fall into the "cute" trap, but the IS 350s aggressive front end gives it the bearing of a pit bull flashing its teeth.
Lexus has fiddled with the headlight design some this year and tweaked the tail-lights, too. A slight bulge in the sheet metal around rear wheel wells throws some of the visual weight of the design to the rear quarter of the car. The result is an exterior design that looks coiled for takeoff.
As I pulled up to the drive-through window at Krystal, a cashier leaned out to get a closer look at the little Lexus.
"Eww-Eee, that's pretty inside," she commented.
Fast facts
› Model: 2017 Lexus IS350› Exterior color: Caviar› Interior color: Flaxen› Engine: Six-cylinder› Horsepower: 306› Transmission: Eight-speed automatic› Fuel economy: 28 mpg highway, 19 mpg city› Local Dealer: Lexus of Chattanooga, Lee Highway› Price (as tested): $50,384
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And indeed it is.
Lush Flaxen leather is paired with black dash and door panels, highlighted with sharp brushed-metal trim. The padded dash begs to be touched - OK, squeezed.
Lexus does ergonomics better than any other brand, from the padded center stack that cradles your arm (right down to the wrist) to the telematics toggle that operates like a computer mouse.
Our IS 350 factory tester got drafted for an office lunch last week, and four full-sized adults fit comfortably for the cross-city drive.
The IS 350 comes well-equipped with such standard features as radar cruise control, LED headlamps, power moonroof, 10-way power driver's seat and Sirius XM radio.
A $4,370 luxury package provides a buffet of upgrades including heated and ventilated front seats, wood trim, memory seats and blind spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alert.
For $2,835 more, our tester adds the brilliant Mark Levinson designed sound system, with 15 speakers and 835 watts of power. The package also includes a 10.25 inch display screen that is neatly integrated into the dash.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
The IS 350 comes equipped with a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 engine that makes 306 horsepower. According the various estimates, expect a zero-to-60 mph time of about six seconds.
A eight-speed transmission distributes power to the rear wheels, and the shift points can be altered by dialing in any of four driving modes: ECO (economy), Normal, Sport and Snow.
In our week of mostly commuter driving, we found the IS 350 to be a relaxing companion, especially with that top-shelf sound system pumping out light jazz. Even my sons, who are normally quick to retune the radio, seemed to understand that light jazz is the native language of the IS 350. Consequently, they didn't try to change the music.
Depending on your journey and driving mood, the IS 350 can be a sedate urban cruiser or a spirited backroad companion. Be aware, though, it's still a compact automobile and is consequently not optimal for family travel. The trunk has only about 13.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Fear not, though, Lexus offers a full line of crossovers and SUVs for families.
BOTTOM LINE
The IS 350 is a perfect starter-Lexus for junior executives, or those with an SUV in the other garage bay at home. It offers plenty of power and a cocoon of interior comfort that will make your rush-hour ride home feel like a day at the spa.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUM NIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/ mkennedycolumnist.