2021 Lexus IS300h
Priced at P2.978 million, I know this model is still very exclusive for the term ‘entry-level’, but considering the Japan-made Prius retails for just under P2.4 million, the lure of owning a hybrid luxury sedan doesn’t seem all that far-fetched.
Introduced early this year, the IS300h comes with all the renowned trappings of Lexus: gorgeous design, thrilling performance, meticulous attention to detail, superb usability, but now made better with hybrid technology. I’m getting ahead of myself though.
Let me first take you through this beautiful exterior. The main attraction has to be the large spindle grille and how it looks big and wide enough to almost occupy the whole façade and also touch the ground. It tapers to the top just enough to fit these sharp auto-levelling LED headlamps that come with these striking check-shaped LED daytime running lamps. Then look at these huge air dams, like those of the Supra, at the bottom corners so you know this is meant to go faster than your typical car.
It gets 18-inch wheels that fill up the wheel well nicely. Right by the rear doors are these pronounced channels, one that rises from the rocker panel and another running along the shoulder line. Both are designed to direct air around the vehicle for better aerodynamics.
Like the front, the rear LED lights are pretty slim and are connected by a lightbar. It also comes with rear foglamps and a glass-type antenna to keep the body as sleek as possible.
On paper, words don’t do it justice which makes the design seem understated, but one look and this image is guaranteed to make your head turn, your heart skip a beat, and burn a lasting impression in your brain.
Inside is a predominantly black interior using synthetic leather but this is where the ‘takumi’ of Lexus really earn their keep. It’s a very loaded cabin due to all the equipment and amenities, but attention to detail is second to none. Not a stitch out of place and everything fits like a glove.
The cockpit looks very elaborate with so many knobs and switches but it’s easy to settle in because all of them are properly marked so it’s easy to tell which is which. Despite all of this modern gear, the trademark analog clock is still there, right in the middle of the center air vents.
By looks alone, I could tell that most surfaces use soft-touch material, from the dashboard, door panels, center console, and the perfectly-sized full leather multi-function steering wheel with paddle shifters.
It has an eight-inch touchscreen display that can also be controlled via a touchpad found by the gear shifter. It isn’t as vibrant as some newer displays but it does have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on top of the standard connectivity options.
Eight-way adjustable seats are so snug and since it’s situated as close to the ground as possible, the driving position is very sporty like in the Supra. My thighs were somewhat perpendicular to the floor. Space is similar to what you’d normally get from a compact sedan. But what I love the most though, as sophisticated as everything is in here, Lexus eschewed chrome and used mostly silver and grey accents to keep things understated but very elegant.
Passenger comfort is one of the best in the segment. There’s zero vibrations and harshness because it uses double wishbones in front instead of a strut and multi-links instead of torsion beams in the rear. Both are more costly and complicated but the difference is in the drive.
Sending power to the rear wheels is a 2.5L direct injection gas engine with Dual Variable Valve Timing and an electric motor, which allows it to run in either hybrid or full electric mode. Output of 181 PS and 221 Nm of torque is sent to Toyota’s electronically-controlled CVT (continuously variable transmission).
Acceleration is rather reserved in Eco mode as response is moderated and shifting smoothened out for better fuel efficiency. Sport is quite the opposite as the high revs are held longer but there is a noticeable delay in response to heavy throttle pressure and a bit of engine noise that creeps into the cabin. I suspect it’s the CVT.
Normal mode is the best as it sits between efficiency and performance. There’s power for overtaking without stressing the engine too much and then of course, very low consumption. Mixing all modes in both highway and city driving, I averaged a very healthy 11.3 km/l.
What it executes the best though is the Lexus Driving Signature. Tested in the marque’s own track in Japan called Shimoyama, steering is perfectly weighted and impeccably sharp, while handling is absolutely heavenly with superb stability around corners and barely any body roll. This is one vehicle I wouldn’t mind driving for days around mountain passes and twisty roads.
If you’re thinking of going luxury, you might as well go green while you’re at it. No one else offers that combo in this segment except for Lexus. Sure, parts and service will be expensive but know that this model is legendary for its reliability.
Efficient, great driving dynamics, and environmentally friendly, the IS300h gives entry-level a whole new meaning.