Lexus finishes fourth in WhatCar magazine's group test of the BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-class, Audi A4 and Lexus IS

Mark this date down, JD Powers has Lexus in a free fall and now Lexus is fourth in group testing.
Look for all you Lexus fans remember one thing, Babe Ruth is a icon, but he did lead the Majors in strike outs?

— chuck717 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 11:36:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Still can't beat the Germans.

— SevorbeupstryIsBack (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 12:12:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Mind you, the 2008 320d with 177 hp and Efficient Dynamics will totally blow the Lex away.

— SevorbeupstryIsBack (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 12:15:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Exactly....even Lexus lovers could have predicted this outcome. It's already been determined from past reviews, that the Lexus 220d can't compete with the other diesels.

— Bmw8ter (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 12:43:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

You guys should read Emunds' full test on Benz C350 Sport. I warn you though, the results are ugly...

— SupraNeverBack (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 12:47:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Lexus is a another camry!!
i wldn't wanan drive a camry.. i rather drive a accord

— printhan (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 1:12:53 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I think if they had tested gasoline models the results may well have been different. I recently sold my older 3 series and bought an IS. Sure, it emphasizes luxury a little more than sport, but overall it is quite fun to drive, doesn't lean much in curves and gets 25 mpg in city driving! (I have the IS250). The car has plenty of pep, much more than the 325i I had.

— BMW995 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 2:31:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

BMW give links to comparisons performed by well known magazines on their British site.

Only the ones they win of course, but still, they did win.

Some truly bizzare things with the Lexus IS220d: manual only, and 2 trim levels with different gear ratios.
Non-sport model has to long gearing, sport model has better gearing, but 8 worse combined mpg. "The IS 220d’s problem is that it can’t translate its power advantage into useful extra pace. Sport models feature a closer-ratio gearbox that overcomes the standard car’s poor flexibility, but the Lexus’s engine still suffers from a sluggish low-rev delivery that can cause it to bog down when moving away from the mark. It’s the least willing to rev hard, too, so getting the best from it requires too much effort."
Also:
"The Audi and BMW both have 460-litre boots, although the A4’s is a better shape. The Lexus offers just 378 litres of space."

Basically they liked the IS refinement, but said it's suspension was to hard, but didn't have a good gearbox or handling.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 3:05:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

One more thing, the key to why Lexus does not sell well in Europe:
"The Sport model’s lower gearing dramatically increases its CO2 emissions over the standard car’s, so higher-rate payers in company car schemes part with a whopping £262 per month. The Merc’s lower emissions mean monthly bills of £204, while the BMW and Audi are cleaner still and have rates of £183 and £172 respectively."
And as for leasing:
"HSBC Vehicle Finance quotes the lowest contract hire rates for the BMW, at £501 per month. The Audi costs only £12 more per month, while the Lexus will set you back over £540 a month."
And another thing, to do with Lexus' lack of personalisation and insistence on packages.
"The A4 counters with full leather upholstery. This adds £995 to the price of the 3 Series, £1295 to the C-Class and ISN'T AVAILABLE for the IS if you opt for Sport spec."
"Audi will fit satellite-navigation to the A4 for £500 instead of the usual £1400 until the end of September. Mercedes wants £1075, BMW £1585 and Lexus only offers sat-nav as part of a £2710 option pack, which includes a reversing camera."

I want sat nav but I do not want a reversing camera, so paying over 2700 pounds is stupid.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 3:09:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Well put Rupert. The hard truth why Lexus doesn't sell here.

— SevorbeupstryIsBack (View Profile)

Posted on 6/29/2007 3:01:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Actually, Formula1 my 325i was 7 yrs. old.
Maybe that's why my new IS250 "seems" faster. The 6sp automatic compared to the 325i 5 sp makes much more of a difference than I would have thought.
I'm not sure the 0-60 you gave for the 325i is for a 2001 model. That car only had 184 HP, whereas the IS250 has 204 HP with somewhat of a weight penalty though.

— BMW995 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 3:21:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Why wasn't the article named "BMW finishes first in WhatCar magazine's group test..." Do we have to concentrate on the Lexus? Gee, this article is asking for haters and fanboys to come out and I get the feeling it was on purpose.

— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 3:53:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Lets see, they test a 220d against the Audi, BMW and C-class. The Lexus, according to the article, has the highest residual value, best reliability, most safety features, high quality interior, and they still place it last because of the
fact "it’s the least willing to rev hard". There are also a plenty of different versions available of the German models, which contributes in cheaper ownership costs versus the Lexus, but as more versions become available in Europe this gap will narrow.

— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 4:29:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

BMW > Lexus Always

— ACS_CarbonBlack (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 4:45:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Well BMW are now the masters in deisels, just like Toyota/Lexus are the masters in hybrid, so the result is as expected.

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 5:03:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

no actually mercedes benz makes the best diesel. and this article says it.

— merc07 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 5:39:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Lexus should worry about it's real competitors like Honda, Nissan etc and leave the real Cars like Benz, BMW and Co, to master auto perfection.

— xj13 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 8:38:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

That is so true!

I guess journos should just ignore the IS's under-powered and noisy Diesel in further tests then?

That would be fair.

— Matthew1 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/29/2007 12:03:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

5ht gear never picked the Is220d over the 3 series.
they liked the IS, but would still choose the bimmer, or the new C class.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 6/29/2007 11:48:10 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

No matter what, BMW always > Lexus

LOL

— ACS_CarbonBlack (View Profile)

Posted on 6/29/2007 9:50:13 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

yes and i-drive STILL sucks!

— bagwell (View Profile)

Posted on 6/29/2007 4:35:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Good review, glad Lexus finally offers a diesel in Europe. The 3 is no joke, its the favorite and its well deserved.

If anything, Lexus is learning here, it is their first diesel.

— titsmagee (View Profile)

Posted on 6/30/2007 2:11:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

this is not a true story please don't count on it

— hieneken (View Profile)

Posted on 7/1/2007 10:27:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1