MotorMouths

While the 2012 Lexus IS sedan performs well, it makes drivers give up ride comfort and roominess in ways that its competitors don’t.

The 2012 Lexus IS 250 scores points for attractive styling and unshakable reliability, but comes up short in regard to practicality and power.

The entry-level luxury sedan category is chock full of viable options and the 2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD is a perfectly acceptable (if run-of-the-mill) choice. The styling is conservative, the driving dynamics are a mixed bag of sport and luxury, but the engine is better than we anticipated.

The Lexus IS 350 is very much a compromise, neither as sporty as some alternatives nor as smooth-riding as others, but it’s a unique compromise that remains competitive despite the aging design.

The 2011 Lexus IS is the perfect car for people who only think they know how to drive, but need their Mommies to rescue them when they get in over their heads. Driving enthusiasts and luxury sedan buyers will want to look elsewhere.

The Lexus IS has given up on its sport pretensions and concentrated what it does best by providing an astute, competitively priced, entry-level luxury sedan with an adept level of performance.

Without taking IS 250 F Sport too far, Lexus has crafted a daily driver with an added dose of sport for those looking for a departure from the BMW 328i’s of the world. The IS 250 is a car that relaxes as much as it excites.

The 2011 Lexus IS 350 AWD sedan is loaded with goodies and is an intriguing entry in the near-luxury market. The styling and build quality are outstanding and materials are all up to anyone’s contemporary standards.

The IS 350 sports a silky smooth 3.5-liter V-6,and it’s still one of the best looking sedans in its segment. Inside, there’s plenty of luxury, with leather on most surfaces, premium feeling materials, and a long list of standard features.