Lexus IS200d F-Sport, road test (Engine and performance)

At Highmotor we got behind the wheel of a Lexus that is special above all for its exterior design, since one of the first units to arrive in our country with the F-Sport pack is the star of our test.

This Lexus IS200d F-Sport stands out especially for its aggressive, sporty design, something that will leave no one indifferent, and it attracted more than one glance during the test. I suppose many of you, just by seeing the model name, already know what power it has, but for those who don’t follow the news from the Japanese brand, what power does this Lexus IS F-Sport have?

250 hp? 200 hp? Well, here is the second curiosity of this model, it is an IS200d (diesel) with the F-Sport design pack, but this does not affect its power or mechanics at all, which remain a 2.2-litre with 150 CV. In other words, a sporty style with moderate consumption and power.

Engine and performance

Calm and smooth, two adjectives that surely don’t quite fit its styling but which best define the behaviour of the Lexus IS200d. Its engine, unlike what is common on the market, which is to reduce displacement and increase power, has opted for a 2.2-litre and the power has been reduced to 150 CV for reasons of consumption and emissions. This translates into a softer response, yes, but one that is progressive at all times and without the usual kick of turbo diesels.

That said, when we set off we notice an extremely calm engine, and it is not until we pass 2,500 rpm that the car starts to push with force, a force that fades near 3,500 rpm. In figures, we are talking about 340 Nm of torque (between 2,000 and 2,600 rpm), while it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and reaches 220 km/h.

In other words, we are not talking about a model with sporty aspirations in terms of engine thrust; rather the opposite, it is very calm, and until we rev it higher the 150 CV it advertises on its spec sheet are absent.

To the engine we must add a six-speed manual gearbox, with fairly long gears. That said, the feel of the gearbox was correct; it did not quite have a sporty touch, but it was precise when engaging the different gears.

Handling

We arrive at the IS200d, open the door, sit down and press the button to start it (standard), and from this moment we disconnect from what is happening outside. This is perhaps one of the IS’s greatest virtues, because it has outstanding thermal and acoustic insulation.

The suspension also takes care to pamper the occupants, although the chassis stands out for its rigidity and the 35-profile tyres do not help much with interior comfort. Even so, hitting any kind of pothole or manhole cover does not disturb interior comfort.

In other words, it is a very comfortable car for travelling. But is it effective on mountain roads or winding routes? Generally speaking, we are dealing with a fairly agile car; the chassis is very well calibrated, giving the car agility. Only when we try to extract maximum performance can we notice its understeering character, but it is quickly corrected by the ESP, returning it to the line we set.

The steering feel is somewhat firm and, within reason, precise; it is not uncomfortable on the road, and the firmness is appreciated when we tackle a more spirited driving style. Meanwhile, the braking system stops the IS200d without problems and holds up well to fatigue.

Consumption

One of the reasons for the reduction in power compared with the previous IS220d was to comply with European emissions regulations and also to reduce consumption, but even so, in this area it does not particularly stand out.

In other words, it is not a car that uses a lot of fuel, but it sits within the normal range for the segment, with other models of similar power being more economical. On the motorway we achieved consumption of 6.1 litres per 100 km (a figure that could be improved), while on country roads it settled at 6.5 litres on average per 100 km.

In town the figures rise and reach 9.5 litres per 100 km. In its defence, it should be argued that, unlike other manufacturers, its displacement has not been notably reduced to cut consumption, which has contributed to its smoothness, and its weight of around 1,600 kg.

In the next part of the test we will focus on the design of the Lexus IS200d with the F-Sport sporty pack.

Photos | David Taboada