Lexus IS200d F-Sport, road test (Exterior design, interior and finish)

We continue with the road test of the Lexus IS200d F-Sport, a car that stands out mainly for its sporty and different design. Precisely today we want to focus on the exterior design, on how to turn a traditional 150 CV diesel saloon into a sporty saloon that really catches the eye.

The move with the Lexus seems to me most fitting, offering a customer who does not want a car that consumes too much, who looks for a diesel model but who also does not want to give up an eye-catching design. While the interior has surprised us with the quality of its finishes and with how the sporty character of the exterior extends to its seats… stay with us in this review of the Lexus IS200d F-Sport.

Exterior design

The staging of the Lexus with this model has been brilliant, and it may be liked more or less, but it draws attention. And not because we say so, but because after a week with this IS200d it has become clear that it generates real expectation, people asked us above all about the power of the car.

The essence of the F-Sport trim is its more sporty front bumpers, as well as the rear ones, ,black alloy wheels (standard in this colour) and this electric blue exterior paint; the result is a model with a sporty air.

At the front, besides the sporty look, the LED daytime running lights (standard) stand out, while our unit had xenon headlights (also standard on this trim). LED technology is also used in the rear lights, since the position and brake lights are LED.

Interior design, space and finish

Inside, the driving position pleasantly surprised us; it is typically Japanese in the layout of the controls, which can be a bit confusing to operate because some functions of the two-zone climate control must be managed from the centre console and others from the touchscreen (for example, switching on the air conditioning).

The rest of the controls are well laid out, but for the audio functions we will also use the touchscreen to control practically everything; that said, there are buttons on the centre console for quick access to the radio or CD.

The quality is adequate, as almost the entire dashboard is covered in padded surfaces, including the lower part and the doors; in short, it lives up to the premium segment it belongs to.

The only drawbacks regarding materials are some hard plastics used on the centre console, which are more typical of a mainstream saloon than a premium one. As a quality detail, the roof and sun visors are covered in a material similar to velvet to the touch, which notably completes the ensemble.

The front seats stand out for their seats (heated and electrically adjustable as standard), which hold the body perfectly and offer correct lateral support in keeping with the sporty touch of this F-Sport. That said, the front seats are a little tight in height if you are over 1.80 metres, and the position of the centre tunnel envelops the driver, which takes away space on one side but gains practicality by keeping everything within reach, as does the somewhat raised position of the gear lever.

The rear seats stand out for their lateral support; they are two very comfortable seats, except for the middle one, which has a harder backrest and is narrow, but the outer seats envelop the passengers and, above all, their lateral support and comfort surprised us.

Storage and boot

In the centre tunnel there are several storage spaces, but small ones (a key recess and a central compartment with two more cavities, including a cup holder). The door pockets are of a correct size, but the rear doors have no door pockets, which takes away practicality.

That said, the main glovebox is large and regularly shaped, allowing it to be used to the maximum; it even has a specific slot to store the enormous manuals that characterise Japanese models (a curiosity: a Japanese car manual doubles the page count of any other European model).

The boot has a capacity of 398 litres, a small figure for a saloon, but its shape is practical and it is connected to the cabin so you can carry skis or some other item a bit longer than usual.

Photos | David Taboada