First Drive! Lexus's new hybrid, the IS 300h SE

By Ané Theron

Lexus has added a hybrid to their IS-range for those of you who just don't see yourselves driving around in a Toyota Prius. Is the new Lexus IS 300h worth looking into, if you're quite distinguished but also into saving petrol?

Local buyers don't go mad for hybrid tech

While South Africans aren't exactly clamouring to buy hybrid cars, it isn't stopping carmakers such as Nissan, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and BMW (to name a few) from building them. This is because in the rest of the world, where there's the infrastructure for it, fully electric plug-in (and non-plug-in) hybrid cars, and even fuel cell cars such as Toyota's Mirai, sell in droves. In many countries the owners of electric vehicles are rewarded for their contribution towards cleaner living. In certain parts of California, lower-income residents have been offered in the region of up to 14 000 USD to get rid of their smoking old 'skedonk' for replacement by a fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid car (like a Chevy Volt) or a fully electric vehicle like the Nissan leaf. Even if you have a moderate or even an above average income, you will receive some cash for a move to greener driving.

Currently, Toyota and Lexus own a massive fifty percent share of global hybrid car sales, and they feel that in today's challenging economic times, a luxury, compact sedan with decent performance and light drinking habits is just the ticket for well-heeled South Africans who not only complain about the high fuel prices, but who are consciously trying to do their bit for the environment.

Lexus IS 300h's driving force

It's the first time that the IS-range gets a hybrid model in their ranks. Power wise, the 300h comes with a 133kW, 2.5-litre petrol engine with 221 Nm which is supplemented by the 650V electric motor with an additional 105kW of kick, bringing the total power output to a highway-friendly 164kW. The electric motor works in conjunction with the petrol-engine to boost acceleration, and powers the rear-wheel-driven wheels on its own when running in full-electric mode (at lower speeds). The 300h is not a plug-in hybrid, but relies on re-generative braking. This means the electric motor functions as a high-output generator which recovers kinetic energy as electricity that charges the hybrid system battery.

Ride & drive

The 0-100 km/h sprint time of 8.5 seconds is fairly quick too, and the power is available immediately. When you're just out on your daily drive, the power is constantly being transferred between the motor and the engine, giving you the best of both worlds: Decent performance and fuel efficiency, even if you have a heavy foot. Three driving modes namely EV, Eco and Sport dictate how quiet, economic or enticing your drive will be. The ride & suspension is ultra compliant, the cabin and seats are comfortable and cosseting, and even though the infotainment system has perhaps a bit too much going on, it's not a deal-breaker for me. Fuel economy is a brilliant 6.4 litres per 100 km, and that is real-world driving, not the 4 l/100km manufacturer figure. Not bad for a 2.5-litre engine, right?

Styling & design

In the exterior styling department, there's not much to differentiate the hybrid from the petrol models, but the width of the horizontal bars that form part of the Lexus spindle grille is slightly thicker at the top and spaced wider apart than at the bottom, and the Lexus badge is blue. At the rear, the L-shaped exhaust openings are purely decorative.

inside the luxurious cabin, it's much the same as Lexus's SE petrol models, but with an added 'moonroof' with a tilt and slide function, and interior design details such as laser-etched dark wood trim inserts with aluminium pin-striping. Lexus build quality is nothing short of perfection, and no detail has been overlooked by Lexus's master Takumi craftsmen.

Standard specification? Generous, very generous...

An array of luxuries is thrown-in by Lexus at no extra cost. Imagine if this had been a German car, how much extra you'd be forking out for some of the features on this list, especially the Lexus Safety System+ with intelligent autonomous tech:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Run-flat tyres
• Drive Mode Select
• Smart entry and push-button start 
• Perforated leather upholstery
• Electric mirrors with auto-folding function
• Electro-chromatic rearview mirror
• Dual-zone climate control air conditioning with electrostatic temperature control switches
• LED daytime running lights
• LED brake lights and rear lights
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
• Hill-Assist Control
• 10-speaker Lexus display audio with DAB digital tuner and Bluetooth
• 2 x USB, 1 x AUX-in
• 3-inch multimedia display screen with remote dial controller
• Lexus Safety System+ comprising Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Crash System, Lane Keeping Assist and LED Automatic High Beam, as well as Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• 8 airbags (including knee-bags)
• Rain-sensing windscreen wipers
• Heated and cooling front seats (driver and passenger)
• Reversing camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Lexus Navigation

Pricing and warranty/maintenance plan

Lexus has expanded the customer care for all IS models, offering a standard, 7-year/105 000km warranty and full maintenance plan. It's priced at R753 800.

Verdict

I will be honest when I say that the previous-generation IS's exterior styling was more to my liking, and that I now much prefer to lay my eyes on the larger and more beguiling ES 300h SE -steampunk-styled-land-yacht, currently in the running for South African Car of the Year. However, the Teutonic Trio has nothing on the IS with regards to standard spec level and the IS's comprehensive maintenance plan.