Is the Lexus IS good for families? Here’s our verdict.

Even with its fine driving dynamics and plush finishes, the Lexus IS may also be called upon to cart a family and their chattel around. Not everyone wants an SUV, after all, and the driving experience on offer in a low-slung and sporty compact sedan may just prove to be too hard to resist, practicality be darned. We took it upon ourselves to find out just how convincingly a Lexus IS can masquerade as a family car.

Martin Pretorius

10 Dec 2019 · 12:41Buying a Car

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Safety

Right out of the blocks, the Lexus IS scores a winning safety score. This generation of IS scored 5 stars in Euro-NCAP crash testing, with very high scores in the adult- and child protection criteria. It’s easy to understand why: in addition to the body shell’s extensive use of high-strength steel, the cabin is pretty much lined with airbags.

You’ll get the usual front-, frontal side-, and curtain airbags, along with side airbags in the rear and dual knee-bags in front. ISOFIX child seat anchors are obviously present on the rear seats, and the electronic assistants are present and accounted for, as well, with ABS, and stability control taking pride of place.

Parking sensors all round, a rear-view camera, and LED headlights round out the specification sheet of even the entry-level Lexus IS. Higher-trim variants add things like blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning on top of that, so it’s clearly safe to conclude that the Lexus IS would be a good car in which to have an accident, but that the safety kit will do their best to keep you from being in one in the first place. Reassuring, when your loved ones are travelling with you…

Interior trim

Leather trim is a standard feature across the range, so that counts as a definite plus in the presence of messy children. Those surfaces where plastics are used are of high quality and durable in the Toyota way, and should likewise be fairly child-resistant.

The only real downside is that there are plenty of nooks and crannies on and around the dashboard, just waiting to collect cookie crumbs and a dusting of cheese curl powder. Regular cleaning is strongly advised to keep the cabin looking as good as possible for as long as possible – but that really applies to all family cars, so we won’t judge the IS too harshly in this regard.

To drive

This department also checks out just fine, because the Lexus IS is endowed with a ride quality that would soothe the busiest baby to sleep. It’s not wallowy, mind you, just absorbent and relaxing in gentle driving. This kind of driving style will also see the transmission slip unobtrusively through its many ratios, keeping the motion going in a smooth and unobtrusive fashion.

Cabin noise is just as well-contained, with road noise being all but absent and the engine just a distant hum when the driver’s behaving appropriately. All in all, this would be a most satisfactory sensory deprivation tank for a family.

Practicality

Seeing as kids never seem to travel light, it’s a relief to find that the Lexus IS hides a good measure of practicality beneath that swoopy styling. With all the seats in use, there’s a handy 480 litres of luggage space, but when it’s not carrying a full complement of passengers, the standard folding rear seats can expand the luggage area into the cabin. The loading aperture shouldn’t struggle too much to let a pram into the boot, either.

Tall adults might complain a bit about the IS’s somewhat confined rear quarters, but children up to their mid-teens will fit without problem – as will smaller, young adults. The small-ish rear door apertures and sloping roofline might make it a bit tricky to get child seats into the car, but once inside, there’s enough space to accommodate them and their occupants with a bit of space to spare.

The Verdict

Settling for a premium SUV or crossover often represents the path of least resistance for those in search of a practical family vehicle with at least some sidewalk appeal. However, as we’ve seen here, a compact executive saloon like the Lexus IS can check most of those same boxes (apart from the ability to move dishwashers, and offering an elevated seating position), while pleasing its driver with a sportier driving experience. Good for families, and good to drive – what’s not to like?