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2009 Lexus IS Pros and Cons at TrueDelta: Nice Car But Small by mitchell9353

mitchell9353

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Introduction

I've owned this car for four years and I'm generally pleased. I drive a lot in the mountains of Arizona (lots of hills and curves) and the IS handles it very well. But it's a noisy car (for a Lexus); even with new tires lots of road noise is transmitted.

Reviewed: 2009 Lexus IS

4dr Sedan 306-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD

Why the 2009 Lexus IS?

Exterior styling

Great looking car... rivals the BMW 3 series for classic looks.

Interior styling

Simple intuitive dash. Controls have quality feel.

Powertrain performance

Excellent engine; powerful. Transmission is quick shifting and intuitive. Automatic downshifts when descending hills are a bit intrusive but okay once you're used to them. Doesn't hunt for gears on grades.

Fuel economy

Excellent fuel economy... overall 24 mpg city and highway combined. As high as 32 mpg highway driving in Arizona mountains.

Safety & braking

Excellent handling and braking.

Materials & workmanship

It's a Lexus and the interior finishes are nice for this price point.

Reliability & durability

Owned this car for four years and had zero problems.

Why Not the 2009 Lexus IS?

Ride smoothness

Ride is calibrated for handling. OEM tires get noisy quickly and wear fast (25,000 mi).

Front seat room

This is a small car. Interior seating is comfortable but tight. Unless the driver is very short, forget about the back seat.

Rear seat room & comfort

Don't buy this car if you ever plan on carrying four adults.

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