If you can’t beat ’em, try a different stick. After a fairly dismal attempt to match Europe’s pocket premium fleet favourites last time out with the slow, noisy and thirsty IS220d, Lexus has changed its plan of attack with the launch of the all-new third generation IS. Diesel is out. Hybrid is in.
Making yourself attractive to the fleet market is crucial when it comes to shifting small sports saloons. Low emissions and strong resale values are key selling points, so it’s easy to see why the fast, fun and frugal BMW 320d is such a hit. But by forgoing diesel for hybrid power, the latest IS is actually cleaner and more powerful than the BMW. It doesn’t stop there. The IS’s assistant chief engineer claims his team benchmarked all of the 3-series strengths, analysing every nuance of its character in an effort to build a car that was better in every respect.
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