New 2009 Lexus IS 350

Vehicle Overview
The IS sedan is Lexus' latest attempt to field a sporty four-door that rivals BMW's well-regarded 3 Series. The IS 350 has a 3.5-liter V-6 that whips up a robust 306 horsepower. Competitors include the BMW 335i, Infiniti G35 and Mercedes-Benz C350; the entry-level IS 250 plays against some of those cars' less-powerful siblings.

Lexus also offers an IS 250 and an IS-F, powered by a 2.5-liter V-6 and 5.0-liter V-8, respectively. Both are covered separately in the Cars.com Research section.

New for 2009
Lexus dives into the suspension and steering systems for the 2009 IS 350 and tunes both for improved vehicle stability and control.

Exterior
Lexus' LF-series concept cars influenced the IS 350's styling. The automaker says the latest IS bears a strong resemblance to its larger, redesigned GS series of sport sedans. A long wheelbase and wide stance help give the IS 350 a muscular appearance. The IS 350 ranks as a compact car. An optional X Package includes a sport suspension, sport pedals and a front lip spoiler. It also swaps the standard 17-inch wheels for 18-inchers. High-intensity discharge headlights, rain-sensing wipers and 18-inch wheels are availbable.

Interior
Up to five occupants fit inside the IS 350. Bright electroluminescent instruments light up the dashboard. Metallic trim is standard, and maple trim is available.  The IS 350 features 10-way power front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control with rear vents, power moonroof, manual tilt/telescoping steering wheel (powered version available) and 13-speaker sound system, which includes an auxiliary input for portable music players.  Ventilated front seats, dynamic radar cruise control and navigation system that incorporates a backup camera are availble.  

Under the Hood
The IS 350 is only available with rear-wheel drive, unlike its IS 250 sibling, which has available all-wheel drive. High-tech features include Lexus' Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system, which combines the electronic stability system with a host of other dynamic controls for an all-encompassing — or all-encroaching, depending on how you see it — path to safety. A 306-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 with 277 pounds-feet of torque engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.  The IS 350 features larger brakes than the IS 250,
 
Safety
The VDIM system is designed to let drivers push the car toward its handling limits, but it discreetly applies braking, throttle and steering control as needed to avoid loss of control.  The IS 350 comes with an electronic stability system, knee airbags for both front occupants, new twin-chamber front-passenger airbag, side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for both rows.  Available adaptive headlights swivel in correlation with the steering wheel to shed light around curvy roads.