No matter how you spell it, this Lexus sedan is fast

This review first appeared in the November 2019 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News published out of Folsom, California – mg

Sacramento, California – Alphanumeric names for car models are a reality, but in some cases, they fail to make the point.

Take the recently tested 2019 Lexus IS 350 sedan, for example.

Mine was the F SPORT edition, so it looked racy just parked in the driveway.  And when I took it out on the roadways, the 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 311 horsepower was instantly responsive and blew away every other vehicle in spirited urban/suburban runs.

But when you get back home and talk to friends and neighbors about the experience, they don't seem to get the same mental rush as when I say I was driving a Corvette or a juiced-up Mustang.

That's a shame.

Because this Lexus IS 350 really cooks and is a blast to drive.  Besides its performance-plus characteristics, its sport-tuned suspension is rock-solid, and braking is top-end perfect.

Maybe Lexus could call it the Flamethrower, or something along that line.

I've suggested this to Lexus, but amazingly, I haven't heard back.  Go figure.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is this: You are not likely to hear the IS 350 mentioned in the same breath as other performance models on the market.  But if you're searching for a four-door passenger car with the soul of a racing machine, I'm telling you right now that you need to add the IS 350 to your test-drive list.

If you don't, you're missing out.

What I liked about the car beyond the obvious was its mixture of elegance and sportiness.  The tester was packed with comfort/convenience favorites.  High-tech safety features were plentiful.  The interior layout was functional and classy in design.  The IS 350 pulled a max five stars in federal crash safety testing, by the way.

Gas mileage is pretty fair too, at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Oh, and there's the F SPORT package.  That gets you a pile of goodies that includes the sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch wheels, heated/ventilated seats, sporty body sculpting, triple-beam headlights, a power rear sunshade and much more.

On my ride, the bottom line was $52,163, a hefty price to ponder.  But in my view, worth it.

Simply said, the IS 350 is a rolling advertisement for Lexus luxury and heart-racing performance.