The power "availability" is similar in both - I tried them within a week of each other. However, the Accord that I drove was particularly rattly and not that smooth! It was a courtesy car....the demo was sold!
The IS has 2 very slight flaws which would not be noticeable if the engine wasn't so powerful, and in the Avensis (which I have not driven, but been driven in) I think it would be comparable to the Honda:
1) The Turbo lag is noticeable - below 1800ish little happens, then it all comes in one go until just before 4000 - Scott may be able to confirm 'cos I only had a 50 minute drive...
2) The gearing between 2nd and 3rd leaves you wanting a ratio in between sometimes...
In the Accord the lack of the oooomph means that you think the power delivery is over a longer smoother plain. It's not, the IS diesel is crushingly fast when that turbo sings...you'll see what I mean. An auto would have been perfect...
However, the car is just so much better than the Accord in every other way. Try it yourself...
I tried everything in the class, this was the best overall IMHO...so we bought one!
Thanks - this is the what I was looking for! I guess that the sport will solve the gear 2/3 gearing issue (at a cost of higher tax + fuel consumption), but the turbo lack would be similar in both I guess.... I look forward to test both shortly and compare to the BMW 530dA E60 that I currently drive.