Ian J. Parsley

I suspect, as ever, the forthcoming facelift will deal with some of the issues but not all! Certainly the instrument panel looks improved from the pictures I have seen. And yes, it is a different car. It's remarkable how different each model in the Lexus range is, I find.

Ah ok, could be that. I think I am right in saying that Eco behaves differently sometimes. But that's not the issue in your case, clearly.

Hi Tel, Sorry, guide me through that again... I have tried connecting the car to MyLexus both under a new registration and on my pre-existing one, by typing in the 16-digit code online on MyLexus as instructed. When I go to the car to do anything - there are two routes to entering my details - it comes up "ID=00". I have no means of accessing "external memory points" because the car is not linked to MyLexus as it has responded to attempts at entering the password with "ID=00". When I consulted my dealer, they said I needed to verify the vehicle before it would work but even now, on 28 July after a 3 July pick-up, the DVLA has not provided Lexus Financial Services with the logbook. I am not totally convinced that is the problem actually (I never verified my last vehicle), but then I'm not convinced it isn't either. What have you done differently?

Just out of interest, I find I can unlock all the doors from the boot hatch, but not lock them. That doesn't bother me because you can lock all the doors from a back door. My issue is you cannot just leave the auto tailgate to close with the car then locked - you have to wait for it to close, and then lock the car. A minor irritation but, y'know, why Lexus why?!

Piers That is an interesting write-up and it's probably worth sharing my experience at 1000 miles - because some of those dislikes remain apparent but others can be sorted! I can't speak for the Sport; the F Sport seats are different (and perforated). I haven't had any problems with the A/C but have seen them reported so will keep an eye on it. The silver trim does reflect on to the windscreen. Doesn't bother me as it's central, but the fact remains! I actually have no difficult with the controls, but that may be because I'm coming from an IS which is even worse! One thing I still haven't become used to is the remote pad. I initially found the centre arm rest too low but once I sorted the seat out (which, seriously, took about 300 miles before I was happy with it) I found it was in the right position. I can't complain about MPG; driving constantly in Eco I'm hitting 40 (versus c. 47 in the IS). The ride can be jittery. One issue is actually cruise control - that can make it more jittery if going downhill or other vehicles are constantly slipping into and out of detection. Again, it's something I don't find an issue but, objectively, some may. Visibility is not great generally tbh. My thoughts, anyway!

Which mode were you driving in?

My wife, who is a little younger, got £288 (with lots of years of no claims). Typically premiums are a little higher in Northern Ireland because of a slightly different legal set-up, so all other things being equal you should be able to beat that.

I would have to defer to Rayaan on the IS potentially lacking "full range adaptive cruise control" (I've never heard that term but I like it). If that is so, your car will behave more like "secondly" rather than "thirdly" above and the section on "waiting" is irrelevant to you, although you may still have the braking (i.e. your car may maintain set speed on downhill stretches - check that). But note that even "full range adaptive cruise control" cannot be set below 29mph and thus in effect does not work below that speed if there is no vehicle identified in front. At least, mine can't! I still wonder about what is displayed on your dash; if it is via sign recognition, this is far from a perfected science.

Surendra et al, Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new car. Please bear with me as I try to go through what I think is happening here. In fact, I think it would probably be worth having a separate thread on adaptive cruise control in general. I think the system is excellent but you do have to understand what it is (and isn't). Excuse the long posting but I think it is worth the explanation. Firstly, regular cruise control essentially means the car takes control of the accelerator. This means you set the speed and the car will operate the accelerator to stay at that speed, come what may. Of course, this isn't much use if there is an obstacle in front (the car takes no account of that), nor on a significant downhill stretch (because that needs the brake to be employed to maintain speed, but regular cruise control affects only the accelerator). This applies from 40kmh up. Cool. Secondly, early adaptive cruise control systems added a radar to take account of traffic in front. With these, if the car detects an "obstacle" moving in the same direction, it assumes it is a vehicle and will move off the accelerator to bring speed into line with that vehicle. This still only applied from 40kmh up. Great. Thirdly, what you have (I think - it's what I have anyway) is advanced adaptive cruise control with pre-crash alert. This is adaptive cruise control which also takes control of the brake pedal. Because of this, it will do a few things: a) it will maintain speed even on downhill stretches; b) it will speed up only when you straighten the car up (so as to enable you to maintain speed following a vehicle on twisting stretches); and c) it will function at below 40kmh *if there is a vehicle in front*. Magic. An important note here. The system only recognises what is in front as a "vehicle" if it is moving forwards. Otherwise it regards what is in front as an "obstacle" and expects the driver to take action. So when you approach a vehicle which wasn't previously picked up stopped in front of you (e.g. at traffic lights), your car recognises it as an "obstacle" because it is not moving - same way it recognises a road sign or your garage wall - and you are expected to take action. If you don't, then the pre-crash system will eventually enforce an emergency stop. The system has to be like that or your car would stop all the time - every time it approached a hedge, tracked a car coming the other way on a bend, or anything like that. Now then, I'll take a guess at what is happening in your case. Firstly, you can only operate the system *if you are travelling above 40kmh or you have a vehicle moving forward in front*. Either of those will do, but you do need one or the other. In practice, this means you'll need to negotiate things like large roundabouts yourself. Secondly, the speed in the dash in front of you is *not* the speed limit. It is the speed you have set the adaptive cruise control to. You can set this whenever the system is working ("radar active"), i.e. whenever you are travelling above 40kmh or you have a vehicle in front, using the lever (up or down in increments of 5mph). In theory you can do this even when stopped behind another vehicle (in which case you will be told "Waiting" and will then see "Preceding vehicle movement" - when the latter happens, flick the lever up and the car will increase to the speed you have set or to the speed the vehicle in front is doing, whichever is lower. Thirdly, you do need to stop the car when approaching stopped traffic, as it will not be picked up. Once you have stopped, you can flick your lever up ("resume") and the adaptive cruise will be operational to pick up the vehicle when it moves forward. I hope that makes some sense - moderators may wish to consider putting this post in another general thread on adaptive cruise control, because it can be confusing.

Surendra et al, It would probably be worth having a separate thread on adaptive cruise control in general. I think the system is excellent but you do have to understand what it is (and isn't). Firstly, regular cruise control essentially means the car takes control of the accelerator. This means you set the speed and the car will operate the accelerator to stay at that speed, come what may. Of course, this isn't much use if there is an obstacle in front (the car takes no account of that), nor on a significant downhill stretch (because that needs the brake to be employed to maintain speed, but regular cruise control affects only the accelerator). This applies from 40kmh up. Cool. Secondly, early adaptive cruise control systems added a radar to take account of traffic in front. With these, if the car detects an "obstacle" moving in the same direction, it assumes it is a vehicle and will move off the accelerator to bring speed into line with that vehicle. This still only applied from 40kmh up. Great. Thirdly, what you have (I think - it's what I have anyway) is advanced adaptive cruise control with pre-crash alert. This is adaptive cruise control which also takes control of the brake pedal. Because of this, it will do a few things: a) it will maintain speed even on downhill stretches; b) it will speed up only when you straighten the car up (so as to enable you to maintain speed following a vehicle on twisting stretches); and c) it will function at below 40kmh *if there is a vehicle in front*. Magic. Now then, I'll take a guess at what is happening in your case. Firstly, you can only operate the system *if you are travelling above 40kmh or you have a vehicle in front*. Either of those will do, but you do need one or the other. In practice, this means you'll need to negotiate things like large roundabouts yourself. Secondly, the speed in the dash in front of you is *not* the speed limit. It is the speed you have set the adaptive cruise control to. You can set this whenever the system is working ("radar active"), i.e. whenever you are travelling above 40kmh or you have a vehicle in front, using the lever (up or down in increments of 5mph). In theory you can do this even when stopped behind another vehicle (in which case you will be told "Waiting" and will then see "Preceding vehicle movement" - when the latter happens, flick the lever up and the car will increase to the speed you have set or to the speed the vehicle in front is doing, whichever is lower. I hope that makes some sense - moderators may wish to consider putting this post in another general thread on adaptive cruise control, because it can be confusing.

Ik moet toegeven, dat ik alleen Duits kan spreken! If you hunt through the Internet, there is a list of options specifically for dealer intervention. My wife had her constant reverse beep switched to a single "boing" that way!

Many of these things are subjective, but I see little to disagree with above. I do see the interior differently - I think it's very good. At one stage I had an Audi A4 in the house as a courtesy car alongside the IS and I wouldn't have swapped. That said, I've mentioned elsewhere that I don't like the very centre - it's really high class as far down as the clock and as far up as the gear lever, but in between it becomes a bit boring and I find the temperature display a bit low grade. On the "boings" (hoe zegt jij "boings" op Nederlands?!), it would be worth consulting your dealer. You *may* find you can a) turn the "boings" off when the door/roof opens; and/or b) close the sunroof even with the system off from the key fob. But in each case it'll take a dealer intervention.

I've come to quite like Carwow (Mat Watson). I stick to the reviews rather than the head-to-heads; the latter are just too short and subjective. I quite like Autogefühl and another German one in German called Autophorie. I rarely go trans-continental as too little info is relevant. I'm still deciding on Car Keys (see YouTube). I don't like AutoExpress, Car or WhatCar or those associated; occasionally I'd look at Which.

With you all on all of those, including that last question - what is that all about?! I currently have a courtesy on the driveway and, likewise, am amazed by lack of rear parking sensors (though it does have the basic camera).

It occurred to me I should have placed 3. under my dislikes too! Funny, I've just parked it behind a Golf. "Premium" to me personally refers to a brand, so on that basis I would say CT is and Golf isn't. But "desirable"? I'd say they both probably are. And that's more important, for me. In general I find VW hard to place. I've always thought of it as in between Ford and Volvo, if that makes sense. But it's subjective of course!

I'm not keen on car reviews really but Carwow's do have an interesting aspect of "five likes and dislikes", which are often fun and quirky. If we maybe limit it to three for each model, what are ours? For my recently handed over 3rd generation IS, I would say... Dislikes The boot lid is just awful; a big thing you have to slam down, often with a double dose of elbow on the way. Not premium! There are too many similar buttons in the centre, so you really have to look (for example to check you're clearing the windscreen rather than turning on the rear demister). The parking sensor on notification on the dash appears on the main display but to one side, leaving it asymmetrical and torturing anyone with even a hint of OCD... Likes The turning circle is outstanding; this is a shorter car than most of its rivals and when it comes to U-turns, well, these are U-turns rather than three-point turns... One of the USB ports works as an ideal key holder - stick a USB stick on your house keys (and your car key in your pocket), leave them here, and you'll never lose them (and you can play music or transfer routes to your nav while you're at it). The change in dials in sports mode is just cool! Over to other owners...

I'm not keen on car reviews really but Carwow's do have an interesting aspect of "five likes and dislikes", which are often fun and quirky. If we maybe limit it to three for each model, what are ours? For my wife's CT after 20,000 miles, here are mine... Dislikes The passenger side has too much plastic for a premium car - it's good quality plastic but still plastic. The DAB is an unnecessary rigmarole, with various ensembles making it awkward just to go through all stations. There is scant storage in the back - if you have kids/teenagers, expect it soon to fill up with wrappers, pens, hair bands, entry passes, safety pins, napkins... (spot who's just done a clear out). Likes The steering wheel is sublime; beautiful to handle, looks and feels good. You can turn the car off without shifting the gear lever. A subtle thing but it just works! The cover for the auxiliary/USB ports is beautifully finished - subtle things like that do add a premium touch. Over to other owners...

I'm not keen on car reviews really but Carwow's do have an interesting aspect of "five likes and dislikes", which are often fun and quirky. If we maybe limit it to three for each model, what are ours? For my NX after 1000 miles, I would say: Dislikes The auto tailgate is unbelievably slow, meaning I am always far enough away from it upon closing that I need the key to lock the car (rendering the keyless bit pointless). The remote control for the infotainment is too keen to think you are swiping and pinching when you are merely moving. The front pillars are too broad, limiting visibility at corners. Likes The nav distinguishes between expressways and regular dual carriageways, which may be useful in unfamiliar locations but in particular shows a fine attention to detail. The adaptive cruise control maintains current speed until you straighten up - this is an excellent detail as it enables you to follow a car on windy roads without attempting to speed back up to the straightaway speed. There is a beautifully finished handrest in the centre console. Over to other owners...

I guess, not least because I'd read your posts, that I was prepared for a comparative loss in power. Personally, I'm scarcely bothered at all - there's one particular rise on a motorway near me that I miss it on (while clearing traffic), but otherwise I can't think of a time I've really missed it. As I say, it's actually the IS's turning circle I miss more (you still have that in your household I guess!)

I'll have a look on the NX. I still find something new every time I go out in it!

The trade-off is subjective (which is why "Reviewers" annoy me as there is no specific right and wrong), but for me the F Sport isn't far off - and I would have thought I was someone who veers towards comfort.

Yes, that's what I mean by volume control. I noted at the time it only came with ML. I can't speak for current or subsequent specs, and my NX does seem to have it (even though I don't see it on the list).

Which is why I think he should go ahead and buy the IS :)

My household is theoretically the owner of three current Lexus models until the end of the month (see signature). I thought I'd do a brief review of each on the relevant thread, essentially aimed at helping people considering. Model This is the current (pre-impending facelift) NX300h F Sport with premium nav. This gets it most of the good stuff - sport styling/leather, radar/sensors/pre-crash, auto tailgate, electric adjustment on steering wheel and seats, and so on. Missing are some of the safety aids such as HUD and BLIS, and I have no sunroof of any kind. Interior The interior will divide opinion. I think it is superb, but I can see why others are less enthused. Firstly, there is quality everywhere. There is plenty of leather and some excellent padding all round. Nothing in here feels cheap at all. No one would dispute that. Secondly, I like the way the driver's side feels like a cockpit. Unlike most SUVs (including the RX), the centre panel is set inwards, essentially enveloping you (and mimicking, cleverly in my view, the basic outline of the grille). Thirdly, there are some nice touches (like touch sensor light switches), some pleasant touches (like knee padding), and some frankly bizarre touches (like a centre console cover which, when lifted out and turned over, is also a mirror). I also have the Qi charger - adaptors to enable the iPhone to work on this typically cost less than a tenner. Exterior Again, this will split opinion. Some will suggest it looks like any modern Japanese SUV. Some will suggest it is a literally outstanding proposition. Needless to say I'm in the latter, particularly with the F Sport. The auto tailgate is slow, but can be stopped with any of the buttons depressed briefly. It is useful that the car can be locked or unlocked via any door, but why not also the boot? It looks pleasant from the back, outstanding from the side, and like a Samurai from the front. Take your pick! Infotainment A bit of a niggle here - the logbook still hasn't arrived so I cannot register it on "My Lexus", thus the premium nav still isn't working despite the fact I'm paying for it. Ugh! Let's not get too upset, but it is true infotainment remains a weak link for Lexus. I am still not yet comfortable with the laptop-mouse-style controller, which is too easy to depress. That could, seriously, be a deal breaker for some. That said, there are a few nice touches; for example, the Nav now distinguishes between an outright expressway (a dual carriageway with left exit only) and a regular dual carriageway - that is potentially quite useful. The screen is good quality too, although gathers dust too easily. One really good point is the audio. This is not ML is the F Sport but it has extra speakers and is really good, even in the back and even over Bluetooth. Although I believe the car lacks volume control, it barely needs it. Driving This has been a very pleasant surprise. Certainly I miss the IS's turning circle and its comparative pace, but the NX is absolutely no slouch and I find it almost as good. The steering is direct, the ride is smooth (even if bumps do cause too much of a crash in the F Sport), and bar the odd mis-step the radar cruise is sublime (I have managed 20 miles using only he steering wheel and cruise lever with decent consumption levels). Reliability It is too early to say but this thing feels like it is built like a brick. I am currently on around 37mpg (over 40mpg since last fill, mind, so I'll keep watching that!) Summary The truth is I wondered about this car at the start because it is so different and there were so many aspects to get used to. However, with 1000 miles on the board I am now totally enthused. Getting the premium nav working would complete the set and, assuming it operates as it did in the IS, I would have no hesitation in recommending at least a test drive.

My household is theoretically the owner of three current Lexus models until the end of the month (see signature). I thought I'd do a brief review of each on the relevant thread, essentially aimed at helping people considering. Model This was a MY14 IS300h Lux, registered July 2013. It was in fact the first 3rd gen IS in Northern Ireland. Lux trim added leather and auto sound control ("fake gears") with paddles; and this one had Premium Nav (including remote journey planner, DVD player and reverse camera with full guidelines). It lacked extras such as HUD, electric/memory seats and lane guidance. Interior Initially I really liked the interior and the materials oozed quality and stood the test of time. The seats are extraordinarily comfortable and the analogue clock adds a touch of call. The touch sensors for the climate control were good and utile. The dash display is fine; nothing to write home about but a few nice touches like the change to regular layout in sport mode. I must say, over time I came to find the central section a little bland, almost like something straight out of a Casio wris****ch. Storage is ok; there is a large centre console (for the rear-wheel drive) with plenty of space. One problem is the cup holders are single size and too far back. Boot space is fine too, but the boot lid just lacked quality and really just had to be slammed down. Storage is somewhat limited in the back, however; this is compensated for by a nice arm rest. Exterior This is subjective of course, but I think the IS is a superb-looking car, particularly but not only from the front. Infotainment This is not a Lexus strong point; the nav map looks a bit old and some of the options take so,e working out - it took me weeks to work out how to turn the voice off but leave turn-by-turn instructions on the dash on. A major and frustrating omission is volume control. I had this on a 1998 Volvo! I know the IS is quiet, but I still found myself shuffling the volume on my music regularly at higher speed to counter the slight road noise. For all that, it does basically work, the DAB worked fine for the most part, and the DVD screen quality was outstanding. Also, I did like the split screens on the nav. Driving Without reservation, I found this a superb car to drive, contrary to many of the UK reviews. The turning circle was staggeringly good; steering was direct; yet the ride was generally comfortable. With the modes and the paddles I found I could drive the same route two very different ways. 223bhp also moves you away swiftly when you want to - but it is all so pleasant because it is so gloriously quiet (with even wind deflectors contributing to the silence) you often don't. Really terrific, for me. The engine is terrific too, and the "growl" referred to in reviews is simply non-existent. But turn the ASD off; it's a gimmick! Reliability Not a single problem beyond the odd infotainment hitch. Tyres are repaired for free too. The car also remained in good nick inside and out - the next owner will scarcely believe it has 40k miles on it. Out of interest, I tended to average around 48mpg in the summer and 45mpg in the winter (see other reviews on other threads for comparison). Summary For anyone in the market for a mid-range premium family saloon, I recommend a test drive unreservedly. Infotainment lets the car down a little; others are now moving well ahead. Also, the hybrid isn't quite the obvious economical option it was four years ago with plenty of outright electric now on the market. However, for comfort and quality (and in my view looks), I don't think the IS can be beaten. It remains a great financial proposition particularly as a business car, and for reliability and customer service it is a clear class leader.