Jerry Robbin

2015 Lexus IS 350 F Sport

 

Overview

 

The 2015 Lexus IS 350 F Sport is an exciting sport car sedan, that highlights the Lexus lineup of vehicles. The words that describes this vehicle are superlative and exciting..

Safety Features

4-wheel ABS	Dual front with head protection chambers side-mounted airbags
Child seat anchors	Remote anti-theft alarm system
Emergency braking assist	Front and rear ventilated disc brakes
Daytime running lights	Engine immobilizer
Front fog/driving lights	Auto delay off headlamps
Dusk sensing headlamps	2 front headrests
2 rear headrests	Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
Turn signal mirrors	Stability control
Traction control	Rear height adjustable headrests
Post-collision safety system	Tire pressure monitoring

 

Emergency Service*	Airbag Deployment Notification*
Stolen Vehicle Tracking/Assistance*

 

Intuitive Parking Assist	Pre-Collision System w/Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
Headlamp Washers

 

 

Driving Impression

Driving the IS 350 F Sport is exciting and a unique driving experience. The drivetrain produces decent fuel economy of 19 city 26 highway/ 21 combined.

The suspension of the IS 350 F Sport gets high marks as it has wider and larger diameter wheels and tires. Maneuverability is excellent both on the road and in the city.

 

 

Under the Hood

 

Under the hood of IS 350 F Sport is a 3.5-liter motor that produces 306 horses and 277 lb.-ft. of torque. This V6 engine that features direct and port injection with dual Variable Valve Timing and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

 

Just press the ignition button and motor elicits a rumble, saying that it’s raring to go.

 

 

 

Inside

The interior of the IS 350 F Sport is impressive and luxurious. The leather is soft and luxurious and used everywhere in the interior. The front seats are supportive and are comfortable.

The interior is well laid out and has some very impressive tech features. The long list of amenities are listed below.

 

Features

Interior Features

Front Seats

8 -way power passenger seat	8 -way power driver seat
Passenger seat with power adjustable lumbar support	Driver seat with power adjustable lumbar support
Height adjustable driver seat	Height adjustable passenger seat
Leather	Bucket front seats

Rear Seats

Rear ventilation ducts

Power Features

Hands-free entry

2 one-touch power windows

Instrumentation

Clock	Tachometer
Trip computer	External temperature display
Compass

Convenience

Cruise control	Front and rear cupholders
Front door pockets	Power rear seat easy entry
Front seatback storage	Electric power steering
Universal remote transmitter (for garage door, security system, etc.)	Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
Transmission, cruise and audio controls on steering wheel

 

Roadside Assistance*

Destination Download*

Comfort

Interior air filtration	Dual zone climate controls – driver and passenger
Sun sensor	Leather steering wheel
Turn signal in mirrors	Electrochromatic inside rearview mirror
Dual illuminating vanity mirrors

In Car Entertainment

Mast antenna	8 total speakers
194 watts stereo output	AM/FM stereo
Satellite radio satellite radio	Speed sensitive volume control
Auxiliary audio input and USB with external media control	3 Months of provided satellite radio service
Radio data system	USB connection

Telematics

Safety Connect telecommunications service

Bluetooth wireless data link for hands-free phone

 

 

Outside

 

The 2015 IS 350 F Sport has a unique front bumper, which is highlighted with the Lexus signature spindle grill. The F Sport has badges on the front fenders, along with the larger gun metallic gray F Sport wheels. The F Sport is finished off with shapely rear end with a pair of tail lamps with L-shaped LED patterns.

 

Summary

If you are in the market for a unique Sports sedan then go to your local Lexus dealer for a test drive. The IS 350 F Sport will not disappoint you.

 

 

Specifications

Exterior Measurements

WIDTH 5 ft. 10.9 in. (70.9 in.)	HEIGHT 4 ft. 7.7 in. (55.7 in.)
LENGTH 15 ft. 2.5 in. (182.5 in.)	WHEEL BASE 8 ft. 11.5 in. (107.5 in.)

Interior Measurements

FRONT HEAD ROOM 38.3 in.	FRONT HIP ROOM 54.3 in.
FRONT LEG ROOM 44.1 in.	FRONT SHOULDER ROOM 54.2 in.
REAR HIP ROOM 43.3 in.	REAR HEAD ROOM 36.1 in.
REAR LEG ROOM 25.9 in.	REAR SHOULDER ROOM 44.7 in.

Weights and Capacities

EPA INTERIOR VOLUME 87.9 cu.ft.	CURB WEIGHT 3872 lbs.
CARGO CAPACITY, ALL SEATS IN PLACE

 

 

2015 Toyota Yaris 5-Door SE

 

Overview

 

For 2015, the Toyota Yaris gets a unique and distinctive front and rear styling update.

My test drive was an SE, which had 16-inch alloy wheels, LED running lights, and a rear spoiler

 

Safety Features

Safety Features

4-wheel ABS	Front and rear head airbags
Dual front side-mounted airbags	Child seat anchors
Ventilated front disc / rear drum brakes	Rear door child safety locks
Daytime running lights	Engine immobilizer
2 front headrests	3 rear headrests
Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation	Rear center 3-point belt
Stability control	Traction control
Tire pressure monitoring

 

 

Driving Impression

The SE had a potent 106 hp drive train, which superb handling and was fun to drive. The SE was excellent on the highway for both comfort and fuel economy.

The SE had an out of date four-speed automatic transmission, which should have been fitted with a more updated CVT transmission.

The Yaris has a reasonably smooth ride and has a sporty feel when taking turns.

 

 

 

Under the Hood

 

The 2015 Toyota Yaris is powered by a 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine, which has 106 hp and 103 pound-feet of torque.

 

EPA fuel economy 32 combined (30 city/36 highway).

 

Engine & Performance

BASE ENGINE SIZE 1.5 L	CAM TYPE Double overhead cam (DOHC)
CYLINDERS Inline 4	VALVES 16
VALVE TIMING Variable	TORQUE 103 ft-lbs. @ 4200 rpm
HORSEPOWER 106 hp @ 6000 rpm	TURNING CIRCLE 31.5 ft.

 

 

Inside

 

The Yaris’ interior is well laid out and all controls are easy to locate and use. The gauges are mounted directly in front of you and are easy to read. The seats are comfortable and are high-mounted for good sightlines. There is plenty of interior room in the front seating area is ample and there is adequate rear-seat legroom. The 2015 Toyota Yaris SE has unique seating material. The car comes standard with all of the basic tech features you’re likely to want, including a user-friendly touchscreen interface, Bluetooth with streaming audio capability and a USB input.

The four-door Yaris has 15.6 cubic feet of cargo space.

 

Features

Interior Features

Front Seats

Height adjustable driver seat	Cloth
Bucket front seats

Rear Seats

Split-folding rear seatback

Power Features

Remote keyless power door locks

1 one-touch power windows

Instrumentation

Clock	Tachometer
Trip computer	External temperature display

Convenience

Cruise control	Front and rear cupholders
Front and rear door pockets	Front seatback storage
Electric power steering	Tilt-adjustable steering wheel
Audio controls on steering wheel

Comfort

Interior air filtration	Air conditioning
Dual vanity mirrors

In Car Entertainment

Mast antenna	6 total speakers
AM/FM stereo	Adjustable speed sensitive volume control
Auxiliary audio input and USB with external media control	USB connection

Telematics

Bluetooth wireless data link for hands-free phone

 

 

Outside

 

Toyota Yaris is highlighted with its new large grille highlighted with black plastic.

The 2015 Yaris has its own DNA in a very crowded segment of the market. The Yaris is not a trend setter for design and has lackluster design.

Summary

2015 Toyota Yaris is worth a test drive if you are looking for a compact sedan.

 

Specifications

Exterior Measurements

WIDTH 5 ft. 6.7 in. (66.7 in.)	HEIGHT 4 ft. 11.4 in. (59.4 in.)
LENGTH 12 ft. 11.5 in. (155.5 in.)	WHEEL BASE 8 ft. 2.8 in. (98.8 in.)

Interior Measurements

FRONT HEAD ROOM 39.3 in.	FRONT HIP ROOM 50.0 in.
FRONT LEG ROOM 40.6 in.	FRONT SHOULDER ROOM 52.5 in.
REAR HIP ROOM 50.1 in.	REAR HEAD ROOM 37.6 in.
REAR LEG ROOM 33.3 in.	REAR SHOULDER ROOM 51.8 in.