Has this chassis really been with us for a full decade? Actually, longer, as ye olde Wikipedia reminds me that U.S. sales for the current IS started in early 2013.
Those early cars didn’t have the V8, though, with that option joining the menu for 2022.
And it’s a shame we had to wait so long. Toyota’s proven V8 just works so well in this chassis. The end result is more Benz than BMW.
In today’s luxury car landscape, I’m actually going to call this a throwback–and I mean that in a very good way.
First, a real shifter. No knob, no buttons. You want D, you can easily find D.
Real knobs for the important stuff, mainly audio volume and HVAC temperature.
Real, clear gauges.
Comfortable, supportive seats.
A screen that’s not comically big yet still more than adequate for relaying the important information.
More to love: The trunk is big, the car itself is the right size, and you can easily get in and out of it.
Oh, and it has a V8. Very docile around town but, when your boot goes to the floor, it wakes up.
It might be a bit old, but for a luxury sedan, this would be on my short list.
