Lexus IS200 LE
Back in the mid-Nineties, buyers in the market for a small executive car had a limited choice. Only three names dominated - BMW, Mercedes and Audi. It was a market where image was king and the badge on your bonnet as important as the size of your pay cheque.
Following BMW's lead, Lexus has effectively slashed the price of its smallest model. Along with a minor facelift, the LE offers great value and a sporty drive. And while it might be a little more expensive than the 318i ES, it does come packed with plenty of luxurious standard-fit equipment.
Back in the mid-Nineties, buyers in the market for a small executive car had a limited choice. Only three names dominated - BMW, Mercedes and Audi. It was a market where image was king and the badge on your bonnet as important as the size of your pay cheque.
All that changed in 1999, when Lexus gatecrashed the party with the IS200, successfully taking on the Ger-man heavyweights in quality and image.
Four years on, the IS200 is still a force to be reckoned with. But to keep it fresh, Lexus has added a top-value special edition and ushered in some subtle revisions. We got our hands on the facelifted Limited Edition - LE - to see how it has been refined.
Like the BMW 3-Series ES, the IS200 LE has been produced to bring value for money to a machine that has only previously been marketed as a premium four-door saloon.
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Cash £21,325Based on the SE, the LE features 17-inch alloy wheels, high-intensity discharge headlamps and full leather trim. That is in addition to front, side and curtain airbags, climate control and a six-CD autochanger. The car is available with Lexus' silky-smooth six-cylinder 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre engines, with an automatic gearbox offered on the larger unit. We opted for an entry-level model to maximise value for money.
No technical changes have been made, so the familiar straight-six soundtrack and decent performance remain, while the emphasis is on a sporty chassis set-up. Despite that, the large wheels don't seem to detract from the IS200's ability to soak up bumps, and it's still a fine motorway mile-muncher. The 2.0-litre Lexus covers the 0-62mph sprint in 9.5 seconds, but fuel economy of 28.8mpg means expensive fill-ups for high-mileage drivers.
Visually, it would take a real Lexus anorak to spot the changes that have been made to the styling across the IS200 range. Both front and rear lights have been redesigned to incorporate a smoke-effect finish, but otherwise the looks have been left untouched - no bad thing, as Lexus' smallest saloon is also its most attractive.
Inside, the modifications made to a superbly built cabin are equally unobtrusive, but add extra character. Along with more dashboard stowage space, the interior now features mock aluminium trim around the electric window switches and heating controls.
But the real test of any limited edition is its price. If you were to spec up an SE model to LE levels, it would cost £1,200 in extra options, but Lexus has added only £460 to the SE's list price. That makes the 2.0-litre LE £20,795, while the 3.0-litre costs £22,025.
