2021 Lexus IS
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 360
Likes: 6
From: SG
Well, if the "new" interior photos posted are correct I see Lexus put back the touchpad interface into the console. Since my experience with my NX with a disastrous touchpad I will never buy another Lexus with one. I can't believe Lexus insists on using this awful interface. I refuse to have to use it on a daily basis no matter how good this model is otherwise. 
Agree with the bolded last sentence.
Thing is, the current Lexus IS platform, "New N", was significantly better than the old F30 3 series platform in terms of handling. That was immediately clear when I test drove both cars. It was so bad even the heavier 4GS felt more athletic than the F30 series.
One might argue that the new G20 platform merely brings BMW 3 series back to par (dynamically)with the Lexus IS after having been so much worse in terms of handling during the dark times of the F30. Now that Lexus further tweaked and improved the New N chassis, the IS may still hold the edge over the G20 in terms of handling and driver feedback/involvement.
So yes, I agree with Coolsaber : the only way to tell for sure which handles better is a head to head comparison of both cars G20 vs refreshed New N, on the slalom, on the skidpad, on the figure 8, on the racetrack and also which feels subjectively more communicative and intuitive to drive.
Thing is, the current Lexus IS platform, "New N", was significantly better than the old F30 3 series platform in terms of handling. That was immediately clear when I test drove both cars. It was so bad even the heavier 4GS felt more athletic than the F30 series.
One might argue that the new G20 platform merely brings BMW 3 series back to par (dynamically)with the Lexus IS after having been so much worse in terms of handling during the dark times of the F30. Now that Lexus further tweaked and improved the New N chassis, the IS may still hold the edge over the G20 in terms of handling and driver feedback/involvement.
So yes, I agree with Coolsaber : the only way to tell for sure which handles better is a head to head comparison of both cars G20 vs refreshed New N, on the slalom, on the skidpad, on the figure 8, on the racetrack and also which feels subjectively more communicative and intuitive to drive.
The new IS looks good, but even if it were Super good to drive, it is unlikely to have the ease and utter effortless feel of performance from the carry over power trains that I experienced on that base model diesel.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,757
Likes: 4,078
From: Maryland
Personally I think this refresh IS is better looking than the current 3 Series. The new 3 Series just looks kinda plain to me.
I've never understood it...
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 232
From: CA
I never had an issue with the input mechanism itself like the mouse or touchpad...my issue was the software which was pretty clunky. Its an easy solve with Apple Carplay and Android Auto which the new IS has so no complaints on that front anymore...especially with the new touchscreen too. They solved every issue I had with the 2015 IS350 I had except powertrain which is usually a big purchasing decision for me. If the 2015 IS350 came with a twin scroll turbo, I doubt I would have sold it as early as I did. I personally think they will upgrade the engine in a year or two and solve that issue though so I'm excited to see what they bring.
Pit Crew
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 210
Likes: 8
From: Alabama
The 2020 NX I have now is the first Lexus touchpad I've used without the mouse. So far this seems easier than the mouse was.
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 4,590
Likes: 367
From: In your head
Its got a touchscreen similar to the RX so no worries what so ever. Remote touch is not my cup of tea and is not as easy to use out of the box. I know there exists some customization options you can tinker with to increase feedback etc, but out of the box, competitors dont need that tinkering.... they just work.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 24
From: CALIFORNIA
Pole Position
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,602
Likes: 89
From: Singapore
I had a wonderful drive of the G20 320d in Europe on country roads and autobahns. I found it leaps and bounds ahead of the IS/GS. I found that this base model diesel is far more tractable than my 3IS or any GS350 I have driven, had amazing refinement, on runflats, and had to check the specs of the car to confirm...yes it’s true the acceleration of the car is a few tenths off M3’s of just a few generations ago. The interior was great, the driver aids advanced, The ZF8 speed terrific, and I did more than 1000km on a tank, and for a base model, ride and handling was beyond reproach....And it was a rental. I was deeply impressed and it felt generations ahead of my car once I could be objective about it. (I felt exactly the same after I returned home and drove my own car, which I like very much). But driving that G20 made me realise I didn’t know how much others had progressed. Now I do.
The new IS looks good, but even if it were Super good to drive, it is unlikely to have the ease and utter effortless feel of performance from the carry over power trains that I experienced on that base model diesel.
The new IS looks good, but even if it were Super good to drive, it is unlikely to have the ease and utter effortless feel of performance from the carry over power trains that I experienced on that base model diesel.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,757
Likes: 4,078
From: Maryland
I find it very interesting the press pictures show CarPlay vs their own system. I don't think I've seen a manufacturer do that before...
Last edited by bitkahuna; Jun 17, 2020 at 09:32 PM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 232
From: CA
Originally Posted by SW17LS
I find it very interesting the press pictures show CarPlay vs their own system. I don't think I've seen a manufacturer do that before...
Last edited by bitkahuna; Jun 17, 2020 at 09:33 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,727
Likes: 552
From: Ca
I never had an issue with the input mechanism itself like the mouse or touchpad...my issue was the software which was pretty clunky. Its an easy solve with Apple Carplay and Android Auto which the new IS has so no complaints on that front anymore...especially with the new touchscreen too. They solved every issue I had with the 2015 IS350 I had except powertrain which is usually a big purchasing decision for me. If the 2015 IS350 came with a twin scroll turbo, I doubt I would have sold it as early as I did. I personally think they will upgrade the engine in a year or two and solve that issue though so I'm excited to see what they bring.
Rather than using Lexus' 5-way joystick/trackpad, Lexus could use the 7-way rotary dial with clockwise and counterclockise stepped turnswhich most other manufacturers use as the cursor zig zags from top left to bottom right to make things easier to control [by lessening overstepping movements of the mouse cursor] - however this is only a small point.
The main issue is that the software needs an automatic "default" cursor position.
For example, if I click on Delete Destination, the red dot cursor should automatically default to the center of the Yes button - to save one extra movement of the mouse; instead the red dot cursor presently remains at the top of the screen where the Delete Destination had just been clicked, and this necessitates one extra mouse movement to the Yes button.
NB.
Lexus should copy off Tom Tom sat nav software.
Tom Tom is expert at labor saving default cursor positions.
It just saves an extra step.
On a Tom Tom, after we select Delete Destination, the LCD touchscreen will give us a choice of a Yes and No box, but the default Yes box is larger than the No box.
Furthermore, in the Settings, the Tom Tom can actually be programmed to have the Yes box on the left or on the right to better suit the right/left hander.
.
Last edited by peteharvey; Jun 17, 2020 at 07:13 PM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 232
From: CA
True.
Rather than using Lexus' 5-way joystick/trackpad, Lexus could use the 7-way rotary dial with clockwise and counterclockise stepped turnswhich most other manufacturers use as the cursor zig zags from top left to bottom right to make things easier to control [by lessening overstepping movements of the mouse cursor] - however this is only a small point.
The main issue is that the software needs an automatic "default" cursor position.
For example, if I click on Delete Destination, the red dot cursor should automatically default to the center of the Yes button - to save one extra movement of the mouse; instead the red dot cursor presently remains at the top of the screen where the Delete Destination had just been clicked, and this necessitates one extra mouse movement to the Yes button.
Rather than using Lexus' 5-way joystick/trackpad, Lexus could use the 7-way rotary dial with clockwise and counterclockise stepped turnswhich most other manufacturers use as the cursor zig zags from top left to bottom right to make things easier to control [by lessening overstepping movements of the mouse cursor] - however this is only a small point.
The main issue is that the software needs an automatic "default" cursor position.
For example, if I click on Delete Destination, the red dot cursor should automatically default to the center of the Yes button - to save one extra movement of the mouse; instead the red dot cursor presently remains at the top of the screen where the Delete Destination had just been clicked, and this necessitates one extra mouse movement to the Yes button.
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,727
Likes: 552
From: Ca
A touch screen is even better than a 5-way joystick or 7-way jog dial because touch screens don't need cursors in the first place, but it's a good thing they kept the joystick/track pad at least transitionally in RX & facelifted IS - just so that joystick lovers like JDR76 etc have time to adapt.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 13,273
Likes: 1,889
From: WA
Yes.
A touch screen is even better than a 5-way joystick or 7-way jog dial because touch screens don't need cursors in the first place, but it's a good thing they kept the joystick/track pad at least transitionally in RX & facelifted IS - just so that joystick lovers like JDR76 etc have time to adapt.
A touch screen is even better than a 5-way joystick or 7-way jog dial because touch screens don't need cursors in the first place, but it's a good thing they kept the joystick/track pad at least transitionally in RX & facelifted IS - just so that joystick lovers like JDR76 etc have time to adapt.
Guess you guys know me well. Hate the touchscreens...