First Place: 2006 Lexus IS 350

The 2006 BMW 330i is the second place car in a two-car race because, well, BMW engineers still haven’t figured out how to design a decent cupholder.

Seriously.
Yes, you can build the world’s ultimate driving machine, even improve on it, but in this country people like to drink and drive – lattes and water and such – and they also like having interiors designed for busy lives as well as twisty corners. And while it’s amazing to give this car the runner’s up pin when you consider the driving joy that comes with this newest rendition of BMW’s bread and butter car, the 3 Series, it’s especially amazing when you consider the car that knocks the BMW down a peg: the Lexus IS 350, straight from the “import Buick” division of Toyota, though Lexus hasn’t heard that little rhubarb in quite some time. The facts is the facts, though, and if this test were labeled “The Most Fun Car to Drive Up a Hill Comparison,” the BMW would win, and fairly easily. Sadly, most of us aren’t forced to drive a twisty mountain road every day, and the stark reality of life is that the way home is a left at the onramp, bub, and then a long straight line. BMW sells cars on the dream that one day, maybe, if you happen to go up to the mountains, you’ll experience a Real Machine.

But then you won’t have the nerve.
And your wife will nark you out as a fraud, the trip ruined and your mood cast into a deep funk. Alas for German aficionados, ours is a test on the best car, top to bottom, twisty corner fun to sticker price value and interior comfort. Taken as a whole, things such as cupholders matter greatly because they are indicative of simplicity of function – of designing a car to be used, as well as driven. In each area where this factor comes to play, the BMW falls short. Yes, it is a marvelous machine. No, it’s not the best luxury sports sedan, dollar for dollar, available. Blame it on the cupholders, blame it on iDrive, blame it on an uninspiring exterior design that borders on boredom. Better yet, blame it on the folks at BMW who still haven’t figured out the magic of holding a liquid receptacle and have stubbornly refused to give in on the iDrive argument.

But still -- come on. To drive the BMW 330i is to drive through cream, come out on the other side and punch someone in the mouth. Gripping the steering wheel is like taking hold of a real sport wheel, nice and thick, the input coming through being exactly what you expect -- plenty of road -- on which the BMW is incredibly stable. The steering is that good, the power band that superb. Guaranteed, just a few minutes behind the wheel on a mountain road will plaster a goofy smile on your face. Darting in and out of corners is smooth, and going fast in a straight line is the ultimate feeling of empowerment. What few negatives there are usually come out in contrast with the Lexus IS 350, in terms of transmission and horsepower. Low-end torque is not as much of a party, either, but the bottom line is that driving the thing is darn near a perfect experience. There is no squat, no roll, oversteer and understeer is virtually eliminated, and tires grip the road like industrial grade Polydent. You can’t really feel the Dynamic Stability Control system (DSC) kick in, unlike the Lexus – which is not only intrusive but also tells you so with a lovely ding, ding, ding….

That’s a bright idea when it comes to safety. But not so much when it comes to enthusiasm, unless you like the idea of subtle yet sudden loss of power or a boost in braking as the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) kicks in, slaps you on the wrist and tells you to behave. Aggressive driving brings out some moans and groans from the tires, and a very small tendency to oversteer. That’s all fine and dandy, however, when you have a powertrain like the one that sits inside the Lexus IS. An astonishing 306 horsepower matched up with 277 lb.-ft. of torque says it all: the Lexus is a faster cat, and more fun to drive when the driving doesn’t include hairpin corners -- or anything that triggers that darn VDIM. The engine is mated with a silky transmission slightly better than the 2006 BMW 330i, with paddle shifters that add a bit of enthusiast credibility to the cockpit – and are quite fun to use, more so than the stick employed in the BMW. That’s boring, frankly, as is the rest of the BMW’s interior. Comfortable, yes – with nice sturdy leather. And well built, with good materials and proper execution. Gaps are tight, seats are comfortable and well bolstered, and plastics are well machined. There is, however, a preponderance of dark colors and chrome throughout, with not much flair or style tossed in. Add to that the non-practical cup holder that shoots out of the dash on the passenger side, mocking you and your large latte cup. There should be a sticker on the passenger side, in fact: Warning – Passengers May Get Scalded.

There’s little chance of that in the Lexus. Cupholders are deep and perfectly placed; leather seats are softer than inside the BMW and there’s more style – from wood grain trim to the grained plastics, warm interior colors and woven headliner. Overall, the Lexus offered a more inviting and comfortable experience, no matter what you do or where you drive. Front seats were more comfortable, visibility in back was better, and controls are simple to use.

Check that out: simple to use.
I have maintained that while a seriously flawed and confusing system, iDrive is okay once you put the time into learning how to use it. The theory goes that if you’re willing to plunk down extra cash for a luxury car, you ought to be willing to learn a thing a two about how to operate the thing. I take it back. The system stinks, and while maybe you can make that argument for the 7 Series – real luxury buyers pay for innovation, and are willing to take the chance – lower market luxury cars don’t need iDrive, should not have it and should never get it. What could be a decent driver’s interior is ruined by this ill-advised system, along with BMW’s aforementioned inability to grasp the concept of cupholders. It all adds up to convenience for drivers, and a choice one must make: do you buy the car that does virtually everything really good, or the car that does one thing really, really, good?

My answer – the Lexus IS 350. From interior design to exterior style and practically perfect performance, it’s the car you’ll never regret buying.