What Could Be Better?

[Kingstonian]

There are so many good/great things with this car that I could fill a couple of pages but I'm coming at this from the other side (not that I'm a negative person, honestly!). These are some of my observations where the car could be better than it is from an internal point of view, even though some of them are only small issues:

1/ Standard infotainment system sound is distinctly average. It has the features but the sound isn't balanced enough to be great. The rear speakers don't provide enough punch (yes, I know you can alter the balance but the setup isn't right).

2/ Heated seats - simply not good enough. Seriously, try them in a Volvo, Merc or BMW for example and you really feel how they should be.

3/ As many have reported, it is way to onerous to input an address into the satnav. I don't mind the system to be honest, but the inputting is just too long and doesn't need to be.

4/ Telephony - apparently (I don't know this as I'm usually the one in the car) the road noise suppression in the car isn't great according to colleagues who I phone.

5/ I totally understand the need for lightweight materials to reduce fuel consumption but the main wheel for selecting modes/screens, etc just doesn't feel classy enough. Okay, it's only a really small point but it would be so much better if it had more weight and less of a plasticky feel ( all those with the mouse version can ignore this!). Again, feel the difference in other quality cars and you'll know immediately.

6/ More of a 'nice to have' really but there isn't a massive amount of storage space in the cabin compared to some other makes. It's not an issue for me but I could imagine it would be for some.

7/ Why oh why do I need to reinsert the memory stick to access all my music every time I restart the car. I know it hardly takes any effort to take it out and reconnect it but why it's been configured this way I don't know - daft.

So, as said, I'm not being critical of the car - far from it - it's a superb vehicle, but like all cars there are things you wish could be different to make it even better. Anyone got anymore??

[Kingstonian]

Thought of another too - indicators don't self-cancel too well.

[Martin F]

7/ Why oh why do I need to reinsert the memory stick to access all my music every time I restart the car. I know it hardly takes any effort to take it out and reconnect it but why it's been configured this way I don't know - daft

Strange, I never have todo this with mine.

But it does irk me somewhat that the system can't resume random play across all my songs on the stick when that's how I last left it.

[para999]

having not taken delivery of mine yet, as far as programming the satnav is concerned, does it not take postcodes? or does it not have voice recognition. the one I test drove had both from memory.

[dochybrid]

It takes post code after you scroll to the second page of sat-nav

not tried voice commands as yet..

[ColinBarber]

2 - This seems to be an IS thing. They work much quicker and get much hotter in the RX and GS.

I'd also add that the ventilated seats aren't great either. The base is ok but very little air comes out of the seat back.

[Blisteringblue]

Infotainment is the only bad point for me. Sort of worked out many work a rounds, the only annoyance now really is similar to the USB stick, but I have an ipod left in there. Some days it just will not recognise without multiple plugs and un-plugs, then it can be fine for a few weeks. That and the voice recognition for music works about 1 in 10 times.

Agree the satnav is long winded, but I like the online portal. I tend to bash all my trips in there and all the addresses from my phone contacts list and have them all as memory points. I know it is a gimmick but the Google Street-view of your destination is quite fun.

Personally

Car for driving purposes 9.9/10

Infotainment 6/10 (which is higher than it was since I solved my phone issue)

[Steve44]

OP has an Exec model with the standard nav and the rotary knob, not the premium Nav with the remote mouse, so I guess the inputing of names/places etc is different.

I'd agree with most of the points - heated seats could get hotter, but they do warm up very quickly from cold. Vent'd seats I'd also agree with, as the backrest blower is only 1 and sits quite high in the seat back, it really needed one lower down, but overall they are effective.

Cabin storage space I don't really have a problem with, telephone noise and background noise again, not had any complaints about background noise, but often about an echo and me being too quiet (but then I think I have a problem with the mic in my car, dealer isn't convinced so far!). I'd also say that while sound quality of the infotainment system is pretty good, the range of options for equalizer etc could be better.

For me, the headlights are not too bad, but are effected by dirt quickly, which the washers don't do a good job about and the range is not brilliant. Also, they could do with adaptive headlights as an option at this level surely.

Generally, the infotainment/electrics could be much better in design and execution, some things work erratically and un-intuitively, others just don't work.

[ColinBarber]

I'd agree with most of the points - heated seats could get hotter, but they do warm up very quickly from cold. Vent'd seats I'd also agree with, as the backrest blower is only 1 and sits quite high in the seat back, it really needed one lower down, but overall they are effective.

I wonder if the heated seats aren't as good with the standard seats compared to the heated/ventilated ones?

I've found turning off S Flow improves the seat cooling, it picks up the air from under/behind the seat so if the rear cabin air is cooled ...

[tinka]

The heated seats are rubbish, it’s the biggest disappointment or me on this car, the ones in the Audi were fantastic, for me, the heated/vented are no better than the 07 IS I had. Small price to pay though, its a great car otherwise.

[ColinBarber]

The heated seats are rubbish, it’s the biggest disappointment or me on this car, the ones in the Audi were fantastic, for me, the heated/vented are no better than the 07 IS I had. Small price to pay though, its a great car otherwise.

in what way? Amount of heat?

[Kingstonian]

Yes, Colin - mainly in the amount of heat they produce, which is just about warm at best. Also, the distribution of heat isn't really consistent throughout and seems to be warmer in some places than others. They are a disappointment tbh.

[Steve_L]

I was looking forward to a cold and frosty morning to test my seats. Expectation dampened somewhat now. Those in the Series II were excellent I thought.

Seems like Lexus cannot make 2 cars the same - or is it all drivers are different. Sound system via USB is brilliant IMO and my phone has connected every time.

Sat-nav seems little different to set postcode destination than Series II but has some extra features which I need to test.

Best improvement would be liner in the bottle holder to use for rubbish - my banana skins keep staining the fascia!

[tinka]

They are warm at best, and over a very small area, I keep thinking they are on the lowest setting. Oh, one more thing, the foot brake/ parking brake gets in the way, I wish it had an electric park brake.

[DJP]

I was looking forward to a cold and frosty morning to test my seats. Expectation dampened somewhat now. Those in the Series II were excellent I thought.

Seems like Lexus cannot make 2 cars the same - or is it all drivers are different. Sound system via USB is brilliant IMO and my phone has connected every time.

Sat-nav seems little different to set postcode destination than Series II but has some extra features which I need to test.

Best improvement would be liner in the bottle holder to use for rubbish - my banana skins keep staining the fascia!

Seat heating, phone connection and sound fine for me too.

Sent from my Iphone using Lexus OC

[Tel]

Me too.

Tel

[splatty]

Not the only car to suffer variances from models and build years.

My Audi A3 and A4 had heated seats that you could cook on, but the A5 heated seats are crap in comparison. I read somewhere that they had been turned down as they got too hot, but you do have 6 settings to pick from ??

I'm not worried about sat nav frustration. My car will have the "lower" nav but I will only use it on odd occasions.

As mine will now be a March 1st car, maybe some further software updates will have come along to address some know frustrations ??