Lexus IS F vs Mercedes-AMG C63 vs BMW M3 review

If Kylie Minogue decided to record a thrash-metal album, the Queen would probably ask her to hand back her OBE, but at least there’d be a parallel for the Lexus IS F.

Two decades of building ultra-refined, four-wheeled sedatives with all the character of Sorbent toilet tissue and then ‘shazam!’, out pops a growling V8 Japanese muscle sedan hell-bent on ending Germany’s sporting dominance.

Of course, that’s harder than it sounds when your first proper performance car happens to be competing head-to-head with the new BMW M3 sedan and Mercedes-Benz’s thundering C63 AMG.

But so extensive are the changes to Lexus’s compact-luxury IS that the hardened-up ‘F’ stands one helluva chance of knocking the M3 and C63 from their elevated perches, or at least severely denting their pride. And its model designation suggests as much – the ‘F’ signifying Japan’s famous (Toyota-owned) Fuji speedway, though it may well allude to Gordon Ramsay’s famous “F@#k me” exclamation.

Indeed, anyone used to the sterility of a Lexus GS or LS will be saying just that the first time the IS F’s Yamaha-tweaked V8 smacks its growly power band.

On paper, the IS F has seemingly nailed its target. She’s somewhat heavier than the competition, just like the standard IS250 is over a 325i or C280, but its 5.0-litre direct-injection V8 punches out an impressive 311kW at 6600rpm – two more than the M3, 1700rpm sooner.

The F’s engine is a development of the 4.6-litre from the GS and LS460s, but the cylinder block and heads, intake and exhaust systems, lubrication system, crankshaft, pistons, connecting rods, electronic throttle body and camshaft profiles are all unique.

First-for-Lexus technical highlights include a dual air-intake system, large-diameter titanium valves (for increased lift and greater engine speed), hollow camshafts, and dual variable valve timing with electric actuation on the inlet camshafts.

But the 2UR-GSE 5.0-litre is also the first Lexus engine designed with the racetrack in mind – hence the oil scavenge pump, engine oil cooler, transmission-fluid cooler and fuel sub tank to ensure fuel pick-up in hard cornering.

Considerable track time behind both German V8s confirms that they, too, are strong and meaty enough to handle lengthy track thrashings without bursting at the seams, but it’s the difference in character between the M3’s 4.0-litre, the IS F’s 5.0-litre and the C63’s 6.2-litre that is the focus of this exercise. And they call this work...

Newbie first. The IS F V8’s party trick is undoubtedly the snorty induction growl that sharply interjects when its second air-intake port opens above 3600rpm. What begins as a distant burble from its engine and its curiously arranged tailpipe quartet quickly turns nasty, erasing any pre-conceived doubts that Lexus can’t do noise.

It’s a deep cabin-filler that never fails to satisfy your inner revhead, though it does peter out a little as the IS F nears its somewhat premature 6900rpm ignition cut-out. Keep it grunting between three-six and five-and-a-half on the F’s luminescent tach’, however, and it’s a veritable meat market.

Then you climb aboard the C63. Its 6.2-litre’s overwhelming V8 thunder sounds rich and rorty from idle to the next galaxy, instantly reducing the IS F’s V8 to a milder MA rating.

It has noticeably more top-end shove than the Lexus V8, and despite its greater dimensional capacity, it has another 500 revs up its sleeve, too – charging with serious aggression right to 7400rpm. But the loud-and-proud AMG V8 performs that trick at any speed, in any gear.

It’s the supreme spontaneity of the C63’s urge, and the brilliance of its transmission in assisting this hunger for the horizon, that makes this one of the greatest drivetrain combinations ever. You don’t have to flog it to fall head-over-heels in love with it, but when you do, even non-Catholics might feel the need to go to confession.

Alongside the brutal Benz, the M3’s demeanour is far more suave, like meeting a world-champion boxer who happened to be educated at Eaton. Its metallic V8 rumble is much more subdued until it starts to pile on revs, but beyond 5000rpm, it just keeps getting faster, frothier, and more intense.

The way it builds both power and powerful noise progressively, over such a wide range, all the way to 8400rpm, is an unrivalled talent in this company. The more you ask of the M3’s rev-tastic V8, the deeper your affection for it, and the more convincing the effectiveness of its (optional) M-DCT double-clutch transmission.

While the BMW’s two-pedal seven-speeder is a vast improvement over the old, unlamented SMG, it has one particularly annoying trait. In light-throttle situations in urban environs – like mounting a speed-hump or slowing for, then entering, a roundabout – the DCT tranny perpetually hesitates before choosing a gear.

With the adjustable shift program showing any less than three bars (of five in total – with five being the most hardcore, ESP on), it can be frustratingly lazy to respond. But at four bars (which is arguably the ideal shift setting), it still pauses before grabbing a low gear and surging.

It’s virtually impossible to drive around without having the DCT ’box in manual mode, but with seven ratios to pick from, that involves a lot of paddle-prodding. Thankfully, none of this is evident on the open road.

The IS F’s ‘Sport Direct Shift’ eight-speed automatic is simpler to operate than the M3’s complex, multi-setting double-clutcher, but it has a few eccentricities of its own. A ‘Sport’ mode (that hardens steering, sharpens throttle response and shift points, silences the VSC’s infuriating warning buzzer while extending the intervention threshold, and prevents the ’box from shifting up in ‘M’ mode) is definitely a worthwhile inclusion.

But the switch sits invisibly on the dash behind the steering wheel, and every time you start the IS F, it defaults to ‘Normal’, which means dopey gearshifts, dumbed-down throttle response and lighter steering. And yet another fumble for the ‘Sport’ button.

Even then, in Drive, with the dashboard’s green ‘Sport’ light glowing, upshifts feel and sound lazy, with big pauses between gear changes. And the ’box only throttle-blips on downshifts in Sport Manual. In contrast, the BMW’s M-DCT does it whenever, wherever. Ditto the C63’s ‘AMG Speedshift Plus’ 7G-Tronic.

Ah, yes, the C63’s transmission. Not every Benz seven-speeder we’ve tried over the years has felt completely on-song, but the example in this C63 (the same car we hammered over several thousand kays in the PC08 final last November) was basically flawless – perfectly attuned to the 6.2 V8’s brawn, always in the right gear, always shifting smartly and throttle-blipping perfectly.

Whether crawling in ‘Drive Comfort’ in traffic or hammering in ‘Manual’ on a racetrack, the Benz’s transmission is an undisputed winner. And despite leggy gearing in its upper ratios, it’s a brilliant complement to AMG’s hand-built stunner of an engine. Up to about 120km/h, the C63’s straight-line performance is virtually identical to the M3’s, with both cars clocking blistering all-time PBs on Oran Park’s hard-packed, grippy surface.

Not only did the big-dicked C63 finally prove that it can put its muscle where its mouth is, in Drive with ESP fully off, but the M3 M-DCT’s launch control also worked properly in its preferred environment – scrabbling off the line with minimal wheelspin and slamming home the double-clutch box’s gearshifts.

Despite a deliberately shortened first gear, the IS F can’t quite match its Kraut rivals out of the blocks, but it maintained its margin to the BMW right to 180km/h, and its rolling-start performance is up to speed, as you’d hope with eight friggin’ gears!

Why the IS F needs so many ratios is anyone’s guess, particularly when most cornering up to 150km/h requires only second or third gear, but if it was for fuel-economy purposes, then objective achieved.

The IS F convincingly out-sipped the other two – its 17.3L/100km worst leg proving only marginally thirstier than the C63’s overall average. And it can nail its max power and torque claims on 95 octane.

The other area where the Lexus puts clear distance between itself and the Germans is its turning circle – an amazingly tidy 10.2m, or a metre-and-a-half less than its rivals. It might require nearly three turns from lock-to-lock, but thanks to this brilliant manoeuvrability, it never feels in the least bit low-geared. Indeed, with the ‘Sport’ button engaged (which it should always be anyway), the IS F’s steering is impressively communicative and concise, and blends well with its chassis’ light, agile, balanced feel.

The IS F turns in sharply and does a highly convincing job of masking its 1.7-tonne kerb weight – relishing being thrown from one corner to the next and four-wheel-drifting cheekily as both its front and rear ends relinquish grip.

Right on its cornering limit, things become slightly untidy – it understeers, then as its front tyres bite, the rear goes into oversteer – but up until this point, Japan’s super-sedan is enjoyable and pointable. Interestingly, the IS F manages to combine dynamic elements from both its rivals. But ultimately, the German pair convincingly out-drive it. Why? Because both the C63 and M3 perform several disciplines substantially better than the IS F.

Jump into the C63 and it instantly feels more, er, manly than the Lexus. It mightn’t offer quite as much steering feedback, but it’s close, and its power assistance is more progressive (the IS F’s steering sometimes turns strangely leaden when asked for a fast direction change).

The Benz’s gorgeously chunky steering wheel is infinitely preferable to the IS F’s waif-like rim, droopy spokes and arced height adjustment, however, and while the C63 is similarly well-balanced, its P Zeros hang on longer, its handling generally feels more fluid in its transitions, and, most obviously, it has much more grunt to adjust its rear end with.

And there’s its ride – firm, but much better damped and far less pitchy than the unsettled IS F. Over one severe undulation on our test route, the C63 devoured it virtually unflustered. The M3 (in its damper’s mid-setting) was a touch abrupt, but clearly the best at reigning in body movement, while the IS F seemed to springboard off the road, sending its driver’s head towards the headlining, with arse-cheeks simultaneously leaving the seat, as it soared highest with too much vertical movement.

But it’s grip, or the relative lack of it, that lets the IS F down most. While its four-wheel-drifting shenanigans do make hard cornering entertaining, jumping into the M3 straight after puts things into perspective.

The BMW simply annihilates the Lexus for purchase and poise, bringing to mind the old cliche that it “feels like it’s on rails”, and the BMW’s rear-end grip in particular is phenomenal – one of the best in the business, both for power-down punch and progressive drift-ability. And if you don’t believe us, check out the corner speeds from Wakefield Park.

The M3 walloped the IS F everywhere, but was travelling 10km/h faster going onto the back straight and managed to slaughter the IS F’s lap time by three seconds, despite their relative parity in a straight line.

The M3’s larger footprint (on optional 19s) could explain some of its cornering superiority, but it’s a car that always seems to keep up with its driver – feeling more alive and even more accomplished the harder you drive it, particularly its steering. On the road, the M3’s cornering limits are so high that few will manage to unsettle it, yet there’s little trade-off for this handling excellence.

Even in the EDC damper’s middle ‘Normal’ setting, the M3 rounds off bumps and avoids jiggling around too much, with an even more GT-like ‘Comfort’ setting still up its sleeve. And its brakes – same-size 360mm vented and drilled fronts as the Lexus and Merc, but with the largest (350mm) rear rotors here – are strong enough to back up its pace, on either road or track.

The C63’s stoppers feel gutsy on the road, but struggle a little to maintain their composure hauling up its pace on a racetrack, while the IS F’s brakes are generally terrific, with crisp pedal feel and plenty of tireless resistence, though they could be a bit more progressive.

Certainly, the brakes on this lot look sizeable enough hiding behind suitably tough-looking rims – forged-alloy 19s in the case of the IS F. With all three modelling heavily flared guards and four impressionable exhaust pipes, it’s difficult to confuse any of them with lesser-engined models.

But it’s the BMW that has arguably the greatest presence, front, back, or side-on. Blending the coupe’s sexy front-end with a taller, chunkier middle and the sedan’s freshly facelifted rear (with classy new LED lights) makes the new four-door the toughest-looking M3 yet – even in metallic steel blue, and especially on the test car’s guard-filling 19s.

The handsomely pumped and nicely cut C63 is spoiled only its relatively bland tail (though its fat pipes try and make up for it), while the IS F looks muscular as hell from side on and any angles that capture its deeply vented front guards, but has fussy taillights, and a little bit too much chin.

The cultural differences are even starker on the inside, though not in a good way for the Lexus. The console’s synthetic silver-carbonfibre trim, drenched in buckets of chintzy lacquer, charms no one, and its controls are scattered haphazardly all over its dash, requiring familiarisation.

Its tacky, stylised ‘F’ badge is only really visible on the bottom steering-wheel spoke, but it’s embroided on the sides of all the seat cushions, too, and there’s one ergonomic failing that is impossible to miss. The front seat’s electric controls are already fairly close to the folding door pockets, but the drink-holder bulge sits right on the switches, making minor seat adjustments next to a bottle of water like squeezing your hand into a post box.

The C63’s cabin is familiar W204 C-class, meaning ergonomically excellent bar a slightly offset steering column, and featuring awesome multi-adjustable winged bucket seats. It has the best in-cabin refinement of the group and a decent rear-seat with more room and better vision than the thick-pillared IS F.

But it’s the revised M3, with its two-tone palette, stitched-leather trim, great seats and vastly improved new-generation iDrive that, unexpectedly, gets the vote for best interior. Impressive back section, too, with the best seat support and the most room. Unlike the IS F, with its idiotic two-person bench, split by an immovable mound of cheap, hard plastic, the M3 can actually cop three in its back seat.

If, by now, you’re thinking the IS F may have missed its target – beating the pricier Germans at their own game – you’d be right, though Japan’s inaugural V8 muscle sedan really is an admirable first attempt. Obviously value plays a huge part in the IS F’s appeal, but less money does, in this case, buy less muscle car. It’s sharp and rewarding, but it lacks the dynamic depth of the M3, and its engine and transmission pale in comparison with the C63’s excellence.

It isn’t as comfortable or as practical, and doesn’t ride anywhere near as well as its rivals. Ultimately, its repertoire is fairly narrow and it has enough small, yet irritating faults to occasionally distract you from what it does best – drive hard.

With finesse and experience on their side, the C63 and M3 are clearly more car than the IS F, though for more money. The BMW is quite possibly the ultimate race-car-for-the-road, with tremendous depth to its dynamics and so many facets to its personality.

Its balance, grip, adjustability and chuckability are all first rate, and in updated, enhanced sedan form, its overall appeal is greater than ever. But it’s a car that takes time, and committed hard driving, to truly appreciate. And the M-DCT double-clutch ’box isn’t without its flaws, though BMW still offers a preferable, and cheaper, six-speed manual.

The C63, on the other hand, is instantly likeable. You don’t have to be hauling arse to feel hugely special manipulating its thunderous grunt and fluid chassis. It unleashes its full persona right from the get-go. For anyone who prefers two-pedal motoring, the C63 is brilliantly effective as it is – without having to resort to any fiddly damper, throttle, steering and engine settings.

But the M3 sedan is ultimately the better car, simply because of its superior handling ability, its mean looks and its greater practicality. We’d stick with the $7300-cheaper manual version, though, just like we’d go for a C63 AMG Estate, not the sedan.

Despite its near-miss, what the IS F does is serve as a clear warning to the Germans that they’ve had this market to themselves for way too long. So be warned. The Japanese are on a mission and next time around, with a little more practice, the outcome could get ugly. In the meantime, it’s pretty much a German dead-heat, depending on the day, the weather, or your mood. But both of them are stunners.