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Lexus NX vs Mercedes GLA - decent small SUVs. Mercedes S-Class or Lexus LS: what to buy instead of the “Cortege” What is better to buy: Lexus NX or Mercedes GLA

High-quality and beautiful crossovers are the most promising transport today. Many buyers will see the Lexus NX as a true class leader, but others will clearly argue that the compact German Mercedes GLA is a much more thoughtful and high-quality car. The struggle between the European and Japanese auto industries will never end with the victory of one of the concerns, and this is the most joyful news for motorists. The more competition between countries and manufacturers, the better quality cars we can get at affordable prices. Today we can compare the heroes of our review with a host of other SUVs that have proven their quality and incredible technical potential. But we will look at the market leaders who have actually shown their superiority and announced incredible mobility capabilities in a wide variety of conditions.

There is no direct competition between the two vehicles presented, which would show real battles in the compact crossover market. These SUVs are tangential to each other's trajectories, but nevertheless, they are one of the most attractive and stylish offerings on the market. Therefore, at a certain point, potential buyers of one or another car may think about choosing one or another model. However, lovers of European reliability and classic technology will prefer Mercedes, and fans of innovative technologies can count on great pleasure from purchasing a Lexus. Today we will take a closer look at these two offers and draw some conclusions about the pros and cons of buying each of them.

Lexus NX - technical and design features of the new Japanese

At the end of 2014, one of the cutest sporty versions of a compact crossover appeared in the world. This is the Lexus NX, which can change your mind when it comes to car styling. The car has established itself as an excellent and high-quality SUV with good technology, but the first factor that pleasantly surprised the buyer remains the style and design. In this regard, the car simply has no other options but to win first places in all “beauty” and style competitions. Among the most notable technical features of the Lexus NX model are the following:

  • The first version of the NX 200 is characterized by an excellent economical 150 horsepower engine, front-wheel drive and excellent basic comfort technologies;
  • the NX 200 AWD version offers identical technology, but is the first representative of this generation of car with all-wheel drive;
  • the NX 200t version with a turbocharged power unit producing 238 horsepower attracts with its power, all-wheel drive and excellent cross-country ability;
  • for lovers of innovative technology, it would be a good idea to take a look at the NX 300h with a hybrid power plant that produces 197 horses with fuel consumption within 5 liters per 100 kilometers;
  • all versions are equipped with excellent automatic transmissions, separately tuned for the torque and power of each power unit;
  • The suspension is sporty, but you won’t feel particularly stiff during the trip; the vehicle copes well with all the challenges of difficult roads and even off-road.

High ground clearance and intelligent all-wheel drive enable the buyer of this car to experience the qualities of an SUV, while remaining in a compact and economical crossover. Lexus truly surprises with its cutting-edge innovations and provides an amazing driving experience. An equally interesting factor is the cost of the car. In the basic version with front-wheel drive, the car will cost you 2,000,000 rubles, and all-wheel drive will cost 2,150,000. The price for a crossover with a turbocharged engine starts at 2,450,000 rubles, but this is not the cost limit, but only an estimate of the basic configuration. The hybrid version will cost at least 2,650,000 rubles, and the most expensive hybrid version costs 3.2 million.

Mercedes GLA - technology for every quality lover

Mercedes Corporation continues to stand out among its competitors and rivals in the market. The manufacturer suppresses the majority of compatriots, not allowing them to go beyond the already outlined classes and segments. Today it is worth noting that the technologies used in the Mercedes GLA are the most reliable and high-quality, even within the group. The company has special hopes for the car and wants to use it as a stylistic basis for most future models in the SUV segment. The most notable technical features of the machine are as follows:

  • despite the huge abundance of versions in production, the company decided to present in Russia only three technical versions of its stylish SUV;
  • the GLA 200 AT version offers front-wheel drive, an automatic transmission and an excellent gasoline power unit with 156 horsepower;
  • the 200 CDI AT package differs from the basic version only in the presence under the hood of a diesel engine with a potential of 136 horsepower and excellent traction;
  • the top version 250 4Matic AT is invariably equipped with an automatic transmission and also adds all-wheel drive and a more powerful gasoline engine with 211 horsepower;
  • the control of the car is very comfortable, not too sharp, but not floaty either, the driver will get a pleasant feeling from the high-quality implementation of all functions;
  • the dynamics of the fastest version of the car are surprising; the car can accelerate to hundreds in 6.5 seconds - these are the best results in the segment;
  • It is interesting that the car’s configurations do not offer a huge number of different options; only three price versions and certain optional add-ons are available.

Despite the small number of versions, you can see that the technical aspects and features of the car are quite similar to the Lexus NX. A pleasant difference for a potential buyer will be the cost of vehicles. The German Mercedes GLA, fascinating in terms of design, costs 1.83 million rubles in its basic configuration, which is almost 200,000 rubles less than the Japanese new product. In terms of equipment, it is difficult to find any shortcomings in the German compared to Lexus. For 1,890,000 rubles you can buy a version with a diesel engine, and the top-end version with all-wheel drive will cost 2,050,000 Russian rubles. Such prices clearly motivate buyers to pay more attention to transport from Germany.

Which is better to buy: Lexus NX or Mercedes GLA?

When choosing a crossover in the compact class, you can pay attention not only to two models in this segment. It will be interesting to purchase high-quality equipment with excellent technical parameters, which corresponds in size and price segment to the two crossovers presented above. You can pay attention to the products of Infiniti, BMW, Audi and other elite corporations that offer very high-quality and not always more expensive crossover options in this segment. But if the choice has already settled on the Lexus NX or Mercedes GLA, the following important technical and user aspects of the cars should be considered:

  • Lexus will be more expensive than Mercedes by a certain amount of money, if cost is important to you, give preference to a German car;
  • technology in Japanese cars is more modern and expensive, you can get incredible pleasure from using all the offered features in the car;
  • the German looks classic, that is, the car will not be too pretentious and noticeable on the road, which sometimes turns out to be a necessity for the buyer;
  • the innovative style of Lexus is visible in every detail; the car turned out to be one of the best in its field in terms of interior and exterior design;
  • safety and comfort are implemented in these two cars simply incredibly well, you will not feel any problems with the quality of the trip;
  • the technical features of the cars are comparable, but Lexus offers more interesting features and more powerful engines, as well as more trim levels;
  • The hybrid power plant is available only in the Japanese representative of the segment of modern stylish compact crossovers.

It can be noted that the German offer in the cabin is more practical, but the Japanese provides modern style and an alternative design in every detail. All of the above will suggest that the Mercedes GLA is more suitable for a conservative person who appreciates a business style and a certain framework for the external design of cars. Lexus NX will be a great purchase for the person who is confident in the superiority of modern technology and incredible design aspects of cars. A Japanese car is more suitable for young and active people, but a German car does not look outdated and irrelevant. We invite you to watch a short video review of the Lexus NX:

Let's sum it up

It is impossible to give unambiguous advice on purchasing a particular car, because today each vehicle model is designed for a certain class of buyers. Some people want to buy an incredibly nice modern car, others are looking for the opportunity to buy the most technologically advanced and surprisingly functional transport. In this case, you have to choose only according to the individual requirements for the car. For example, one buyer will like the temperament of the Mercedes GLA, its business nature, but modern style, the precise position of each control element.

Another person will appreciate the incredible modernity and even futuristic appearance of the Lexus NX, the hybrid power plant and the interior as if in a spaceship. Each car has a number of advantages; today you can find a lot of great opportunities even beyond the two compact modern crossovers described above. Take a test drive of all the cars you like and choose the ones that suit your applications.

As a child, I, like many of my peers, was always interested in the question: who is stronger, a whale or an elephant. But no one then could explain to the child which of them would win if it suddenly happened. Then a question arose about the tiger and the lion. And again the unknown. So I still don’t know who is better to be in the next life, the strongest in the taiga or the most formidable in the shroud. And now - approximately the same question about executive cars. Which is better, the Japanese Lexus or the German Mercedes? In general, it is clear that this note will not dissuade either Mercedes owners or Lexus owners from the fact that their car is the best. But I still want to clarify who is the best.

It so happened that, at least in the Far East, people don’t really like Mercedes. Maybe because these cars are the calling card of the authorities, the attitude towards which in Russia has always been “specific”. Maybe because almost all “authorities” and “businessmen” drive cars of this brand, which is sometimes the same thing. Maybe there's another reason. But my friends, when asked what you would like to have, a Mercedes or a Lexus, if they chose a Mercedes, it was only to “perform” for a couple of days and immediately sell it. And buy two or three used Lexuses. Of course, all these friends drive Japanese cars and have long been accustomed to certain conveniences in their operation. What is a revelation for a Western Russian on another new product from Germany, for example, a tire pressure monitoring system, is the norm for a Far Easterner, and has been for many years, even if his car is not of the executive class. At the same time, I would like to note that these friends of mine still drove Western cars, including Mercedes 500 and 600 series. Consequently, they have their own opinions about these cars. Most of them, expressing this opinion, answered something like this. Yes, the Mercedes is a good car, but sitting in it is less pleasant than, for example, in the same Lexus. Why? Yes, because there, in the cabin, everything is done “like an elephant”, almost all the buttons are somehow sloppy and inconveniently located, the panels are rough, and in a seemingly luxurious cabin you feel like in the boss’s reception room: warm, light, soft , but I don’t want to sit. That's roughly what they all answered. So, there is no comfort in the interior of Mercedes, as most Far Easterners think, who, I repeat, have long been largely spoiled by Japanese cars. Moreover, with the “correct” cars, i.e. made in Japan. By the way, it should be noted that the left-handed “Japanese” are only a parody of cars manufactured for the Japanese domestic market, with which we will compare the 140th Mercedes body. But let's continue. Then I decided that this was all a matter of habit, and over time you can get used to the comb on the gear selector, and to the “stupid” light switch, and, in the end, even to the interior. It’s not for nothing that the authorities chose Mercedes. And I decided to ask the same question: what do they have against Mercedes, to ask the auto repair specialists. Those who tried it also unanimously said at first that driving a Lexus is more pleasant than driving a 140. Well, then there were objections to Western technical machines. So, what we don’t like, including Mercedes.

· The use of a large number of polyvinyl chloride hoses on the machine, which “tann” over time and their further use causes difficulties. The Japanese have everything made of rubber and more durable.

· Use of a large number of plastic clips. The plastic ages and these fasteners tend to break off when dismantled. The Japanese use self-tapping screws in similar cases. Yes, in the opinion of domestic car mechanics, there are even too many of these screws; they are also installed in places where it is possible to do without fasteners at all. But as a result, everything can be disassembled and reassembled an infinite number of times and after many years.

· Electronic units are not signed. No, they have numbers and, if you have technical documentation, you can figure it out. But where can you get this documentation in the Far East? In South Korea? But they won’t just give it there. The “Japanese” electronic units also have different numbers, but, as a rule, there are also signatures. For example " Computer, 4WD Control “Everything is clear to everyone at once, without any databases. Even in a distant village, a dictionary will always be found. And not German, but English, which is much simpler.

· Using a large number of disposable clamps. To remove the hose from a Mercedes, you need to cut the clamp, but where can you get another, new one? For Japanese women, all clamps are reusable. Therefore, if a leak occurs, for example, in a pipe, you can even remove the clamp on the road, cut the hose and pull it into place. And use the old clamp again.

· The operation of all Western-made engines is a bit like the operation of the engine of our Volga. All cylinders seem to work the same way, but you can still hear tapping, “grunting”, some kind of vibration, i.e. the engine actually WORKS. But Western cars, including Mercedes, alas, have never had anything like the Japanese, when the engine “WHISPERS.”

· The electrical wiring is placed in polyvinyl chloride tubes (covers). What should you do if you need to see the color of the wire? Cut the cover? And ruin the presentation forever? The Japanese ones use detachable plastic covers, and opening any wiring harness is no problem. Then you can use black electrical tape to restore everything so that no one will ever find traces of tampering.

· One day a Mercedes arrived in a 140 body, the door lock of which did not work. It turned out that cigarette ash fell into the gap near the rear sofa and melted the vacuum tube on the door controls. You say there is no point in smoking in the car? Well, the door control would still fail (and there were such cases) for the simple reason that it uses air with... dust. On the one hand, any air filters can only reduce the amount of dust, but not eliminate it. Moreover, in Russia, with its directions, which we call roads, there was always plenty of dust. On the other hand, in the vacuum lines there is “internal” dust from wear of the vane pump. So regular maintenance of the door lock control system becomes mandatory. Japanese women don't have all this. In general, I don’t understand why German designers are so afraid of a fire when they hit a door. Previously, they made flux-cored wires, now they have vacuum control... And the “Japanese” ones still have electric motors and electromagnets. And it seems that no short circuits followed by a fire occur.

· The battery in the trunk is very inconvenient. However, as well as under the rear seat and in front of the front wheel. True, the latter is no longer a Mercedes, but still, a car from the West.

· Why do German designers put metal screens on candlesticks? Interference? So the “Japanese” have no screens and there seems to be no interference. And Mercedes cars have a lot of broken candlesticks. Just like at one time on the domestic “eights”, which also used spark plug screens. How many problems they brought when diagnosing the ignition system!

· Removing the dashboard of a Mercedes, even if you know how, is much longer and more troublesome than that of a Japanese car. In addition, the “Japanese” dashboard is attached only with self-tapping screws and they are all the same, which is very convenient.

· Mercedes fasteners use “extra” sizes of bolts and nuts. Why do we need sizes 11 and 13 when there are sizes 10 and 12? To confuse the auto mechanic? Far Eastern auto mechanics don’t like Mercedes.

But what everyone was unanimous about was that it’s good (albeit expensive) to drive a Mercedes. It's heavy and big. At one time I myself used the 140th body of the 600th ( SEL by the way) “muzzle” against the concrete wall. I can say that the car is strong, but repairs have added to the cost of a still decent Lexus. At the same time, we had to change the entire panel (which was torn by a pillow, also a “minus”), and the windshield (it was also taken out by a pillow—“minus”), although the wings and even one headlight remained intact. That is, the blow was not “heroic”. In the same situation, the Lexus would most likely have had its entire “face” crushed, along with the headlights and wings, but the windshield and panel would not have had to be replaced when the airbags deployed.

The second thing that almost all auto repairmen liked was the Mercedes chassis. Everyone came to the conclusion that the heavy weight of the body with an energy-intensive suspension makes moving in the car very comfortable.

The last noted plus of the Mercedes is sound insulation. In the cabin, nothing can be heard from the street, but at the same time it is filled, albeit faint, with the sounds of working mechanisms. The same engine, for example.

And the last, most important thing that can be “presented” to Mercedes is its low reliability. If you want to have a representative model of this brand in good condition, you will have to regularly visit specialized auto repair shops, which are simply not found in towns, for example, in the Far East. You won’t be spoiled for choice with Lexus either, but you will have to visit the same workshops much less often. Again, the conditions for servicing Lexuses in the towns of the Far East are immeasurably better than for any Western cars. All this also does not help to strengthen the love of the Far Easterners for the reference model of the German automobile industry. And this dislike is expressed in a short phrase: “Mercedes is a g... but!”

Well, we got the answer to the question, who is stronger: a whale or an elephant?

P. S . I hope you understand that the Mercedes being discussed were in the 140 body, and the Lexus were Japanese, i.e. " Toyota Ce lcior " About more "cool" Toyota Centuri “, which the emperor uses, we don’t even remember, since this model is practically unknown in Russia.

The youngest player in the executive sedan segment is selling well thanks to its price. Even the top version with a long wheelbase and a five-liter V8 engine with a power of 413 hp fits into the conventional 6 million. and all-wheel drive transmission. The length of such a car is almost 5.5 m, which is less/more than that of the long-wheelbase S-Class. At the same time, a Korean limousine costs 5,975,000 rubles. - cheaper than any of the competitors. A shorter car with a length of 5.2 m will cost another 300 thousand rubles. cheaper.


Maserati Quattroporte

A large sedan from Italy is very rare on the roads and is a very unusual alternative to German cars. But with a length of almost 5.3 m and a wheelbase of 3.2 m, the dimensions are almost as good as them, and they are very inexpensive compared to them. For 6 million they will sell a version of the Quattroporte S Q4 with an all-wheel drive transmission. Power is 410 hp, but there are only six cylinders, and the engine capacity is a modest three liters. The Quattroporte GTS is already equipped with a 3.8 V8 engine producing 530 hp. and costs 6.7 million rubles, but this car has only rear-wheel drive.


The British sedan is extremely thoroughbred, but at the same time very democratic. The initial two-liter (!) version can be purchased for 4.9 million rubles, and for the required amount cars with the Supercharged prefix, a 340-horsepower V6 3.0 engine and all-wheel drive in short and long wheelbase versions are offered (from 5,933,000 rubles. ). There is also an exotic diesel version (300 horsepower). But here is a truly serious sedan with a 5.0 V8 engine producing 510 hp. with a long wheelbase it costs an impressive 9,841,000 rubles. and does not have all-wheel drive.


Judging by its looks and price, the new-generation LS will no longer be perceived as aftermarket in the segment. But there is only one body option (length - 5235 mm), and both engines are six-cylinder 3.5 liters. Entry rear-wheel drive LS 350 with 315 hp. costs 5,539,000 rubles, and for 7 million you can buy an all-wheel drive LS 500 AWD with an output of 421 horsepower. The basic version has an active noise reduction system, a large projection display, and for everything else you will have to pay extra - up to the maximum 9.3 million rubles.


Sales of the new generation G8 were supposed to begin at the end of last year, but there are still no prices, and dealers are selling sedans of the previous generation with a minimum price tag of 5,745,000 rubles. But what is of interest is a car with a 4.0 V8 engine with 435 hp, which will cost at least 6.8 million rubles. both in short and long versions. Next comes an expensive 500-horsepower car with a W12 6.3 engine (9.5 million rubles), as well as sports versions S8 (520 hp) and S8 Plus (605 hp) costing at least 8 million. All versions of the A8/S8 are all-wheel drive.


Theoretically, a Bavarian sedan can be bought for 4.5 million, and it will be a “modest” BMW 730i (258 hp) with rear-wheel drive and a meek body. The normal price tag starts from RUB 6,390,000. for the 740Li with a 326-horsepower V6 3.0. From this version all sedans have all-wheel drive. The 320-horsepower diesel BMW 740d also fits into 7 million, and the 8-cylinder versions 750i (450 hp) and 750d (400 hp) cost from 7 to 8 million rubles. in a conditionally basic version. A well-equipped 750Li Executive is priced at £8.6 million.


Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The flagship of the segment, updated at the end of last year, quite logically costs more than all existing competitors. The entry price tag for the six-cylinder version of the S 450 (367 hp) is 6.77 million rubles, and the all-wheel drive version is another 200 thousand more expensive. The alternative is two diesel versions costing about 7 million, as well as a gasoline S 560 with a 4.0 V8 engine producing 469 horsepower. All S-class sedans are sold in a long-wheelbase (5255 mm) version. Standing apart are the super-fast S 63 AMG and S 65 AMG with price tags of more than 10 and 17 million rubles. respectively.

One of the newcomers in the premium middle class segment. The Russian premiere of this model took place in October 2005, and the first “commodity” cars appeared at Lexus dealers last winter. In our country, the IS250 is sold in four fixed trim levels, and we got the most expensive of them for testing - the Sport version, which is distinguished by 18-inch wheels with low-profile tires, “sporty” interior trim and a stiffer suspension.

We selected a competitor for the Japanese car according to two main criteria: it should be a sedan in the premium segment of the middle class, more or less close in cost. As a result, we got a Merceds-Benz C280 4Matic. The C-Class turned out to be no worse equipped than the Lexus, but was equipped with a more powerful engine and an all-wheel drive system. The cost of a Mercedes, taking into account the “special edition” discount, is 45,900 euros - almost 20 percent more than the price of a Lexus - 47,700 US dollars.

Design

The appearance of the Mercedes C280 cannot be called ultra-modern, but this car does not look old-fashioned either - like a good-quality classic suit that everyone likes, but does not make anyone turn around. They also don’t turn around because this car is quite popular and is often found on Moscow streets.
Mercedes C-Class and Lexus IS - photo gallery

The Lexus IS250 is a completely different story. The car literally attracts attention: a swift, almost wedge-shaped silhouette of the body, completely smooth sides, spectacular stamping on the hood, wide wheel arches and predatory headlights - a real sports car! The only negative is that the front part of the body lacks expressiveness quite a bit, even despite the aggressive bumper with large air intakes. So it’s better to look at the Lexus IS a little from behind and from the side: from this angle the car looks very beautiful.

Not the least role in the dynamic appearance of the IS250 is played by 18-inch wheels - in comparison with them, the standard 16-inch wheels of the Mercedes C280 seem like a toy.

Salon

There are no revelations in the C280's interior. The interior of the car “Mercedes style” is strict and thought out to the smallest detail. Everything is in its place, everything is convenient to use, with the possible exception of the power window control unit. It is placed too far forward and down, and access to it is blocked by the door handle. Therefore, in order to lower or raise the window, you have to take your attention from the road - finding the right button blindly is quite problematic.

But I was pleased with the proprietary control scheme for the electric drives of the front seats - “lined” with “seat” buttons on the top of the door trims. It's convenient that these keys are in plain sight, whereas on most other cars the seats are adjusted blindly and hidden in a very inconvenient place - a tight gap between the door and the seat cushion.

The range of adjustments for the seats, steering wheel and mirrors in the Mercedes is very extensive, if not excessive - almost any driver can find a comfortable position behind the wheel of this car. There is also memory for three sets of settings, the C280 allows you to “switch” between them even while driving. This will appeal to those drivers who change their seating position depending on the pace of driving.
If you're not used to them, you can get confused in these levers

There are three steering column switches, and they are all located on the left. One of them is traditionally Mercedes - it turns on the high beam and turn signals, and also controls the windshield wipers. The remaining two “manage” cruise control and the position of the steering column. Another manifestation of proprietary ergonomics is a “scissor” instead of the usual parking brake handle.

The interior of the Mercedes does not seem spacious at first glance, but no one complains about the lack of space either in front or in the back. Even those who happen to sit behind a driver who is 190 centimeters tall.

The C280 has a very well-designed interior ventilation system. Air is supplied to the rear passengers in three directions at once: under the front seats, above the central tunnel, and, most importantly, in the rear doors. The airflow on the front side windows is also unusual. Thanks to this system, controlled by dual-zone climate control, the car interior warms up very quickly in cold weather, and the side windows do not fog up even in heavy rain.

In general, the interior of the Mercedes C280 leaves the impression of being very well thought out and of high quality - even the most meticulous buyers are unlikely to find anything to complain about.
Ergonomics are not at the highest level. But it's beautiful.

The Lexus IS is completely different. There is not a drop of conservatism in its interior - it is completely high-tech. If the front panel of a Mercedes is a jumble of regular geometric shapes, then here it is a “careless” brushstroke of an impressionist from left to right. Thanks to the absence of unnecessary parts on the dashboard, Lexus visually seems more spacious than its German competitor. However, in reality this is an optical illusion.

From the driver's seat, the IS250 looks a little like a sports car - it has a small, thin leather three-spoke steering wheel with a comfortable grip, paddle shifters and a center console that is turned slightly to the left. But these petals are made not of aluminum, as it seems at first glance, but of plastic.

And so it is with Lexus almost everywhere - it “feels” cheaper than it looks. The center console turned out to be trimmed with “loud” plastic, the information displays on it are hidden under slightly cloudy plastic windows, and the front panel sometimes creaked on uneven surfaces. However, as the Toyota representative explained to us, there is a pre-production copy in the test fleet, and commercial vehicles are free of all the above-mentioned shortcomings.

But if fans of “minor functions” will find fault with the shortcomings of ergonomics, then fans of “active driving” will rather pay attention to the front seats: they have a good profile with good lateral support, are covered with branded ESCAI artificial suede, and the driver’s seat can be lowered very low - almost to the floor. Its only drawback is the airbag, which some drivers find short.

Finally, as we have already noted, the Lexus is tighter than its competitor, especially at the rear. There is very little space left behind the driver, who is 190 centimeters tall; only a child would feel comfortable there. The feeling of cramped space is enhanced by the massive rear pillars and the sloping roof, due to which the “sofa” cushion had to be noticeably lowered. It will be uncomfortable for five people to drive a Lexus due to the rear seat, which is molded according to the “third wheel” principle.

Go

In order to start the engine on the C280, the driver needs to insert the electronic key into a special recess on the front panel and turn it. The starter automatically “starts” the engine, the steering wheel and seat take the previously memorized position, and the car is ready to go. Everything is simple, convenient, but compared to Lexus - very modest. Because on the IS250, starting the engine is quite a performance.
Optitronic dashboard Lexus.

Let's start with the fact that there is no need to take the electronic key fob out of your pocket at all: Lexus independently identifies the owner and opens the doors for him. In order to start the engine, you will have to press the illuminated "Start/Stop" button on the front panel while holding the brake pedal. In response to these actions, the arrows of the optitron devices flash in front of the driver, swing to the extreme position and return to their place. And only then the instrument scales light up and the engine starts working. While the driver admires the “light show,” the steering wheel, as on the C280, returns to the previously memorized position with a slight buzz. That's it, you can go!

It is worth recalling here that the Japanese sedan is equipped with the latest six-cylinder gasoline engine with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing VVT-I. The engine displacement is 2.5 liters and its power is 208 horsepower. This V6 is equipped only with a six-speed automatic transmission with the ability to manually select the desired gear.

Mercedes C280 4Matic is noticeably more powerful. Its three-liter engine develops 231 horsepower and maximum torque reaches 300 Nm, versus 252 for Lexus. As a result, according to the passport data, the C280 accelerates from zero to one hundred kilometers per hour one second faster than its competitor, despite the presence of a heavy all-wheel drive transmission.

In fully automatic mode, the gearbox of a German sedan leaves the most favorable impression - it works moderately efficiently, shifts gears smoothly, and in terms of elasticity, the Mercedes combination of engine and gearbox seems optimal. But in the Lexus IS250 after the Mercedes, the acceleration dynamics and operation of the automatic transmission are somewhat disappointing. Perhaps, in a German car, the “thoughtiness” of the gearbox is compensated by a more torquey engine, so accelerating with it, for example, for overtaking, is a little easier.
The Lexus transmission performs worse in automatic mode.

If you switch to manual mode, the gearbox on the C280 will allow the engine to “spin up” to maximum speed, but then, without asking the driver, it will switch to the “up” gear. However, the desire to constantly drive a “stick” does not arise for those sitting behind the wheel of a Mercedes: firstly, the massive central armrest interferes with changing gears by “swinging” the lever left and right, and secondly, the automatic mode here is quite adequate. Moreover, it allows you to choose between “comfortable” and “sporty” box algorithms.

The Lexus IS is much more fun to drive with a stick. Here the driver feels more involved in the process of driving the car, “snapping” gears using the steering wheel paddles and revving the engine to “ring” in each of them. However, there is one "but". In practice, drivers most often turn on manual mode to perform some kind of quick maneuver, such as overtaking. With the help of “petals” on most cars this can be done as quickly as possible, regardless of what mode the “automatic” is currently operating in. On the Lexus, everything is different - the “petals” operate only in Sport mode, and when switching to it, fourth speed is always engaged. As a result, in order to “manually” shift to a lower gear, you need to move the floor-mounted gearshift lever from position “D” to position “S”, and then use the steering wheel switches to move from the fourth stage to the desired one. This complex process takes time. And, I must admit, a lot.

However, even despite the strange logic of the “automatic”, the process of driving the Lexus seems very exciting. The car reacts quickly and practically without delay to any movement of the steering wheel, providing adequate force on it, and well informs the driver about what is happening with the front wheels. Apparently, a significant contribution to the handling of the IS250 Sport is made by a stiffer suspension than on the base version and low-profile tires. During the test, our car had non-studded winter tires, which performed well on dry and wet asphalt, but on slippery surfaces they turned out to be practically helpless. On ice, compacted and even loose snow, the wide wheels started slipping at the slightest pressure on the accelerator pedal, trying to put the car sideways.
Lexus IS250 is driven more recklessly than its opponent.

To be fair, it is worth noting that this feature of the Lexus gave practically no cause for concern: the car is equipped with a non-switchable stabilization system that interferes with the control process, even when the driver thinks that he has “turned off” it. The fact is that the “turn off the stabilization system” button, intended for those who like to “light up”, only slightly loosens the “collar” of this electronic system, but does not turn it off completely. In this mode, the car can be put into a slight skid and even made to “spin” in place. However, as soon as the stabilization system senses panic in the driver’s actions - a sharp release of gas or an overly active rotation of the steering wheel in the direction of a skid - it will immediately “wake up” and return the car to a safe trajectory.

The all-wheel drive Mercedes C280 is much more pleasant to drive in winter. The car accelerates without problems on slippery surfaces, and slipping of at least one wheel is instantly stopped by the stabilization system. Interestingly, on Mercedes ESP is completely disabled. Thanks to all-wheel drive with an advantage to the rear wheels, the C280 exhibits almost neutral understeer, which can easily be converted into oversteer. The rear axle obediently goes into a skid when adding gas. But it’s better to “drive” in the manual transmission mode, not allowing the “automatic” to switch at the most inopportune moment.

"Mercedes" knows how to drive aggressively, but it is not at all inclined to do so. This is due to the rather “empty” and light steering wheel. You can certainly get used to this, but there is no such unity with the car as on the Lexus IS250.

But the C280 is ahead in terms of ride smoothness and acoustic comfort, not noticing small bumps and smoothly passing large ones. Compared to this, the Lexus IS250 seems much harsher and noisier. The car reacts louder to road surface defects, not only due to the fault of the “sports suspension” and low-profile tires, but also, possibly, due to large unsprung masses. In addition, at high speeds, tire noise gradually begins to penetrate into the cabin. "Mercedes" does not allow itself this - silence is maintained even at speeds over 160 kilometers per hour, allowing you to communicate in a low voice.

On the track, both cars behave very well. It is interesting that the Lexus is less susceptible to asphalt rutting, but driving “under 200” is calmer not on it, but on a Mercedes, where the speed is not felt so acutely.

Forward visibility in both sedans can be called good without exaggeration, and for different reasons. In the C280, a three-pointed star on the hood helps you feel the dimensions, and in the IS250, there are front parking sensors. It’s easier to control the space in the back on a Mercedes, but on a Lexus this is hampered by massive rear pillars and a high trunk line. Here the driver is also protected from “contact parking” by “parking sensors”.

Practicality

When choosing premium cars, their practicality, of course, does not play a primary role. However, we note that the winner in this category was the Mercedes C280. It is noticeably more spacious than its opponent, and has, although not more spacious, a more convenient trunk.

In addition, the Mercedes is equipped with an all-wheel drive transmission and has a higher ground clearance - which allows it not to be afraid of curbs, snowdrifts and slippery winter roads.

conclusions

We did not intend to choose a winner in this test. Mercedes and Lexus, it seems to us, have completely different images, and therefore different consumer audiences.

In terms of “quality”, if you include in this concept the quality of the interior, the ergonomics of the cabin and the overall level of comfort, the Mercedes C280 4Matic clearly outperforms its Japanese competitor. Lexus, despite the abundance of all kinds of “fashionable things”, such as optitron devices or LED license plate lighting, still lacks that gloss and that impeccability in details that a picky Mercedes buyer pays attention to. But the IS250 will appeal to those who value the driving qualities of a car above a comfortable suspension, and a spectacular appearance over expensive interior plastic. And, judging by the abundance of new Mercedes and Lexuses on Moscow streets, there are plenty of both among car enthusiasts.

For all automakers, the most important thing is to produce a flagship car model, the purchase of which would line up for many kilometers. At one time, only famous German concerns such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi and others could boast of this. However, now the Japanese brand Lexus provides a magnificent appearance and a comfortable interior, a powerful engine and advanced technologies.

In this article we will try to determine which is better, Lexus or Mercedes. It is quite difficult to compare the appearance of competitors, since everyone is looking for something for themselves in a car, and everyone has different preferences. When asked what is better, Mercedes or Lexus, many prefer the latter, since Lexus was produced later, which means it should have more modern technology and appearance, but in fact this is not the case.

Japanese designers have undoubtedly produced a beautiful car and, in any case, can be proud of the almost imperceptible gaps that exist between the parts. However, if you analyze the design of the LS car more closely, then the rear part of the car turned out best, while its appearance as a whole will not surprise anyone.

As for the overall image, here Mercedes looks clearly preferable, since the designers produced blown arches on a car of the so-called executive class, and this attracted additional buyers. But even such a spectacular appearance will look inconspicuous without first-class ones, which are the most visible accessory on any car.

We continue our comparison of Lexus or Mercedes and move on to internal analysis. In this regard, it is very difficult to compete with the Japanese, since the soft snow-white leather that was used for upholstery, and in addition a lot of technical devices, leaves no chance for anyone.

If we take into account the fact that the future owner of the car will most likely choose the rear seat rather than the front, then Lexus goes even further here. The main advantage of the LS460L is the rear seat with the unusual name “ottoman”, which is capable of not only performing a first-class massage, but can also recline almost into a bed.

To do this, you need to tilt the backrest 45 degrees and extend the special footrest. But you can completely relax only if several conditions are met - your height should not exceed 180 centimeters, and in addition you will need to fold the front seat, thereby taking the place of two people at once.

It is worth noting that the Mercedes is also equipped with a massage seat, but it is far from the same as that of the Lexus.

Now let's figure out what to choose Mercedes or Lexus in terms of cost. Here the cars are almost on the same level, but Lexus is slightly ahead of its competitor, since it is sold exclusively in dollars, while Mercedes are sold in euros. Because of this, Lexus reaches a wider audience of buyers.

A fully equipped representative of the Lexus brand costs about 150 thousand dollars, but for a Mercedes car of the same level you will have to pay approximately 155 thousand dollars. The difference is of course small, but nevertheless it exists.