The Lexus IS F benefits from the same active, passive and preventive safety equipment that earned the regular IS a five-star Euro NCAP rating and comes with ten airbags as standard. In addition, it benefits from substantially larger and more powerful brakes, to provide appropriate stopping performance in line with its greater power. It also features adaptive cruise control, which maintains a safe, pre-set distance from the vehicle in front as well as a Pre-Crash Safety system (or PCS) to predict when an accident is unavoidable.

In certain cases it will tighten seatbelts to draw passengers into the safest position and trigger the brake assistance for maximum braking power. In the back are two Isofix points.

Like the standard IS there’s a severe lack of foot and legroom for rear passengers and adults will find it cramped – plus there’s only two seats. Luggage space is reasonable, but the boot does suffer from considerable wheelarch intrusion though which hampers the luggage area. What’s more, the rear seats don’t fold down so carrying long loads is impossible though there is a ski hatch in the rear seats.