CR: New Lexus, Infiniti Sport Sedans Don’t Measure Up

Consumer Reports magazine says Toyota Motor Corp.'s all-new 2014 Lexus IS 250 sedan doesn't measure up to its "recommended" rating because of disappointing fuel economy, poor acceleration and lackluster handling.

The Yonkers, New York-based magazine's non-profit Consumers bases its assessment on its tests of $43,800 2.5-liter V-6 model with optional all-wheel drive.

Though the car posted a "good" rating, it was "the worst road test score posted by any Lexus sedan in recent memory," CR says. It adds that the car was "neither sporty nor luxurious," with a "ride neither plush nor tied down."

The poor review hurts Toyota's efforts to regain its leading position in the U.S. luxury market, which it lost in 2011 due to production disruptions caused by natural disasters in Japan.

Toyota says it wants more specifics about CR's assessment and plans to meet with the publication's staff to get direct feedback.

Separately, CR gave Nissan Motor Co.'s all-new Infiniti Q50 sedan a second-best "very good" rating because it didn't measure up to the "recommended" status of its predecessor, the Infiniti G37.

The $44,900 Q50, which competes with the Lexus IS, also was tested with an all-wheel-drive system. The magazine says the model might earn a "recommended" rating after reliability data becomes available.