THE Lexus IS220d Sport is a fine car to drive on the open road - but give it a supermarket car park to deal with and the whole family can appreciate its qualities.
The shopping had been loaded into the boot with the wife and kids piling in as we planned to make good our escape from the hell that is shopping on a Saturday.
Ignition button pushed, reverse engaged and hey presto the rear view camera on the centre console - part of an optional multimedia package that also adds satellite navigation and is well worth considering - is activated.
At this point the kids join in the reversing manoeuvre using the helpful guidelines on the screen to advise how close you are getting to walls, other cars, pedestrians etc.
With parking sensors also getting in on the act it means hitting something really isn't an option.
It's a neat system in a car which has many nice touches.
Although the boot, though it's a decent size, isn't the easiest to load thanks to a relatively narrow opening and is an awkward shape due to the intrusion of the rear wheel arches. The boot lid also showed a marked reluctance to open electronically off the key fob.
That aside the £27,000-plus you'll be spending on the IS200d Sport is largely money well spent - especially when the generous level of equipment included as standard is taken into account.
The exterior is solidly good looking with sweeping lines, 18-inch alloy wheels and a lowered sports suspension promising pace a 0-62mph time of under nine seconds does justice to.
The 2.0-litre diesel engine is also pretty economical for a car with 'Sport' as part of its moniker returning an average fuel economy figure of almost 40mpg.
The interior is a pleasant place to be thanks mainly to excellent seats covered in suede-effect upholstery that offer more support than the 'Barmy Army' at an England cricket match.
Headroom is good but legroom is a little tight for adults in the back where a third passenger would also involve a bit of a squeeze.
There's not much in the way of cubby hole space, perhaps not surprising given the car's sporty, rather than family orientation, although natty pop out door pockets up front ensure that valuables can be stored out of sight from prying eyes.
I like the provision of courtesy lights for reading in the front and back and the drop down hooks for hanging jackets in the rear. Still they say small things...
Thankfully there's a clutch foot rest which - together with the eight-way electrically adjustable driver's seat featuring memory settings that include steering wheel and door mirrors - mean that a decent perch behind the wheel is relatively easy to achieve.
All the controls are where you expect them to be with a touch-screen monitor keeping the plethora of buttons and switches to a minimum.
Equipment levels are good on the Sport trim as a 13-speaker audio system with six-CD autochanger, dual zone climate control, heated seats, keyless entry, cruise control and power steering are just some of the goodies fitted.
The Germans have dominated the compact executive class - but with models like the IS220d Sport, Lexus will give them a run for their money.
FAST FACTS
Lexus IS 220d Sport 4dr
Price: £27,447
Mechanical: 175bhp, 2,231cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving rear wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 134mph
0-62mph: 8.9 secs
Combined mpg: 38.2
Insurance group: 13
CO2 emissions: 195g/km
BiK rating: 29%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust