What does it cost?
For The IS 250C has a refined and bluster-free cabin, and you get loads of luxury kit as standard. There’s space for four and the boot is huge in coupe mode.
Against Performance is uninspiring at best, and rivals are better to drive. Rear visibility is compromised when the roof is up, and the boot is small when it’s down. Fuel bills will be high, too.
What Car? says
The Lexus IS is a comfort-orientated coupe-cabriolet that’s refined and well equipped. However, the weak engine, mediocre handling and high running costs mean it doesn’t threaten the best.
What Car? readers say
4
There are 5 Lexus IS versions available
Buyer's notes
Target Price team says:
Every Lexus IS 250C comes with a 205bhp 2.5-litre petrol engine and a six-speed automatic gearbox, so the only decision you face is which spec to go for.
Lexus isn’t big on options – the only way to get most of the equipment that isn’t standard on the entry-level SE-I model is by upgrading to the range-topping SE-L. That said, you can buy a package that includes satellite-navigation, a reversing camera and Bluetooth connectivity.
SE-L cars get all of these items as standard; plus, they also bring rain-sensing wipers, Xenon headlights and heated and ventilated memory seats. Again, the options list is small – it features a superb 12-speaker Mark Levinson stereo, adaptive cruise control and a smart-card entry system.
However you spec your IS 250C, you can expect superb reliability and first-rate customer service. Lexus always rates among the best in the annual JD Power customer satisfaction survey.
Reader test team says:
Lexus IS Convertible 250C SE-I Nav 2dr
I agree the perceived wisdom regarding this car is not correct. Try one and you may be pleasantly surprised. My trade in was a Mercedes CLS which was…
4
out of 5 stars
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Our pick of the range
Lexus IS Convertible 250C SE-I 2dr
This entry-level model is also our favourite. It’s thousands of pounds cheaper than the car with SE-L spec, yet still comes loaded with lots of equipment.
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