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Lexus IS Saloon 250 2.5 SE-L (Multimedia) Auto 4dr

For The 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine pulls cleanly from low revs and is punchy enough. It's refined, too, and on this model, comes with an automatic gearbox, which improves economy and emissions.

Against You have to work the engine hard to extract maximum performance, and given that the basic car is so well equipped, it's debatable whether you need to spend the extra on this model

What Car? says

3 out of 5 stars

This is the best engine to have in the IS, but we reckon the basic (and cheaper) SE-trimmed version gives you everything you need

Key facts

0–60mph: 8.4 secs
Top speed: 141 mph
Average mpg: 31
Tank range: 443 miles

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Features

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Size

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View the whole Lexus IS Saloon range

Cheaper

Saloon 220d 2.2 SE 4dr
£24,350
Saloon 250 2.5 SE 4dr
£24,625
Saloon 220d 2.2 SE-I 4dr
£26,610
Saloon 220d 2.2 SE (Navigation) 4dr
£26,700
Saloon 250 2.5 SE-I 4dr
£26,885
Saloon 250 2.5 SE (Navigation) 4dr
£26,975
Saloon 220d 2.2 F-Sport 4dr
£28,290
Saloon 220d 2.2 SE-I (Navigation) 4dr
£28,960
Saloon 220d 2.2 SE-L 4dr
£29,075
Saloon 250 2.5 SE-I (Navigation) 4dr
£29,235
Saloon 250 2.5 F-Sport Auto 4dr
£29,365
Saloon 250 2.5 SE-L Auto 4dr
£30,150
Saloon 220d 2.2 F-Sport (Multimedia) 4dr
£31,410
Saloon 220d 2.2 SE-L (Multimedia) 4dr
£32,195
Saloon 250 2.5 F-Sport (Multimedia) 4dr
£32,485
Saloon 250 2.5 SE-L (Multimedia) Auto 4dr
£33,270
Saloon 5.0 V8 F (LSD) 4dr
£55,995
Saloon 5.0 V8 F (LSD) (Sunroof) 4dr
£56,995

More expensive

Saloon 220d 2.2 SE 4dr
£24,350
Saloon 250 2.5 SE 4dr
£24,625
Saloon 220d 2.2 SE-I 4dr
£26,610
Saloon 220d 2.2 SE (Navigation) 4dr
£26,700
Saloon 250 2.5 SE-I 4dr
£26,885
Saloon 250 2.5 SE (Navigation) 4dr
£26,975
Saloon 220d 2.2 F-Sport 4dr
£28,290
Saloon 220d 2.2 SE-I (Navigation) 4dr
£28,960
Saloon 220d 2.2 SE-L 4dr
£29,075
Saloon 250 2.5 SE-I (Navigation) 4dr
£29,235
Saloon 250 2.5 F-Sport Auto 4dr
£29,365
Saloon 250 2.5 SE-L Auto 4dr
£30,150
Saloon 220d 2.2 F-Sport (Multimedia) 4dr
£31,410
Saloon 220d 2.2 SE-L (Multimedia) 4dr
£32,195
Saloon 250 2.5 F-Sport (Multimedia) 4dr
£32,485
Saloon 250 2.5 SE-L (Multimedia) Auto 4dr
£33,270
Saloon 5.0 V8 F (LSD) 4dr
£55,995
Saloon 5.0 V8 F (LSD) (Sunroof) 4dr
£56,995

The Lexus IS Saloon full review Read in full

Performance
3 out of 5 stars
The diesel’s gearing is too high
Ride & Handling
3 out of 5 stars
Spoiled by unsettled ride
Refinement
3 out of 5 stars
Too much road noise
Buying & Owning
3 out of 5 stars
High company car tax
Quality & Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Should be trouble-free
Safety & Security
5 out of 5 stars
Everything you'd expect
Behind The Wheel
4 out of 5 stars
Logical controls; good adjustment
Space & Practicality
2 out of 5 stars
Cramped rear - small boot
Equipment
4 out of 5 stars
Lots of toys as standard

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Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

You might expect us to recommend the diesel version of a car like the IS – especially when it costs less than the petrol version, is more economical and has lower emissions – but its drawbacks in terms of refinement and driveability are so major that we think the petrol engine is the best choice.

Otherwise, there's much to recommend about the IS as a car and Lexus as a company. There's a five-star Euro NCAP rating, for example, and the promise of superb reliability and excellent customer service. Lexus has only ever finished in first place in the annual JD Power customer satisfaction survey. To cap it all, any IS is generally better equipped than the equivalent model from its German rivals.