2008 Lexus IS 250 Quality Review

TheCarConnection.com found that most reviewers are fans of the comfort and quality offered by the 2008 Lexus IS--except in the backseat.

Cars.com reports that the 2008 Lexus IS can carry up to five passengers in relative comfort. Ventilated seats and a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel make for greater driver comfort on longer trips. As The Auto Channel points out, "Since the [Lexus] IS wants to be a performance sedan, it has excellent front and rear seating...[offering] very good side support, to hold the driver and passenger in place if the driver gets too energetic." They do note, though, "rear legroom is tight." Edmunds similarly advises "adults or even large children may not be happy in the rear seat on long road trips." Headroom is also at a premium. The Orlando Sentinel expresses similar sentiments: it's "comfortable up front, a little cramped in the rear." Kelley Blue Book agrees with the other reviews on this issue: "Comfortable and supportive power front seats are a welcome home for those up to six feet tall, but modest head and leg room make the three-across fixed rear bench seat best suited for sub-adolescent passengers."

MyRide.com reports that storage space in the 2008 Lexus is at a premium, with a mere 13 cubic feet of cargo room. This is probably only because "the lid aids aerodynamics and also increases trunk room," as detailed by The Auto Channel.

Edmunds calls the interior materials "impressive," with "handsome design [and] impeccable fit and finish." In terms of what's new this year, "marginal improvements" for the 2008 Lexus include scooped-out front seatbacks. According to MyRide.com, "new [Lexus] IS takes the next step toward finishing the thought with touchy-feely surfaces, comfortable seats and--though the test vehicles were pre-production--a level of quality you would expect."

Regarding noise levels, ConsumerGuide reports "coarse-surface tire thrum is noticeable but not intrusive. Wind noise is modest. [The Lexus] IS 250's engine is louder than the IS 350's at high rpm, but both V6s are subdued and relaxed in highway cruising."