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2010 Lexus IS 250C Review

August 29, 2009

STYLING | 6 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

It looks to the untrained eyes like a sedan that has met a hacksaw
Car and Driver

You’ll recognize the C as a member of the IS family, yet every body panel save the hood is new
Motor Trend

Lexus’ usual large, legible gauges and handy, intuitive minor controls
ConsumerGuide

Like most vehicles in the Lexus lineup, the 2010 Lexus IS C range of convertibles is unremarkable in its execution. Its styling won’t inspire much emotion, but at least there will be few negative reactions to the look of the Lexus IS C.

The 2010 Lexus IS C is an “entry-level luxury convertible,” according to Autoblog, and it features what Lexus calls “the world’s fastest opening three-piece metal hardtop.” Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com contain muted reaction to the new 2010 Lexus IS C’s exterior appearance; Motor Trend says “you’ll recognize the C as a member of the IS family, yet every body panel save the hood is new.” Exterior styling elements on the Lexus IS 250C and 350C include “a rising belt line that leads back to an elongated rear decklid,” which Kelley Blue Book asserts “improves trunk space but results in a vehicle that is actually longer than its sedan counterpart.” Car and Driver reviewers observe that the 2010 Lexus IS C “varies not a nanometer from the established Lexus path,” as the overall look suggest a “sedan that has met the hacksaw.” Edmunds effectively summarizes reviewer sentiment regarding the Lexus IS C, noting “it’s attractive enough in an inoffensive way, but you wouldn’t say that it has any real strength of character.”

One of the more impressive interior elements of the 2010 Lexus IS 250C and 350C is the fact that, as Motor Trend says, “the headliner covers everything,” leaving “not a brace or strut visible inside” despite the mechanicals that underpin the folding hardtop. The layout of the Lexus IS C’s interior is “modern and attractive,” according to Kelley Blue Book, but “the instrument panel features many similarly colored shapes and controls,” which can cause some confusion. Edmunds chooses to ignore this minor flaw, instead describing the Lexus IS C’s interior as a “well-crafted cockpit.” The one flaw that does come up repeatedly in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com is the fact that some of the instruments can wash out in the sunlight, but overall the interior matches the exterior—pleasant, inoffensive, and largely unremarkable.

Conclusion

The 2010 Lexus IS C is neither stunning nor gorgeous—"understated" would be a better way to describe it.

STYLING | 6 out of 10Expert Quotes:It looks to the untrained eyes like a sedan that has met a hacksawCar and DriverYou’ll recognize the C as a member of the IS family, yet every body panel save the hood is newMotor TrendLexus’ usual large, legible gauges and handy, intuitive minor controlsConsumerGuide Like most vehicles in the Lexus lineup, the 2010 Lexus IS C range of convertibles is unremarkable in its execution. Its styling won’t inspire much emotion, but at least there will be few negative reactions to the look of the Lexus IS C. The 2010 Lexus IS C is an “entry-level luxury convertible,” according to Autoblog, and it features what Lexus calls “the world’s fastest opening three-piece metal hardtop.” Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com contain muted reaction to the new 2010 Lexus IS C’s exterior appearance; Motor Trend says “you’ll recognize the C as a member of the IS family, yet every body panel save the hood is new.” Exterior styling elements on the Lexus IS 250C and 350C include “a rising belt line that leads back to an elongated rear decklid,” which Kelley Blue Book asserts “improves trunk space but results in a vehicle that is actually longer than its sedan counterpart.” Car and Driver reviewers observe that the 2010 Lexus IS C “varies not a nanometer from the established Lexus path,” as the overall look suggest a “sedan that has met the hacksaw.” Edmunds effectively summarizes reviewer sentiment regarding the Lexus IS C, noting “it’s attractive enough in an inoffensive way, but you wouldn’t say that it has any real strength of character.” One of the more impressive interior elements of the 2010 Lexus IS 250C and 350C is the fact that, as Motor Trend says, “the headliner covers everything,” leaving “not a brace or strut visible inside” despite the mechanicals that underpin the folding hardtop. The layout of the Lexus IS C’s interior is “modern and attractive,” according to Kelley Blue Book, but “the instrument panel features many similarly colored shapes and controls,” which can cause some confusion. Edmunds chooses to ignore this minor flaw, instead describing the Lexus IS C’s interior as a “well-crafted cockpit.” The one flaw that does come up repeatedly in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com is the fact that some of the instruments can wash out in the sunlight, but overall the interior matches the exterior—pleasant, inoffensive, and largely unremarkable. ConclusionThe 2010 Lexus IS C is neither stunning nor gorgeous—"understated" would be a better way to describe it. 2010 LEXUS IS C STYLING | [6 out of 10] Car and Driver: “It looks to the untrained eyes like a sedan that has met a hacksaw” Motor Trend: “You’ll recognize the C as a member of the IS family, yet every body panel save the hood is new” ConsumerGuide: “Lexus’ usual large, legible gauges ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The new IS C isn’t the softest and most comfort-oriented vehicle, but it isn’t the most performance-focused either. In this pack of luxury-brand convertibles, the IS C has more of a performance edge than the Volvo C70; the front-wheel-drive Volvo has great seats and a roomy trunk, however. The Mercedes-Benz CLK feels heavier and more grown-up than the IS C, and it’s offered in a powerful V-8 CLK550 model, but even the base CLK350 is a lot more expensive than the Lexus, and it comes with a soft-top setup that’s not quite as isolated from the elements as the IS C’s tight top. The IS C’s most direct rival is probably the BMW 3-Series Convertible. The 2010 Lexus IS 250C just doesn’t keep up with the 328i Convertible, but compared to the 335i Convertible, the Lexus IS 350C is a sportier, more compelling alternative, priced at thousands less and with more usable backseat space; like the IS C, the Volvo and BMW come with a retractable hardtop. Two new rivals to be introduced this year will also be hot alternatives for open-air motoring: the Audi A5 and G37 Convertible. Audi sticks with a traditional soft top for the A5, but its interior is absolutely stunning. Meanwhile, the next G37 Convertible promises performance near the front of the pack; it also will get a retractable hardtop, done in steel rather than the IS C’s lighter-weight aluminum.

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See the Lexus IS 250C in Other Years:

2010

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