2014 Lexus IS 250 C Review
2014 Lexus IS 250 C Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- High-quality interior
- smooth ride quality
- all-weather hardtop
- golfer-friendly trunk.
Cons
- Extremely limited trunk space with the top down
- cramped backseat
- poor rear visibility
- sluggish acceleration.
What’s new
Apart from revised metallic interior trim in the F Sport option package, the 2014 Lexus IS 250 C is unchanged.
Edmunds says
The 2014 Lexus IS 250 C delivers high levels of comfort and refinement in a four-seat hardtop convertible, but not without a few compromises.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2014 Lexus IS 250 C 2dr Convertible (2.5L 6cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.03 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota
$201/mo for IS 250 C Base
IS 250 C Base
vs
$167/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
Daydreams about convertibles often involve a drive to the beach along a sunny road lined with palm trees and your companion's hair blowing freely in the wind. In the 2014 Lexus IS 250 C, you can experience all of this from the comfort of a luxurious cockpit. And on those days when weather conditions are at odds with your dreams, you can raise this four-seat convertible's hardtop roof and essentially transform the IS 250 C into a coupe.
Said hardtop makes for quiet and comfortable motoring 365 days a year in the Lexus IS 250 C. And when you arrive at that picturesque coastal highway, the retractable roof only takes about 20 seconds to stow. In true Lexus fashion, the IS 250 C gives the impression that it was assembled with care and precision, and it comes with more standard features than other luxury-brand convertibles in this price range.
Not all is perfect, though. The standard 2.5-liter V6 engine offers enough power to get the Lexus IS 250 C around town respectably, but it doesn't provide much excitement. The more potent V6 in the IS 350 C (reviewed separately) solves this problem but of course costs more. Similarly, the car's handling isn't especially sporty, though the available F Sport suspension and tire upgrades help sharpen its reflexes. Additionally, you'll find that the 2014 IS 250 C isn't ideal for road trips due to its very snug rear seats and serious lack of trunk space when the roof is lowered (although you can still fit a set of golf clubs).
Although the Lexus is one of only a few entry-level, four-seat luxury convertibles available for 2014, there are a few good rivals to consider. The new BMW 4 Series convertible is one of our favorites thanks to its impressive performance and roomier rear seat. The Audi A5 also has a larger trunk and backseat and available all-wheel drive to get you through snowy winters. Another option is the slightly less expensive Volkswagen Eos. It's not as luxurious as the Lexus, but it's significantly quicker and comes with a nice array of high-end features. That said, if carefree top-down driving is your main mission in buying a premium convertible, the 2014 Lexus IS 250 C is certainly worth a look.
Performance & mpg
The 2014 Lexus IS 250 C comes with a 2.5-liter V6 engine that produces 204 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission that allows for manual shift control.
Lexus estimates that the IS 250 C will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. The EPA estimates that the IS 250 will get 24 mpg combined (21 mpg city/30 mpg highway).
Safety
The IS 250 C comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, front-seat side curtain airbags, front-seat knee airbags and Lexus Safety Connect emergency telematics.
Included with the optional adaptive cruise control is a forward collision warning/preparation system, which can snug up the front seatbelts and activate brake assist immediately when the driver presses the brake pedal if an impending collision is detected. Parking sensors and a rearview camera are also optional.
In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, the IS 250 C earned the highest possible rating of "Good" in the moderate-overlap frontal-offset and side-impact tests.
Driving
Whether you're cruising along cocooned with the roof up or enjoying a little al fresco motoring with it down, the 2014 Lexus IS 250 C's stiff body structure and supple suspension tuning make for a solid, smooth ride, even over rough roads. Handling and steering feel are fine for casual drives, but the optional F Sport performance equipment is worth considering if you want the car to have a more sporting driving character.
The 2.5-liter V6 engine provides acceptable acceleration for daily driving, but nothing more. Buyers looking for more excitement from under the hood should move up to the considerably more powerful IS 350 C.
Interior
The cabin of the 2014 Lexus IS 250 C is a stylish place done up in quality materials, especially in models decked out with the available Luxury package's premium leather and wood trim. Gauges and controls are clear and intuitive, though navigation-equipped models make it a little harder to get at touchscreen-controlled audio and climate functions while the nav system is in use. This nav system's smartphone integration features include Internet radio stations like Pandora and iHeart radio, as well as Yelp reviews for restaurants.
While the IS 250 C's front seats offer good comfort, the two-passenger backseat is a tight fit for all but the smallest kids. Trunk space is limited as well; there's a passable 10.8 cubic feet of cargo room, but it drops to just 2.4 cubic feet with the roof down. Oddly enough, it's still possible to squeeze in a golf bag with the top dropped.
2014 Lexus IS 250 C models
The four-passenger 2014 Lexus IS 250 C is a luxury convertible with a retractable hardtop that's offered in a single well-equipped trim level. There is also an IS 350 C convertible with a larger engine and a few additional features, which is reviewed separately.
Standard equipment on the IS 250 C includes 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, heated mirrors, keyless entry/ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, eight-way power front seats (with two-way lumbar control), a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Also standard are the Safety Connect telematics system, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and an eight-speaker audio system with a six-CD changer, satellite radio, auxiliary audio input jack and iPod/USB interface.
The optional Luxury package includes bi-xenon headlights, rain-sensing wipers, upgraded perforated leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, genuine wood trim and driver memory settings. The Navigation package adds a navigation system, a rearview camera, Bluetooth automatic phonebook downloading, voice commands, HD radio and Lexus Enform enhanced telematics features (which include functions like emergency roadside assistance and smartphone app integration). A 12-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system can be added to the navigation system.
Other options include parking sensors and adaptive cruise control bundled with a frontal collision warning system. A variety of F Sport option packages are also available. In them, you'll find engine, suspension and brake performance parts; 18-inch alloy wheels with summer performance tires; and upgraded interior trim and amenities.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2014 Lexus IS 250 C.
5 star(82%)
4 star(12%)
3 star(2%)
2 star(4%)
1 star(0%)
40 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Sexy yet reliable; still in LOVE
AB, 03/02/2019
2010 Lexus IS 250 C 2dr Convertible (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
This was my splurge purchase. I wanted the SC and I LOVE the smooth luxurious ride of that car...but it's a true two seater. When lexus came out with a true 4 seater convertable, I knew I had to have it! This is my summer car truthfully as the visibility and handling in the persistently wet and gray PNW makes me hesitant to use it in the winter when the days are short and the … constantly gray and stormy. It's got a tall rear end and the backup camera is essential for me. Im 5'4" and the front seats are plenty comfortable. I fit in the back just fine as well, but there's no pretending its comfortable back there. My husband is 6'2" and fits well in the front and finds it a comfortable ride. He does fit in the back, but not well. My absolute favorite thing about this car is the wind screen that prevents almost all wind in the cabin when the top is down and windows rolled up. Buy this extra accessory; it's WORTH it! It's very quiet with the top down, even on the freeway. I can talk on the phone with the top down on the freeway with no problem. I STILL love this car, even after all these years. Im still excited tho drive it!
5 out of 5 stars
STILL- BEST Hardtop Convertible for the $!
Steve, 08/19/2015
2013 Lexus IS 250 C 2dr Convertible (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
UPDATE: 2/21/21- 96,000 miles. Still the most reliable car I’ve owned. The TPMS tire monitor batteries all died. Unfortunately to get the ‘low tire icon’ off, you have to dismount every tire, replace the TPMS monitor, mount and rebalance the tire, then finally reprogram one of the cars computers to fix it correctly. That was a $350 cost. A lot of $ for the problem but $1,000 less than … having the dealership do it! Other than that the car has been flawless!
My wife and I just turned 78,000 miles. You want great looks? You want great handling? You want great reliability? It's a beautiful automobile!
Well trimmed inside. Quality all the way. Rides very solid with no 'shakes', no jitters, no rattles!
Great gas mileage...and a fun car to drive!
Only have had to do regular maintenance...just put brake pads on all around.
I looked at and test drove all of the competitors that produced brand new hardtop convertibles...this was the overall best!...do the same and see if you disagree.
Mercedes, Infiniti, BMW, Volvo, (Chrysler-was not even worth what you would pay for it is REAL CHEAP), were all compared...(Mazda & Mini-Copper-too small, VW & Jaguar-no hardtop at that time).
4.63 out of 5 stars
So Far So Good
1st Lexus, 07/07/2009
2010 Lexus IS 250 C 2dr Convertible (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
I am a convertible guy, having owned 4 Z4's, an Audi A4 and a BMW 128. I was hesitant to purchase a hardtop, but ever since I saw this one at a DC Auto Show, I was hooked. Had to drive 100 miles to get it, but it is everything I've hoped it would be. Quiet as can be inside with the top up, great gas mileage, fantastic "goodies" including sat radio, cooled and heated seats, Xenons, … starting and locking/unlocking the car without using the key. I will say this ride is much more calm than the German cars, but I was having terrible electrical issues with the German cars and I feel the Lexus will last longer. If you need lots of pick-up, go with the 350. I have gotten about 28mpg so far w/250.
4.5 out of 5 stars
It was on my bucket list
cantbackup, 06/09/2012
2010 Lexus IS 250 C 2dr Convertible (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
And it was worth waiting for.
I went through the years of soccer mom vans and cars that matched my sensible shoes.
Nevertheless, I revel in the sensibility of this car, nevermind the epa rating of the gas mileage.
This does much better.
I am getting 32 mpg.
When I spend more time in town, that compromises into the high 20s.
The wind does not whip me around, the windshield is a great … design.
You can carry on a conversation, even in highway driving.
I am sorry I did not get the rear view camera as the backup view with the top up is compromised.
This car is gorgeous, smooth driving, steering, and more.
The back seat is tight and the front seat is not as comfy as the bigger sedans.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2014 Lexus IS 250 C, so we've included reviews for other years of the IS 250 C since its last redesign.
2014 IS 250 C Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $42,860 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 24 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $201/month |
Seating | 4 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 10.8 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the IS 250 C include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
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