Used 2007 Lexus IS 250 Sedan Consumer Reviews

Better choice than BMW 328

Edmond's reviews and ratings convinced me to look into IS 250. Drove both BMW 328 and IS 250 and decided on IS 250. Much better value for the money. It was 10-15% lower cost, with more options. 328 did have more power, but something I rarely need. I've had it for 2 months now, and it's a fun car to drive.

Fun Ride

The car is fun to drive. Silky smooth engine. Acceleration is adequate and the car is a good daily driver. Nice stock audio system has iPod hook-up. AWD is yet to be tested in the real snow. Rear seats are extremely tight and are not suitable for adults. Seats do not fall down to expand the trunk, but do have an opening for long items in the middle. Paint scratches and dings easily – any minor road rock will break it to the primer. Overall I am happy with the car.

Love it, but could be better!

I have owned the IS 250 AWD going on a year now, and I still love driving this car!! Performance is great and I find that the AWD version handles very well, and living in CT, the car has done well in the snow! For the money the 250 has many luxurious features, but does have a some flaws! I had to have the car seviced twice to try and fix the popping noise from the dashboard and the rattle from the sunroof. Dealership was great and had a fix for both issues. The others would be the jumpy transmission at low speeds, first and second gear and the lack of room in the back seat. Overall, the IS 250 has delivered and I'm very happy!

1 year review of Lexus IS 250. B+

It's been a year now since I bought my IS 250 and while it doesn't blow me away, I really do like the car. I had a rattle problem with my dash - it came from the center speaker. The dealer ended up replacing my whole top dash and now it's much quieter, but I'm also getting those loud pops that others are getting. I find the ride very bumpy on bad LA freeways. The suspension seems way too tight. Had a BMW 328i before, and while this doesn't handle as well of course, it has more interior comforts. I still love the styling and get lots of great comments. Gas mileage is perhaps better than stated. On smooth roads, fun to drive. For the $, it's still hard to beat, but I was expecting more.

Awesome

I really like the ride. Reliability is really well and as a previous owner of a BMW I prefer a vehicle that is more reliable. Too many problems with BMW 328i. Great car in and out and the women love this car. Great nav, Bluetooth and rear camera is a must. Love the performance and the 1/2 second lag is not as bad as others say. Added a short air intake and feels more responsive. IS F-sport coming soon and looking forward to upgrading brakes all the way around. HID Xenon lights are wonderful and the ride is great and responsive. Again this is not a Cadillac it’s a sports car!

Mostly Wonderful

Everything about the car has been great. As a working artist I need a bit bigger trunk a few more pockets and another cup holder. The ride is really nice and comfortable. Really sticks to the road. Plenty of power to pass. The AWD makes it perfect for snow and ice.

Awesome

overall great car. The exterior of the car is sleek and sexy but not nearly as sleek as the interior. The interior is very comfortable and i love the touch screen/navigation, very user friendly. Only my second car, but I like how the seats are heated and cooled. The handling is also phenomenal, I can make turns at speeds and make tight U turns I never could have with a 5 series. So far I've gotten the car up to 130 mph and everything worked perfectly including the handling.

Way too much fun

The most fun car that I have ever owned. Few minor flaws such as extreme brake dust on front wheels, loud popping sound from dash. Overall a great little car. Wish it was a bit bigger on the inside. I have two small kids and even they are cramped in the back seat. Makes me feel young again! Head turner!!

2007 Lexus IS 250

I was hesitant about this car after owning an SUV; it was rather small, but once I began driving it I loved it. I was also skeptical since my last luxury car was a BMW 5-series, but this car handles even better than my 528 and just a smooth a ride. It's been less than a month but so far so good. It looks great and definitely turns heads.

Beautiful headache

Car is awesome had lots of recalls and my odometer had misreadings which ultimately lead to the demise of our relationship. Protect my car is not a high value company and Omega and Vanguard sold me a contract that was not honored. Transmission has failed. Navigation system is ridiculously overpriced. Purchased the car cash 3 months ago, placed an extended warranty on the car and, I’m extremely unhappy! But overall the car is cool. Just poorly taken care of.

2007 Lexus IS250

Really this is a great car. I have never owned a Toyota or Lexus but it is really a great car. We bought this car with 44,000 miles on it and Lexus has taken care of all of our concerns to this point. They replaced the tires, battery, full brake job and vanity. Drove a 900 mile plus road trip at an average of 81 and got 28.2 mpg. There is no sound in the cabin except the engine when you unleash the little monster within. The G35 exhaust was annoying after a while and we definitely enjoy the comfort and class our RWD IS250 brings. We will always own a Lexus because of how much we have enjoyed our first so far.

Is this a Lexus? Rattles and Lumpy Seat

Overall, car has been great, but I am concerned over the interior quality of the plastic and seats. Lots of rattles coming from the dash area around the navi and entire dash. Have been to several dealers to fix the squeaking, and one dealer lifted off the entire dash and reset. Now the rattles are even worse. The front seat has developed a large lump where the fan unit is located, so sitting is very uncomfortable to say the least. I am really shocked over all the issues with a $40K car, and to make matters worse, Lexus Corporate has not responded to my concerns, and the dealer has stated "this is the best we can do." I hope they will resolve, but I am doubtful now.

Love my Lexus

This is my first Lexus and what an impression it has made on me and everyone who has driven in it with me. Gorgeous car inside and out, a very smooth ride and gets a lot of looks. Lots of great standard features (keyless entry, leather seats, moonroof, auxilary port for iPod, etc.). As expected, the obisidian black exterior is difficult to keep clean but there's nothing like it after a wash and wax. If you want something lower-maintenance in that area, go for the Tungsten Pearl or Starfire Pearl. (This car looks hot in any color.) I opted for the 250 over the 350 for better gas mileage. Test drove the 350, though, and what a fun ride!

A fun smooth sporty new classic car

Switched from driving an A4 Quattro to this fun car. Love the drive, love the ride it is so smooth. The only down side is the navigation system cannot be controlled while in motion - most annoying if you have a passenger who can use it while you drive! It also lacks the abilty to announce street names like some stand alone units. The other down side is the rear seat does not fold down. The car is without doubt in a class of its own despite these minor anoyances. The finish is excellent and the attention to detail is fantastic. This car is loaded and drives like a dream. Try one and see!

Feels much more expensive

This is my 2nd IS (had '03 IS 300) and I love it even more than my old one. The new IS feels much, much more expensive than my last one, and definitely more luxurious than other cars in its class. I think the car is gorgeous, and it stands out from all the boring cars on the road. I got mine a week ago in silver w/ black interior, and have already recieved so many compliments on the car. I especially love driving the car at night with the HID headlights and the Optitron gauges glowing that cool blue color. Lexus really went to bat with this one, and I couldn't be more pleased. If I had more money, I would've sprung for the 350, but I can't say that I'm really missing the extra horsepower :)

Love my IS

Totally fun ride with awesome factory sound system. Previously drove an 03 Celica that I loved and was hard to get rid of but, this car is like the Luxury Celica (Handling and reliability if the Celica with a little more room and luxury) and I love it!!

2007 Lexus IS 250

This is by far the best car I have ever own or driven. IS stands for Intellegent Sport. And that is exactly what this car is. It is the most sophisticated sport car out there for under $35K. Also, IS has the highest safety rating of its class. That data was provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If you just want a car for how it handles and speed, then I recommend the IS 350 or BMW 330 (for $40K+). But If you like all the options and great gas mileage (32 hwy mpg), then this car is you.

Incredibly fun ride!!

Just purchased my Starfire Pearl in early March 2007 and it is beautiful. From the sleek lines down to the posh interior - as nice as my husband's GS 300!! The nav system is a nice touch and the rear backup camera is a must have as this vehicle does have some blind spots. The ride is smooth for a sports car and I felt the car abolutely gildes on the highway. It gets lots of second looks as the front end has such a presence as it approaches. The sound system is excellent - I love the iPod hook up. I have noticed the brake dust on the front wheels will be a continuous cleaning process but it is well worth it as this sports car is all luxury and pizazz!! Love it!

LEXUS IS 250 AWD 2007

This car is very nice, however, The interior is very cramped, the reason being the car was built very narrow, the same issue with the GS, although the GS has more head room than the IS. If you're driving alone the car's feel is a little better, but for the most part it's very cramped inside, the interior is built very solid, but there was rattling in the dash that was eventually fixed by the dealer. The front rims are always extremely dirty faulty break pad design? Not sure. Handling around tight corners is OK but not great.

Way below expectations

This car has single handedly deteriorated my impression of Lexus quality. My car has 1800 miles and has had to have the brake pads replaced due to excessive/constant squeeling after normal, flat terrain driving. The front dash has an irritating popping noise constantly that sounds like expansion which I'm told is normal and to simply accept it and we had to bring it in twice to try to find/address a rattling noise in the front driver dash. While the service dept is great - wouldn't it be better if I didn't have to go in unnecessarily to begin with? Very disappointed -- will likely not buy a Lexus again.

Great & Cool Vehicle

Astonishing outside design, I personally think it was most beautiful car in the same class, no doubt with the car quality, and yes, this it my ever perfect & accurate choice for choosing this car, I'm totally satisfied!

Fun to drive, that's all

My lease is expiring on my car and I'm glad it's not mine to keep. Fun car to drive, that's as much as I will give it. Extremely poor paint job, chips galore, more than normal 'wear'. Cramped and small inside. Noisiest car I've ever driven-terrible dash noises always an issue along with the sun roof. Interior console 'silver' is peeling off. I feel you're just paying for a 'name'. Btw, I drove a loaner about 2 years ago and the pedal stuck. (I just put it in n and messed with it). When I returned it, they blew me off. Just 2 mos. Ago I talked with them about the gas pedal issue and was told that Lexus doesn't have a problem with that. I just go my recall notice last week for that issue

IS 250

Love the car, no question this was the better choice than the 3 Series. All I had to do was sit in the plush ventilated seats and I was sold. Performance is on par with the BMW with comparable features.

Sensor lights always on

Vsc, check engine, traction, low tire pressure light are always on. 2 weeks after I purchased the car the traction light came on. I fought with dealership to replace it. After a long battle they replaced a tire sensor. I hit a pot hole and all lights came on. Dealership says there is no connection. I've never had this many problems with car. Checked in with another mechanic they said they can't determine why lights are on. Also trim on roof is peaking off.

First (and probably last) Lexus

I shopped the IS with the A4 and the 3 Series. Didn't like the way both Germans' headrests actually touched back of my head in normal driving position. The Lexus trunk was wider, better able to take 2 golf bags. I really like the styling of the IS. The build quality is good but not great. My car did have the center dash/nav rattles that others complained of but my local dealer seemed to fix it. I am disappointed with the way the car drives. Mine has sport susp. and tires. Handling is great but the ride is too harsh. Sport tires VERY road-noisy. The steering is the major flaw. Very fast and tight, but no road feel or feedback. It feels "sticky" and "dead." Very strange. Brakes grabby.

Luxury Car

I have the car for 2 weeks and I love it. The navigation system with bluetooth is a must it makes driving so much fun and I live in Los Angeles were I get the worst traffic. I got the 250 for gas mileage not power, but if you're not worried about saving in gas you should definitely go IS 350, it's worth all your dollars. The seats are very comfortable and my passengers are very happy. Some people suggested more rear seat room, but this is a sporty sedan and if you need tons of space in the back then get ES.

Terrific ride. Great car.

Having just purchased this automobile, I am extremely satisfied. The ride is beautiful, the car turns "on a dime", the seats are extremely comfortable (even the rear seats are fine, given the size of the car). It is so quiet, so easy to drive and such a delight to own. There is nothing like a Lexus!

Impressed

At first I was going to buy a suv then I saw the IS 250 next to the suv I was about to test drive, changed my mind when I found out the car had awd. We went for a ride and it drove better than my bmw 325i, so I bought it and will never buy anything but a lexus again. Coolest feature is the navigation/audio system. Practical with awd and don't think because it has the smaller of the two engines that it is slow, this car will go!

Luvn-it

I own an IS 250 with some extras. I got the larger wheels and the upgraded interior but without the nav (I know my way around town, thank you very much). I get more looks in this car that my buddy in a Porsche. This is a truly beautiful car and it has top notch quality. Power, luxury, style and name brand all in a great price range with everything! You cannot beat this with a stick. This kills the BMW 3, Infiniti M3 and the Audi A4. I drove them all and this car was hands above them all in nearly all aspects. Great job on the IS Lexus guys!

The Car to Have

I traded in a 2003 Infiniti G35 and was kinda of sick at first but as I drove the 250 even more it was awesome. The only gripes I have had about it is they have 18 inch low profile tires on them and after 15000 miles I had to have a new set of tires. They should have gotten at least 30000 miles before a new set, and the brake dust on the front is horrible. It needs a little more room in the back seat. I have owned BMW, Infiniti, Acura, Maxima and Hondas. This is one of the best driving cars I have ever drove. Very tight steeringm can hang a curve and has a lot of get up and go too. I have 3 speeding tickets to prove it!

Looks good on outside, tiny on inside

Bought my IS 250 because of great exterior looks, although it is starting to look a lot like a 4 door Scion to me now. Inside has tighter width than other cars in its price range, and there is not much leg room in the back, especially with the drivetrain hump. There's only a single cup holder on console, and it is only large enough for a dixie cup. No place to put wallet or BlackBerry either. Why have an ash tray -- no one would want to ruin the interior with cigarette smoke! Brake dust is more than an annoyance, impossible to keep wheels clean! Underpowered. Honeymoon over. My lust for exterior went away when I sat inside and could only see flaws. I will be trading this car in soon.

Nice Wheels

Interior is seamless in functionality. Nav system is hi tech, but easy to use with some experience, blue tooth phone and voice commands to climate controls, audio system and nav makes this just pure fun! Almost forgot. It is a fun ride too, the 250 has enough juice, and while only 3 weeks old, is getting 30 MPG. More bang for the buck than the TL or the A4, and oh yes... a 3 series!

Best car ever!!!

Wow my IS really rocks

I have owned my IS 250 AWD for about a month now. I thought I was compromising on performance when I made the practical move to go with the AWD of the 250 instead of the 350. I have not been disappointed in my decision at all. The 250 has ample get up and go, with great gas mileage. The handling is great as well, not to mention all of the cool gadgets and sound system. I've been throughly pleased everytime I get behind the wheel.

Love it!

I have had my Lexus for a little over a year now and I still love it! It is beautiful, extremely comfortable, and so fun to drive! My fiance is currently looking for a new car and loves driving mine so much he wants to get one for himself.

Love this car!!

I've owned this car for over 4 months and love it! Don't buy this car if you need rear passenger space. This car is comfortable for driver and one passenger only. It has performance brake pads which make the brakes a little jumpy.

Superlative!

Looked at the BMW and Audi and made the only decision after driving all. The Lexus is not only better equipped, it's a luxury car in all aspects. The fact that it is backed by Japanese reliability and build quality nailed the South African BMW out of the equation; particularly as I am extremely fussy about my build quality. That left the A4, which is also a superbly built car, but after driving all three and in particular drive both and I was left with no doubt the Lexus is superlative! I should say Germans be very scared... but it's obvious the horse has already bolted!

My 2007 Lexus IS

I have had this vehicle a little over two weeks now and I absolutely love it. So far I haven't had any major problems with it (but it does gather a lot of brake dust). Other than that, I just enjoy everything about it. The ride is smooth and the interior is super quiet, you can hardly hear anything from the outside. Great vehicle overall.

Nothing but problems

Well, I'm not satisfied at all. I bought a 2007 Lexus IS 18 months ago, and I took a chance on this because there is no local dealer (I live 2hrs away). Unfortunately, I've had nothing but problems with it. I've gone through 4 tires, breaks and a factory recall on the exhaust system, in that time. I've been to Springfield twice and to the Toyota dealership 5 times now. I bought a car almost brand new, I shouldn't had to bring it in. I brought my car in last week to get the breaks looked at the local Toyota place, and the rep told me I had another bad tire (#4), so I called Lexus and told them. When I purchased the car I got the tire warranty but they said they wouldn't pay for the tire...

Best sports sedan!

I searched for months for the perfect car. I wanted a small, good looking, luxury sports car that was safe, reliable, decent gas mileage, and had a good smooth drive. I am so happy with this car. The Lexus definitely drives the best of all cars I have owned (including Mercedes and BMW).

Amazing Car for the Price

I just purchased the IS 250 and all I can say is I love it. I was used to more horsepower (owned a 2005 Maxima) and thought I would miss it, but the ride in the IS 250 is so luxurious it makes up for it! The body style is beautiful and interior is equally as stylish. Best car in its class.

A sedan for coupe lovers

Purchased this vehicle about a month ago and couldn't be happier. Had been driving a 2007 Honda CRV, test drove a few Lexus models and decided I could not go back to my Honda. You don't even notice the so called lack of horsepower and adults can sit comfortably in the back seat.

Quality, Sporty, Fun

This car has been built with better materials and quality control than I have ever seen in a vehicle. Everything is tight, everything is quality. Even the paint is flawless. Great handling. I love the car.

Overall, I like the IS 250 AWD

For a 6 cyl car, gas mileage is terrific. Very comfortable, especially the adjustable heated and cooled seats. I don't drink coffee in the car, so cup holders are not an issue, however I definitely would like to see a decent coin holder. My IS 250 now has 12,000 miles on it and the dash sounds like it is going to fall off in my lap. The squeaks and rattles in the dash are very, very annoying and not expected in a vehicle of this supposed quality. Overall, I do like the car, however I don't expect that I will keep it the 3 years I initially thought I would when I bought it.

IS250

After 6 months still love the car!

A Great Car

In the market for a entry level performance car. Close call between the Lexus IS 250 and the BMW 328i. Quality and value finally convinced me to go with the Lexus. It has been a fun experience so far.

Great little car

My wife chose this car but I find myself driving it every chance I get. This is the first car I own that I plan to keep for as long as I drive. Fit & finish are excellent - features and conveniences are very well thought out. Handling is sharp and precise. Suspension lets you feel the road but the cabin is ultra quiet. It truly is the best of both worlds.

Great ride

Just got the car a couple of days ago and already love it. It's got enough power and with AWD it really hugs the road. Got the lux pack and nav sys and the bluetooth works great with my cell phone.

Bargain price, top quality

I've owned my IS 250 for 3 months and now really appreciate its qualities. Thought the car a little boring at first, especially compared to my wife's BMW 325 convertible. No doubt, the 325 is more responsive in all respects, but especially the steering response. The IS 250 is way too light and can be a little difficult on all but the smoothest of surfaces. As far as everything else is concerned, it's no contest. Gas mileage on the Lexus is far superior (a recent 700 mile round trip from Sarasota to Key West resulted in 35.5 mpg). The overall mpg over 2200 miles of ownership is 30.5 mpg. The IS 250 has the looks to turn heads.

Flippin' Sweet Ride

Bold. People can't take their eyes off of it. Awesome car. Great interior; nav is a must... gas mileage is solid.