Used 2009 Lexus IS 250 Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2009 IS 250, so we've included reviews for other years of the IS 250 since its last redesign.
Very pleased with this car
johnc, 10/16/2010
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
22 of 22 people found this review helpful
I've had the IS250 for 2 months now and it's everything I'd hoped. Great looks, terrific fit and finish on the interior--which sold me over the BMW 3 and even the Audi A4. As others have noted, the ride's not as sporty as some others but I'm not on twisting turning road all that much anyway, whereas the comfort and style are always noted and appreciated. This is my 3rd Lexus (RX & GS) and have loved them all.
Perfect Marriage of Luxury and Sport
Birdman46077, 05/10/2008
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
32 of 33 people found this review helpful
Full disclosure: I am an engineer with 20+ years of quality experience, so I am very picky. This car is the perfect marriage of luxury and sports car. The build quality is very apparent, both inside and out. It is extremely quiet and smooth, although the suspension is a tad stiff on rougher roads. The paint is absolutely beautiful. Picking a color is the toughest decision, once you decide to buy. The engine will not impress true sports car enthusiasts, but I think Lexus hit the nail on the head by combining "very good" performance with "great" gas mileage. I'm getting 28 MPG consistently.
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Just gas and oil
Justin Wasserman, 07/21/2016
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
19 of 19 people found this review helpful
I've owned by IS 250 for 8 years now and I have literally only put gas and oil in it. Nothing has gone wrong. I do the various required maintenance (at 30K miles, and so on), but it's been a great car. The dealer just wrote me a letter asking if he could buy it back and I honestly can't come close to being able to replace the car with something half as nice for the same price. It's a keeper.
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Best car I have ever owned
tony3434, 05/27/2014
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
36 of 38 people found this review helpful
My 5th car. This one has been by far the most reliable and pleasant to drive. Not one single issue. I wish the seats folded and that it had Bluetooth. Everything about this vehicle is solid. Tire issue but that can be avoided. Factory alignment will make the insides of your tires wear in half the time but there are shops out there that will align it so the wheels are not angled out as much. I average 27 mpg. Max has been 29mpg. If you really tone it down, 31 mpg hw. These figures are obtained by resetting the trip odometer and then dividing the number of gal it took to refill. I am not that tall so the car fits me great. 5 people in the car is a squeeze but not that bad.
2018 REVIEW- STILL the best car ever!
Eric Rayel, 07/02/2017
updated 07/06/2021
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
24 of 25 people found this review helpful
This particular year (2009) of the IS250 is stellar. All we can say is it still looks great, handles great in all weather and we have have zero issues with it. We have always maintained it at a Lexus dealership so that helps. Drove it 1,000 miles cross country and then had it shipped to my son- STILL no issues other than maintenance. Bought another Lexus, this time NXT200 and have been very happy with it.
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Great mid-size sport sedan
jlandry, 11/10/2009
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
I chose the IS250 over BMW 3 series and Audi due to superior interior fit and trim. Lexus interior finish is by far higher end than BMW finish at a more affordable price point. Obviously the 250 could use some more power, but you can get that in 350 and the 250 gets great mpg. Combined hwy and cty mileage averages about 26mpg. I get 31mpg on hwy. The audio and nav system is superb. One drawback is not being able to program the nav system while the vehicle is moving. Bluetooth is clear. Dashboard instrumentation layout is very sporty and provides quick reference for temp, tire pressure, mpg and distance to empty. Paddle shifters are nice touch and add some sportiness to daily drive.
!Best Damn Car Ever!
Dominic Martinez, 08/20/2020
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
I’ll just start this off with I live in Colorado. In my time so far with it I’ve put 7,000 miles on it. I’ve climbed the Monarch Pass in this vehicle (11,312 ft) 6% grades climbed and gone down. I’ve done phantom canyon road (4,000ft climb) also an all dirt road. I’ve gone off roading like literally massing holes in the ground uneven trails, horrible dips (did catch the bumper once was scary but no damage). I’ve driven it essentially across the entire state. This vehicle has excellent gas mileage my average is 30.1 MPG. It’s about $40 here to fill a tank (17.1 gallon tank $2.59 here). On the highway it’s even better I can get from Pueblo Colorado to Raton, NM and back for a half a tank (208 miles total). And a tip for owning this vehicle is I would go with the premium gas in this vehicle it actually makes a difference. In my 2012 Altima it didn’t, but in this car filling it with low grade he’s me a range of about 405 miles. Which is extremely high cause the car usually tops out around 380. I would recommend this car for really any type of driver it’s very easy to handle. Very reliable. An oil change costs me about $80 (synthetic) and last quiet a while. The only downside I would say this vehicle has is the headlights. They’re awesome they follow you with your turns and it’s really helpful and cool for effect however when they burn out it’ll be about $200 for those AFS headlights. But other than that I would say go for it it’s a great vehicle. And it has a Toyota engine so these things will go for miles.
2008 IS250 with manual transmission
ardinos, 10/27/2013
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6M)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
Very good torque throught the manual gears, especial 1 thru 4; holds turns very well; easy to handle/steer - good wheel feel; powerful breaking; and still quite, espec. when touring; AND signif. more power to the rear wheels than the automatic. But ... nothing like the MT in my 1994 Lexus ES300. I had many problems with IS manual trans. After buying IS250 as CPO with only 2k miles, all kinds of MT came up: the worst being the flywheel was warped and I could get the car to move away in 1st from a stop -smoothly and with no jerkiness. It was maddening; had to argue and convince Lexus to take it seriously. Finally, 13,000 mi later, they replaced flywheel, which showed hot spots throughout.
Fun commute
chastek, 11/21/2009
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
This car is my third Lexus. It has typical Lexus build quality, good exterior looks, and great brakes and handling. The car is a much more engaging drive than my ES, but not as demanding as a BMW 3. I'm averaging 27 MPG in mixed driving and thoroughly enjoy my commute now. It's quiet and comfortable, though the rear seats are just for show... no one over 12 will want to sit back there.
Best Car Ever!
jim, 05/18/2008
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
I have owned this car for a month and this is the best car I have ever owned. I have owned 40 cars in my life and have driven everything. This car is light years ahead of them all. I drive all over the country and experience all sorts of driving conditions and believe me, this is the car to drive. I would recommend this car to anyone who wants economy, luxury and sport wrapped in one package.
Great car
1HappyGuy, 02/18/2009
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6M)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
I was considering a BMW 328i which has a much sportier feel but when I compared the features of the IS 250 to BMW, Lexus proved to be a much better value. True, the IS isn't a BMW but the style, workmanship, navigation system and options are much better than what was available with BMW and I don't have to contend with the run flat tires that come standard with the 328i. Lexus tweaked the steering to the 2009 IS and this results in a much better drive. Keyless entry system and quiet interior are wonderful. People don't realize that I am driving when I call them using the Bluetooth feature. Get the iPod connection. It works wonderfully with the 13 speaker sound system which is very good.
Its a BLAST that will LAST.
Smokey, 12/20/2019
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
Bought this with 136,000 miles and it drives and rides perfect. Considering it was made with all the care and reputation that Lexus and Toyota have with cars lasting a LONG time, I expected it to not be beaten to death. Lucky that the seller was a Lexus mechanic and babied this thing for years. If you like to drive, you'll love this car. It is smallish compared to my old Audi S8, but I expected that. I don't need that big a car any longer and this little jewel fits the bill nicely. It is fun to drive, nimble and hugs the road nicely. Not as finicky as a German luxury car and it hasn't been in the repair shop as much as those either. I like that consideration! Nimble and quick, I would call the power plant peppy. I love the body styling and the interior is top notch. Mine came with the premium sound system and WOW! I am amazed that a car that is 11 years old is as quiet on the highway as this one is. At 70 mph you can whisper and your mate can hear you. I think I have found what I was looking for. The back seat is quite small, but I have a Highlander at home for traveling with more than 1 companion. This car is for ME to drive and I really enjoy it. Thanks Lexus. I think I'll do this again in the future!
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great Little Car
john591, 02/10/2010
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
24 of 27 people found this review helpful
Ownership experience has been positive. The car draws favorable reviews for its styling. The fit and finish are excellent. It is quiet and very solid feeling on the road. Only complaint is getting used to a limitation on driver visibility to the rear.
Best car I’ve ever owned
UberYo, 11/14/2019
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I have owned cadillacs, Lincoln, Chevy, Nissans and Chrysler cars and by far this is the best car I have ever owned. I bought it last December 2018, and it had 110k miles, I just hit 130k miles today as of 11/13/2019. I love the reliability this car offers and I love how it drives. It picks up when you need to plenty of power to get up the hills. I took it on a 800+ miles road trip and it is decent on gas. I love the HID headlamps with adaptive lights. The stereo is also great quality, good bass with speakers in every spot they could think of. Only thing i would like to change is the exhaust sound, I’d like it a little deeper where you can hear it purr. Definitely would recommend the Lexus IS250!
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Good all around
crackerfarmboy, 03/17/2011
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
14 of 16 people found this review helpful
I've been reading all these reviews complaining about the ride quality. That's due to the Potenzas from the factory. I replaced mine with Continental ExtremeContact DWS tires and the ride quality is 1000 times better. Also, buy a car with low profile tires, they WILL get damaged...on any car. This car is getting close to three years old and gets driven hard about 80 miles per day. It doesn't have a single rattle, squeak, or any other flaw. It has been perfect since day one. The engine definately needs more power. This car has decent power, but for the $42K that is costs, it should a lot more. The interior comfort and design are outstanding.
Good bang for the buck!
Wooping, 10/19/2009
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
I've put 9,000 miles on this IS250 Automatic. This is a pretty nice ride. Hard to believe it gets better mileage than a manual. Go figure.
IS250
canderson3, 03/06/2011
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
I have had this car for three years, and I love most everything about it. It's a great car, and I hope to drive it for a long time. My only complaint is the decreased visibility when backing up or changing lanes.
It ALMOST could
sig alph g, 02/19/2009
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
Coming out of a pickup I realized that it was going to be a small car. However, it rides like a true sport luxury car and with all the creature comforts, i.e., HID, temp seats, navi, etc. I feel it was a good purchase. The ride is a lot better (to me) than a comparable c300, and 328i. Also, the quality of the Lexus is second to none. The interior fit and feel makes a Benz or Beemer really feel entry level. Lastly the power.. I didn't want it for the "power" but a little more "oomph" would have been great, as well, the back seat has 0 leg room. maybe a I250/350L would be good?
A few quick facts
Morten, 12/29/2009
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
17 of 20 people found this review helpful
Pros: fun to drive, especially in mountains and through curves as it really hugs the road; good gas mileage (25mpg city and up to 35mpg highway); very comfortable front seats - even after 12 hours of driving; small turning radius - making it very handy. Cons: cramped rear seats; excessive road noise; front tires wear unevenly; bumpy ride; lacks a little power; poor paint quality.
great car
John, 10/04/2016
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
12 of 14 people found this review helpful
I love this car! It rides and handles beautifully. Too bad that over the years Lexus Dealerships have only one goal which is to make as much money as possible. Customer support has deteriorated over the years. This is my fourth Lexus and this car is by far the best. I just wish it was a Honda or Acura so I would not have to deal with Toyota.
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I love my 2008 LEXUS is 250
Anthony Perez, 07/02/2019
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Man ... LEXUS is just great. My 2008 LEXUS feels like a 2016. I call her Alexys. She’s white & I paid for a aftermarket front and new headlights so it looks like a 2016 & I did the body kit and everything with some rims & the black roof top. Lol when I drive my girl, she’s beautiful inside and out. I still look back at her when I get out the car & leave her. I love her so much I over exaggerate with pressing the lock button. Lol, but yeah. I’ve had for like 3 years. I’ve done about 20k miles a year which is horrible but more of a reason to keep her than get another car & I never had a problem. All I’ve ever done was change the oil & put my 91 premium gas. Great car & very reliable. If you would like me to say a con ... the only con I can say. Is I wish it was faster, I wish had a better acceleration but that’s okay I guess.. it’s truly a comfortable & luxury car. It’s worth to hook it up, if that’s what your heart desires.. eBay is the way to go.
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Great Car
Paul M, 09/02/2009
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
Just bought my 09 Lexus IS250 awd and I love it. The exterior styling is very eye catching and the interior is top quality. The seats are very comfortable, the ride is very smooth and you can barely hear any road noise inside. The radio and AC area without navigation is boring but its functional. Could use a little more power but its decent and the car handles very well. Its a very small car so a small backseat is expected. The back-seats aren't usable unless the front seats are pushed very far up, but all around its a great car!
Its beautiful, really.
Bhutto, 12/27/2008
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
13 of 17 people found this review helpful
Before buying this I test drove a lot of vehicles, MB C class, BMW 335 and Infiniti, but IS has a different nice good taste to it, more stiff (in a good way) than MB, more stylish interior with same driving experience than BMW, more style than Infiniti (I think). Liked the exterior styling and standard features like fog light, LED lights, turn indicators on the side mirrors, side mirrors are heated too. I am really very very happy with my choice and recommend you all to test drive this to realize what a nice car it is. Its Lexus.
Still going strong
DChavez, 07/31/2020
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6M)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Bought mine used from 1 owner a few years ago. Currently has 119,000 miles. Just had work done on air intake, new spark plugs, and it runs like new. I thought about upgrading to a newer one but why? It’s still a great car.
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Wonderful car
James, 07/29/2009
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
We have had this car for a month now and simply love it. The external styling is best in class and the interior is top notch. Every detail is well thought out and the fit and finish is outstanding. I can understand why other reviewers focus on the power, but I consider this car a luxury car that is sporty, rather than a pure sports car. We test drove the A4 2.0T Quattro (used to own an Audi allroad) and really liked it also, but the interior seemed outdated and the engine, although better kick, did not seem as refined as the IS250. And, in the end we didn't want to be in the Audi shop all the time like we were with the allroad. Bottom line, Lexus really did a fantastic job on this car.
expect better from Lexus
yogidog00, 09/29/2014
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
13 of 18 people found this review helpful
I have a 2008,bought it with 75k. I now have with 99k miles. The navigation system went out, 1800 dollar repair. You need the screen to control A/c radio etc. Touchscreen just stopped responding one day. For a luxury vehicle electronics should not break after 6 years. At 99k started to overheat, mechanic said there was a crack in the engine head. this vehicle was babied. If this was a kia or lower end car I could understand, but this is a more expensive vehicle because we expect better build quality. If your going to use the same quality standards as a Ford or Kia then don't expect top dollar for your products. The dealership told me the nav system is very common to break.
Identity Crisis
JC, 10/22/2010
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
Despite the sporty exterior and a willing chassis, the car is not a sports sedan. It's let down by the whimpy engine, an unresponsive throttle and a transmission programmed by someone from the Prius team. But with the bumpy ride, it can't be a luxury car, either. The car delivers excellent gas mileage for a V6. It handles well, thanks to the firm suspension, summer tires and RWD. Steering is quick but numb. Interior uses top notch materials. Quality of assembly is very high, both inside and out. It's reliable but not completely trouble free. Expect to pay a premium for service at the dealer. But their technicians are no better than those at typical Honda or Toyota dealerships.
Best Car In Its Class
Emily, 10/16/2007
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6M)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I test drove every car in this price range and the Lexus made my decision so easy! It comes with many features in the base model that other cars you pay extra for (like 6 CD changer, iPod adaptor, sunroof, leather, premium sound, smart key). I got the base model because I felt like it was already very loaded. It handles so smooth and tight. My previous car was a 330i BMW and there is no comparison. My BMW had the premium package and still was not as loaded as the base model Lexus.
What a car....
biggs89, 10/10/2007
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Do not test drive it unless you wanna bring it home that night. I'm serious. I went into the dealership just to check out pricing and test drive it, then spent the next couple hours figuring out how I can afford the payments. It was that easy. Smooth, smooth ride, very quiet, nice stereo system, and paddle shifters when you want that manual tranny feel. Leather is so soft, and vented seats a nice touch. Real fun to drive. Get looks from many people as I drive by.
Can't wait to change!
alexandre Vieira, 08/04/2010
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6M)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Very comfortable ride, for a small car. I've had it almost 2 years, no major problems. Front wheels, a lot of dust brakes. I'm 6'3", so I need a lot of leg room to drive. There is only enough room for a small kid to ride in the back seat behind me. Why does this car have such a big trunk but no space in the back seat? Every time I reverse, the wheels squeak so much, I don't have even 10,000 miles yet. I've been using plus gas, anything higher is a waste of money. Many times, I smell something overheating from the clutch, it has been checked by the dealer, they found nothing. The service at the Lexus dealer is too expensive, for oil change, basic service, etc. I go to Toyota, it's cheaper.
Buyers Beware
Kristin, 03/25/2010
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
When I first bought this car I loved it. 2.5 years later and about eight tires later I wish I had been warned! Even with the tire protection insurance I've had to bring in it about every two months for a new tires, just the time spent alone fixing them is severely annoying. It's also a little cramped (if you're tall), and seems to dent pretty easily (had a big ball of snow and ice fall and crush in passenger side door, luckily it was only $200 worth of damage). It's a shame because the interior/exterior are beautifully designed and the all wheel drive handles wonderfully in the rain and snow! If you live in an area with no potholes by all means purchase!
Good overall Lexus
EJ, 06/07/2009
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is not a bad car at all setting aside from numerous dealership visits within the 25k miles I have clocked with this vehicle. The engine is very smooth, quiet yet not as powerful as I would like, even with the manual transmission. The down points for this car is various suspension noises & horrible manual transmission/factory flywheel combo. At about 5000 miles, the manual transmission had to be replaced. Right after, various TSB's were performed for interior noises & passenger side front A-Pillar head air bag cover was replaced. Now I hear clanking in the suspension area when going over any type of bump or road imperfection. Also, interior plastic clips are getting loose which make noise.
Smooth, quiet, quality, fun to drive
Natroth, 06/10/2008
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Brief: a medium sized high technology, luxury sports car which will have 1 or 2 people in it most of the time. I researched and drove BMW, Audi and Mercedes before settling on Lexus. I was upgrading from a SAAB convertible. To compare the cars, you need to spec up each car equally, which I did. The Lexus is the best value by many thousands of dollars. The car is a powerful, smooth quiet ride if that is what you are looking for. My average speed around Sydney is 38 kph so top end performance is nice to brag about but not a decision maker. Add an extra year's warranty and a world rating of most reliable car and you have some very good reasons for buying an IS250. It exceeds the brief!
Brakes
ok suk, 10/05/2009
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
I also had a problem with my brakes. When I back up the brakes squeak. With less than 10000 miles I'm sure it's not the brake pads. If it is, I would be disappointed. I enjoy the smooth ride. The cabin is tight, power is acceptable & the gas mileage is excellent.
Overall very good but....
WD, 09/27/2009
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
All in all a very good deal, I agree with all the positive features mentioned elsewhere. I read somewhere about an annoying noise from the dashboard that starts few months after having the car, and I actually noticed that, it's from the driver's corner of the dashboard, a high-pitch annoying noise that occurs most on unsteady roads. I play music loud while driving and that can masks it, but a real disappointment.
To many expensive repairs
Dan, 11/08/2017
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
6 of 9 people found this review helpful
The engine had to be repaired which doesn't speak well of the engineering. However, it was a recall and paid for by the dealership. But I have had to replace the mother board at the cost of $2,000.00, the brake calipers which locked up, it leaks fluid on my garage floor and now they say I need all new axles.
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Lexus IS 250 AWD - 2006 technology
alterbear, 01/26/2009
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
6 of 9 people found this review helpful
I leased a new Lexus IS 250 AWD after being told that the new model been updated for 2009. Yes, there are some minor styling and other changes, but it's still a 2006 technology platform. For example, the navigation system has no text to speech, no traffic info, outdated maps, poor routing - you could do better with a portable unit for $150.00.
This car is excellent
tom didonato, 06/21/2008
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have owned 7 BMWs, and currently own the 325xi. The Lexus does not have the reputation of BMW but trust me this is a great car. It is fun to drive and incredibly comfortable. Navigation, and sound system as well as ventilated seats are distinguishing features. I went to Lexus because their dealerships are second to none and their cars have earned the reputation as totally reliable. If this car gets 25 more horses and a slightly larger back seat it will surpass BMW. This is a sweet car for the money.
Excellent choice without navigation
Barry, 06/02/2008
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Great car packed with amenities, exceptionally smooth driving, fun to drive in manual mode with paddle shifters. I recommend the all wheel drive version for superb handling. All controls such as audio, climate and navigation are easy to use with the touch screen. Very economical on gas 22.8 city driving and 32.5 on a short 200 road trip. My only complaint is the navigation system, I don't feel it is Lexus's place to decide when I or my passenger can use the system, it greys out and can't be used while in motion no other automakers that I'm aware of do this. IMO don't buy the navigation sysem until Lexus changes their policy.
Love.
Amanda, 04/12/2010
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
In the course of trying to decide on a car, I also considered the BMW 3- series. The Lexus surpassed BMW in it's combination of reputation, reliability, look and feel. BMW is not as eye-catching (I actually really hate the newer body style), nor as comfy inside. I find myself smiling in traffic for no reason because I love it so much. Barring any unforeseen problems with this car, I may be buying Lexuses for the rest of my life. I have the Nav & Luxury packages and love all of the features. I was lucky to find a CPO FULLY loaded with low miles and in my colors (black/black).
Beautiful and amazing
Dixy De Lira, 10/13/2020
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6M)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I am super satisfied with my Lexus, my 2009 IS 250 is amazing and runs like new, I think is a very good car, any car from Lexus is good. Love it so much.
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Not Happy
mujs33, 06/20/2015
updated 06/22/2018
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
I have owned 3 Lexus's my fist was a 2003 is300 i absolutely loved that car. This car however i don't care for as much. I have had many issues with this car, first the airbag harness cost me 2500 due to a airbag light, the second my rear passenger axle went bad "cost me 1000" now my exhaust has a leak and it's loud and the door trim is coming off and the window makes a loud noise and is slow when you roll it down. No more IS's for me unless it's the 300 again. The interior is smell im 6ft and it just not that comfortable. I like the way the interior looks but like i said unfortable. I have to push the seat all the way back and all the way down to get where i want and no head room. Update: sold my lexus burning 2 qts of oil a month when i sold it. Def not happy about it but it never broke down on me. This is250 was def not like my is300 or my es330.
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Luxury Sporty car
Eric, 02/12/2009
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Good handling, sexy exterior, luxury interior, good pick up.
It's not a sports car, but it's a great car
ocnelson, 03/31/2011
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
17 of 36 people found this review helpful
If you're looking for a sporty drive, go with the 350 or G37. If you're like me, the lead in your foot has been replaced by maturity, this is a great car for you. Bought this car 15k miles ago with 35k miles. It is my first "luxury" car but I've driven all the competition (bmw, g37, tl, c300) Comfortable, looks great, feels great, and the nav makes life easy. The interior is a tight fit so if you are using the back seat all the time for passengers, pass on this one. But if you only use it on occasion then the back seat will do. If you're sitting in the front you'll be comfortable, you'll be pleased with the look of the interior, and you'll find the touch screen easy to use.
TERRIBLE Driving Position, Hurts R Leg
docboy, 06/29/2009
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
9 of 19 people found this review helpful
Traded TSX for IS250 AWD. Decided on IS over the G37, 335, TL, and WRX. Thought the IS had the most comfy front seats of the bunch. I was sorely wrong. Happy at first, nice ride and solid handling, until my right leg started to hurt. Didn't notice it much at first, but after 4 weeks in this car, there's a glaring stupid BUMP protruding out the driver's side. Simply cannot rest my right foot and leg in proper straight ergonomic manner. Right leg simply cannot straighten out, liken a repetitive stress disorder. BUMP part of AWD trans; whole body hurts to drive. Regret buying this car, will never buy AWD Lexus sedan again. May be forced to trade-in after only 1000 miles! Ridiculous.
6-Speed Manual is Great
jthoms22, 10/03/2011
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6M)
8 of 17 people found this review helpful
Have seen some bad reviews of manual trans - I think it is excellent through the first four gears, with just 5th and 6th being a bit rope-a-dope to get there. And the manual really makes the engine come alive. Also, i am comparing to a 2008 328i BMW, and a 2004 Honda S2000 - Honda the best obviously, but I would say IS 250 trans better than 328i.
Not satisfied
Not customer any more, 03/01/2018
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 10 people found this review helpful
Dash board is made of poor quality material. Many of owners are complaining, that they have cracks, because of hot and cold weather. 2.5 6 cylinder engine has poor MPG. Rear seats area has poor leg room. Extremely poor customer service.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Big Disappointment
City Doc, 12/26/2009
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 17 people found this review helpful
I traded in a Audi A4 for the IS250 and have been quite disappointed. The transmission is rough when shifting, it has no get up and go, and the blind spots are huge. I find myself having to look around a lot more in this car and am way more cautious after several near collisions because of the blind spots. The Audi was fun to drive. The IS250 is a chore. I'm getting rid of it after only 1 year.
Worst car I ever had
RA, 05/21/2010
2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 12 people found this review helpful
This is without a doubt the worse car I ever had; can't wait until the lease is up. The visibility is horrible. I can't see where am going, specially if you are trying to back up. The low profile tires are horrible, I have spent over $1500 on tires and the car has less than 15,000 miles. You feel every bump on the road. Terrible ride.
Expensive Corolla
bmh69, 10/16/2010
2009 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
9 of 23 people found this review helpful
My first year leasing the IS AWD has been "fine." It is a sporty looking pre-luxury all wheel drive vehicle, top notch reliability and a spectacular dealership experience. Beyond that it's an expensive AWD Corolla with added bells/whistles. It does do a great job in the harsh Midwest winters, but is not nearly as fun to drive as the Audi/VW cars I have owned in past. Its handling is okay but not sporty; the ride is generally compliant but at times punishing. It never "goes" when you need it to and then whines like a four cylinder. I am generally not as excited to drive this Lexus as I was my previous autos, and sadly look forward to returning to a German AWD car when my lease is up.