2013 Lexus IS 350 C Review
2013 Lexus IS 350 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
- reasonable price.
Cons
- Poor rear visibility
- limited top-down trunk space
- cramped backseat
- rear end looks awkward.
What’s new
For 2013, the Lexus IS 350 C receives HD radio and the Lexus Enform 2.0 system that allows use of smartphone apps like Pandora and OpenTable.
Edmunds says
The 2013 Lexus IS 350 C delivers a high standard of comfort and refinement in a hardtop convertible, but not without a few compromises.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2013 Lexus IS 350 C 2dr Convertible (3.5L 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 $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$246/mo for IS 350 C Base
IS 350 C Base
vs
$179/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
When car companies portray life behind the wheel of a convertible, the ads typically depict attractive drivers motoring along the coast with the top down as the afternoon sun paints everything with a golden glow. And really, that's the whole point of getting a convertible, right? Pleasingly, the 2013 Lexus IS 350 C is capable of playing the starring role in those romantic al fresco fantasies.
Like many in its class, the IS 350 C features a retractable hardtop that raises and lowers in about 20 seconds and does a good job of keeping both the elements and unwanted noise at bay. It also serves to deter thieving miscreants much better than traditional soft tops.
Unlike its slightly more affordable sibling, the IS 250 C, the 306-horsepower IS 350 C has sufficient power to back up its racy looks. Further real-world appeal comes from a suspension that emphasizes ride comfort rather than sport and an interior replete with high-quality leather upholstery and a generous amount of standard equipment.
That said, there are other picks for a luxury convertible. Buyers looking for more excitement will prefer the convertible versions of the BMW 3 Series or Infiniti G37 more. The Audi A5, meanwhile, lacks a retractable hardtop but its rear seat and trunk space are the least compromised in this segment.
Overall, though, the 2013 Lexus IS 350 C should work well in your own unique convertible fantasies.
Performance & mpg
The 2013 Lexus IS 350 C features a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 306 hp and 277 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission that includes manual shift control.
In Edmunds testing, an IS 350 C fitted with optional F Sport performance accessories accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.
Safety
Standard safety features on the 2013 Lexus IS 350 C include antilock disc brakes with brake assist, 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 the Lexus Pre-Collision system, which can snug the front seatbelts and activate brake assist immediately when the driver presses the brake pedal in situations where sensors detect an impending collision.
In Edmunds brake testing, a Lexus IS 350 C (again with the F Sport upgrades) stopped from 60 mph in an impressive 111 feet.
Driving
Perhaps the most appropriate word to describe the experience of driving the 2013 Lexus IS 350 C is "refined." The body structure is solid enough to remain composed even over poor road surfaces, something not all convertibles can claim. The retractable hardtop enhances this feeling by minimizing noise levels and temperature extremes.
The 306-hp V6 is noticeably more lively than the IS 250 C's smaller engine, making the 350 C the only choice if performance is important to you. Unfortunately, the suspension tuning favors ride comfort, which softens handling to levels that driving enthusiasts won't like. For drivers who require more performance, Lexus' lineup of F Sport suspension, brake and engine upgrades are available to help firm things up.
Interior
Inside the 2013 Lexus IS 350 C you'll find an attractive and well-stitched passenger cabin accented by top-quality materials. Gauges and controls are clear and intuitive, though models with the optional navigation system make it a little harder to get at touchscreen-controlled features like audio and climate settings while the nav system is in use. This year's navigation system does include the updated Lexus Enform service, however, which includes smartphone integration for apps such as Pandora, iHeart radio and Yelp.
Up front, the seats offer good comfort and support and the power-adjustable seats and steering wheel make it easy to find an ideal driving position. Rear seat occupants are not so lucky, as this is one of the tightest backseats in the segment and therefore only really useful in a pinch. Trunk space is limited as well, with an adequate 10.8 cubic feet of cargo room with the roof raised and a paltry 2.4 cubic feet with the top down. That's enough for a modest-sized golf bag and not much else.
2013 Lexus IS 350 C models
The four-passenger 2013 Lexus IS 350 C is a retractable-hardtop luxury convertible offered in one well-equipped trim level. The smaller-engine IS 250 C is reviewed separately.
Standard equipment on the IS 350 C includes 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, heated mirrors with built-in turn signals and puddle lamps, keyless entry/ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, 10-way power front seats (includes 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 sound 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 leather upholstery, heated/ventilated front seats, genuine wood trim and driver memory settings. The Navigation package adds a navigation system, a rearview camera, voice commands, HD radio and Lexus Enform telematics features. A 12-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system can be added to the navigation system.
Stand-alone options include parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and a pre-collision mitigation system. A variety of F Sport engine, suspension and brake performance parts, including 18- and 19-inch alloy wheels, are also available.
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Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2013 Lexus IS 350 C.
5 star(91%)
4 star(0%)
3 star(9%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
23 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.75 out of 5 stars
Great Car. Fun to Drive.
Ryki, 04/16/2010
2010 Lexus IS 350 C 2dr Convertible (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
Have had the IS350C for 2 months now. Love the comfort of the vehicle. The interior is great. I even like the exterior styling. It has a big rea, but with that comes 13 Cu. Ft. of Cargo Space, important to me. Acceleration is awesome. I read the review in Car and Driver and have to disagree with their comments. Traded in a 2003 Audi A 4 Cabrio. This Car smokes that and the Audi 5 Conv. A … Four Banger with Rag Top, a little dated. The Infinity G37Conv. Tiny inside, with the top down it shakes like a wet dog. The BMW 335i Conv. Nice Car but load it up like the Lexus and its $10K more with less equipment. In my opinion the Lexus beats them all. BMW more Sporty, but Lexus more Cruiser. Suits Me.
4.75 out of 5 stars
A fun, sporty convertible
hal88, 09/02/2012
2012 Lexus IS 350 C 2dr Convertible (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
We can talk in the front seat with the top down at 50 mph with no problem from wind noise. Plenty of pep and corners well. We decided on a convertible and looked at sports cars like the Boxster, but we don't really drive in racing mode anymore and prefer a car that is smooth with plenty of power when needed. The 306 HP with a great automatic transmission does the job well. The … transmission shifts are seamless. It rides almost as good as the, 300 lb lighter, ES-350 we traded in... just slightly harder because of the frame needed for a true convertible (not a convertible made from a coupe). A really nice car!
4.75 out of 5 stars
Wow! (My first fun car)
NoTopforMe1234, 12/20/2009
2010 Lexus IS 350 C 2dr Convertible (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
After 20 years of driving family sedans and economy cars, I was able to save up the money to by a car for more than getting me around. I chose this car because I thought it would be fun to have a convertible, plus I wanted to have a hard top. I went with this car because I thought the price/feature/quality combination was the best.
4.88 out of 5 stars
Smart Design
Curt Chezem, 05/20/2010
2010 Lexus IS 350 C 2dr Convertible (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
I'm so glad that I ignored the tepid professional review and took a test drive. This is a well designed car and it stands on it's own with no comparisons to fussy Germans. The 350 has effortless acceleration to the point of excess. It has plenty of legroom in front. I'm 6-2 and actually have to move the seat forward. It's quiet enough to use the speakerphone on the highway with the … top down. Better than some sedans with the windows up. Dash and nav are simple and intuitive. Body work is rock solid.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2013 Lexus IS 350 C, so we've included reviews for other years of the IS 350 C since its last redesign.
2013 IS 350 C Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $46,890 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 22 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $246/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 350 C include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
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