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21 January 2010

Lexus IS 250C SE-L

Lexus IS 250C SE-L

Lexus IS 250C SE-L

What is it?

A COUPE-CONVERTIBLE version of the Lexus IS 250 saloon, the luxury maker’s sports saloon range aimed directly at the BMW 3-Series. Called the IS 250C, Lexus claims the three-part metal roof is the world’s fastest folding. There are two grades: SE-I and the car tested here, SE-L with an on the road price of £40,200.

What’s hot?

  • The sheer class of the beautifully built and executed interior
  • Direct steering gives positive feedback
  • Tight turning circle for easy city driving
  • Firm suspension is supple enough to cope with most bumps
  • Super smooth V6 engine mated to super smooth autobox
  • Push button start up with auto driving wheel presentation…
  • …which also retracts the wheel when you stop and want to get out
  • Has a neat party trick when you start the engine…
  • …White speedo and rev needles spin around on blacked-out dials
  • Automatic open and close roof at the push of a button
  • Metal roof provides coupe-like quiet in cabin
  • Vast array of standard equipment and standard safety kit
  • Front seats provide both heated and cooling facility
  • ‘Smart’ climate control senses closed or open roof…
  • …and delivers warming air volumes accordingly

What’s not?

  • Boot has to be arranged before you can lower roof…
  • …and with roof down badly robs otherwise good boot area
  • Awkward ‘humped’ styling of rear deck
  • Boot is stiff to close, doors heavy
  • Engine is lovely but fuel consumption less so
  • Rear view is restricted so standard park assist monitor vital
  • Inevitably, with roof down, you feel some chassis shudder
  • Americanisms abound: ‘hood’ for bonnet; ‘trunk’ for boot

What you need to Know?

P11D Value: 39, 930
Monthly Rental*: 695 (CH)/£817 (PCH)
Tax Band when posted: 31%
Monthly BiK: 206 (20%)/£413 (40%)
Engine: 2.5-litre V6
CO2 Emissions: 219g/km
Power/torque: 205bhp/252Nm
Economy: 30.4mpg

Monthly contract hire (CH) and personal contract hire (PCH) rentals generated by Concept Vehicle Leasing. Based on a 36 month lease at 10,000 miles a year, 3+35 payments.

Business Car Manager Road Test Rating

The Lexus IS 250C is so supremely refined and well-mannered that it makes a perfect convertible. Nothing is too discourteous about the car’s character and the silky engine and smooth auto adds to the picture of unruffled refinement. Quite how you want to fund it with high company car tax levels is another matter. But with the roof down and sun out, would you really care?

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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