2008 Lexus IS250 AWD review from North America

Nothing in the 1 month that we had it as a loaner vehicle.

This review is on a Lexus IS 250 AWD that we had as a loaner vehicle while my wife's RX300 was in the shop.

We drove the vehicle for a month and put 1200 or so miles on it.

The Lexus IS Series is made to compete with small European & other Sports Sedans such as the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Saab 9-3 etc.

It is a rather small nicely styled vehicle with a well laid-out interior. The quality of interior materials is good for this price range (this one stickered in the mid-30's) but not nearly as nice as in more upscale Lexuses and other high-line vehicles. The soft rubbery materials on the door panels seemed a bit out of place on a Lexus (similar material is used on the door panels of the ES350) and not nearly as nice as the softer materials used on the Lexus RX's.

The IS has been mildly criticized for not handling quite as well as the more established class leaders such as the BMW 3 Series - some of this may stem from the slight lack of steering feel, however I found the IS 250 AWD to handle very, very well, tracking well in corners and maintaining a good sure-footed balance.

It IS does have a firm, slightly busy ride, as do many vehicles in this class. It is not meant to be a Luxo-cruiser, but a Sport Sedan. This may also be why the interior trim is not so much fancy but business-like.

My main criticism of the IS 250 is the seats. Although they are supportive, I feel they lack adequate padding, and would be quite tiresome on a longer trip.

The IS 250 has the smallest engine of all IS models, and has also been criticized for lacking adequate punch, but I found the silky smooth, 204hp 2.5 liter V6 to be perfectly adequate, pulling strongly from a stop & having plenty of reserve for merging & passing on the highway.

I did not feel that the Lexus has as comfortable a ride as my Saab 9-3 Turbo, the Saab has a little more power and is a bit quicker, and the seats in my Saab are head & shoulders above those in the IS 250, but the little Lexus handles better & takes corners flatter. It has certainly a tighter structure than my Saab 9-3 Convertible. The IS 250 is one tight little machine!

My wife and I both loved the keyless ignition in the IS 250, as well as the easy to tune stereo system.

The dual-zone AC was also one of the best units I've seen. I also like the fact that this model has AWD.

The gas mileage was tremendous - averaging 28 mpg.

Overall for the type of driving I do, I prefer the comfort and power of my Saab over the added handling prowess of the IS 250. Again, my main complaint is the the seats are not as comfortable as they could be. But for those seeking a nice little (it is small & not built for a family) sporting sedan, built with typical Lexus quality & reliability - the little Lexus IS 250 is worth a look.