The Lexus IS 250 can easily be called one of the most timeless Japanese cars. Reviews from car owners and many experts indicate that despite the model’s considerable age, its elegant and discreet design remains relevant today. Only observant car enthusiasts could immediately notice the changes that were made to the car's design from time to time. The car underwent a radical modernization only in the third generation, which debuted in January 2013. This will be discussed in more detail below.
General information
The first generation of the model was presented to the general public in 1998 and was produced for seven years. The model is built on the basis of a sedan. At the same time, the Japanese introduced the so-called concept of smart sport into the new product, which allowed the car to gradually reach the level of its main competitors, which the developers were guided by when creating it. In this case we are talking about the third series of BMW and Mercedes C-class. The second generation Lexus IS 250 was produced until the end of 2012, and the latest version of the car was put into production at the beginning of 2013.
Exterior design
Unlike the previous generation, Japanese designers decided to abandon the assembly of the car in a station wagon body. Instead, a stylish coupe equipped with a metal folding roof appeared in the lineup. Be that as it may, the most common body style is a four-door sedan. The model is characterized by a dynamic, expressive silhouette. made in the form of a spindle and located quite low. It seems to be cut by sharp-angled elongated headlights. The windshield in the Lexus IS 250 has a large angle of inclination, and the side mirrors have an aerodynamic shape, which indicates the sporty orientation of the car. The rear small windows are shaped like an arrow. All elements of the exterior combine perfectly with each other, creating a simply enchanting harmony. Be that as it may, despite numerous modifications, the designers managed to remain faithful to the company’s philosophy, because the appearance of the model is still both sporty and representative.
Interior
The interior of the Lexus IS 250 was also designed in a style similar to the exterior of the car. Reviews from car owners predominantly characterize its interior as succinctly simple and at the same time intriguingly elegant. The impeccably designed seats with an impressive level of lateral and lumbar support deserve additional praise. Leather and wood are predominantly used in interior decoration. In order to emphasize the sporty orientation of the model, the designers installed paddle shifters for the steering wheel. On the center console, an analog clock and a multifunctional navigation system catch the eye. Compared to the previous version of the car, the amount of space for rear passengers has increased.
Main characteristics
The 208-horsepower Lexus IS 250 gasoline engine installed under the hood has a volume of 2.5 liters. It consists of six cylinders arranged in the shape of the letter “V”. The power plant is equipped with direct injection and variable valve timing systems. The average fuel consumption of this engine in the combined cycle is 8.6 liters per hundred kilometers. As for the transmission, the car is equipped exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission, which provides a sequential manual gear shift mode. The drive is via the rear wheels.
It is impossible not to mention the suspension of the Lexus IS 250. The technical characteristics of the car improved significantly after the developers completely redesigned the chassis. As a result, the car boasts excellent stability and excellent traction even on sharp turns.
Safety
Japanese engineers took due care of the safety of the model, which is at the highest level. The new product is equipped with ten pillows, two of which are responsible for protecting the knees. The radar dynamic speed control system allows the machine to independently control the movement of the vehicle located in front. Thus, depending on the road situation, the Lexus IS 250 can automatically brake or accelerate. In addition, the car is equipped with some other interesting intelligent programs that ensure driving safety. In this case we are talking about monitoring the so-called ABS, EBD and other assistants. All this allowed the model to receive the highest mark in its class according to Euro NCAP test results.
Bottom line
Only in the third generation was the Lexus IS 250 model able to compete properly with its main rivals, which were mentioned above. The cost of the basic configurations of all these cars is approximately at the same level and starts at one and a half million rubles. Be that as it may, one cannot help but note the fact that for people purchasing such expensive cars, the issue of price is far from being in the first place.
On the Russian market, the 2006 model year Lexus IS250 was positioned as a luxury-class sports sedan. It is equipped with a new 6-cylinder V-shaped petrol engine with a volume of 2.5 liters. Lexus IS 250 is a modern and stylish car with an outstanding exterior design and a more than comfortable interior. The shape of the hood, ideal round wheel arches, high window sill line and bas-relief rear optics - all this forms a recognizable appearance. The standard Smart Key system automatically recognizes the owner of the car by the key fob in his pocket - you just need to approach the car and grab the door handle. The interior of the Lexus IS 250 sedan is very comfortable, all interior details are thought out to the smallest detail.
On the Russian market, the second generation Lexus IS250 was offered in the following trim levels: “Comfort”, “Executive”, “Premium” and “Luxury”, and for the first time in the Lexus model range the “Sport” package was introduced, with an improved suspension and a specially designed interior. The most basic “Comfort” model includes a velor interior and 16-inch wheels, halogen headlights and fog lights, LED taillights; side mirrors are electrically adjustable and electrically heated, as well as turn signal repeaters. The electrical package includes control of windows and mirrors, electrically adjustable front seats, and heated front seats. Climate control is responsible for maintaining the required temperature in the cabin. The standard audio system includes 8 speakers and a subwoofer, a CD player with MP3 support and a hands-free system. Expensive trim levels were offered with leather interior and 17" tires. The "Sport" trim level is distinguished by metal door sills and pedals and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The Lexus IS250 is equipped with a new 2.5-liter 6-cylinder V-shaped gasoline engine with an improved Dual VVT-i variable valve timing system. Maximum power of 208 horsepower is transmitted through a 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift capability to the rear drive wheels. The car accelerates to 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds. and reaches a maximum speed of 220 km/h.
The Lexus IS front suspension is independent, double wishbone with springs, monotube gas shock absorber and anti-roll bar. The rear is also independent, multi-link, with coil springs, an inverted monotube gas shock absorber and an anti-roll bar. In 2008, the chassis was modernized, which made it possible to achieve a higher level of driving comfort. The brakes on all wheels are ventilated discs. The steering is equipped with electric power steering. The standard VSC system intervenes in the event of hard braking on a sharp corner and recognizes tendencies towards oversteer or understeer, reducing engine power and applying brakes to the front or rear wheels to restore control.
The car is equipped with 8 airbags, including, for the first time on a car of this class, two airbags to protect the knees of the driver and front passenger. For the first time on the new Lexus IS 250, the front passenger airbag is dual-chamber, which reduces the risk of the head sliding off the airbag and also increases the contact area for the head and shoulders. In addition to Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), the Lexus IS 250 uses other active safety systems to enhance stability: anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), and traction control (TRC).
With the release of the new Lexus IS 250, the company filled the gap in its own premium line by offering a rear-wheel drive D-class sports model. Sales of the new Lexus IS 250 in Russia began in November 2005. Dealers immediately noted a fairly high interest in the model. True, on the Russian market the car was presented in a somewhat reduced line-up (rear-wheel drive only), despite the fact that the model had all-wheel drive versions and a manual option. The production of this generation continued until 2013. During this time, the car went through two restylings.
The Lexus IS 250 is rightfully included in the premium class and competes equally with the most eminent representatives of the D-segment of the big German three. In contrast to European turbo engines, the Japanese samurai uses an honest naturally aspirated V6, and in terms of handling, the IS can easily compete not only with Mercedes or Audi, but also with.
On the Russian market, the Lexus IS 250 with a 208-horsepower engine is offered in four trim levels (Comfort, Executive, Premium and Luxury). In addition, there are two versions with the F Sport package, which features a more aggressive appearance and a “suppressed” suspension. All modifications are available only with an automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive.
In addition to the Lexus IS 250, a hybrid version of the IS 300h with 223 hp is offered on our market. Depending on the configuration, the price ranges from 1,732,000 to 2,099,000 rubles.
The list of basic Comfort equipment already includes climate control, bi-xenon headlights, front and rear parking sensors, a 7-inch color display, 17-inch alloy wheels, 8 airbags, a combination of artificial leather and fabric trim, a light sensor and an audio system. with 6 speakers and Bluetooth. The price of this version is 1,482,000 rubles. For comparison, the base one has a 1.6-liter turbo engine with 156 hp. is sold for a minimum of 1,570,000 rubles, a 136-horsepower BMW 316i SE with an 8-speed automatic transmission is estimated at 1,388,000 rubles, and a 170-horsepower Audi A4 sedan with a CVT costs 1,500,000 rubles.
If earlier the disadvantages of Lexus included the lack of the ability to assemble a car for yourself, now BMW and Mercedes have also switched to fixed configurations for the Russian market, which are significantly cheaper than ordering an individual configuration.
In the second level of equipment, “AI-ES” Executive differs from the basic one in the presence of a rain sensor, keyless entry system, 2-zone climate control, leather upholstery, cruise control, self-dimming rearview mirror and electrically adjustable front seats. The price of this version is 1,653,000 rubles.
Despite the fact that there is a naturally aspirated V6 under the hood, the average fuel consumption during the test was about 9 liters. This is only slightly more than the BMW 320i with a 2.0 liter turbo engine of 184 hp.
By paying another 226 thousand rubles, you can become the owner of the pre-top Premium package, which additionally received electric folding and auto-dimming side mirrors, 18-inch wheels with mixed-width tires (225/40R18+255/35R18), an audio system with DVD and 8 speakers, a rear camera appearance, navigation system, wooden decorative inserts and electric steering column.
Finally, the most expensive Lexus IS 250 Luxury for 2,060,000 rubles has in its arsenal LED headlights for low and high beams, an electric sunroof, a Mark Levinson audio system with 15 speakers, a reverse parking assist system and a monitoring system “ blind spots.
Maintenance and insurance
Provided that the car is insured by a 30-year-old Muscovite with 10 years of driving experience, the price of a comprehensive insurance policy for theft + damage in insurance companies of class A++ starts from 150,000 rubles. Under similar conditions, an MTPL policy costs about 6,300 rubles.
Maintenance cost at an official dealer:
- TO 10,000 – 18,700 rubles
- TO 20,000 – 18,400 rubles
- TO 30,000 – 18,700 rubles
- TO 40,000 – 29,400 rubles
- TO 50,000 – 18,700 rubles
- TO 60,000 – 22,400 rubles
Warranty 3 years or 100 thousand km
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The base price of the Lexus IS 250 is only slightly less than the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4, but the Japanese wins both in terms of engine power and level of equipment. If you take a well-equipped car, then the price advantages of IS become undeniable. In the top Luxury version, it is at least 200 thousand cheaper than a similar Audi, not to mention the three-ruble note BMW and Mercedes C-Class.
As for the warranty, unlike all Germans who offer 2 years without mileage limitation, Lexus traditionally gives 3 years and 100 thousand km. On the other hand, you will have to fork out for maintenance. The IS owner still needs to visit the dealership every ten thousand kilometers. At the same time, the cheapest maintenance costs about 18 thousand rubles. The same goes for insurance. Due to the increased interest of criminals in other Lexus models, IS 250 owners will also have to pay. In insurance companies with a high rating, a driver with more than ten years of experience will have to pay at least 150,000 rubles for a CASCO policy. And if the owner is a 22-year-old girl who is just starting to drive, then the price of the policy will easily exceed 300,000 rubles. Don’t forget about the transport tax, which in Moscow will be 13,500 rubles.
In the new IS, Japanese engineers were able to bring together driving qualities and dynamics.
Lexus IS 250 is a controversial car. On the one hand, this is a good old-school car with the only naturally aspirated engine in the class, on the other hand, it has the most shocking appearance, as if this is not a production model, but a concept from the stage of a car show. It is stiffer than the BMW, but at the same time has excellent sound insulation. Finally, it's the most affordable price in the class, but comes with expensive insurance and frequent maintenance. The Japanese sedan is clearly not for those who do not want extra attention and are accustomed to playing second fiddle, and such people, unfortunately, are still in the minority.
Competitors
Nowadays, the three-ruble car in the back of the F30 is a real class leader. The Bavarian sedan combines a wide range of modifications, excellent ergonomics and handling. Only two rear-wheel drive versions are offered and both of them are assembled in Kaliningrad: the base BMW 316i for 1.38 million rubles and the 184-horsepower BMW 320i SE sedan for 1.52 million. The equipment is inferior to the Lexus IS. For the most affordable all-wheel drive BMW 320d xDrive Sport Line, German assembly, they are already asking 1.7 million rubles. For 1.81 million you can become the owner of a BMW 320i xDrive with the M-Sport package. There is a more powerful BMW 328i (2.0 l, 245 hp) and a top-end BMW 335i (3.0 l, 306 hp). In addition, the “three ruble” is offered in Touring and station wagon bodies.
The most affordable Mercedes-Benz C180 (1.6 l, 156 hp) in the fixed “Special Series” configuration costs 1,570,000 rubles. At the same time, the list of equipment already includes active parking assistant, front parking sensors, a rain sensor, 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission, LED headlights, heated seats and dual-zone climate control. A similar car with the AMG package is 125 thousand more expensive. The 211-horsepower C250 is estimated at at least 1.79 million rubles. Only the diesel C250 BlueTEC is currently available with all-wheel drive, priced at 1.89 million rubles.
Despite the fact that the current Audi A4 will soon give way to a new generation car, dealers offer a wide selection of modifications, a good half of which are all-wheel drive. A basic sedan (1.8 TFSI, 120 hp) with a Multitronic CVT costs from 1.35 million rubles. Price for the same 170 hp engine. starts at 1.5 million rubles. The most affordable all-wheel drive Audi A4 quattro (2.0 TFSI, 225 hp) with the S tronic preselective robot costs from 1.79 million rubles, and the top-end 272-horsepower A4 3.0 TFSI costs from 2.22 million rubles.
The chief engineer of the IS250 project, Suguya Fukusato, is certainly an extraordinary person. If a person is passionate about mountain biking and music, you can be sure that under his guidance will come a car that understands the driver perfectly and has, perhaps, the best audio system. Of course, this is not enough to claim leadership - excellent quality and modern units are also needed. But Lexus has never had any problems with this.
CAR SUFFERING
A winter day ends early even in Italy. And the Lexus got a black one. And with diesel. Things are not going my way?
How lucky! One touch of the pedal, and the speedometer shows 180 km/h instead of 130! This is in fifth gear, acceleration in sixth is not much longer. Very little. The first Lexus diesel engine did not turn out lumpy: with a 2.2 liter displacement it produced almost 180 horsepower. The operating range turned out to be narrow, but memorable: from 2000 to 3500 in any gear you can compete with much more powerful machines. The main thing is to switch on time, fortunately with the precise drive of the gearbox it is easy.
The reasonable question of what the diesel “Lexus” in the “Sport” version, whose main gear is not 2.47, but 3.27, is capable of, hangs in the air. There were no such cars on the test, and in general only the gasoline Lexus IS 250 will be supplied to Russia. We'll drive it tomorrow. In the meantime, a look at the latest stabilization system on a specially prepared track.
MARBLE ICE
Marbled meat is an expensive Japanese delicacy. Marble ice is a delicacy for lovers of side slides. The polished tiles are collected into a dense path and diligently watered - the result is deadly ice at positive temperatures. They suggest trying a “snake” with VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management) enabled - this is the name of the advanced stabilization system of Lexuses.
For comparison, the first trips were behind the wheel of the previous IS200 model. Everything works: it grunts, grunts and prevents you from spinning in a waltz, despite the gas pedal being pushed to the floor. Now behind the new steering wheel - everything is the same, but without extraneous sounds. However, not only - large sliding angles are allowed here. This allows even a beginner to feel like an ace without getting out of the way. But the most interesting thing is the system’s reaction to an attempt to “push” the car into a turn with a sharp release of gas. In this case, Lexus does not slow down, even if you take your foot off the pedal! This way the car allows you to maintain control and cope with the crazy braking torque of a diesel engine in low gears. That is, it remains obedient to the steering wheel without the risk of going into uncontrolled rotation. I note, without the harsh intervention of the brakes, like others.
There are also new products in the field of passive safety. First, a pair of knee pads. Secondly, the WIL (Whiplash Injury Lessen-ing) system to mitigate the consequences of a rear impact (it does not bring the headrest closer to the back of the head, like most automakers, but, on the contrary, sinks the lower back). Thirdly, the front passenger airbag has become double and looks like... better look at the picture. Thanks to this feature, it perfectly “catches” the passenger’s head even in an oblique impact.
MORNING SPRINT
A hundred kilometers is a sprint race by Russian standards. Especially if three hours are allotted for it along with the photo shoot. Hurry up to the mountains to meet the sunrise. Unlike its diesel counterpart, the gasoline Lexus IS 250 impresses not so much with its noticeable acceleration speed as with its smoothness.
The six-speed automatic transmission does its job so quietly that it’s best to monitor the shifts using the tachometer. For those who like to take a more active part in control, switching with “petals” on the steering wheel is provided. However, in real life, most drivers get bored with this game within a couple of days. All that remains are the useful functions of downshifting before overtaking and engine braking on long descents. By the way, Lexus claims that an automatic transmission will have a shorter acceleration time to 100 km/h and even lower fuel consumption than a car with a manual transmission. How to believe this?
With calm but fast driving, even on mountain serpentines, it is possible to keep the consumption within 10 l/100 km. On a flat road, limiting yourself to 130 km/h, you can count on eight.
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