Skip advert
Advertisement
Long-term tests

Lexus IS250 SE-L

It look's pretty as a picture according to our man, but does the Lexus IS250 SE-L perform as well on the inside?

Pros
  • Great looks, smart detailing, classy cabin, massiveequipment count, impressive long distance refinement, excellent stereo, practical folding boot floor storage cubby
Cons
  • Obstructive gearbox, disappointing in-town fuel economy, poor headroom with sunroof fitted, unlit switchgear at night
Find your Lexus IS
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The sleek new Lexus IS is pretty enough to hang on a wall. It hits all the right style buttons, with smooth flowing lines and a muscular stance that impresses from any angle. Okay, so beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I really do think our new top-spec IS250 SE-L cuts the mustard in terms of visual appeal. The question is, can it do the same on the road on a daily basis?

Advertisement - Article continues below

Although it only arrived in January, we've done 2,215 miles already - and they haven't been without criticism. Chief complaints centre on the obstructive six-speed manual gearbox and, from taller members of staff, the lack of headroom in the front. The latter can be remedied by not opting for the electric tilt/slide sunroof on our car.

Less easy to fix is the manual gearbox, which doesn't like to be hurried and does its best to prevent smooth progress. The obvious solution for anyone considering an IS is to shun the sunroof and put the £800 saved towards the six-speed automatic transmission (a £1,000 option).

Another problem is the lack of night-time illumination for some of the controls. Once I have spent more time in the Lexus, I'll get to know which buttons do what. But with four identical pairs of up/down arrow switches on the centre console and nothing to tell you what they all do when it gets dark, things can get frustrating!

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

C5 X

2023 Citroen

C5 X

16,518 milesAutomaticPetrol1.6L

Cash £19,499
View C5 X
X3

2024 BMW

X3

23,559 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £33,099
View X3
Juke

2023 Nissan

Juke

16,618 milesAutomaticPetrol1.0L

Cash £15,999
View Juke
Grand C4 SpaceTourer

2019 Citroen

Grand C4 SpaceTourer

28,361 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £13,149
View Grand C4 SpaceTourer

On the plus side, the cabin is superb with high-quality materials and build throughout, while the smart backlit instruments add an extra touch of class at night. And as you would expect, there's no shortage of equipment, either. Front and rear parking sensors, eight-way electrically adjustable heated and ventilated leather seats and an electric rear sunblind are just some of the novel features that I've got to play with on my crawl to work. We also ticked the box for the Multimedia Package, which includes an excellent 14-speaker Mark Levinson stereo, satellite navigation and a six-disc in-dash autochanger.

Along with metallic paint, they all add another £4,020 to the £28,000 list price. Ignoring the sunroof would save a large chunk of that, but at a hefty £31,000, this would be still on the expensive side for a compact executive model. Beauty obviously comes at a price!

Second opinion

I borrowed the Lexus for a recent trip to Luton Airport. As my journey was mostly straight up the M1, I didn't have to use the notchy gear-box too much, but I was impressed with how comfortable it was cruising on the motorway. As with most Lexus models, our IS250 is very refined, which made the traffic much more bearable.
Piers Ward, road tester

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,135 off RRP*
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £2,192 off RRP*Used from £20,921
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,655 off RRP*Used from £15,700
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £4,614 off RRP*Used from £9,600
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports
MST Ford Escort - front 3/4

Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports

While not officially Fords, the MST Mk1 and Mk2 Sports should drive as sharply as they look
News
7 Jul 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Skoda Octavia vRS is the consummate all-rounder and only £255 a month!
Skoda Octavia vRS - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: Skoda Octavia vRS is the consummate all-rounder and only £255 a month!

A three-time Auto Express Family Car of the Year winner, paired with Golf GTI power, is our Deal of the Day for 6 July
News
6 Jul 2025
New Volvo XC60 2025 facelift review: big-selling SUV gets a new lease of life
Volvo XC60 facelift - front tracking

New Volvo XC60 2025 facelift review: big-selling SUV gets a new lease of life

This refreshed Swedish SUV focuses on familiar areas of strength to take on BMW and Audi
Road tests
4 Jul 2025