Lexus IS Convertible road tests and consumer car reviews

Lexus IS200 2001

The best car, fantastic value for money.

Lexus SC 430 2006

I own a 2006 Lexus SC 430 and if it wasn’t for the suspension (admittedly a fairly important factor in a car) it would be almost the perfect car. Only on smooth roads does it ride well; if it had the ride and handling of my 3 series BMW it would be fantastic. I have had no problems with it other than a slight squeak in the roof (fixed under warranty), and often leave it for between 1 and 2 weeks without starting it and have never had any battery problems unlike other reviewers. The layout and design of the controls and dashboard is far superior to most newer cars as it doesn’t have the requirement to use a BMW iDrive style system to change radio stations etc., etc. In my opinion the design of the controls on most modern cars makes them too distracting to drive safely. The reason I ended up with a SC 430 is that I wanted to own a Lexus and found the IS 250 too cramped (I’m 191cm tall), and the GS 300 is so cramped it is a joke. The SC 430 is much roomier for the driver than either of those models. The SC 430 is a greatly underrated car.

Lexus IS F 2009

I love it :)

Lexus CT Rx350

Sweet ride. Well appointed.

Lexus LS LS430 UL 2005

I have nearly 200,000 kms on my black-on-black LS430 and I have not had one issue with her. Just follow the recommended maintenance and you are good to go. With a set of 20s on her, she looks very mean with a slight lowering from the air suspension.

Lexus IS TD SE - SATNAV, Media Pack 2007

I feel that Lexus is not a brand well known by most in Europe. In the middle east and states it is a Niche Car to own and Lexus owners impose their staus by putting their keys on the table at a party etc.. Hehe. I have driven many cars including BMW, Mercs, Audi not forgetting Honda accord and Toyota. Lexus IS is a driving sensation. Handling: - Very good Comfort - Very Good, Luxury - Very Good, Performance - Very Good, and fuel economy very good as well on average give about 38 - 43 MPG and I am someone who is a performance driver. I have read many negative reviews. If you buy a car from new then complain if it doesn’t deliver. Making an opinion after buying a second hand car isn’t fair ’cos there may be many small technical issues which may vey well be overlooked. In general The EGR valve are faulty in the Lexus causing delayed turbo set in and a discomforting gear box. Get the egr valve checked out if that is okay with the injectors then no problems.

Lexus IS IS220d 2007

Just jumped out of my 180,000km 2006 BMW 530d into the 40,000km Lexus for a test drive and what a disappointment. No go at low revs. Clutch not nice at all and gearbox not slick. ’A’ pillar in my face. No reversing sensors. No folding rear seats. Is it just me??? Otherwise good. Pleased to get back into my BMW for the 400km drive home.

Lexus RX 400h 2006

Only owned this car for a couple of weeks so maybe I am a bit premature to comment but so far so good! I traded in a BMW 530d, an extremely powerful car, but its reliabilty had worn me down having spent over £6000 pounds on major repairs over 2 years. Also found it gave me back ache (long drives) and totally useless in snow and ice. I chose the Lexus because of comfort (wonderful) reliabilty from excellent reviews worldwide, however like all posts the fuel consumption isn’t brilliant having to fill up at 380 miles usage but the fuel tank at 65litres is very small for a large vehicle. There is no indicator letting you know how far you have left until you need to refuel but I have realised that there is usually 7-8litres left which is around 50 miles. I did push it running on red for 30 miles but not knowing the car enough got very nervous getting to the next garage! It is extremely comfortable front and back, the sat nav took a bit of getting used to but is very good as also the reversing camera but I would still like the sensors aswell. I think I well maybe a Lexus convert having owned German cars for many years, so all-in-all I am thrilled with my RX.

Lexus IS IS 220 SE-L Multimedia 2008

I’ve done the 3 top marques Audi, BMW, Mercedes and even an X-type Jag. I was going to go back to a 3 series when I read an article on a IS 2nd Gen. I remember thinking at the time the IS first came out that design really should be what the new 3 series should have looked like. I saw an ad for a SE-L with multimedia and that was it!! I love my gadgets and this had them coming out of its ears (or doors) Mark Levinson 15 speaker sound system 300 watts (5.1 Surround Sound DVD) reversing camera with park assist, voice activation (not as good as Jaguars’) cooled seats , auto rear sunblind the list is endless. The car itself does the job adequately, the weak points are really poor fuel economy my 220 cdi AUTO Merc got 10 MPG more on combined, although the 0-60 makes up for it being 2 seconds quicker, but again pulling away in 1st is a no goer until the turbo kicks in. Handling and ride are good, but not superb, build quality good but some poor design faults. I have to keep this car for two years before looking at changing it, I think that in that time I will enjoy it and it won’t let me down (touch wood) but it won’t inspire me, what the journalists have written is right, it’s an almost ran very close to the 3 Series but just no cigar.

Lexus IS SE 2006

Looking to replace my car with a Lexus, love its looks, lots of road presence. Fabulous dash but what a disapointment to drive! Sluggish acceleration with horrible turbo lag, 6th gear is a joke as when in it and you put your foot down the car vibrates horribly and speed goes up not at all. On the plus side roadholding good, in fact everything about this car is great except for the engine and gearbox! I’m afraid I’ll be sticking with the Jaguar x Type for now as its far more responsive and you can accelerate in any gear immediately!

Lexus GS 450h 2008

After major disappointment on my 3rd Mercedes E class, a late 2002 model E320, in faults/reliability and a dealership/manufacturer seemingly more concerned about profit and image than genuine customer service, when last changing, I moved to Lexus. I bought a 1-year-old GS 450SE-L with Sun-roof and Adaptive Cruise Control. The car is now 22 months old. So far, the car has been fantastic. I am more of an armchair motorist these days and don’t throw my cars around. But I DO appreciate a leg-full of acceleration for rapid overtaking, defensive driving, positioning on motorways and offering "traffic-light surprise" to the occasional testosterone-driven Porsche Boxster. The GS 450h gives me that capability in bucketfuls - if I want it. If I don’t - which is more often the case -it’s a luxurious limousine experience and a great place to be. Transitions from electric to ICE and vice versa is seamless and if it wasn’t for occasionally selecting the excellent instrumentation display options from time to time, I’d be unaware of the energy transformations taking place. I appreciate quietness and smoothness and the ability to have a conversation at motorway speeds, without having to ask for repetition. If there is a mental compromise to be made, it would probably be on boot luggage space. However, personally, I don’t "do" heaps of luggage on long journeys very often. If I need additional luggage space, I can use the rear passenger area anyway. Speaking of which, it’s a joy to be able to offer rear seat passengers huge amounts of room in rapid, quiet comfort - a situation I’m in much more often than lots of luggage transportation. The technology built-in and offered as standard is extensive and it works! I-Pod connectivity and integration with the car’s own sound system is great as is bluetooth cellphone integration. The sound system itself is excellent. The Sat Nav menu system takes a bit of getting used to initially, especially if, like me, you don’t read the book! But the system works well when the human frailties are overcome! By comparison with the Mercedes E320 (V6 petrol), the 450h gives me about 5mpg better fuel consumption overall. So far, the dealership network is outperforming that of Mercedes. I stopped to drop a letter off at a postbox last week and unsolicited, a guy on the other side of the street shouted across, "That’s a fantastic looking car!" It felt good. I’m very happy with my Lexus GS450h.

Lexus IS 220 SE Nav 2009

Plenty of grunt from the engine but not as much as you’d expect from nearly 180bhp and I’d prefer a little stiffer suspension but that’s my choice and you cannot deny that it’s comfortable to drive. Fuel economy is typically about 32 mpg for rural driving which I think is poor and with really careful driving you can only get that to about 36 and I’m in the IAM if that convinces anyone I’m not a boy racer. AS for 6th gear you’ll need to be doing 70 before going for it as the gearing is all wrong. (Why have a car that can only go into top gear when at the legal speed limit?) The boot space is poor, to the point of one large suitcase and that’s about it - you will NOT be getting two cases in it, but that’s mainly due to the low lid and had they made a hatchback this would have been resolved. This car with a couple of tweeks could be very good, but until they sort the bootlid and fuel economy I won’t be getting another one.

Lexus GS 450h 2006

I have the 450h hybrid version. The batteries are nothing to do with saving the planet/economy they just make it go like stink! The electric motors give instant torque and then the v6 3.5 kicks in - great fun. It is very quiet (completley silent when you start) and comfortable, has a great sound sytem and lots of buttons to keep you amused. It’s beautifully built. The down side: Grandad image (I am one but you know what I mean), the boot is tiny, the sat nav won’t let you enter a complete postcode (same as many others), some of the switches are in a really stupid place, the keyfob boot release doesn’t lift the boot lid up, it pops the lid but what’s the point of that? Worst of all the ride could be better, it’s neither soft and compliant nor does it provide for an involved drive especially when pushed hard, although the sports setting does improve this a little. All in all probably the best car I’ve owned but not my favorite. The entertainment value at the lights is worth the price probably, it will see off most. Go and drive one is my advice, remember the standard GS is a slow old barge compared to the 450h.

Lexus IS 2.2td 2010

Just bought the car, fantastic drive. Traded in an Audi A4 tdi. It handles great fuel econ fine, head turner, loads of power, loads of fun, total comfort on long journeys, leaves the old Audi for dust, the boot is small but hey how often do you fill a boot? Insurance group fine for type of car. No complaints.

Lexus IS 2006

The IS 220d se is my first diesel car I have owned, it’s only done 30 000 miles and it blows out blue smoke intermittently. Lexus put piston rings in and it is still doing it, now they say it could be the 5 injectors.

Lexus RX RX450 SE-L Premier 2009

We took delivery of our new RX450 SE-L Premier at the end of January 2010. Having carefully selected the model, we are deeply disappointed with the fuel return obtained from the vehicle. When choosing the vehicle we were influenced by the published fuel return figures of a combined return of 44.8 mpg. Unfortunately and despite every effort to drive as smooth as possible and use economy mode (which slows the vehicle take off speed dramatically), we are only achieving a maximum of 33mpg on long-haul "M1 motorway" runs and 30mpg local use. The vehicle has been back to the dealer for checking but they advise that they are aware of some problems on fuel return against published figures and they think Lexus are about to introduce driver skills to help assist on fuel return. The need to learn new driving skills is not mentioned in the advertising package! When discussing the matter with Lexus direct through the "contact us" web link, a return phone call ended with the suggestion that if I am not happy, we should advise the dealer who we purchased the vehicle from that we reject the vehicle. Although the dealer is most courteous and sympathetic, this is not a good start to owning a new car. I am now deciding whether to put-up with the poor fuel return or reject the vehicle and face what we feel will be a fight.

Lexus RX 450h 2009

In the main I am very pleased with this car. The laser guided cruise control is simply awesome and I use it all the time. The USB ports for the iphone are in a place that is difficult to access. Not sure why they have done this. The seats in the 450h are much better than the 400h that I had previously. DAB is a real winner as is the USB when you can find it. The ride for me is much better than the 400h and the steering is much more responsive. (I found the 400h steering to be sluggish). I have two issues with this car. The MPG figures are simply lies. If you get 33mpg you are doing very well. Any notion of 40+ mpg is Mary Poppins. The RX450h article states that careful driving will yield 50mpg. Please do not believe this. I do long journeys and dont get 33mpg. I rarely go above 80mph. So please be very careful when believing these mileage figures. At time of writing this article the Sat Nav is returning some illogical routes. I have taken this matter to Lexus GB and they are looking into the matter, albeit very slowly. If you want good sat nav functionality then dont buy a Lexus. Get a lesser car and buy a tom tom or garmin sat nav. Their functionality and ease of use leaves the lexus for dead. If you want a luxury car in the shape of an SUV, and want to pay a small amount for road tax, but don’t care for Sat Nav, then I recommend this car. If you think you are going to get 35+ mpg from a 3.5 litre V6 engine then you are living in cloud cuckoo land. I accept that this car has two large electric motors but they are used more for power enhancement than only running on electric power. Finally, if you want to buy Lexus due to the fact that it is JD Power number 1 for customer satisfaction then again I would urge caution. This is my second Lexus and I am yet to witness any pursuit for perfection in terms of customer service. I have purchased from two main franchises and both have shown no regard for me as a customer once the sale is made. Lexus as the parent company have shown little more regard. So if customer service is not a big issue then I recommend this car.

Lexus SC 430 2007

In April 2009 I purchased a LEXUS SC430, I have had a very frustrating issue with it. If the vehicle sits for more than 4-5 days without driving it, it will not start because of a dead battery. This has happened numerous times now. My dealer says that it is a known problem, but they also indicated that Lexus knows about this issue, and there are no fixes! Supposedly, the vehicle has so many computers, that if it is not run every couple of days or so, it will discharge the battery. The only workarounds from Lexus are to either install a kill switch for the battery, thus turning off all power to the car (and deleting radio presets and the like), or always hooking up the battery to a trickle charger when I am gone. Unfortunately, I travel for business frequently, and neither of these are appropriate. The LEXUS SC 430 is my second car and that is why I do not use it every day I also own a new LEXUS RX400 which I regularly use and was advised by the Lexus garage that if that is left it will have the same problem. I am appalled that LEXUS can sell cars with these known faults The only way to overcome the problem is to carry a Heavy Duty Jump Start 4000 battery charger. I ask that JD Power let prospective owners of both Models of hidden problem LEXUS does not appear to want to solve the know problem and has NOT considered conducting a Kaitzen on the problem and one is not able to discuss the problem with any technical representative CAN YOU HELP GET LEXUS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM Kindest Regards Paul Tweedale Mobile 07714 272473 e-mail a5rpt@talktalk.net

Responses to this review

I have a 2007 Lexus SC430 and I have exactly the same problem. I call Lexus Headquarters and they tell me to take it to the dealer. I take it to the dealer and they change the battery and tell me to drive it more. So far I have gone through 3 batteries. If I drive it to the airport and leave it for more than 6 days, I must have a jump start to get back home. I have been jump started by a 1968 Volkswagon and a 1974 Ford Pickup. How prestigious is that? Totally unacceptable. I suggest all SC430 owners contact Consumer Affairs.Com and lodge a complaint. It’s very easy to do and it’s free - Al Porter from United States of America

I have had an SC430 for 8y (just the one car) and it’s never given me any problems. I did run the battery down once by leaving the internal light on and after that it played up a bit. However when I bought a new battery (amazingly cheap, about £50 from Lexus themselves, fitted) then the issue was completely resolved. I also travel a lot for business so the car is unused for a week or more at a time, several times a year. It’s never failed to start first time since. I have not had any other mechanical or technical problems. The tyre pressures sensors are rather fragile so best warn anyone changing a tyre otherwise there are some expensive replacements to make - Clarke Pitts from London

I am having the same problem. The car does not start, battery dies. Totally unacceptable! - Jason from United States of America

Lexus IS 2008

Well, if you’re looking for an automatic Lexus IS 250 - here it is. All you need to do is keep the keys in your pocket and drive it! And also the person who has the keys can only open the doors and boot. It includes vents at back and front, also the seats are so cormfortable. It even has 8 speakers, air conditioning and a sat nav; not forgetting the radio!!!

Lexus IS ss 2008

I absolutely love this car.

Lexus IS 220 SE 2008

If you want a car with a real quality fit and finish that looks good this car is for you. If you want a drivers car, forget it. When you need to pull away from rest quickly it takes an eternity until the turbo comes in. It is soggy around twisty roads and we cannot get near the MPG quoted whereas we can with our Audi. I had to get the RAC out when it the turbo pipe fell off and the dealer has still has not replied as to why it was not spotted during the service.

Lexus RX 400H 2006

Owned since new, this is my second Lexus RX. My first, the 350 petrol, was bought second hand and was reliable, albeit with some problems with the air suspension which were fixed under warranty. The driving experience with the 400h is much better, although it is heavier, the centre of gravity is lower and the seamless auto box much more controllable. No problems at all with the 400h after 1.5 years - spacious, refined, well equipped, solidly built, good looking, economical (29-35mpg - not quite as good as manufacturer’s claim), deceptively fast, friendly efficient dealer (just as well since there’s limited choice).

Lexus IS 2006

Wonderful car to drive - holds the road as if it were on tracks. Great acceleration; very responsive, no worry when overtaking. Have done over 30K in two years and it has never let me down.

Lexus GS 450h. 2006

Phenomenal machine, it leads where others will eventaually follow. Problem is the small boot, but you cant have it all... Variant: Year Of Make:

Lexus RX RX 300 sel 2005

I have just replaced my wife’s ML 270 Mercedes with the RX300 and I must say that it is in another class. The car was bought second hand with 23,000 miles on the clock. The levels of comfort and attention to detail put most other 4x4s to shame. I am a Lexus fan already with two previous LS 400s both of which gave impeccable service both reaching around 100,000 miles before I sold them. I would recommend the RX to anyone looking for a well thought out and driver friendly 4x4.

Lexus RX RX400h SE 2005

Superb vehicle all round. Very reliable and comfortable long distance. Complicated/different from non-electric cars so basic things like brake fluid flush cannot be done in the usual manual way - need to go to a garage. Oil changes - standard. Nothing ever breaks on this car so apart from service items nothing spent so far. Some minor dash squeaks fixed under warranty about a year ago. All in all, my first but will not be my last Lexus. I wish Lexus would brand the Land Cruiser here as they do in the US and take it up a level in luxury.

Lexus IS IS220D 2006

My first diesel and first Lexus. I’ll own another diesel but never another Lexus. Dealership issues aside, the car has proved to be woeful in terms of boot space, (worsened by the lack of split fold rear seats), and mediocre fuel economy. When the IS250 Auto performs virtually identically, why bother with expensive diesel? The car has plenty of gadgets to keep you occupied, but then so does every other car these days. What matters is the relationship between the owner and the dealer. That has been found wanting in so many ways for me; from the day it was collected and hadn’t been valeted with chewing gum stuck on the ashtray and reluctance to admit the problem with the 5th injector. If Lexus want to win their share of the quality compac exec market, they need to work a damn sight harder at it, because I’m going back to one of the big four.

Lexus RX 2005

The car is good, almost every thing RX330 is OK, the only concern is that the warranty of important parts in the car is only for 3 years. This really is a shame for a car that carries the Lexus name and quality level (other less quality cars e.g. Hyundai have a warranty of at least 4 years!)

Lexus LS 4.6 V8 LS 460 SE-L 2008

The LS460’s interior is as beautiful as it gets. The materials used are all of the finest quality. The reliability is unquestioned, this car will still be running long after I’ve stopped. Climate control, cruise control, sat nav, electronic seats. leather upholstery... the list goes on... and they all come as standard. The 4.6 litre engine fits the car perfectly and provides just the right amount of power with minimum road and engine noise. The ride is smooth, handling excellent, comfort levels are unsurpassed. A perfectly unobtrusive and pleasurable car, there is simply nothing wrong with it.

Lexus GS 3.0 V6 GS 300 SE 2007

The Lexus GS is without doubt the best equipped car, only the entry level model does not have leather seats or satellite navigation. CD, climate control, alloys - they all come as standard too. Sedate is a word that I would use to describe the driving experience in the GS, nothing ruffles it and an air of calmness seems to instill itself in the cabin. As safe as houses, there is an airbag to cope with every eventuality and anti-lock brakes and traction control are fitted as standard. The 2 areas where the GS lets itself down slightly is in space and running costs. The rear is cramped and the boot, although big, is difficult to fill and empty as it requires stretching your body to quite dangerous limits. The fuel economy is not great, a diesel option would have been better but this is not available in this class. I think that 4 stars sums up the GS pretty well, very good but not brilliant.

Lexus IS 2.2 IS 220d SE-L 2007

This is an attractive and well constructed car. It handles very well. The driving position is excellent and there is a definite feel of "quality" that surrounds the IS. There is a sixth gear available but it is ineffectual at under 85 miles per hour so there are few (legal) occasions on which it can be used. The minus points of the IS include the small boot and the lack of legroom for passengers in the back seats. The fuel economy also leaves a lot be desired, I am getting around 30 miles to the gallon when I expected 40 plus.

Lexus IS 220D SE 2006

The IS220D SE is my first Lexus and it definitely won't be my last. This car is simply superb. Motorway cruising is effortless and the six speed gear box delivers super low revs at high speeds. The motor magazines are just wrong in their reviews about this car. Buy one!

Lexus GS 2007

OK, I guess.

Lexus LS LS 460 2005

Luxury and opiance, leather and lace, dreamy driving within a boxy shape. Yep that is my impression of the top executive type Lexus that we know from all of the critics reports is so often at the top of the dealership tree, winning award after award for service, comfort, quality, quantity, reliability, colours, deals, people, toffee apples, cream cakes, I could go on and on. But one of the things that always seems to be ignored is the awful exterior shape of some of these things, I mean, is it those far eastern designers trying to compensate for something else! I, along with thousands of others cannot fault the brand, but i just wish they would step into the present day and borrow some thoughts from Pininfarina, or Alfa Romeo, (shapes and design, not the actual cars), the Lexus just seem to be so boring and lacking in this department. The car i used was a petrol engine (really big fuel guzzler), monster with an appetite for garage stops. Guest mate around 2o to the gallon, (which is bloody awful in today’s ever increasing Environmental friendly society we live in). Cannot knock the car, will not knock the service, dealerships and all that, but there are other choices dressed in a far more appealing outer skin, than this one.

Lexus IS SE Sport 2007

Classy, understated, professional and clearly exemplary up-market image. Gearing and driving needs to be appreciated in a slghtly different way. More powerful, luxurious, comfortable and reliable than all established european rivals. Had a 54 reg Honda Accord before and this car eclipses it effotlessly. Only those in denial of real quality and impressive road manners would ignore the Lexus IS. It is a gem on the road, a beauty to behold, graceful to the eye and an awesome competitor to all rivals. It’s looks says it all - "Bring it on...Europe..Ha"

Lexus IS 220 SE 2007

Beats the boring BMW hands down and is more than capable of beating of Mercedes, Audi ect without too much of a fight. The only things i would have liked is reversing Sensors as standard on this spec as the boot is high and the rear window small.

Lexus GS 450h SE 4dr 2007

Apart from this car being one of the most comfortable I’ve ever driven, I was extremely impressed with the Hybrid V6 engine, which is backed up by an eectric motor. This car is powerful and fuel efficient, normally a contradiction in terms. Wonderful to drive and comes with more gadgetry than you can shake a stick at. A serious competitor to the rest of the market.

Lexus LS 460 4dr 2007

Lexus really know how to build luxury cars and the LS Saloon is no exception. It caters for all your needs and is one of the smoothest drives I’ve ever had. So quiet you could almost think you’ve forgotton to switch it on and so comfortable you don’t want to get out when you arrive at your destination. Excellent car that really knows the meaning of luxury.

Lexus IS 220D SE

Best car I have driven for a long time, so effortless, but could be geared better. Travel at 70MPH and revs are 1600. It even has air conditioned seats as standard. The instrumentation is really snazzy. Best of all, long journeys are effortless. The front seats are huge. Down side, not a lot of room in the rear. Test drive one and you wont be disappointed.

Lexus IS SE

Don’t believe what they say in the magazines, drive one of these cars before taking anything else. Smooth powerful diesel, superb quality and service that the others would do well to try and emulate. I have really enjoyed my IS and would not want to change. SO nice not having to pay for lots of options too!!!

Lexus RX 300 SE 5dr

I personally feel the RX is a cut above other 4x4’s out there. Exceptionally roomy and comfortable and very enjoyable to drive. I admit I was a Lexus fan before owning this one and I can’t see that changing any time soon. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a 4x4 with a bit of class.

Lexus SC

I've owned 3 different Lexus and may cars of similar marque over the years. The SC430 is terrific! Its very powerful, but yet silent so you don't sound like a boy racer or a roadster! In good weather the roof comes down and you're driving a very prestigeous sports car that has all thew luxuries of a limo. Everything in the cabin is refined, and unlike its Mercedes counterpart, all the extras are standard!

Lexus IS Lexus IS 250

Having previously had 3 Audi’s before purchasing my Lexus I have to say I don’t think I will ever buy any other make of car again. The drive is smooth, the interior comfortable and it’s so much more fun to drive. Definitely a good buy.