Car in review: Lexus IS 250 C convertible - Understated elegance and uncompromising reliability in motion

The arrival of the Lexus RC Convertible is imminent. We take one final look at the desirable Lexus IS 250 C convertible before it gets replaced.

It was designed with the sleek lines of the Lexus IS 250 but came with two doors less. It had the sensible practicalities of a four seater but at the touch of a button, became a long distance open top cruiser. It surpassed the prestige of rival German marques, but had none of their chronic idiosyncratic problems. It was, for lack of a better word, a motoring conundrum that saw few buyers but commanded legions of followers bordering on obsession. 

This is the Lexus IS 250 C. It was introduced in 2009, just as the Lexus SC 430 was due to make its swan song in 2010. For five years after the departure of the Lexus SC 430, the Lexus IS 250 C still holds the honour of being the only convertible in the entire Lexus line-up. 

That will all come to pass in due time, so before the Lexus IS 250 C is replaced next year, today I investigate what makes it so desirable.

These days, it gets increasingly harder to differentiate between the usual suspects. Strong competition between Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Lexus have resulted in a high degree of similarity between the C-class, 3-series, A4 and the IS for their near-perfect cabin finish, build quality, standard equipment and innovative technology. But, mention Lexus, and reliability immediately comes to mind.

Bearing the IS 250 nomenclature indicates the cabriolet uses the same bulletproof engine it shares with its four-door executive saloon brother. The mill is a 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine that produces 204 bhp which, in real world tests of combined cycles, returns 30.4 mpg. Paired with the powerplant is a 6-speed automatic transmission which changes gears as imperceptibly as the way it maintains composure as the vehicle treads over road imperfections - in other words, you hardly notice it.

Everything from the dashboard forward is indistinguishable from the garden variety Lexus IS 250. The centre console is beautifully appointed in wood, there's a generous 7" touchscreen to control the audio system, navigation, reverse camera and vehicle settings. There are heating and cooling functions for the driver and shotgun seats, tilt telescopic steering wheel, electro-luminescent dials, 8-way adjustable electric seats and paddle shifters so you can change gears without taking your hands off the wheels.

But aft of the dashboard is where it earns the 'C' designation from its namesake, IS 250 C. The party piece is a three-piece folding metal hardtop that takes 20 seconds to stow in the boot.

Roof down, the Lexus IS 250 C has a gorgeous silhouette, sleek like chromed steel, with a fuel-minding coefficient drag of just 0.29. Six years old it may be, but it's a compliment to the designers that the overall shape has matured well and even manages to hold its own surrounded by the entire range grimacing a ubiquitous spindle grille. I predict it will mature well even 10 years from now.

With the roof sheared off, Lexus added 125 kg of bodyweight to stiffen the vehicle's torsional rigidity, but damaging its 0-60 mph acceleration as a byproduct. While the four-door saloon takes 8.1 seconds, the cabriolet takes 9.0 seconds. Should that worry you? I don't think so. I've never heard of a cabriolet used to assess speed shootouts with the competition; for that you need a blunt instrument, more like a Lexus IS-F. For shootouts, leave it to that. Why worry about 0-60 timings when you know an open top car is more for showboating purposes? :-)

The other impressive thing about the Lexus IS 250 C is the way it is packaged. Have you ever heard of a cabriolet having more boot space than the four-door saloon that acted as the initial template? Be prepared to be astounded by the figures. The Lexus IS 250 four-door saloon has a boot capacity of 378 litres. The Lexus IS 250 C: 583 litres. That's not a typo. It has 54 per cent more boot space than its four-door brother. Incredible or what? If you're a young family without kids, jokes aside the cabriolet is the more practical choice in favour of the four-door saloon.

When the roof is stowed in the boot, about half the boot space is forfeited. But it can swallow a full-sized golf bag, an overnight bag, and a few other rucksacks. Diminutive? Not where this is concerned. 

The confluence of great design, bulletproof reliability and the practicality of a folding hard top are features that make the Lexus IS 250 C one of the most desirable cabriolets in the market. Speaking personally, the fact that there's so few of them out on the roads gives it that limited-edition appeal; it's the thinking man's choice.  

Once your heart has settled with the looks and basically how cool it is to finally have the hard top cabriolet you've always wanted, it's good to know that the Lexus IS 250 C is a decision you can make with your mind. Front, side, knee airbags, complemented with active anti-whiplash head restraints are among the raft of standard safety features you can only hope to get from the competition. Electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution are thrown in too. No wonder it scored the maximum five stars adult occupant safety rating from Euro NCAP impact tests.

If you're keen on one of these, you can try to look for one in the used car market. Red may not be to everyone's liking, so how about this delicious example in midnight blue with ivory leather seats?

This pristine example was made in 2011 with a low mileage of 30,000km (I can't guarantee if that mileage hasn't been tampered with :-D) and now goes for about RM170,000.

Does it call out your name? Let me know guys.

Cheers!

All Lexus

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