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Lexus IS250C SE-L: Test Drive
Date: 02 November 2009 | Author:
A drop-top to rival BMW's 3-series convertible and Audi A5 cabriolet is Lexus's latest expansion, although the ISC won't have huge fleet appeal as it's here as a 2.5-litre petrol engine with CO2 of 219g/km.
Every panel from the saloon bar the bonnet, headlights, door handles and mirrors is redesigned for the three-piece hard-top. The roof only works at rest and needs both doors shut and the luggage cover slotted in, but it does come down in a decent 21.0secs. Lexus claims class-leading roof-down boot space (discounting the A5's fabric roof), but the space is a long thin strip. Anything square simply won't fit.
The auto-only ISC is a good looking - especially roof down - cruiser rather than sports car, and the costs aren't too favourable for business. An 88.5p per mile figure isn't helped by a predicted retained value from KwikCarcost of just 31.7%, which is poor for a prestige brand.
The ISC makes a decent case on its looks, but the German premium brands will feel they have it covered in terms of driving, cost of ownership and practicality.
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VerdictHits the spot for looks but doesn't back-up early promise in terms of ownership proposition. |
6/10 |
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