2015 Lexus IS 250

The 2015 Lexus IS 250 is a compact luxury sedan offered in two trim levels: base and Crafted Line. The IS 350 is reviewed separately. Standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels, xenon headlights, LED running lights/foglights/taillights, heated exterior mirrors, a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, a manual tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, eight-way power front seats with driver power lumbar (and seat heaters in the all-wheel-drive IS 250), leatherette premium vinyl upholstery, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, a 8-inch color display with a console-mounted control dial, voice-command functionality and an eight-speaker audio system with Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a CD player, HD radio, iTunes tagging, satellite radio and dual iPod/USB inputs. The IS 250 also comes with Siri Eyes Free mode (compatible with select iPhones), which basically turns the car into a rolling iPhone. You can access iTunes, hear and compose text messages and e-mails, arrange your calendar and more, all facilitated by Apple's chatty digital assistant using the audio system's speakers and Bluetooth microphone. The 2015 Lexus IS 250 is powered by a 2.5-liter V6 that produces 204 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic is the sole transmission, and buyers can choose between rear- and all-wheel-drive variants. In Edmunds testing, a rear-wheel-drive IS 250 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, a tepid time for this segment. Standard safety equipment on the 2015 IS 250 includes antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front-seat side airbags, front knee airbags, side curtain airbags and rear-seat side airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, an IS 250 F Sport with 18-inch wheels and summer tires came to a stop from 60 mph in 118 feet, a lackluster showing compared to similarly equipped rivals. The 2015 Lexus IS 250 has as nice an interior as you'll find in this segment, and it's identical to that of the IS 350, so you're not penalized for choosing the entry-level model. Supple leather and handsome wood and metallic accents are used liberally, and the quality of the plastics is hard to fault. As expected in a Lexus, everything seems to be screwed together exceptionally well, too. Notably, the F Sport's unique TFT-enhanced gauge cluster features a physical gauge with a motorized sliding function; it's a nifty parlor trick, even if it isn't particularly useful.