2010 Lexus 250 ISC Convertible Road Test Review and Video

Spring has sprung, and there's no better time to purchase a shiny new convertible and enjoy some motoring al fresco. The Lexus 250 ISC Convertible certainly offers a lot of luxury, technology and performance in a nice retractable hard top package. So with so many great four seat hardtop convertibles to choose from is it the right choice?

Well since price is always a big factor, the Lexus ISC definitely offers a lot of bang for the buck when compared to its peers. It starts out with a retail price of $39,660, and comes fully loaded for $46,750.

By comparison, the BMW 328iC convertible starts at $45,875 and the base Infiniti G Convertible retails for about $44,000. The Volkswagen Eos does start out at an affordable $33,000, but the hardtop convertible VW has a four cylinder engine and a bit less panache than the Lexus, BMW or Infiniti.

In the Lexus ISC 250, the extra $7,000 worth of options are well worth it to me. The heated and cooled seats which come in the luxury package are definitely great to have in any car, but are a must have luxury in a convertible. You can drive year round with the touch screen dual auto climate control and those bun warmers / coolers.

The interior style and finish is top notch in the Lexus ISC. The light tan power leather seats really look great in contrast to some of the darker materials used throughout the cockpit. In a word, it is elegant.

All of the controls fall easily to hand, and you can control many functions with your your voice. You will certainly be comfortable sitting in the Lexus ISC as the power controls for the seats offer infinite versatility. The steering wheel is also fully adjustable to make it a perfect fit for drivers of any size or shape.

I tried out the back seats and found them to be quite comfortable. If you are tall, you might not want to take a long journey in the back, but for most passengers, including the kids, the rear seats should be more than adequate.

Ingress and egress is a breeze thanks to the smart key. The car will sense the key and just let you open it up without pressing any button. Once inside you can power it up with a click of the start button.

The touch screen navigation is easily programmable to get you to where you are going. It also offers traffic and weather information.

One of my passengers was very impressed at how quiet the ride was in the ISC 250. It is definitely a very smooth comfortable car to drive or ride in.

And as far as looks are concerned, I saw many heads turning as I drove down the road. The Lexus ISC's Matador Red Mica paint job certainly makes it stand out a bit, if I were to buy one, I would opt for the Ultrasonic Blue Mica or Cerulean Blue which would be more inconspicuous.

Dropping the top certainly attracts attention as the many motors work in unison to neatly stow the top in the trunk. This takes about 21 seconds which is much faster than the Infiniti G Convertible's retractable top.

Speaking of the trunk, it was designed to fit two golf bags. This is no small feat for a retractable hardtop convertible to pull off!

The ISC 250's aluminum 2.5 liter V6 engine makes 204 horse power and 185 lb. ft. of torque which will get you to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. on to a top speed of 131 mph. You can have it with a manual transmission, but the only thing you will gain is a 3 mph improvement to your top speed. Acceleration numbers are the same.

Fuel economy is rated at 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. You can expect an average of 24 mpg. Curiously, your fuel economy will be a bit worse with the entry level manual transmission.

I would certainly order mine with the six speed paddle shifting sequential automatic. This one gives you the option to drive it as a regular automatic, paddle shift, or to shift with the auto stick on the console which is my preference.

The ECT transmission brain is capable of learning the way you drive and adjusting itself accordingly. The Lexus certainly offers a smooth and very comfortable ride. You can also adjust it for power or snow with a switch just to the right of the steering wheel.

I was able to drive it hard through some challenging twisty roads, and the Lexus ISC handled it well. It won't set any lap records, but it does provide the driver with some fun and spirited performance thanks to its rear wheel drive layout.

If you want the track star version, the Lexus ISC 350 puts out 306 horse power and 277 lb. ft. of torque. It scoots you to 60 mph in a much more respectable 5.8 seconds on to a top speed of 141 mph. Fuel economy for the ISC 350 should average 20 mpg overall.

OK, in terms of price, $46,750 is certainly not small potatoes, but it is over $5,000 less than the Infiniti G37 Convertible I tested earlier. Comparing apples to apples, the 3.5 liter Lexus ISC 350 starts out around $44,000 just like the Infiniti G37 Convertible.

So which one is better? Well that's a pretty tough question because they are both great cars. I think that for most people the best buy is the Lexus 250 ISC. The 250 ISC has plenty of power, the ability to paddle shift, or shift with the auto stick in sport mode; and basically the same luxury features that you'd find in the faster Lexus ISC 350 or the Infinit G37.

As for exterior styling, I'd probably give the nod to the Infiniti. Avid readers will know that I like the art deco inspired front buttresses that are a trade mark styling cue on many newer Infinitis.

But in terms of price, luxury and performance, I think the Lexus ISC 250 is a great all around performer. It would be a joy to drive every day, it is cheaper and more fuel efficient than the competition, and you always have the option for al fresco motoring with just the flick of a switch!