The 2014 Lexus IS 250 is the third generation of the IS sedan and it receives a much needed makeover after its predecessor’s eight year run. The question is, does that makeover do enough to make it a worthy competitor in the luxury sports sedan market?
| STATS | Starting Retail Price | As Tested Price | HP / Lb-Ft |
| 2014 Lexus IS 250 AWD | $38,485 | $45,550 | 204 / 185 |
| EPA Rating MPG | As Tested MPG | ||
| Rating: LEASE IT! | 20 / 27 Combined 23 | 21 Combined |
The exterior design changes come mostly in the form of an updated front end. The headlights blend into the front bumper but LED daytime running lights beneath them are a nice standout. There’s also that Lexus spindle grille and it dominates the front of the car. In back, you get great looking dual tailpipes as a standard feature.
The interior of the 2014 Lexus IS 250 is comfortable but very muted. There are lots of matte finishes so there’s very little glitz or finesse, unless you’re looking at the standard 7″ display atop the dash. The overall impression is not one of luxury, but of functionality. This works for the sports car angle, but not so much as a luxury sedan.
There is one feature that’s small, but works so beautifully it’s worth mentioning, and that’s the capacitive climate-control switches. You just slide your finger up or down to change the temperature, and unlike in so many other vehicles, it works every time. Nicely done, Lexus.
The cabin isn’t exactly spacious, but it has grown bigger and there’s more legroom than before. Up front there’s .9″ and in the back 1.6″ which gives just enough room for two passengers to sit comfortably in back. The front seats are nicely bolstered and adjustable so even tall guys are going to find plenty of room for their knees.
As for the powertrain, well, that hasn’t changed a bit. It’s still got a 2.5-liter V6 with 204 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque just like the second generation IS and this is a little disappointing. I drove the 2014 Lexus IS 250 with AWD which added a bit more weight and it did not make for a fast or exciting ride.
It’s a competent ride and it handles well, but there’s not a lot of get up and go with a 0-60 time of 8.3 seconds. Up against comparable cars like the BMW 3 Series or Cadillac ATS, the 2014 Lexus IS 250 is not going to impress.
You can coax a little more out of the car by using the Drive Mode Select dial and switching it from Normal or Eco to Sport. You’ll get slightly reduced power-steering assist and it will hold gears longer and downshift sooner adding a lot more fun to your drive.
The 6-speed automatic shifts smoothly throughout the range with paddle shifters for when you want to take a little more control. Although power might not be its greatest asset, handling is something altogether different.
It’s extremely well-balanced and hugs corners confidently at high speeds. The suspension keeps body lean to a minimum and evens out rough roads as easily as rutted snowy ones. The smooth ride you expect from a luxury car is found in the 2014 Lexus IS 250 in abundance.
The 2014 Lexus IS 250 AWD is a sold luxury sports sedan, but it doesn’t offer any feature that puts it ahead of the pack. Performance isn’t what it could be although handling an comfort are top notch.
On the TFLcar scale of:
- Buy it!
- Lease it!
- Rent it!
- … or Forget it!
I give the 2014 Lexus IS 250 AWD a Lease It!
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.
