2012 Lexus IS 250 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Lexus IS 250 review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 IS 250, and includes Lexus IS 250 safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The Lexus IS 250 is a compact, rear-wheel-drive sedan that serves as the one of the least expensive paths to Lexus ownership.

Now entering its seventh year since its last redesign, the 2012 Lexus IS is virtually unchanged except for the replacement of Smoky Granite Mica and Glacier Frost Mica with Nebula Gray Pearl and Fire Agate Pearl paint colors.

The 2012 Lexus IS 250 is sold in a single level of specification with a handful of options and dealer-installed accessories. The kinds of amenities that are expected on an entry-level luxury model are present and accounted for, and additional highlights include leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power front seats, a power moonroof, SmartAccess keyless entry and ignition, and a premium sound system equipped with satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free calling and music streaming, a USB port, iPod connectivity and, if you still listen to those shiny silver discs with music on them, a CD changer.

An automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are optional, and the IS 250 includes heated front seats with AWD. Additional extras include a touch-screen DVD-based navigation system with a reversing camera, a Mark Levinson surround sound audio system, high-intensity discharge headlights with LED running lights and an Adaptive Front Lighting System, Lexus Enform telematics with Safety Connect service, and an Intuitive Park Assist system.

The optional Luxury Plus Package douses the IS 250 in semi-aniline perforated leather and Bird’s Eye Maple wood trim, and includes heated and ventilated front seats, a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, driver memory settings, rain sensing wipers, and auto-dimming outside mirrors. Enthusiastic drivers will want the F Sport Package for its sport suspension, sport steering tuning, 18-inch wheels with dark Super Chrome finish, front lip spoiler, rear deck spoiler, dark chrome grille insert, and heated front sport seats with microfiber inserts. Ultrasonic Blue paint is exclusively offered with the F Sport Package.

A 2.5-liter V6 engine making 204 horsepower powers the Lexus IS 250, down 102 ponies compared to the considerably more potent IS 350 model. Adding insult to injury, the puny V6 requires premium fuel. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, but most Lexus IS buyers will want the optional six-speed automatic with paddle shifters. Fuel economy ratings are 19-city/28-highway with the manual gearbox, and 21-city/30-highway with the six-speed automatic.

An all-wheel-drive system is available. It divides engine power in a 70-percent rear/30-percent front split under normal driving conditions. Depending on road surface and traction, the AWD system can vary the power delivery to an even 50/50 split. Fuel economy ratings are 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

As is expected from an automobile wearing a premium brand badge on its grille, the 2012 Lexus IS 250 features a comprehensive safety package including six airbags plus a knee airbag for the driver, a traction and stability control system, and four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist.

The IS 250 also includes a Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system that, in combination with the electric steering system, manages the brakes, throttle and steering when software senses that a skid is about to occur. A reversing camera is included with the optional navigation system, and an optional Intuitive Park Assist system includes front and rear parking sensors and a graphic display showing the distance between the IS 250 and nearby objects. The available Adaptive Front Lighting System helps the driver to see around dark corners at night.

When the IS 250 is equipped with Lexus Enform telematics, it comes with Safety Connect service, which serves two important functions. First, Automatic Crash Notification activates whenever the airbags deploy, putting a live operator in touch with the car to see if everyone is OK. Even if the IS 250’s occupants are unable to respond, the operator can send help to the car’s exact location to speed assistance and rescue. Second, Safety Connect features an SOS Emergency Button that can be pressed by anyone inside the car in the event that help must be summoned. A live operator responds to the SOS request, and after assessing the situation, can notify the proper authorities and send them to the IS 250’s exact location.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not rated the Lexus IS 250’s crashworthiness, except to give the car a rare 5-Star rollover resistance rating. In crash-tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Lexus IS gets a Good rating for frontal- and side-impact crashworthiness, and an Acceptable rating for roof crush strength and rear-impact injury prevention.

Reliability is unquestionably impressive. The Lexus IS receives the best possible reliability prediction from Consumer Reports, and a much better than average prediction from J.D. Power and Associates.

The 2012 Lexus IS 250 is no rocket, but it has enough power to keep up in traffic if you really hammer on it. According to Lexus, the IS 250 hits 60 mph in 7.9 seconds with rear-wheel drive, and 8.3 seconds with AWD. Top speed is 131 mph with AWD, 140 mph with rear-drive and an automatic transmission, and 144 mph with rear-drive and a manual gearbox.

The Lexus IS 250 slips through the atmosphere with an impressive 0.28 coefficient of drag. Given that, you’d think fuel economy ratings would be better. Blame the baby Lexus’s hefty curb weight, which starts at just under 3,500 pounds.

With a 13 cubic-foot trunk, the Lexus IS can’t swallow much of your stuff. Oddly, the IS 250 AWD actually has a larger trunk at 13.3 cu-ft.

After seven years, the Lexus IS still looks modern and fresh. If you bought one of these way back in 2006, you’re probably glad you did. Today, the IS is losing ground to larger, more technically and mechanically sophisticated competitors. However, it remains attractively styled, beautifully assembled and, if nothing else, evidently bulletproof in terms of dependability.

-- By Christian Wardlaw