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10 Best Sedans Under $25,000

2009 Lexus IS

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2012 Lexus IS

Overview

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2009 Lexus IS Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

The current "entry level" model for the Lexus sedan line, the IS consists of the IS 250 in rear-drive or all-wheel-drive variations and the more potent rear-drive IS 350 – as well as the high-performance version, the IS-F (reviewed separately). Visually reminiscent of the larger GS, the IS melds sporty looks, enthusiast flair, a generous roster of standard equipment and legendary Lexus quality into a premium four-door sedan specifically intended to steal buyers away from the gold standard of this segment, the BMW 3 Series. Other competitors include Acura TSX and Audi A4, both of which are marginally more spacious inside.

You'll Like This Car If...

Sporty handling, an engaging personality and multiple powertrain and packaging configurations make the 2009 Lexus IS well worth considering by anyone who believes that small is beautiful and that a car is much more than a mere transportation appliance.

You May Not Like This Car If...

Some purists might argue that the Lexus IS lacks the handling precision and crisp visual tailoring of BMW's 3 Series, which remains the benchmark in this category. Limited rear-seat room might also draw frowns from all but the most modestly-scaled passengers.

What's New for 2009

Both the IS 250 and 350 receive a slight exterior freshening, touting new front and rear bumpers, grille and tail light clusters. Interior changes include folding rear headrests, new interior colors and new seat and door panel sew patterns. The IS 250 gains Lexus' Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system (VDIM) as standard equipment, while all IS sedans receive improved suspension and steering tuning.

Driving the IS

Driving Impressions Underpinning the Lexus IS is an enthusiast-oriented suspension that delivers good overall control and effectively limits body pitch and roll motions during aggressive cornering maneuvers. The new steering setup is...

still slightly heavy on-center (the straight-ahead position) but merits good marks for being positive and linear. Powerful anti-lock disc brakes (ABS) on all IS models seamlessly interact with the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system. While the IS 350 is the clear prime mover of this family, even the IS 250 AWD feels fairly quick around town and easily copes with the cut-and-thrust of daily commuting as well as freeway passing moves. With its revised chassis settings and wheel and tire upgrade, the optional Sport Package endows either rear-wheel-drive model with an extra measure of handling responsiveness.

Favorite Features

Paddle-Shift Automatic Transmission
Optional in a base IS 250 but standard on the IS 250 AWD and IS 350, this slick sequential six-speed allows you to use the fully-automatic mode or shift for yourself via either steering wheel-mounted paddles or an up or down push on the conventional console-mounted gear lever.

Optional Sport Package
While the well-tuned standard suspension will likely please most buyers, the Sport Package is firmer and includes an 18-inch wheel and tire upgrade that elevates any rear-drive IS model – but especially the IS 350 – to near-BMW 3 Series levels of agility and fun without detracting from the basic ride comfort.

2009 Lexus IS Details

Interior

Impressively finished and rich in soft-touch surfaces, the 2009 Lexus IS cabin is a relatively intimate space. Optitron electroluminescent gauges, user-friendly controls, a tilt and telescoping steering column and logically arrayed switches on the instrument panel's center stack emphasize its driver-friendly character, although bright sun can make the secondary readouts and navigation screen display difficult to read. Leather upholstery is standard in all versions, and optional wood accents can replace basic brushed aluminum across the line. Comfortable and supportive power front seats are a welcome home for those up to six feet tall, but modest head and leg room make the three-across fixed rear bench seat best suited for sub-adolescent passengers.

Exterior

Sharing the Lexus "L-Finesse" design language that was introduced with the GS, the IS has a clean, muscular appearance with a slight wedge profile accentuated by blackout B-pillars that serve to integrate the side glass into a single visual element. Other keys to its aggressive character include a power bulge on the hood, prominent shoulder ridges, well-defined fender flares and sculpted lower door sills. Finishing the look are 17-inch alloy wheels with V-rated 225/45 all-season tires on the IS 250 AWD and 225/45 front with 245/45 rear tires on the other two models. Rear-drive models also can be fitted with 18-inch wheels and tires as an upgrade.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Even the baseline 2009 Lexus IS 250 with 204 horsepower and six-speed manual transmission (or optional six-speed paddle-shifted automatic) has a comprehensive array of standard equipment that includes numerous power assists – including 10-way power driver's and passenger's seats – plus dual-zone automatic climate control, power moonroof, SmartAccess remote keyless entry and start, a 194-watt 13-speaker audio system with six-disc CD changer, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM) and anti-lock disc brakes. The IS 250 AWD adds a sophisticated all-wheel drive system, heated front seats and an automatic transmission as standard equipment, while the 306-horsepower IS 350 is available with the automatic only and features larger wheels and brakes. All IS variants are fitted with front, front-side and front and rear side-curtain airbags.

Optional Equipment

Key IS upgrades include the Premium Package (wood trim and leather heated and ventilated seats) and the Luxury Package (which adds cornering bi-xenon headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, power tilt/telescoping steering column, seat memory and more). IS rear-wheel-drive models also offer a Sport Package (sportier suspension tuning, high-performance wheels and tires and other features for the 350) and the X Package (the Sport Package suspension and wheels, and a front spoiler). Another option combines voice-activated DVD Navigation, with backup camera and Bluetooth, and a Mark Levinson 14-speaker 300-watt Premium Surround Sound Audio System. The navigation system is also available as a stand-alone option, as are the bi-xenon headlights, SIRIUS or XM Satellite Radio, an impact-mitigating Pre-Collision System and Dynamic Cruise Control and several other worthwhile items.

Under the Hood

Two technology-intensive, all-aluminum V6 engines provide clean and comparatively fuel-efficient motivation for the IS line. The 2.5-liter version uses dual Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i) and direct-to-cylinder fuel injection to develop 204 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque, sufficient to take a rear-drive IS 250 from zero to 60 miles per hour in a bit under eight seconds with either transmission, and to send the IS 250 AWD to that speed in about 8.5 seconds. The 3.5-liter V6 in the IS 350 adds secondary port injection and cranks out 306 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Backed with the mandatory paddle-shifted multi-mode (Normal/Sport/Snow) automatic, it propels the fleetest member of the IS family to the 60-mph benchmark in less than six seconds.

2.5-liter V6
204 horsepower @ 6400 rpm
185 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/26 (manual), 21/29 (automatic), 20/26 (AWD automatic)

3.5-liter V6
306 horsepower @ 6400 rpm
277 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/25

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Buying this car?

2009 Lexus IS Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

9.1

Out of 10

Based on 341 Ratings for the 2006 - 2012 Lexus IS models.

Review this car

Value

9.1/10

Quality

9.4/10
Reliability

9.4/10

Performance

9.2/10
Comfort

9.1/10

Styling

9.5/10

Nice car but it depreciates very fast

By Natalie (VA) on Friday, June 01, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 10,500

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 7/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 7/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Good mix of sport and luxury"

Cons: "the value of the car plummets"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 6

"I have a 2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD with the Luxury and Navigation package. The milage has been much less then what I am used to. However I came from the compact 4 cylinder market so it is to be expected. Just a note for anyone thinking about buying the car, be aware that it uses premium gas only. Consider it an expense of owning the vehicle. The driving experience has been good. The acceleration, while not as fast as the IS 350, is quick enough to get onto the highway without effort. The vehicle hugs turns and feels very solid while at the same time masking bumps on the road enough where they are not as jolting but can be felt to know the road conditions. In this regard I love this vehicle. The interior is amazing in terms of quality of the materials used. The leather seats are very nice and the seats feel great to sit in. On paper many cars in the lower ranges sound like they would match this but having been in both classes of cars there is a very real difference. The cooled seats in addition to the heated are must haves. The features in the car are plentiful. However the back seats do not fold down. You instead get a pass through which is disappointing but not a deal killer. The center console with the navigation while full featured is a mess and difficult to us. For instance there are hard buttons for the temperature but you have to go to climate on the touch screen to control the fan speed. Many of the hard buttons that you need to use to operate the center console are not back lit. The interface in the navigation system is decent but things like switching between bluetooth media players is not user friendly. It uses a category layout with the hard buttons to each side of the screen to select the category. My gripe is that they are again not backlit. Also the car does not maintain it's value very well. My vehicle dropped in value $12,000 in nine months. Now granted the value sets into a more gradual depreciation slope after that it is a very steep loss in value for me to get used to considering that my Honda Fit Sport I had before this was still worth the price of a brand new base Honda Fit when I traded it in a year and a half later. The reason the IS depreciates is because there is not as large of a market for the vehicle after it has been used. Anyone considering buying their first luxury car like this would be well advised to buy a one or two year old used Lexus IS so that someone else takes the huge depreciation hit instead of you."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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Worst car I've ever owned!!

By HoodieVixen (WA) on Thursday, May 03, 2012

I owned and sold this car
Reason: HATED IT! - My approximate mileage is 7,500

10 1.0

overall rating 1 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 1/10
Value: 1/10
Reliability: 4/10
Quality: 1/10
Performance: 1/10
Styling: 5/10
Comfort: 3/10

Pros: "Lots of upgrades were "standard" in price"

Cons: "Overpriced Toyota with terrible performance"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"I sold my Lexus after 6 months. I had 4 flat tires in that time, the handling is horrible, the engine leaves much to be desired... I could keep going, but I'll just say the summary I read re: "You might not like this car if..." was dead on. I should have kept my 3-series."

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