2010 Lexus IS 350 C Review

The 2010 Lexus IS 350 C stands out from the competition with distinctive styling. Racy looks and a rather sporty attitude help the car make a clear fashion statement.

Fun, racy and powerful, the 2010 Lexus IS 350 C has a number of great attributes.

One would think that the rest is just as good, but that sadly isn’t the case. Actually, it’s almost as if the people at Lexus -- normally ultra-conservative wise men -- had set out to create a convertible whose sole purpose is to look great… and, oh yeah, offer a not-too-shabby driving experience. Practicality is nowhere part of the equation this time around.

Hardtop coupe-convertible
From a purely aesthetical point of view, the Lexus IS C is expertly executed. Based on the popular IS sedan, it borrows the vast majority of its design cues, both front and back. However, the IS managed to lose a pair of doors in the process.

The top itself is pretty well designed. It’s a three-panel aluminum roof that neatly folds into the trunk in just 20 seconds as soon as you push a button on the dashboard.

Sweet luxury
Life inside the Lexus IS C is quite simple and enjoyable, at least for front occupants. My tester had high-quality leather everywhere and all the bells and whistles that you expect in a luxury car -- and much more -- including a premium Mark Levinson sound system, a multifunction steering wheel, multi-way power adjustments and heated/cooled front buckets.

The rear seat is where the rub is. As with any other coupe, access to these quarters is fairly challenging due to the lone set of doors. You have to tilt the front seatbacks using the seat-mounted button and, once you’ve settled in, you have to bend your legs in a predetermined angle, not to mention ducking your head if you’re above 6-foot tall and don’t want to suffer from the heavily-raked top. On the plus side, hip and shoulder room is decent in the back of this 2+2.

Life inside the Lexus IS C is quite simple and enjoyable, at least for front occupants.