Did you say… convenient?
That said, the biggest complaint about the Lexus IS C is the crying lack of convenience and practicality. In addition to the exasperatingly-slow "Rear Seat Walk-In" feature, interior storage solutions are pretty limited and mostly ill-positioned.
Wait, it gets even worse… The trunk is significantly higher than that of the regular IS in order to accommodate the retractable top and cargo room is virtually non-existent once you fold it in. Consider this: I was able to load only a gallon of washer fluid, a folded coat and a small briefcase. Don’t try to fit a set of golf clubs or even a few grocery bags.
It’s pretty obvious that Lexus chose to sacrifice everyday utility in favour of wind-in-the-air weekend thrills. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
Smooth and competent
On the road, however, the 2010 Lexus IS 350 C truly handles like a charm. The 306-horsepower V6 engine is remarkably smooth yet convincingly potent under acceleration.
In typical Lexus fashion, the steering does not offer a whole lot of feedback and sometimes feels overly assisted, but it sure responds quickly to driver inputs.
The suspension, while generally compliant, is firm when it matters the most, providing excellent road grip in corners. The chassis may be slightly less rigid than the sedan’s due to the lack of B- and C-pillars, but the car remains pleasantly responsive overall. Understandably, things get a little trickier in the sharpest turns.
Also, like all convertibles, the IS C is not exactly generous in terms of rearward visibility. In fact, whatever you do, don’t hesitate to lower the rear headrests when nobody is sitting in the back.
I should also report that the brake pedal feels spongy in the early part of its stroke, thereby requiring some adjustment by the driver in order to effectively modulate the brakes. I quickly got used to it myself, though.
Wrapping up the Lexus IS-C
Fun, racy and powerful, the 2010 Lexus IS 350 C has a number of great attributes. Unfortunately, like I said many times, practicality isn’t one of them; in fact, it’s worse than with most competitors. Bottom line, if you’re looking for style and comfort but not really convenient transportation, this Lexus is a formidable choice.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
That said, the biggest complaint about the Lexus IS C is the crying lack of convenience and practicality. In addition to the exasperatingly-slow "Rear Seat Walk-In" feature, interior storage solutions are pretty limited and mostly ill-positioned.
Wait, it gets even worse… The trunk is significantly higher than that of the regular IS in order to accommodate the retractable top and cargo room is virtually non-existent once you fold it in. Consider this: I was able to load only a gallon of washer fluid, a folded coat and a small briefcase. Don’t try to fit a set of golf clubs or even a few grocery bags.
It’s pretty obvious that Lexus chose to sacrifice everyday utility in favour of wind-in-the-air weekend thrills. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
Smooth and competent
On the road, however, the 2010 Lexus IS 350 C truly handles like a charm. The 306-horsepower V6 engine is remarkably smooth yet convincingly potent under acceleration.
In typical Lexus fashion, the steering does not offer a whole lot of feedback and sometimes feels overly assisted, but it sure responds quickly to driver inputs.
 |
| The 306-horsepower V6 engine is remarkably smooth yet convincingly potent under acceleration. |
The suspension, while generally compliant, is firm when it matters the most, providing excellent road grip in corners. The chassis may be slightly less rigid than the sedan’s due to the lack of B- and C-pillars, but the car remains pleasantly responsive overall. Understandably, things get a little trickier in the sharpest turns.
Also, like all convertibles, the IS C is not exactly generous in terms of rearward visibility. In fact, whatever you do, don’t hesitate to lower the rear headrests when nobody is sitting in the back.
I should also report that the brake pedal feels spongy in the early part of its stroke, thereby requiring some adjustment by the driver in order to effectively modulate the brakes. I quickly got used to it myself, though.
Wrapping up the Lexus IS-C
Fun, racy and powerful, the 2010 Lexus IS 350 C has a number of great attributes. Unfortunately, like I said many times, practicality isn’t one of them; in fact, it’s worse than with most competitors. Bottom line, if you’re looking for style and comfort but not really convenient transportation, this Lexus is a formidable choice.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
Article Gallery