The new 2014 Lexus IS 250 received merely a "good" rating from Consumer Reports. It's the lowest rating a Lexus sedan has gotten in years.
As if recent quality issues weren’t enough to handle, Toyota and Nissan are now dealing with less-than-stellar reviews from Consumer Reports on their two newest luxury entries for 2014.
The 2014 Lexus IS 250 and Infiniti Q50 scores were among the lowest for expensive sport sedans, according to the magazine. In fact, neither vehicle achieved the coveted “Recommended” rating. That is in part due to the fact that neither can receive a “reliability” score because they are new; however, the IS 250 wouldn’t have received the rating because it scored too low.
The pair came in below the Lincoln MKZ 2.0 EcoBoost, BMW 328i, Mercedes-Benz C250 and Volvo S60 T5.
The Q50 is an all-new entry replacing the G37 in Infiniti’s line-up; however, it’s not as good as the car it’s replacing.
“The Infiniti G has been one of Consumer Reports’ highest-rated sedans for many years, but after its 2014 redesign and transition to the new Q designation, this car seems to have lost its way,” said Jake Fisher, director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports.
“Handling is mundane, due in part to dull steering. The underwhelming driving experience strips the car of much of its sporty legacy. The Q50 also doesn’t ride well and isn’t particularly quiet. Its new InTouch dual-screen controls are slow to respond and interior quality is nothing special. On the plus side, the Q50 is very quick, even with the added weight of the optional all-wheel-drive system.”
Ironically, the Q50 posted a “very good” overall road test score but landed near the bottom of the rankings for sporty and upscale sedans, which reflects just how good the segment is.
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The Lexus IS 250 finished with a “good,” which was the worst road test score posted by any Lexus in recent years, Fisher said.
The IS 250 was deemed “neither sporty nor luxurious” and the 2.5-liter V6 with all-wheel-drive the “lacks punch.” The magazine said the car achieved 21 mpg during its testing which was disappointing.
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The magazine was underwhelmed by the ride and handling of the new IS.
“Lexus IS handling is short on finesse, with vague-feeling steering that doesn’t telegraph much feedback. Road noise is elevated and the ride is neither plush nor tied-down. The interior is very tight, even when considered against the modest standards for sports sedans, with a narrow cabin, wide center console and large overhanging dashboard. In addition, the IS 250’s controls now include the fussy, distracting mouse-like controller found in other Lexus models.”