Road Test: 2010 Lexus IS 350 C

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Lidless Lexus

Lexus jumps into the competitive compact coupe/convertible ring

By John LeBlanc It's simple math, really. Offering a wider variety of products increases the chance of appealing to a wider variety of customers. It's one of the reasons why BMW's 3 Series -- with its lineup of rear- and all-wheel-drive sedans, coupes, convertibles, wagons and (X3) crossovers -- is the 800-pound gorilla in the entry-level luxury sports segment. Rival Lexus knows this all too well. In Canada last year, IS sales were around 3,600 units. The BMW 3 Series? 11,754. Alas, the limited number of body options arguably hasn't helped Lexus's smallest. Except for the odd duck 2002-2004 IS 300 Sportcross hatchback wagon-type thing, Lexus has relied solely on the four-door IS sedan to carry the torch. But Lexus seems keen to remedy the situation. Last year saw the addition of the high-performance F version of the sedan that's meant to go BMW M3-chasing. And this year sees the two-birds-with-one-stone new coupe-convertible IS C. Beyond taking on the established 3 Series Cabriolet -- a vehicle that has almost a three decade head start with buyers -- the new Lexus convertible comes into a segment that's getting awfully crowded. In addition to BMW's 1 and 3 Series four-seat convertibles, you can also throw into the mix the all-new Audi A5/S5 drop-tops, the new Benz E-Class Cabriolet, the facelifted for 2010 Volvo C70, the Volkswagen's Eos, and Japan's other BMW-wannabe brand: Infiniti, which launched a coupe-convertible iteration of its G37 this past summer. Our tester was the top-line IS 350 C. Like the sedan it's based upon, power comes from a creamsicle-smooth 3.5-litre V6 with 306 hp and 277 lb.-ft. of torque mated to a six-speed autobox. As per Lexus protocol, it comes fully loaded for its $60,400 base price, with only a $3,900 navigation system as an option. Not so much against a $57,400 G37 with 19 more horsepower, but compared to a $65,600 335i Cabriolet or $67,900 E350, the Lexus looks like a steal. For sun-seekers on a budget or for looking to shift gears by themselves, there's a 204-hp IS 250 C. It goes for $52,100 and has a six-speed manual transmission, with the slushbox optional. Both Lexus convertibles are rear-wheel drive only. Let's be clear: We're not big fans of the retractable-metal-roof trend. These contraptions add weight, take away trunk space where they are housed, (sometimes) create odd styling proportions and add mechanical complexity. But for many Canadians who would normally leave their cloth-top convertibles safely tucked away indoors during winter months, the appeal of a metal roof at a push of a button - and the guaranteed gee-whiz factor which is sure to impress the neighbours - is quite appealing. Lexus has followed suit. Like what BMW had to do with its 3 Series Cab, Lexus elongated the IS's rear bodywork to have some semblance of a trunk. You can see it in the odd pair of metal spines that rise up from the rear decklid to meet the junction between the roof and the trunk lid. At least Lexus claims its retractable hardtop is the only one in this segment that has enough room to store two roller suitcases and a matching pair of golf club bags. But, of course, not with the top down. When you are enjoying wind-in-your-hair driving, there's about enough room for a briefcase in the Lexus's trunk. Maybe two. If you don't bring along too many briefs. Or, for that matter, rear passengers with long limbs. Legroom behind the front seats in the IS C is about the same as the 1 Series and G37 -- even kids under 10 years of age may whine. If you regularly carry back-seat passengers, take note: the 3 Series and C70 have more. If you didn't already know, the IS sedan is a relative midpacker when called upon to engage in the act of spirited driving. You know, the kind of driving when your spouse is not in the car. And the IS coupe/convertible does little to move the Fun Meter in the proper direction. Like all retractable-roof convertibles, the added hardware makes the car heavier than its donor vehicles. In the Lexus's case, we're talking more than 130 kg over the five-seat sedan. As such, the IS 350 C moves from zero to 100 km in just under six seconds which ties it with the Infiniti G, but is slower than the twin-turbo BMW Unlike the base IS 250 C, there's no manual transmission available in the more powerful IS 350 C. Which would be okay, if its automatic wasn't skewed so heavily towards providing smooth shifts. As such, the so-called manual-shifting mode really isn't. It just locks into fifth and sixth gears. And the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters are so slow to respond, they're superfluous after a few days of usage. Being on the small size for its class, the IS has always been a nimble car to drive in tight urban situations. But as a back road, Sunday morning, clear-out-the-cobwebs kind of car, it can't hold a candle to the 335i or G37 sedans. The convertible version, even less so. Like the sedan, the IS 350 C's steering isn't very linear or quick. It's too light on initial turn-in, then gains a heavier feel as you follow through on the apex. It's weird. And the convertible IS's extra avoirdupois isn't doing it any favours when it comes to enthusiastic driving either. Body motions are less controlled than in the IS sedan, with a lot of roll in tight corners. Blame the softened-up suspension tuning that absorbs bad pavement like a luxury sedan for giving up the control wanted in a sports coupe. So will Lexus see an overall increase in sales of its IS range with this new body style? Probably. It boasts more refinement than the Infiniti G37 and Volvo C70 hardtop convertibles. But then you probably expect that in any Lexus nowadays. But by going the metal-roof route and not improving the car's driving dynamics over its sedan counterpart, we can't help but think the new IS 350 C will only appeal to existing Lexus who want a little wind in their hair. For top-down driving enthusiasts, though, we're not sure why someone would choose the Lexus over its rivals. 2010 Lexus IS 350 C WHAT WE LIKE: Typical Lexus reliability and build quality; lots of standard features; refined and quiet ride. WHAT NEEDS WORK: Metal roof compromises space and performance; slightly awkward looks; more luxury than sport from the driver's seat. Base price/as-tested: $60,400/$64,300 Type of vehicle: RWD folding hardtop convertible Engine: 3.5-litre, 24-valve, DOHC, V6 Power/Torque: 306 hp/277 lb.-ft. Transmission: Six-speed automatic Fuel consumption (city/hwy/as-tested): 11.5 / 7.9 / 10.8 L/100 km Competition: Audi A5 Cabriolet, BMW 335i Cabriolet, Infiniti G37 Convertible, Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabriolet, Volvo C70 T5

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