2012 Lexus IS 250 250c

The 2012 IS 250 is Lexus's compact sports sedan, the one you cross-shop with the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. It's a sharp little handler with quick steering and a balanced chassis, so it feels eager through corners. The ride is on the firm side, which is the trade for how well it corners, but it stays composed on rough pavement. Inside, you get a well-built cabin with supportive seats and a clean dash, though rear legroom is tight for adults. The 250c is the convertible version of the IS, so you get a power-folding hardtop and open-air driving that the sedan can't match, though it adds weight and cuts trunk space. Under the hood is a 2.5L V6 making 236 horsepower, paired with a six-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, which gives you confident traction in rain or light snow but returns 22 mpg combined.