What year did Lexus make IS250?
The Lexus IS250 debuted as part of the 2006 model year lineup.
To understand the question in full, the IS250 sits in Lexus’ IS sedan family as a 2.5-liter V6 variant. It appeared with the first-generation IS (introduced around 2006) and continued through the end of that generation in most markets, before the second-generation IS arrived for the 2014 model year with different engine options. In the United States, the IS250 nameplate was largely phased out during the transition to the new generation.
Timeline of the IS250
Key dates and model-year ranges for the IS250 across generations.
- 2006 model year: IS250 introduced alongside the IS350 as part of the first-generation IS (XE20).
- 2006–2013 model years: First-generation IS lineup, including IS250 and IS350, produced and sold in most markets.
- 2014 model year: Second-generation IS (XE30) launched with new design and powertrain options; the IS250 nameplate was largely retired in the U.S. market during the transition.
In short, the IS250 began with the 2006 model year and continued through the end of the first generation around 2013, before a 2014-generation launch brought a different configuration to the lineup.
Generational context and market notes
The IS lineup evolved with Lexus’ design language and powertrain strategy. The first-generation IS250 used a 2.5-liter V6 and helped establish the IS model as a compact luxury sedan. The second generation introduced newer engines and refined dynamics, with the IS250 name largely not carried forward in the U.S. market, as Lexus shifted focus to other variants.
- The first-generation IS (XE20) launched for the 2006 model year, with IS250 and IS350 as the primary variants.
- The second-generation IS (XE30) arrived for the 2014 model year, delivering a redesigned platform and updated powertrains; in the United States, the IS250 variant was not continued in this generation.
- Global market variations: some regions offered regional engine options or variants associated with the IS250 lineage during the early years of the second generation, but the US lineup predominantly did not.
The upshot for buyers and enthusiasts is that the IS250’s era began in 2006 and concluded with the end of the first-generation run (roughly 2013 in many markets), as Lexus moved to a new generation for 2014 with different engine configurations.
What this means for collectors and buyers
If you’re shopping for a true IS250, focus on model-year specifics and region. In most markets, 2006–2013 vehicles represent the IS250 within the first-generation lineup, while 2014 and later models belong to the second generation with revised powertrains and a different naming emphasis in the U.S.
Summary: The Lexus IS250 was introduced for the 2006 model year as part of the first-generation IS, remaining in that generation through about 2013. The all-new second generation arrived for the 2014 model year, with the IS250 nameplate largely retired in the U.S. during that transition.
