When did Lexus discontinue the IS250?
In the United States, Lexus discontinued the IS250 after the 2013 model year, with the lineup shifting toward turbocharged and hybrid options such as the IS 200t and IS 300h in subsequent years.
To understand the broader timeline, it helps to look at how the IS250's run ended across markets. The model spanned generations and regions, and discontinuation schedules varied by country as Lexus rolled out new engines and variants in the IS lineup. Here is a detailed look at how the transition unfolded.
Background on the IS250
The IS250 was part of the first-generation Lexus IS lineup and used a 2.5-liter V6 engine. As Lexus expanded the IS with a second generation in the early 2010s, the brand began phasing out older powertrains in favor of turbocharged four-cylinders and hybrid options, signaling the end of the IS250’s run in many markets.
North American discontinuation timeline
The following milestones summarize the North American transition from the IS250 to newer powertrain options.
- The IS250 remained available in the United States through the 2013 model year, after which it was no longer offered in the US lineup.
- For the 2015 model year, Lexus introduced the IS 200t (turbocharged 2.0-liter) to replace the IS250 in North America, marking a shift in the engine strategy for the IS lineup.
- Subsequent model years focused on the IS 350 and hybrid/turbo variants, effectively retiring the IS250 as a distinct trim.
In practice, the North American market completed the IS250’s withdrawal during the 2013–2015 transition window, as Lexus pivoted to turbo and hybrid configurations.
Global market variations
Outside North America, the discontinuation followed a similar pattern as Lexus rolled out the second-generation IS with different engines and trims across regions. The IS250 generally disappeared from the lineup by the early-to-mid 2010s, replaced by turbocharged and hybrid variants in most major markets.
- By the mid-2010s, most major markets had phased out the IS250 in favor of newer engines (turbo 2.0-liter or hybrid), aligning with the new IS generation.
- Some markets briefly offered variants like the IS250C (convertible) during transitional years, but these were eventually discontinued as part of the engine/trim realignment.
Globally, the IS250’s production and sales ended across markets in the 2013–2015 window, with the new IS lineup taking its place in most regions.
Summary
The IS250 was effectively discontinued in the United States after the 2013 model year, with the transition completed as Lexus introduced turbocharged and hybrid variants in the following years. Across other markets, the phaseout occurred in the early-to-mid 2010s as the brand moved to newer IS configurations. This shift marked the end of the IS250 era in most regions.
