Overview & Reviews

For years people associated Lexus with quiet, refined and luxurious automobiles backed by a competitive pricing strategy. "Sporty," however, was far from anyone's mind. Then, in 2001, the Lexus IS 300 sport sedan came along and toppled that image. Lexus wanted this one to be an extrovert and an athlete. With every throttle input and every turn of the steering wheel, this compact, rear-wheel-drive sedan sought to communicate with its driver. With its firmly tuned suspension and sticky high-performance tires, it had the running gear to back up those aspirations.

It also had the styling. One look at its wedge shape, clear-lens taillights and dramatic color palette, and it was obvious this sedan was intended for a younger, more trend-conscious buyer than other Lexus models. A sport wagon version called the IS 300 SportCross was added for 2002, and although it offered a little more utility, outward aesthetics still took precedence over function.

Inside, the compact Lexus IS 300 looked and felt different, too, thanks to its racy watch-dial-style instrumentation, drilled aluminum pedals and chrome shifter ball. By no means was this an elegant cabin, though. Hard plastic covered the dash and console, and feature content never quite measured up to the standards of the class. This half-hearted approach to luxury was the major criticism leveled against the IS 300 during its five-year run.

Although imperfect, the Lexus IS 300 and IS 300 SportCross did get the attention of younger, more performance-minded consumers, which set the stage for their carefully executed successors, the IS 250 and IS 350.

Most recent Lexus IS 300

Based on the Japanese-market Toyota Altezza, the Lexus IS 300 was not originally designed to be a luxury car. When the automaker decided to sell a version of this compact, rear-drive sedan in the U.S., it was retrofitted with additional luxury content and a larger engine -- the 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder already used in the midsize Lexus GS 300 sedan.

This 3.0-liter six was capable of 215 horsepower and 218 pound-feet of torque, and paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. Although this drivetrain propelled the IS 300 to 60 mph in the low 7-second range, a small but vocal niche of consumers and automotive writers cried foul when Lexus initially failed to offer a manual transmission. The company rectified this oversight in 2002, adding a five-speed manual gearbox option for the sedan. The IS 300 SportCross wagon, which also debuted for '02, was automatic only.

In road tests of the Lexus IS 300 sedan and wagon, our editors noted that their stiff body structures allowed Lexus to tune their double-wishbone suspensions for sharp handling without making the ride too stiff for commuters. "But the IS 300 is a car that needs to be exercised regularly," we wrote at the time. "Well balanced due to its rear-wheel-drive layout, it's an easy car to pilot aggressively, thanks to the responsive steering and braking, nimble size, excellent driving position and 3,280-pound curb weight. The steering isn't quite as precise as a BMW's, but it's close. Very close."

Inside, the IS 300's not-so-upscale cabin was snug, even by the indulgent standards of the premium compact car class. Tight legroom and narrow footwells made it difficult for adults to get comfortable in back, and storage space was minimal. Of the two body styles, the SportCross wagon was the more practical choice, thanks to its 21.8-cubic-foot cargo bay.

Past Lexus IS 300 Models

As a used car choice, the IS 300 makes a lot of sense. Sold from 2001-'05, it hasn't held its value as well as competitors like the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G35 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but it offers equal or better performance in most areas. Build quality was always above average on the IS, and reliability is consistent with Toyota's typically strong reputation.

First-year Lexus IS 300 sedans were light on content, so it might be a good idea to confine your search to 2002 and newer models. Side curtain airbags, stability control, auto-dimming mirrors and a center armrest were all added to the standard equipment list for '02, while full leather seating and a navigation system became optional. Notably, stability control was only available on models with the automatic transmission. Changes were minimal in the years following.

Despite all the fuss the enthusiast crowd made about the manual-transmission option, manual-shift IS 300 sedans are rare commodities on the used car market, as the vast majority were sold with automatics.

User Reviews:

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  So far, soooo good! - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By jockoB - April 2 - 10:00 am

  A blast to drive. Could be a little roomier, but I can still squeeze in the rear facing infant car seat. It is more sport than sedan. AGAIN, a blast to drive.

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  Fun car to drive - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By drivininaz - March 24 - 10:00 am

  The car is very fun to drive. It takes corners well with little to no sway. E shift is fun but cumbersome to use on a regular basis. The gauges take a little time to get used to - The speedometer is hard to read around the 5s. The MPG guage is very distracting since it bounces all over the place telling you the instant MPG - not helpful over the long haul. Looked at the TL and G35 as well as the ES300 they drove like a larger family car which wasnt what I was looking for at this time. Inifinty dealership went old school w/me with the hard sale. Lexus dealership was the easiest car purchase I have made to date.

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  Reliable - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By compcond - March 15 - 2:00 am

  I still miss my A4. 98 Avant with 49,000 miles. $5,700 in repair bills (not including cat) during years 4 and 5. No accidents, all maintenance and repairs done by Audi dealers. Car needed ECM #3 and had Check Engine light when I traded it in... and I still miss it. The IS strives to be a German car... its not. Its a great handling, super reliable, fun to drive, really nice Toyota.

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  is300 is amazing - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By 4churchill - March 3 - 10:00 am

  THE IS300 IS GREAT, COULD USE MAYBE A TAD BIT MORE POWER, AND AN ARM REST FOR SRONT PASSENGERS, OTHER THEN THAT THE CAR IS AWSOME

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  Still in Love after 5k miles - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By TexISportX - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I looked for 2 years before deciding on this car and I know I made the right choice. I just had the 5k scheduled service performed and when I was on my way to pick it up I found myself getting excited about getting it back. The Sportcross is an absolute pleasure to drive.

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  Impressive Sport Sedan from Lexus! - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By dave1122 - February 17 - 10:00 am

  After owning a BMW 323i and having to stay in that same price range, i decided not to go for the 325i and pay an extra 3000 for a 14 hp improvement over the 323. I test drove the lexus and fell in love with it. Very comfortable, handles great, engine is nice (would have like a few more horses), but overall, an EXCELLENT sport sedan for the price. Oh, and did I mention, it is sooo fun to drive.

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  One of the best cars I own - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By leonstark - February 13 - 11:19 am

  By far one of the best cars I have owned in the past 10 years! when i bought the car I didnt think it was better than the 330Ci but i gotta say its just like it but better than it in some ways! i love my bimmer but i gotta say although this car was released a year ahead of e46 bimmers it did a good job competing against them. =D

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  Stylish, sporty, stellar - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By jstxlr8 - February 1 - 2:00 pm

  I have liked the IS since it came out and was thrilled to be able to buy one 2 years ago. In two years, I have had no complaints, just a lot of compliments and a lot of fun. Id rather have this car used for the 20,000 I bought it for than any new car on the road for the same price. I drive my cars pretty hard, and this has been one of my favorites..have had a Prelude, Maxima, and Probe GT, but the IS spanks em all. I do use the E shift alot, makes for a more fun driving experience, especially with the traction control off... it tends to kick in early sometimes, which is fine if Im not having a little fun with the car. Great luxo-sport car, that acts like and even looks like a coupe.

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  2003 IS-300 review - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By Todd - January 27 - 3:16 pm

  The car is outstanding - fun to drive, and absolutely reliable. Mine has a 5-speed transmission. Quality of everything is top-notch. My only complaints were the way the transmission shifted for about the first year - clutch was very difficult to engage smoothly, but it eventually broke in and is now fine. There has not been a single thing wrong with the car since the day I drove it out of the showroom.

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  The right car for me - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By feendog - January 12 - 2:00 am

  I looked long and hard for a car. thought about the acura rsx - was too small. thought about a bmw - im sick of bmws, so i decided on the lexus is. i like it alot. its a pleasure on the highway. only complaint - its a bit of a gas guzzler, and the rear seats dont fold down, make storage small. but id buy/lease it again if i had to do it over...