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:

• 

  Awsome - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By NOS2006 - November 30 - 2:00 am

  hey. my dad has an is300 that is fully loaded and bright yellow. i love it because no matter where you go when you stop at a stop light people stare at it. awsome car, great interior and exterior design, great interior features, perfect sedan (for lexus and most other companys). best stereo i have ever heard! p.s. i heard that lexus is bringing out a new is called the is370 i believe. it is supposed to be basically the same with about 345 hp.

• 

  Awsome - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By nos2006 - November 30 - 2:00 am

  hey. my dad has an is300 that is fully loaded and bright yellow. i love it because no matter where you go when you stop at a stop light people stare at it. awsome car, great interior and exterior design, great interior features, perfect sedan (for lexus and most other companys). best stereo i have ever heard! p.s. i heard that lexus is bringing out a new is called the is370 i believe. it is supposed to be basically the same with about 345 hp.

• 

  Best in Class - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By Jobu - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I compared this with the BMW 325 and Audi A4 and I liked it the best. It handles at least as well as the others and it wont have the quirky electrical problems the BMW has.

• 

  Home-Run - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By 03is - November 21 - 10:07 am

  Ready? Love the car, but since I just recently bought it, Ive had to do some work getting it up to par as the prior owner didnt take great care. However, its a Lexus, so a blind monkey could drive it into a lake and itd be better than anything on the road. A few cosmetic issues inside and out, and 90k service hadnt been done. When something breaks on this car, its costly. But if you take care of it, itll take care of you. I wish they had that mentality! That said, Its a joy to drive. Slightly heavy and a bit sluggish, but with 200+hp, you dont lack for power. Finding low-mileage units is just about impossible, and when you purchase yours, youll see why.

• 

  Only sports enthusiasts apply - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By Jeffreaulex - November 14 - 10:00 am

  I have had the IS for little over a year. I love this bad boy to no end! Its awesome! Everyone is left behind at red lights...anywhere. This car is very powerful for its size. Comfort/size...you wear this car like a glove. Its tight, nimble, powerful, a great car! Styling isnt for everyone, but you MUST give it a test drive. It is truly an enjoyable car. GREAT sound system too!

• 

  Unbeatable! in every aspect! - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By thebigrigger - November 14 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Lexus is300 in july of 2002, a little over a year ago and i all ready have over twentysix thousand miles on it. The car has been nothing but a joy own, with no problems to this date. There is only one thing that i would like to see take place, and that is for TRD to come out with a supercharger for it. that not to say the car is underpowered in anyway but we all like to have the upper hand!

• 

  Great sports sedan value - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By deanedell - November 12 - 7:16 am

  If you are looking for a well-rounded sports sedan, the IS300 should definitely be in your consideration. The 2JZ-GE I6 is one smooth engine mated with a transmission with barely perceptible shifts. Excellent handling and brakes that stop RIGHT NOW. High quality interior materials and world- class fit and finish worthy of the Lexus name.

• 

  A Great Replacement - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By astro403 - November 10 - 10:13 am

  Decided it was time to upgrade from my 1999 Honda Prelude but was a little skeptical at first. I loved that car. Great handling, good power, unbelieveable reliability, the list goes on. After I bought the IS, all my skepticism was put to rest. Love the handling (although I had to get used to RWD again) performance, sexy styling and yes, even gas mileage. My IS gets about the same as my prelude. And were talking about a 3.0L V6 compared to a 2.2L 4 banger. I was impressed. Traction is OK in the snow. Living up in Canada you need winter tires, but even with them and with both trac. control and snow mode on, the wheels still slip quite easily, but if you pay attention like you should, youll be fine.

• 

  Great Sporty Luxury Car - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By Stephen - November 1 - 9:00 am

  My friend picked up this car after crashing his Passat. After he took me for a ride, I had to get my own. Although its not as fast as the 250/350 series, I think the exterior is more attractive. I bought mine with a ground effects package, custom rims, and spoiler. Later, I added tinted windows. Overall, especially with the customization, it is a very attractive and sporty car. It is fast with great handling except for occasionally slipping in wet spots. The price was right for a luxury vehicle. The mileage isnt great for a small car. After 30,000 miles, I havent had a single problem.

• 

  VerySatisfied - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By hleee - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my IS a lit over 2 weeks now. Very satisfied. This is the best entry level luxury sport sedan I can say. You get the most considering the money. I can tell you this caus I was out there for car shopping for 1 year!