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:
Showing 251 through 260 of 507.00-
very nice car, but crappy service - 2001 Lexus IS 300
By whatsnext - May 7 - 10:00 amcons: interior materials are poor quality. My steering wheel leather started cracking after a couple months. THe oem tires were terrible and blew up on me. one blew up after a couple thousand miles. Another one blew up later on. The tire recall didnt help either since they killed the new tires which I bought to replace my old tires. My center console plastic started fading. pros: very solid car. great handling. bottom line: dont expect to be reimbursed for any parts that are built below standard. Be prepared to shell out quite a bit of money to fix little things like interior parts, paint chips, tires, and so on.
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Japanese Copy of BMW 3 series - 2003 Lexus IS 300
By Johnby - May 2 - 10:00 amShould have bought the BMW, penny wise pound foolish
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is 300 l-tuned - 2002 Lexus IS 300
By richie - April 29 - 10:33 ami fell in love with my silver is300 the moment i saw it.the l-tuned package to me makes all the difference in the appearance of the car.great fun to drive,ample power,excellent build quality.
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A Great Little Car - 2002 Lexus IS 300
By Ace is300 - April 22 - 8:43 pmIve had my IS for over 15 months and I cant even believe how drama-free and worry-free its been. Its a sweet heart of a car. I love this car. Its got great handling, good acceleration (Ive got the rare 5 spd/man.), awesome color (Solar Yellow), and adequate luxury (Nav.syster,heated seats, full leather, 6 disc cd). But its the fun factor that keeps me smiling.
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Hott - 2004 Lexus IS 300
By Sonny D - April 21 - 2:00 amThe engine is the best part i found out that the engine is a toyota Supra Engine in it an its 215-hp with a addition of a booster increase the hp to 500-hp
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Road trip - 2003 Lexus IS 300
By KJsIS - April 14 - 10:00 amI took a road trip from Texas to NY and back about 3 weeks after buying this Sportcross. I found that I had to use cruise control on long drives, otherwise the seat would become very uncomfortable for my gas pedal leg. Ive taken this trip before in a GTI VR6 and didnt experience any discomfort. Of course, this problem wouldnt be noticed during day to day driving, only on 600+ mile cruises. Besides that, the paint chipped much more than I expected for a premium car (GTI fared better). Other than those issues, Ive truly enjoyed the 2 months with this car.
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Disappointed - 2003 Lexus IS 300
By Pathdoc - April 14 - 10:00 amGreat handling. Needs more power. Disappointed by clunking noise when shifting 5 speed (District Operations Manager finally admitted a design flaw in dual plate flywheel) Quirky auto climate control searches for right cabin temp. Dealer service arrogant and indifferent. Not what I expect from Lexus! Now have a dashboard rattle
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Who needs a BMW!! - 2001 Lexus IS 300
By TONYflhrci - April 14 - 10:00 amThe car is too small for my 65" figure, but my wife loves the car, its a very sound car for its small size...smooth quiet, no defects at all since new..happy campers!!
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Love this car so much, A++++++++++++++++ - 2003 Lexus IS 300
By Andriew - April 8 - 10:00 amGreat handling and performance. A++++ graded enginering, build quality, reliability and fun to drive.
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Couldnt be happier - 2001 Lexus IS 300
By Branden - March 29 - 12:43 pmThis car was actually my first and I couldnt have asked for a better car. I absolutely love driving it and enjoy every aspect of the car itself. Really is a true sport sedan that allows for good functionality.
