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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  IS 300 - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By txbuzzman - February 8 - 2:20 am

  Love the car, great gearbox. If you like manual transmissions and rear wheel drive this might be the car for you. Fun increases exponentially when you turn the traction control off........

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  2005 IS300. What a car! Sporty and luxury - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By javalencia - February 6 - 2:57 pm

  The best car Ive ever owned. A smart decision if you get one. 124k miles and runs like a champ. In the city will eat up gas a little more than it should but on the fwy is as good as my previuos 07 Corolla. Powerful, smooth, quiet and very responsive engine. Automatic transmission shifts smooth. I love the reliability, confortablity, style, interior design, re-sale price and everything about this car. Even with "kind of" high mileage havent had a single problem. Do regular maintenance and car wont let you down. Its just a blast to drive.

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  awesome car - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By Lnoch86 - February 5 - 10:00 am

  Its by far the best mid-price 4 door sports car on the market.

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  The IS300 used to be cool... - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By BenzE320 - February 5 - 10:00 am

  I got my car in late 2002, its now 2003 and every homie g who can scam up $35k is driving one. I am truly sick of every honda teenager wanting to be me with the tail lights and oversized exhaust. I am happy with it overall, but its a bmw or infiniti for my next car, unless lexus grows up.

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  Only for the young at heart - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Anghang - January 18 - 2:00 am

  The handling on this car is so impressive. I guarantee you a smooth quiet ride even with a 17-inch alloy wheel. I love the interiors! ... no hard wood, nice aluminum pedals, chronograph-style instrumentations and 6-disc CD auto-changer with 8 speakers and 240W power. And the exterior design ... perfect. The first of its kind having white (smoked) lights on both front and rear. Plus the headlamps is high-intensity. Did I mention the fog lamps and the homelink tranceiver and the 8-way adjustable seats in front with 2 driver memory? Guess what, all of those things ... standard! So forget what the oldies like ... This car is for the young at heart.

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  Tight & Good - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By smcfly - January 18 - 2:00 am

  Great driving experience. Feels like youre a pilot locked in for flight - seats, instrumentation, position all put the driver in position to command the car. Intuitive steering and acceleration. Limited slip differential is a must have option.

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  Woo Hoo - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By happy girl - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I have only owned the car for a week and I have already had 4 complete strangers ask me about it because they are thinking of getting one of their own. IS300 is sporty, classy, fun, and reliable.

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  Awesome car! - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Xam - January 11 - 10:00 am

  This car is great fun to drive. I really like the handling on both the interstate and backroads. It is comfortable and the driving position is excellent. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a true sports sedan.

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  Great Car - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By CG - January 4 - 2:00 am

  The drive is fast, smooth and very comfortable on long trips. The sound system is great.

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  1 Awesome Car - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By YellowIS300 - December 22 - 2:56 am

  Since I bought the IS 300 I have not been able to get myself out of it. The car is amazing. It handles extremly well, it has a lot of appeal to everyone, and I get consistent compliments by friends who are very picky about cars. The manual makes this one fun car. If it had an extra 40hp it would be PERFECT.