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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  More Fun for the Dollar - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By curtkc - May 18 - 6:50 am

  Great looks; smooth reving and torquey engine with world class tranny and brakes. Seats are comfortable; Sportcross gives the hatchback appeal and functionality of some of the Euro cars: BMW; Audi et al. Steering is highly responsive and tracks on center; it talks to you; you know where you are in the curves when driving at 8/10ths or better. R&T ran this car thru the cones @ 65mph and .91g on the skidpad:nuff said about handling. Great car

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  IS 300 is 3 years old - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By 01isowner - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Bought my IS 300 3 years ago. Looks brand new. Drives like it did on day 1. Zero problems. I made a very good decision to purchase it.

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  One of the best cars on the road - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By engfant - April 29 - 11:33 pm

  Everything about this car is 5 Star quality. Never have a problem with 65K miles. You cannot get a better small sedan than this car. The end.

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  Great Daily Driver - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By soulman - April 28 - 3:23 pm

  I bought this IS used just recently with over 100k miles. Great car so far, overall build quality is impeccable. However, there are some cheap interior pieces that have no business in a Lexus. Interior room is snug, but not entirely uncomfortable (Im only 59" and 160 lbs). My R32 probably shares the same interior volume, but feels more open and luxurious (for a VW of course). The combination of an I6 and RWD just works wonders for handling and stability. Dont know why the automakers are abandoning this concept, save BMW. The 5 speed manual works great, clutch work is buttery smooth. This car serves as a great performance substitute to my 08 R32.

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  Lexus IS300 5M 2003 - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By John Peabody - April 27 - 10:00 am

  Have owned 16 months and thoroughly enjoy driving it. The pros greatly outweigh the cons. Purchased over Acure CL Type S because if it greater manoeverability (turning circle 35 instead of 40) and better deal from dealer. A combination of the Acura engine an smoother manual shifter in the Lexus body would have been ideal.

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  Awesome Car - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By Rob - April 25 - 1:20 pm

  I just bought an 01 with 30900 miles on it. I do wish it had a manual. I hate the lag time from pushing the accelerator to the time your car goes. An armrest wouldve been nice. But I love the feel and handling of this car. Also once you get going this car has all the power you need right at your foot. This is one of the benefits of having a Supra engine even though it is downtuned from what it was in the Supra. I love how everything you could want is a standard feature. The gauge cluster takes some getting used to, though.

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  Lexus Fan for Life - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By hmntafiel - March 12 - 2:23 pm

  Not only does it have an attractive body style, but it is lots of fun to drive! The handling is GREAT around those curves--smooth and very responsive. I traded in a Celica for this baby and am not sorry I did. The interior is stylish and comfortable, with a sporty-feel, and attractive instrument panel/gauges. The E-shift option comes in handy when you want to have a little more control over the gears. Gas mileage is also pretty good. Lexus has once again produced another excellent quality car. I love this car. Lexus has definitely won me over as a customer for life!

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  Exactly what I wanted. - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By JBusy - March 5 - 2:00 am

  Not as tight as a BMW, but thats not the kind of car I wanted. Having owned Lexus before, a few amenities are missing that I would have liked (programmed seats, arm rest) but I definitely live without and am happy. 15 months after the purchase and Im amazed how much I like the car. Definitely a cross between a sports car and a luxury car,

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  IS300 is amazing - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Mattrre - January 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is amazing in every respect compared to its competition (G35, A4, 325, c230, etc). Although it is not as powerful as some in this list, it makes up for it in superior handling, better brakes, and a much more beautiful design, inside and out. Since these are not top sellers in this country, you can easily find one fairly affordable and at the same time have a car that you dont see everyday (like the 325i). I bought mine for 33k black/black auto with navigation. This car could easily go for 30k or lower. I suggest you check this out if you are looking for a car in the 30k price range. Also, this is the most relibable lexus.

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  IS300 - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Lancezl1 - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Tight vehicle, no rattles, fun to drive, looks great. Could use a little more power as usual.