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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  Affordable Performance and Style - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By fob2000 - December 12 - 4:00 pm

  I am extremely happy w/ my IS300 This car has the soul of a tiger. The handling is outstanding, and performance is great, but the styling is what I really love. Granted, the styling is "not your fathers Lexus", but it is very nice indeed. For thousands of dollars less than its main competitors, you get alot of bang for your buck. This, of course, is not a perfect car. The gas mileage is less than average (expect about 18-20 mpg), and the trunk space is extremely lacking.

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  @1 - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By fabio - December 10 - 2:00 am

  fun to drive, eager to run. lots of power, high fidelity road noise. You will eventually understand why someone said its a sports car for the Nintendo generation. The value seems to be on the short end, the underlying Toyota Altezza personality shows. Shouldnt I get a something else for the money?

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  @1 - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By Fabio - December 10 - 2:00 am

  fun to drive, eager to run. lots of power, high fidelity road noise. You will eventually understand why someone said its a sports car for the Nintendo generation. The value seems to be on the short end, the underlying Toyota Altezza personality shows. Shouldnt I get a something else for the money?

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  Get something else... - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By whatisit - October 22 - 2:00 am

  Actually got mine in May 2001; not 2002. It was before the standard was available; so I am stuck with a slipping aoutomatic. Handles great; not quick enough; has its fair share of problems. Being that I live in NY; I have to drive it in the snow - talk a bout a freaking adventure!!! I mean, the car does not really excel at anything other than handling; but everything else is so average at best - it cannot make up for its downfalls. Do yourself a favor; save your pennies and get a real sportscar. If it has to have 4 doors than save up for a 540. Looking forward to getting out of my lease early on this thing - I am a bit disappointed.

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  Not quite a Lexus - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By jpreski - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Overall the car is great with some issues I cant believe Lexus missed like usable storage and room, amenities like memory seat, more adjustable steering, and tire replacement difficulty. I have a BMW and they can get these items right. Great handling doesnt forgive these items since most people dont push the handling to the limit.

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  Nice car - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By billy - September 30 - 7:40 am

  so far, Ive raced with a M3(98 or 97 model) a few other BMWs, some modified rice car, and guess what, with the superior handling and cornering that this car can do, I beat them all! enough said!

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  04 is300 - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By d-squared - September 30 - 2:00 am

  great automobile...smoooth and quick acceleration. most fun to drive on the highway, with its quick response and go cart-like handling. exhaust has a nice growl. this is not a tall person automobile however, 6ft+ will have a difficult time feeling comfortable (being short does have some advantages.)

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  the best car i ever owned - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Teri?tqueenfroggy - September 24 - 2:00 am

  I really love my Lexus IS 300! It is a great car, the best I ever had. The interior is so neat. I have the sport and it is really cute. It rides so smooth.

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  Want BMW performance with reliability? - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Tom - August 25 - 12:26 pm

  This car has superb handling as it almost begs to be thrown around. The fuel economy leaves much to be desired but if you cared about gas then you would have bought a Prius. Styling is very good, but the interior instrument panel could be sleeker. This car definitely turns heads, more so than a 325i. I wanted a sports sedan with actual reliability and you cannot go wrong here. This is my first Lexus purchase and I believe I will stick with them after being very satisfied with my IS 300.

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  Best Value - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By viber - August 24 - 10:00 am

  My other considerations when I was shopping for a car were: A4 3.0, BMW 325i. I finanlly picked the IS300 because of the quality and the value. A4 3.0 being significantly more expensive (however, it comes with quattro) and 325i being significantly slower and lacking in some features, IS300 provides the best value. It is an extremely fun to drive vehicle with the best handling after the A4. However, when it comes to reliability, I had to drop my bias for European cars and pick a Lexus which has the best name in liability.