EDMUNDS.COM 2004 LEXUS IS 300
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 Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
Can''t match the BMW 3 Series in terms of luxury, but its combination of price, performance and premium features make the IS 300 a very intriguing sport sedan or wagon.
Pros
Outstanding driving dynamics, slick interior decor, competitive pricing.
Cons
Small rear seat and trunk, not much storage space, styling could be "tragically hip" by some accounts.
What''s New for 2004
On the outside, look for a new wheel design and smoked surrounding trim for the headlights and taillights. Inside, Lexus has added a memory function for the driver seat, a maintenance indicator light, a new storage compartment on the dash (for cars without the navigation system) and new trim highlights.
Overview
Introduction:
Lexus, traditional purveyor of highly refined but generally characterless luxury automobiles, has been on a mission to change that very image. Have you noticed the recent but subtle change in the company''s tagline from "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection" to "The Passionate Pursuit of Perfection"? Fortunately, there is actually product to back up this change in philosophy, as opposed to some other auto companies whose idea of sport is often a couple of decals and embroidered floor mats. No car in the Lexus lineup comes closer to embodying "sport" than the IS 300. Designed to offer the same (or better) spirited driving experience found in stalwarts like the Audi A4 and BMW 330i, the IS 300 is a well-built rear-drive car that can be had for thousands of dollars less than the competition. Its styling is angular and aggressive. Standard high-intensity headlights are mounted up front, and the sedan manages to achieve a low 0.29 coefficient of drag. In many cases, the IS 300 looks and acts like a GS 300 that has been filed down and given a sharper edge. With a base price in the low $30Ks, the IS 300 isn''t the bargain the LS 400 was when the Lexus brand debuted more than a decade ago. But it does come with many standard features, and comparably equipped European sedans and wagons will often be thousands more. If you are shopping for a sporty entry-level luxury car, the IS 300 should be on your list for further examination.
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For Pricing information, see Edmunds'' Pricing page. |
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
The IS 300 is available as a sedan or wagon dubbed the SportCross. Each version comes standard with 17-inch wheels, auto-dimming mirrors, automatic climate control, HID headlights and an in-dash six-disc CD changer. Available options include leather seating (or a leather and fake-suede combo) with power front seats, a navigation system, heated front seats, a moonroof and a variety of tire-and-wheel packages.
Powertrains and Performance:
Power comes from a DOHC 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine. Equipped with variable valve timing, the engine spins out 215 horsepower and 218 pound-feet of torque. When the IS debuted, buyers could have any transmission they wanted as long as it was the five-speed automatic. Much of the motoring press complained, so Lexus began offering a five-speed-manual sedan in 2002. Subsequent consumer interest in the five-speed has been minimal, however, and you might have a hard time finding them on dealer lots.
Safety:
Seat-mounted side airbags for front occupants and full-length side curtain airbags are standard equipment. So are traction control and four-wheel antilock disc brakes with EBD and BrakeAssist. Vehicle Skid Control (VSC), a stability control system that can help reduce dangerous spins and skids, is an option on automatic-equipped cars. As for crash tests, the NHTSA has given four stars (out of a possible five) for driver and front-passenger safety in frontal impacts, and five stars each for side impacts to the front and rear. The IIHS gave the car a "Good" rating (its highest) in its frontal offset crash test, and named the IS 300 a "Best Pick" overall.
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For more Safety information, see Edmunds'' Safety page. |
Interior Design and Special Features:
The IS 300''s cabin wears distinctive features like a chrome-plated shift knob, chronograph-inspired gauge cluster and race-carlike drilled aluminum pedals. The gauge cluster features the speedometer as the main dial with three smaller gauges inside it. The smaller ones (real-time fuel mileage, battery volts and coolant temperature) look cool but are hard to read due to their size. Additionally, some of the interior plastics seem low-grade given the class of car. People who frequently use their sedans to ferry multiple adults might find that this Lexus'' backseat is not particularly well suited to the task as it has considerably less rear legroom than the ES 300. The trunk (10.1 cubic feet) is also a size smaller than what is typically offered. The SportCross wagon offers 21.8 cubic feet of cargo room for those who need the extra space.
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For more Interior Features information, see Edmunds'' Specifications page. |
Driving Impressions:
We consider the IS 300 to be an excellent vehicle when it comes to driver enjoyment. The car''s behavior is unlike anything else Lexus sells. The body structure is extremely stiff, and the suspension has been tuned to provide sticky handling without overly degrading ride quality on the street. The IS 300 is an easy car to pilot aggressively, thanks to its responsive steering, strong brakes, nimble size and excellent driving position.
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For more Driving Impressions, Recent Articles and Car Awards from Edmunds'' editors, see Edmunds'' Road Tests page. |
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