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Lexus IS300 2001 Review

The IS 300 comes with a 3.0L straight 6 with variable valve timing, which helps the engine deliver 80% of its torque.

America’s need for speed has given us the baby Lexus as it should have been.  Toyota's luxury division tried to take on the mighty band of the BMW 3-Series range with a one-man show, the IS 200. But critics said the tight chassis needed a more-powerful engine than the 2.0-litre six cylinder that arrived first.

So, with such high demand in the US, Lexus rushed back to the drawing board to slot the 3.0-litre six from its 5-Series' rival, the GS300, into the nose of the IS and created the IS300.  At the same time, it created a 3.0-litre-powered sports wagon IS to broaden the car's appeal in Japan and America, though the cargo-carrying wagon is off the cards for Australia at the moment.

With the entry-level prestige segment in Australia in the middle of a boom, thanks to new arrivals such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4 and recently updated Volkswagen Passat, Lexus is hoping the IS300 will be competitive.

Available only as an automatic, the IS 300 comes with a 3.0-litre straight six with variable valve timing, which Lexus claims helps the engine deliver 80 per cent of its torque from as low as 1400 revs.

The motor, which is a normally aspirated version of the engine from the Supra sports car, actually produces 157kW of power at 5800 revs and its maximum pulling power of 288Nm comes in at 3800 revs.  It has a ``fly-by-wire'' throttle to maximise engine efficiency and reduce harmful exhaust emissions, which Lexus claims are 25 times lower than the rate required to meet Australian Design Rule regulations.

Like the BMW and Benz, the Lexus is a rear-drive sports car with the power delivered through the same five-speed automatic transmission from the GS 300 and LS 400 luxury sedan. But the IS gearbox has a manual-shift option which is controlled by F1-style steering-wheel buttons.

To change up a gear, the driver pushes the buttons on the back side of the wheel, and to change down uses the buttons on the front.  Other than the engine and transmission, there are few differences from the IS200. The 300 comes with all the luxury gear from the top-of-the line IS200, including leather trim, high-intensity headlamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, sun roof and a rear spoiler.

A Lexus hi-tech DVD-based satellite navigation system is now an option on all IS models. And as part of a mid-model upgrade, all IS cars now have curtain-style airbags, brake-assist function and a larger brake booster.  There is also a range of new exterior and interior colours, a revised grille, chrome exhaust tip, upgraded dash layout, a new centre arm rest and a pollen/dust filter in the automatic airconditioning system.

The minor improvements add to an already comprehensive list of standard safety and luxury features, which include anti-skid brakes, traction control, dual front and side airbags, CD sound, cruise control and full electrics.

Driving

The latest Lexus is a hit-and-miss car. The 3.0-litre engine hits the bullseye, but the auto-only transmission misses the target.  The suspension upgrade is another win, and so is the value upgrade over the IS200, but the timing is all wrong despite the recent tune-up of the whole Lexus line-up.

The IS300 first showed up at the Detroit Motor Show nearly two years ago, and even that was well after the debut of the IS200 in Australia.  What that means is that the IS was built to compete with the old BMW 3-Series, which makes it cramped and a bit outdated when you line it up against the latest Three and other recent arrivals, including Mercedes' great-value C-Class Coupe and even the new mid-sized Volvo.

The step up to the IS300 package answers most of the shortcomings in the original IS200, which was -- and is -- a really sharp sports sedan with an engine that's not strong enough for the job. It's a baby six, but held back to just 2.0-litres, at least partly to hold down the cost.

The IS300 comes, naturally enough, with a 3.0-litre six that has a five-speed gearbox to take drive to the back wheels the old-fashioned way, but it's only an automatic.  There are touch-change buttons on the wheel, but the powertrain was set for the US -- where manual is not a priority -- and the limited number of cars which will be sold in Australia meant there wasn't enough in the fighting fun to engineer a manual choice. 

Lexus Australia said it was the complaints of local journalists who triggered the arrival of the IS300, but that's not true. Even if it is a big ego boost.  The real story is that the father of the IS family, Nobuaki Katayama, always wanted to build a car which was bigger and quicker. He's even played with a full-house V8-powered IS400, to rival the BMW M5, but it has been delayed because of difficulty fitting the bent-eight engine on the production line.

The bigger new engine has more than enough go for most people, with a grunty bottom end and a solid top-end thrust. It can take a while to hook up from a standing start, and you must work the auto for the best overtaking, though it's a sweet motor with excellent response.  But the touch-change buttons on the wheel are too small and fiddly.

The 157kW output drops it into the mid-ground between BMW's 325 and the super-classy 330. Economy is good, especially at a cruise, when it can do a lot better than the 12.1-litres/100km average on test.  Lexus has done a lot of suspension work for the engine upgrade. The back end has been reworked and strengthened for the job.

The result is a car which rides much more smoothly than the IS200, as well as transferring added power to the ground more effectively.  We had originally expected the IS300 -- with a manual box -- to be a four-star contender. As it is, and as it comes, it only deserves three, but it is still a car that proves Lexus is on the right track with the IS.

LEXUS IS300

Price as tested: $79,990
Engine: 3.0-litre six cylinder with overhead camshafts and fuel injection
Power: 157kW at 5800revs
Torque: 288Nm at 3800revs
Transmission: Five-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Body: Four-door sedan
Dimensions: Length: 4400mm, width: 1720mm, height: 1420mm, wheelbase: 2670mm, tracks: 1495mm/1485mm front/rear
Weight: 1505kg
Fuel Tank: 70 litres
Fuel Consumption: Average on test 12.1 litres/100km
Steering: Power-assisted rack and pinion
Suspension: Fully independent with front double wishbone and multi-link rear with anti-roll bars.
Brakes: Four-wheel anti-skid discs
Wheels: 7.0x517 alloys
Tyres: 215/45 ZR17
Warranty: Three years/100,000km

Rivals

BMW **** (from $90,7000),
Mercedes-Benz C320 **** (from $99,990),
Alfa Romero 156 V6 *** (from $56,900),
Jaguar X-type 3.0
**** (from $77,950)

 

 

Pricing guides

$7,425
Based on third party pricing data
Lowest Price
$5,060
Highest Price
$9,790

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
IS200 Yellow 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP MAN $5,500 – 7,810 2001 Lexus IS 2001 IS200 Yellow Pricing and Specs
IS200 2.0L, ULP, 4 SP AUTO $5,610 – 7,920 2001 Lexus IS 2001 IS200 Pricing and Specs
IS200 Sports Luxury 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP MAN $6,050 – 8,580 2001 Lexus IS 2001 IS200 Sports Luxury Pricing and Specs
Pricing Guide

$6,930

Lowest price, based on third party pricing data

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Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication.  Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.