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THE LEXUS IS-300 Reviewed by Colin Hefferon  Lexus luxury-sports vehicle I have to disagree with Car and Driver and a few of the other car mags: I really don't see the Lexus IS-300 as a Japanese take on BMW's 3-series; I think the two models are actually quite different. The BMW is pitched at the sports-luxury types and the IS-300 towards the luxury-sports types. To me, this is an important distinction. If Lexus really thinks it succeeded in making a BMW 3-Series, they're mistaken. They've made a very fine automobile but not a BMW. In a lot of ways, it's preferable for many buyers -- particularly those who prefer to go quietly about their rounds. Let's face it, a BMW can say things about you which either aren't true... or you don't want to admit to be true. I also think the Lexus succeeds as transportation in a few areas where the BMW 3-Series is found wanting -- for example, in ride quality on broken or wavy pavement. A respected senior automobile journalist in Canada told me that he recently drove the new BMW M3 several hundred miles on a variety of roads. He found it made a "rocking horse" pitch on certain kinds of pavement. For that reason he did not look forward to driving it where the pavement had heaved, and even on sections of highway with pronounced expansion strips. He confessed that hitting them every few seconds was particularly punishing. Rough roads no problem To test the Lexus' reaction to broken and wavy pavement, I took the IS-300 to Powell Street, a busy truck route in East Vancouver. I drove a section of this particularly nasty street at about 45 mph late one evening and found the IS-300 handled it with perfect composure. There was definitely not the slightest hint of a "rocking horse" motion... which was no less than I would expect from a luxury sports-sedan. I flat loved the interior of the IS-300. The seating position suited me perfectly. The power controls on both the driver and passenger seats allow you to adjust the seat height for excellent visibility. You can raise the driver's seat to see well over the steering wheel and yet not bang your head on the sunroof. Great ergonomics! I also found more than ample legroom in the back. Unless you're a power forward with an NBA contender, you should be able to position the driver's seat so both you and the rear seat passenger have adequate space. There was enough for my legs when I sat back there, even after adjusting the driver's seat to accommodate my five-eleven frame. Japanese car makers, by the way, are particularly adept with thoughtful details. One of these especially impressed me: To open the trunk on the IS-300, you must hold the button on the key fob for a second or two. "So what," you ask? Well, how many times have you entered your car, buckled up, fired the engine, and then noticed the "trunk is open" alert on the dash was flashing because you'd inadvertently touched the trunk-opener? It won't happen with the IS-300. Superb instrument design I think Lexus' take on the instrument cluster is the most creative since DaimlerChrysler (actually, plain old Chrysler Corp in those days) introduced the black-on-white motif in the 300M. The speedo reminds me of one of those outrageous Tag-Heuer wristwatches with a beveled edge and multiple gauges grouped on the face. I'm still undecided about the Tag-Heuer but the IS-300 looks great to me. I loved the Manumatic transmission. You can either leave it in "D" and let the 5-speed automatic do all the thinking or you can nudge the shifter to the left and, using the up-and-down buttons on either side of the comfortable leather steering wheel, do it yourself. Two things will likely happen: First, you'll have a whole lot more fun and second, you'll burn a heck of a lot more gas. I think this happens because you're tempted to rev the bejeepers out of that great-sounding engine. So don't go there if you want to save gas. On that last point, Car and Driver recorded gas consumption of 16 mpg during its test. Now, you can be sure C&D wrung every one of the 215 horses from the Lexus' 3.0 liter engine. I used my test car for normal urban rounds, which included 160 miles of driving; 50% of the stop-and-go variety and 50% highway. I checked the mileage very carefully and only got 18 mpg (US). I didn't really push the IS-300 all that much (or at least not as much as the C&D drivers would have done) so I suspect 16-18 miles per US gallon (12-14 L/100 km) is the kind of real world consumption you might expect. At almost 3400 lbs, the IS-300 is no lightweight. Though it's only an inch wider and longer than a Honda Civic sedan, the Lexus weighs nearly 1000 lbs more, which probably accounts for the IS-300's distinctly un-compact fuel consumption. To be fair, the EPA rates the IS-300 at 18 mpg city, 23mpg highway, 22 mpg combined. Generic Japanese styling The IS-300's styling has struck some North American car writers as Japanese-generic. A couple of local road testers suggested the exterior doesn't impress because the IS-300 is really a tarted-up version of a Japan-only Toyota. But the more I lived with the Lexus the more I began to appreciate its understated and undeniably elegant lines. Personally, I think it looks good from every angle. The front-engine/rear-drive layout allows a 54/46% weight distribution, not the ideal 50/50 that rear-drive sports-sedans aspire to. This is the result of the engine/transmission combo in North American versions. The European IS-200 comes with a lighter 2-liter, 6-cylinder engine and a 6-speed manual; it is unlikely, however, that this version will ever be sold here (unless the present oil crisis is longer than the last one) but expect a 6-speed manual to be made available before long. Some final comments: The multi-disc CD produces first-rate sound but I'm a radio guy. I like it when the DJ surprises me and I prefer stimulating conversation on the public broadcasting stations. Listening to both music and conversation on the AM and FM frequencies, I'm pleased to say, was a real pleasure. The HID (high intensity discharge) headlights deserve special praise, also. These things really light up the night. Frankly, I prefer them to techno-tricks like Cadillac's Night Vision, clever and effective as it is. The Lexus system is cheaper to buy and cheaper to fix. And probably works better for everybody except the Mr. McGoo-types, who shouldn't be driving after dark. The trunk will require some compromise on your part, however. It's one I can live with but check it out before you sign on the dotted line. While there is a pass-through for long objects, this may not be the car for you if you often haul large boxes or if you regularly carry two or three sets of golf bags. If you do this kind of thing only once or twice a year, go ahead and treat yourself to one of these (not exactly inexpensive) little jewels and enjoy! For other times, borrow a friend's minivan or call Mr. Hertz. Photos © Lexus Vancouver-based Colin Hefferon regularly tests and reviews new vehicles. Though an automotive enthusiast by nature, Colin takes the perspective of the average car owner. Which, after all, is most of us! Colin Hefferon is the road test editor for About Cars where more of his car reviews may be found. |
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