Driving Impressions

The Lexus IS 300 is agile and fun to drive. We were impressed by the agility of the E-shift sedan, and the SportCross seems to corner even better, thanks to its slightly more balanced weight distribution (53/47 versus the sedan's 54/46) and wider rear tires. Weight over the front wheels (undesirable) was reduced by mounting the engine (and battery) as far rearward as possible. The double-wishbone independent suspension was specifically designed to resist roll (lean) in corners and front-end dive under hard braking, and it thoroughly succeeds. Meanwhile, the engine-speed-sensitive, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering provides precise control with excellent feedback. But it was the IS 300's balance that dazzled us. We drove it very aggressively through our favorite remote twisty section in the wet, and we kept trying and trying to get the tail to hang out, but it resolutely refused to oversteer. The Bridgestone Potenza summer radials did a great job gripping corners in the wet. (All-season tires are available as a no-cost option.) Our SportCross was not equipped with the optional Vehicle Stability Control, but it did not seem to need it, and that's saying a whole lot. (Still, for $350, the VSC option remains a steal. Think fail-safe. Think ice.) With its rear-wheel drive, the IS 300 handles better in the wet than front-wheel-drive sports sedans. We loved using the steering-wheel buttons to change gears, but the E-shift transmission will override some of your decisions. Drive into a corner hard, begin clicking the button on the steering wheel to downshift, and often it won't respond. It's designed to prevent abuse to the transmission and/or over-revving, but it's set way too conservatively; one time it wouldn't even downshift for us at a modest 3800 rpm. Sometimes, when accelerating out of a curve, it even leaves you below the powerband, which is reasonably broad. Also, it won't do short-shifts when you want heavy throttle at low rpm. Bottom line: If you really want to shift for yourself, get the sedan with the manual transmission. The IS 300 offers a great balance between handling and ride quality. The ride presented remarkable equanimity, which is to say it felt the same over every kind of surface. On high-speed ripples it was firm and steady; on low-speed bumps, firm and never harsh. Out on the freeway, it delivered a nap-inducing smoothness. The brakes (big ventilated discs in front and solid discs in back) were always there. The anti-dive suspension geometry really works. We abused the brakes during our longest cornering session and they never faded. We dove into rain-slicked second-gear turns too fast and too late, relying on the anti-lock system to save us; and it did, with rock-steadiness and without protest. The engine, using continuously variable valve timing, delivers keen acceleration. Of course, the sedan with the five-speed manual is quickest. According to Lexus, 0 to 60 mph acceleration times are 6.8 for the sedan 5MT, 7.3 for the sedan AT, and 7.4 seconds for the SportCross AT, and quarter-mile times are 15.1, 15.5, and 15.6 respectively.

Final Word

The Lexus IS 300 offers a sporty balance of ride, handling, power, brakes, comfort and price. It's rear-wheel-drive layout makes it more fun to drive than front-drive sports sedans. The SportCross adds some practicality and is at least as much fun to drive, if not more, than the comparable sedan.