WASHINGTON — The Lexus IS300 AWD, new for 2016, provides V6 power for less money than the IS350.
Lexus retired the Lexus IS250 with its low horsepower V6, and added the IS200 with a turbo four-cylinder engine as the base model. But Lexus felt a V6 model that’s not as costly as the IS350 would be a nice middle ground to expand the market for this small luxury sedan, and so the IS300 was born. It features AWD and starts at around $40,000.
The big news is the new V6 engine, which is a huge step up from the old 2.5L V6 in the IS250. The new engine is bigger and provides 255 hp, a big jump from before. As long as you haven’t driven the IS350, which has more than 300 hp, you won’t miss that extra power, and the V6 is pretty smooth.
This is an AWD car, so you only get a six-speed automatic, which does a nice job of going through the gears smoothly but doesn’t help with fuel economy. I did slightly better than the sticker managing 21.8 mpg in my 278 miles of mixed driving.
The ride is mostly smooth; only rougher roads are transmitted into the cabin and the cabin noise is kept in check. This IS300 handles well for a smaller luxury sedan. It’s not the sportiest drive in the class, but easy to live with for daily driving with a hint of sporty overtones.
One of the reasons to move into a small luxury sedan is for a well-appointed interior, and the IS300 delivers. My test ride was equipped with the $3,945 luxury package, which helps convey that high-end look and feel. The leather trimmed interior uses real wood trim and the front seats are heated and ventilated and comfortable for long trips. The one thing that’s a bit odd is the strange hump in the driver’s foot well and it’s annoying on my leg.
The heated steering wheel has power tilt and telescoping, and there’s a memory function for both the driver’s seat and steering column, so no one can mess up your driving position. The dash and places where your arms rest are padded well, and the materials are soft and inviting to the touch — a nice, well-trimmed interior for this price range. The rear seats are good for two average-size adults, but a third person won’t fit very well. The trunk is usable, but not the biggest in its class.
The smaller Lexus has been the stylish car in the brand for years now, and for 2016 it’s no different. The exterior is sporty for a Lexus and the odd-shaped large grill upfront serves this small sedan well. The bulging wheel arches and mesh alloy wheels help give this IS300 its sporty look, and the wheels look really nice, but they may not be so easy to keep clean.
The lower body lines really enhance the side view of the car as they sweep up toward the rear of the car. The rear end styling is completed by dual exhaust to give it added flair.
The new IS300 is an improvement over the old IS250 in the power department and includes a V6 for less money than the IS350. The interior is a big bonus for the IS sedan, with a true luxury car look and feel for a price that isn’t going to break the bank.
Editor’s Note: Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
