New Car Review of the 2004 Lexus IS 300 Compact Near Luxury Sedan and Wagon
Description: Compact Near Luxury Sedan
Base MSRP Range: $29,435 - $30,805
Invoice Price Range: $25,901 - $27,108
With oversized wheels pegged at the corners and a contoured body marked by flat side panels and stubby prow and tail that leave scant space for overhangs, the IS 300 compact-class sports sedan looks like a high-strung rally car and acts like a road-hugging German touring sedan.
The straight-six engine, producing 215 hp, whines a high-revving tune played through five speeds on the automatic transmission or optional manual five-speed. With the automatic there are toggles on the steering wheel that enable an aggressive driver to shift up and down sans clutch with only a flick of the thumb and without removing hands from the wheel.
For 2004, the sedan adds smoked gray lights around headlamps, foglamps and taillights, and in the cabin there's a two-position seat memory applied to the driver's seat. A five-door hatchback wagon edition goes by the badge of SportCross. It carries the same equipment as the sedan with automatic transmission, yet has the rear liftgate and cargo bay plus a rear seatback that splits and folds to make more room for sports gear like a mountain bike.
All versions reveal bold contemporary styling for the cockpit in a theme of new bright silver and black interior accents with drilled aluminum pedals and stainless steel scuff plates studded with rubber on doorsills. New exterior colors for 2004 include Bluestone Metallic and Indigo Ink Pearl.
