2001LexusIS 300Lexus IS 3002001 Lexus IS 300 Sport SedanSedanSedanRWDKanto Jidosha, Iwate JapanLexus continues to change gears, moving away from single-minded relentless pursuits of perfection to chase performance. The new IS 300, complete with rear-wheel drive and a 215-horse inline six, chases the BMW 3 Series in the entry luxury sport marketplace, and will continue to do so until a proper manual transmission is available.Near ideal weight distribution, slick interior decor, competitive pricing. No manual transmission, small rear seat, lacking a telescoping steering column.Lexus, traditional purveyor or highly refined but generally characterless luxury automobiles, is looking to change its staid, reliable, upstanding citizen image. In 1998, the upscale Toyota division lobbed the GS 400 over the net, scoring with consumers who wanted to blend the sporting V8-powered personality of a BMW 5 Series with daring styling and Japanese reliability. But that serve into opposing territory fell somewhat short of the mark in terms of initial quality and outright performance, and a lack of a manual gearbox represented a glaring omission in a vehicle targeting the vaunted 540i. Has Lexus learned a lesson? The new IS 300, targeting the BMW 3 Series, benefits from the installation of a smooth, 3.0-liter inline six that makes 215 horsepower and 218 foot-pounds of torque at 3,800 rpm. As with the GS 300, whose engine the IS shares, rear-wheel drive is the method of motivation, but for now, we Americans are stuck with a five-speed automatic transmission equipped with E-Shift steering wheel gear-selection buttons, just like in a Formula One car. A manual is on the way, purists, if you can wait a year. So perhaps the lesson hasn't gone unheeded. We get plenty of power, and a row-'em-yourself transmission is just around the corner. But buyers of these kinds of sedans want performance and style. The IS 300 is mostly successful in this arena, with taut, balanced exterior dimensions stretched over large, available 17-inch wheels optionally finished in smoked chrome. We aren't fans of the circular decklid-mounted taillights, and the clear rear lens covers look too much like the ones you see on the neighbor kid's lowered '94 Accord, but the overall shape is well balanced and attractive. Inside is where Lexus gets a gold star for imagination, with a chronograph gauge cluster the centerpiece of a highly styled interior. Drilled aluminum pedals announce the IS 300's intentions loud and clear, while fashionable metallic accents litter the cabin. Double wishbone suspension components front and rear, fine-tuned at Germany's Nurburgring racetrack, keep the standard 16-inch all-season performance tires glued to the ground, while standard four-wheel disc antilock brakes and full-range traction control keep them from sliding and spinning. A limited-slip differential is optional, while standard high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights provide superb nighttime road illumination. Safety is also addressed, with three-point seatbelts for each of the five seating positions and front seat-mounted side airbags standard. Pre-tensioning and force limiting front harnesses maximize protection in a crash, while an interior trunk lid release handle helps prevent entrapment in the trunk. With a base price in the low 30s, the IS 300 isn't the bargain the LS 400 was when Lexus debuted a decade ago. With both Audi and BMW offering all-wheel drive technology in their elegant and smooth-riding compact sedans, not to mention superlative interior materials and manual transmissions, Lexus may have its work cut out for it as it learns what it takes to tackle Germany's finest. Audi A4BMW 3-SeriesSaab 9-3Volkswagen Passat450,000670,0004Unlimited6Unlimited7.5 sec.114 ft.0.8563 litersInline215 hp @ 5800 rpm218 ft-lbs. @ 3800 rpm176.6 in.67.7 in.54.9 in.3270 lbs.105.1 in.39.1 in.37.7 in.57.7 in.56.6 in.55 in.56.1 in.43.4 in.32.2 in.10.1 cu.ft.StandardStandardNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableStandardNot AvailableRating = Not TestedRating = Not TestedNot TestedNot TestedNot TestedNot Tested19.8 gal.18 mpg / 23 mpg356 mi. / 455 mi.Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not.$27,108$30,8057.35%$545N/A2% of the Base MSRPIS 300 (5A): 3.0L I6 DOHC SMPI 24-valve engine with variable valve timing (requires premium unleaded fuel); 5-speed electronic OD automatic transmission with lock-up torque converter; 80 amp alternator; multi-mode auto-manual transmission; rear-wheel drive, traction control, 3.92 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust with tailpipe finisher; front independent double-wishbone suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, gas-pressurized front shocks, rear independent double-wishbone suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs, gas-pressurized rear shocks; rack-and-pinion power steering with engine speed-sensing assist; 4-wheel antilock disc brakes; 19.8 gal. capacity fuel tank; side impact bars; front and rear body-colored bumpers; body-colored bodyside molding; clearcoat monotone paint; aero-composite high intensity fully auto headlamps with daytime running lights, delay-off feature; additional exterior lights include front fog/driving lights; driver's and passenger's powerremote body-colored heated folding outside mirrors; 17" x 7" silver alloy wheels; P205/45ZR17 performance BSW front tires; 215/45 rear tires; trunk mounted full-size alloy spare wheel; dual-zone front air conditioning with climate control, air filter, rear heat ducts; premium AM/FM stereo radio, seek-scan feature, cassette 6-disc CD changer, 8 performance speakers, amplifier, auto equalizer, theft deterrent, and integrated roof antenna; cruise control; power door locks with 2-stage unlock, remote keyless entry, child-safety rear door locks, power remote hatch/trunk release, power remote fuel door release; cell phone pre-wiring, 2 power accessory outlets, front lighter element(s), driver's foot rest, retained accessory power, smokers' package, first aid kit; instrumentation display includes tachometer, water temperature gauge, volt gauge, in-dash clock, exterior temp, trip odometer; warning indicators include oil pressure, battery, low oil level, lights on, key in ignition, low fuel,low washer fluid, door ajar; driver's and passenger's front airbags, driver's and front passenger's seat-mounted side airbags; ignition disable, panic alarm, security system; tinted windows, power front and rear windows with driver's 1-touch down function; variable-speed intermittent front windshield wipers, sun visor strip, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 5, front bucket seats with adjustable tilt headrests, center armrest with storage, driver and passenger seats include 6-way adjustment and power 2-way lumbar support; rear bench seat with tilt headrests and trunk pass-thru armrest; height-adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners; cloth seats, cloth door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full color-keyed carpet floor covering with carpeted floor mats; chrome interior accents, aluminum gearshift knob; interior lights include dome light, front and rear reading lights, 4 door curb lights, illuminated entry; leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt adjustment; dualilluminated vanity mirrors; auto-dimming day/night rearview mirror; full floor console, locking glove box with light, front and rear cupholders, 2 seatback storage pockets, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, carpeted trunk lid, cargo light; chrome grille, black side window moldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and body-colored door handles.