Horse play
2018 Lexus IS 300 still fires on four cylinders
The 2018 Lexus IS 300 is fun to drive, as much fun as last model year’s IS 200t.
That’s because when the company added five horsepower to the four-cylinder motor they decided they ought to change its nomenclature. No, it doesn’t have a three-liter engine. No, it’s not 300 horsepower, no, you don’t have to be 30 to own it. But presumably with the new number, young folks are going to run out and buy it.
Perhaps it’s because the car that Lexus most wants to compete with is the BMW Three Series. I don’t really think changing the nomenclature will do much to enhance the car’s competitiveness with the Bummer, but it isn’t totally outclassed.
At the edge the IS300 really doesn’t quite competitive. But driving at the edge is something most enthusiasts talk knowingly about. But rarely – if ever – do they actually drive to those performance limits. Still, that doesn’t mean they won’t have fun in the Lexus IS 300. While it is sporty to push through the twisties, it also provides some of the Lexus touches that will encourage people to move to the brand.
That’s this car’s mission and it does a good job of combining the two goals.
The car, although not new this year does look modern. It was refreshed last year, but there are only a couple of changes. There is that five horsepower increase, and the Lexus Enform safety connection is for 10 years. Oh, and a backup camera is standard on all models. It also has all the active safety systems you’d expect, and plenty of toys inside.
It also has a nice stance and works very hard to appeal to those Millennials who have discovered that driving is fun. Particularly those who can actually afford a car, and the two things do go hand in hand. It probably should be noted by pollsters that the answers they get about cars from these metro folks are probably negative – as long as they don’t have the money to buy a new car. Funny how that works.
My guess is that the Lexus IS is the second new car most of these young owner’s purchase. The first one is driven by wanting a car with a warranty and now they understand the meaning of automotive ownership they are ready to express their preferences.
The IS 300 is a nice size, seats four and has enough of room for their stuff.
The interior feels like the car it is. It has the rich feeling of a Lexus with the kind of cockpit feel that enthusiast cars should have. The features are there so that infotainment and connectivity are never an issue. As with all Lexus vehicles everything works and will probably continue to do so. These features may not be what a Millennials consider first when buying them, but they will come to appreciate them.
But what makes this car different is its performance and its driving feel. Except for a few models, it is axiomatic that Lexus is a brand that’s interested in taking care of the passengers. With the IS 300 RWD, it’s clear that the driver is the primary focus.
This starts with the engine. It’s the same 2.0-liter, twinscroll turbocharged inline fourcylinder engine as previously. It produces 241 hp. and 258 lb.-ft. of peak torque. Its estimated fuel efficiency is 22 mpg city and 32 mpg on the highway. The IS 300 RWD comes equipped exclusively with the eight-speed automatic transmission. If you choose to drive this engine aggressively – putting it in shift-able mode and running the revs up near the red line – you will be rewarded with a decent amount of power, nicely controllable and a pleasantly aggressive sound. When you drive it around in “drive” it will be somewhat more docile – unless you put your foot into it.
The suspension is taut and focuses on making the car drive better. The IS 300 isn’t by any means uncomfortable or ride poorly, because it doesn’t. It uses the multi-link rear suspension found on the model’s big brother, the GS sedans. You can opt for the F SPORT package for all IS models, which adds 18-inch wheels and special suspension tuning.
There are a couple of models of the car, in addition to the IS 300 RWD. There is the sister IS 300 AWD model with a 260 hp., 3.5-liter V6 producing 236 lb.ft. of peak torque. The electronically controlled all-weather drive system, is also available for IS 350 models. The IS 350 uses its 3.5-liter V6 that to generate 311 hp. and 280 lb.-ft. of peak torque.
So, both models are available in RWD and AWD. Both offer an F SPORT model which adds both capability and cosmetic racy-ness. Like all cars in this class, there are plenty of active safety and driver assist features available.
Prices for the car are only a bit more than the 2017 versions. The IS 300 RWD has an MSRP of $38,210 and the IS 300 AWD starts at $40,660. Upgrade to the IS 350 RWD and the sticker starts at $41,830 and the IS 350 AWD begins at $43,995. The F Sport models cost about $3000 more for all levels.
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