Although the front seats were voted magnificent by all who sampled them, offering sumptuous materials and generous lateral security, accommodating four full-size adults in relative comfort was a challenge. The IS 300's small rear doors don't open wide enough to allow for graceful ingress or egress. And once passengers were seated, knees contacted the front seatbacks while overall seat comfort and back angle were judged barely acceptable.
Finally, near the end of the Bridgestone tires' hard life on magazine duty, more people began jotting down that roadgrain noise and vibration--which had previously been commendable--had approached the level of annoyance. The Potenza RE040s' 45 aspect ratio and countless heat cycles finally caught up. We're certain new tires would return the IS to its factory-fresh, quiet smoothness.
Most of our minor complaints have been addressed by Lexus with the introduction of the '02 IS 300. The best news is the car is finally available with a five-speed manual transmission, which makes it even more of a joy to drive. Some of the unexpected surface wear we experienced, as well as the armrest gripe, have also met with upgrading this year. As if that weren't enough, there are two new variants: The ultra-attractive not-quite-wagon not-quite-sedan called the SportCross and a limited-availability TRD-packaged model called the IS 300 L Tuned. IS sales remain brisk, and it's been successful at attracting even younger buyers to the Lexus fold. With this new generation and its running improvements and enhanced performance (see sidebar), Lexus will continue to enjoy the success it earned with the IS 300--and deservedly so.
What's New, Changed, Different
It appears Lexus heard the loudest criticism of its otherwise capable compact sport sedan, and for '02, added a five-speed manual transmission accompanied by an even more communicative suspension. On the unexpected side, Lexus threw in a model variant to the U.S. lineup with the SportCross, which is effectively a (smallish) sport wagon. In a limited run of about 5000 units annually, the SportCross is available only with the IS 300's five-speed E-Shift automatic transmission. New comfort features across the entire IS 300 lineup include auto-dimming inside (and driver's side outside) mirrors with compass, a new center armrest, and the dashboard now has more black coverage with a softer look and feel. A full leather interior, ivory or black, is a new option while the leather/ecsaine remains standard. Buyers can replace the standard chrome shift knob with a leather one. Navigation-challenged individuals will find this year's optional on-board system easier to use and faster functioning. Finally, two suspension and styling packages (Series I and II) were made available under the L-Tuned moniker. Debuting first in the Western states, the $3999 and $7698 packages are meant for those who wish to customize their cars, but don't have the inclination or experience to do so. Available at selected dealerships, the factory- and warranty-backed packages were developed by Toyota Racing Development (TRD).
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