Lexus IS300 2003 Review

They do not, however, apply to the road manners of the bigger-engined IS300, even though the latter shares its body with the former.

In a peculiar -- and, I'm told, strongly resisted -- switch of Lexus planning, Australia ended up with both the European IS version (the IS200) and the American model (IS300).

For this, I'm immensely happy. The sweet 2-litre IS200 has the sugary on-screen temperament of Britney Spears while the 3-litre IS300 is the body and soul of Shakira. Your choice.

Ostensibly, the move to satisfy Australian demands for power was completed by slotting the Lexus GS300 engine beneath the IS200's bonnet.

There was a tad more to the act than that, but you get the drift.

The result is sufficient engine performance to match the baby Lexus's remarkable handling.

After 600km in the IS300, it's clear that this could seriously embarrass some European sports sedans.

The sedan -- which is sold in Japan as the Toyota Altezza with engine choices including a 157kW 2-litre four-cylinder -- doesn't compromise performance for cabin roominess.

In an age when carmakers are absorbed in maximising interior space while minimising the exterior, the Lexus puts performance above packaging.

The car is rear-drive (like BMW), with its long engine slotted low and hard up against the firewall. The suspension is double wishbones front and back with coils and gas shocks. And the steering is powered rack-and-pinion with the directness of a go-kart.

All the right ingredients are here. On the road the package is practically unbeatable, though the $73,534 price tag is pretty steep.

This is a car that enjoys brisk driving and especially rewards the driver through the sweeping and undulating country roads around Chittering and Bindoon.

The five-speed auto comes with a semi-manual mode so you can lure more horses out of the paddock -- in fact, there's 157kW (210 horses) under the bonnet to test the car's roadholding.

And I think the driving position is the best of any car. A tiny leather-rimmed steering wheel, supportive leather seats and excellent pedal location make it exceptionally comfortable both on long cruises and fanging through the hillsides.

But there are a few niggles. The rear-drive layout and the small dimensions of the IS series make it a bit cramped in the rear for adults.

The instrument panel is a dog's breakfast -- with overlapping gauges inset with unreadable smaller dials -- and the centre console is efficient but messy. Considering the enthusiasm shown to the accelerator pedal on test, fuel economy wasn't bad at 11 litres/100km. Lexus claims 8 litres/100km for the highway average.

Features include climatic airconditioning, electric windows, mirrors and sunroof, four airbags, heated front seats, eight-speaker CD sound, ABS vented brakes and 17-inch alloys.

VALUES

Lexus IS300
2001 (new $73,960) Now $65,500 with 20,000km
2002 (new $73,534) Now $67,500 with 15,000km
* Retained value: 3-year -- 88.5 per cent; 5-year -- n/a