The 2001 Lexus IS300: A Bold Japanese Rival Takes on BMW’s 3-Series

Lexus rolled into the sport-sedan showdown with a curious choice of weapon: no manual transmission. 0-liter straight-six from the GS300, but that engine’s torque proved too much for the six-speed stick used in overseas IS200 models. So American buyers get a five-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle buttons.

Lexus promises a manual is coming, but for now, the automatic may actually win over a specific crowd: shoppers who want a 3-series-sized luxury sedan with an automatic, but who also prize Lexus’s reputation for bulletproof build quality and low ownership costs.

The IS300 doesn’t just copy the German formula. Its interior is deliberately quirky, with a dashboard styled like a chronograph watch face, a chrome gearshift ball straight out of a PT Cruiser, and titanium trim on the console and stereo. Ribbed indentations appear above the dash, on the door panels, and around the shifter, while oval shapes echo on the vent registers.

Optional perforated leather and Escaine suede upholstery add a upscale touch. It’s not your typical Teutonic cabin, but it’s cohesive enough to avoid feeling like a design experiment gone wrong.

Under the hood, the twin-cam straight-six delivers torque with a creamy, almost deceptive smoothness. A quick stab at the throttle from a stop can snap your head back, so you learn to ease into it. 9 seconds, both a half-second or more slower than Lexus claimed. Top speed matched the automaker’s estimate at 144 mph.

The steering is keenly accurate, with no wander, though it feels light on assist. On smooth pavement, the car is quiet and composed; hit rough roads, and the suspension thumps into the cabin like a skateboard. Crosswinds at highway speeds even produce door-seal hiss.

Handling shows a split personality: the IS300 carves corners with precision until pushed hard, then understeers abruptly, with a rear-end wallow that forces you to back off. The manumatic transmission plays along if you stay on the gas, but it will automatically downshift if you mash the pedal in fifth gear, and it sometimes upshifts when you don’t want it to.

6-inch vented front discs and big solid rear rotors stopping the 3,380-pound car from 70 mph in 171 feet. Starting at $30,995 and topping out around $35,000 fully loaded, the IS300 undercuts the BMW 3-series by thousands. It may not beat the Bimmer in every metric, but its distinctive character and value make it a compelling alternative.