2004 Lexus IS 300 Review
Type:
Pros & Cons
- Outstanding driving dynamics, slick interior decor, competitive pricing.
- Small rear seat and trunk, not much storage space, styling could be "tragically hip" by some accounts.
Other years
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Edmunds' Expert Review
Can't match the BMW 3 Series in terms of luxury, but its combination of price, performance and premium features make the IS 300 a very intriguing sport sedan or wagon.
2004 Highlights
On the outside, look for a new wheel design and smoked surrounding trim for the headlights and taillights. Inside, Lexus has added a memory function for the driver seat, a maintenance indicator light, a new storage compartment on the dash (for cars without the navigation system) and new trim highlights.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2004 Lexus IS 300.
Most helpful consumer reviews
admanc,03/06/2009
I test drove the 2004 IS300 against a beautiful 2004 BMW 328ci (that I really wanted to love and buy). After driving both cars, I realized the IS300 was the much better car across the boards. Mechanically, the Lexus ran smooth and sound, with a lot more get-up and go. The BMW was sluggish and seemed to hesitate a lot more, with some choppy shifting between gears. I had been told by many people that the BMW would have more problems than the Lexus and in test-driving both, I had to concede that they were right. I bought the Lexus.
zebani,10/21/2014
My wife and I owned over 20 vehicles in the last 5 years, including IS250 & IS350, but I never wanted to get rid of my IS300. We have put 50K miles on this car over the last 3 years and it is THE MOST reliable car that I have ever owned. I always get 22-26 MPG mixed, 70% city and 30% highway, and the requires the absolute minimum maintenance such as brake pads, rotors and oil change. The timing belt had been just replaced when I bought the car and since then I only needed to replace the rotors, brake pads, spark plugs other than the regular oil change. I always use synthetic oil, premium gas and some fuel additives.
mikefas,01/07/2004
Loving almost everything about this car. Fit
and finish is superb. Loads of features make
the driving experience terrific. My only gripe is
lack of power. G35 coupe had a lot more uder
the hood.
Lindsay Lexus,06/29/2004
I am an absolute Lexus convert - there
is nothing more fun than driving this
car. Living in teh city, I didn't was a
mid-size car; I preferred to have
something more compact, but I wanted a
sporty sedan with a luxury feel and
that's exactly what I got. It's stylish
and peppy, but has luxury components.
Features & Specs
MPG
16 city / 22 hwy
Seats 5
5-speed shiftable automatic
Gas
215 hp @ 5800 rpm
