2017 Lexus IS 300 Review

There is only one engine for the IS 300, and it's the only IS variant that comes standard with all-wheel drive. You might also want to check out the more powerful IS 350, which can be had with all-wheel drive, too. As for the IS 300, it's all about the packages. We'd get the Luxury package, whi...

This IS is generally not as quick as the class equivalents. Lexus says to expect a 0-60 mph time of 6.1 seconds for the IS 300. That's decent, but many rival sedans with six-cylinder upgrade engines are quicker still.

The brake pedal travel is surprisingly short and stiff for a Lexus and lacks a sense of stopping power. In our emergency panic-braking test, an IS 200t with the F Sport package stopped from 60 mph in 117 feet, which is below average for a car on summer-rated tires.

The electric steering builds effort that provides a natural and direct response, but it lacks road feel, which is important if your front tires ever lose grip. The IS fails to provide confidence in this area, which is critical for spirited driving or low-grip situations.

Even with the stickier optional 18-inch summer tires and sport suspension from the F Sport package, the IS has a tendency to push over the limits of front tire grip. Quick directional changes are more to its liking than long, sustained corners, so choose your back roads accordingly.

Excellent ride comfort and the serene quietness of the 2017 IS 300's cabin are the big standouts in this area. We are also happy with the seats, though sitting in the saddle for a few hours can take a small toll on your lower back due to some mismatched lumbar ergonomics.

There's adequate lateral seat support, and the optional ventilation and heating work well. The amount of lumbar support is adjustable, but the position is fixed and sits too high to provide long-distance comfort for an average-size driver.

The IS delivers combines solid body control with smooth compliance at all the right times. Bumps and impacts are absorbed without issue, yet there's no hint of a marshmallowy ride or overly soft suspension tune. Very good.

Great attention went into the IS 300's cabin soundproofing. Road and wind noise is sufficiently silenced, and you don't hear much of the engine. Quiet cabins are more comfortable and can promote calmer reactions in emergencies.

Lexus managed to make the climate controls easy to use while adding cool touch sliders for the temperature adjustment that function flawlessly. The system had no problems maintaining a comfortable cabin temperature, and the optional heated and ventilated seats are stellar.

The IS 300 struggles with finding a balance between innovation and complication. The infotainment system interface lacks user-friendly qualities, and basic cupholder ergonomics were an afterthought to laying out a visually appealing interior. This is a cabin with mediocre functional efficiency.

Lexus' haptic joystick interface for the infotainment system is still cumbersome to use and manages to snag USB phone cords with ease. We'd stick to the base system if possible.

Even with the easy-entry retracting steering wheel, it's not difficult to graze a knee against the column climbing into the driver seat. The rear door openings are on the smaller side and could prove difficult for less flexible passengers.

The cabin space is not abundant in the IS 300. For an average-sized driver, the center tunnel console is needlessly wide and the armrests can feel intrusive. The rear seats have less legroom than in some competitors, and the center seat has marginal headroom.

Forward visibility is great, and the rear headrests don't impede the view directly rearward. But huge rear roof pillars and a high body slope create blind spots when reversing. Parking sensors and a rearview camera are optional and recommended.

Other than the steering-wheel leather that looks and feels like wrinkled skin by the thumb holds, this interior is done well. The seats have quality stitching, and all contact surfaces are soft with tight panel fit and solid door seals.

The smallish trunk that doesn't fold flat and limited interior storage conspire against the IS 200t's utility.

Storage up front is limited to the armrest bin, the door pockets and the glovebox.

At 10.8 cubic feet, cargo space is on the small side for the class. The rear seatbacks fold forward, but hardly flat. The unevenness limits what you can carry with the seats down.