Caught in the classifieds: 2013 Lexus IS 300h
This week in “Caught In The Classifieds”, we have something of a bargain. Although Lexus isn’t the first brand to spring to mind when you hear the word ‘bargain’, their cars make for amazing second-hand purchases. The Lexus IS, an alternative to BMW’s cult-creating 3-Series or Mercedes’ C Class, is one of the most overlooked cars in its respective segment. Right now, a brand-new IS 300h will set you back £33,000, and that’s before any options. This stunning example we found online is listed for £11,300, or, to put it in other words, a third of the price of a brand-new IS. Is it three times worse than the brand-new one though? That’s what we wanted to find out.
Exterior
Visually, the IS hasn’t changed all that much since 2014 when Lexus introduced an all-new car based on a different platform. They gave the model a mild facelift back in 2016, but changes included a set of different headlights, refreshed taillights, and a slightly altered front fascia. Truth be told, unless you’re a petrolhead or the world’s biggest Lexus enthusiast, you won’t notice the difference.
As a car, the IS is one of the most interesting cars in its class. Take a look at its rivals, and you’ll see most of them are German-made and are rather conservative-looking by comparison. The IS is the odd one out, mostly because of how wild Lexus went with their design language back in early 2012.
The front is dominated by a massive grill taking up half of the front fascia, shaped in the form of an hourglass. Before you have time to catch your breath and compose yourself, you’re immediately attacked by those alien-looking headlights. Lexus decided to split the front headlight housing into two different, distinct sections. The lower one, shaped like a Nike logo, houses the LED DRLs. The bigger, larger housing on the top, houses the Hella 3-inch projector along with the bulbs for the indicators.
The rear is slightly more restrained, but it’s still nowhere near as conservative as something like an Audi A4. The taillights wash out and fade into the rear quarter panels, sticking out almost to the edge of the rear wheels. The line created by the curvature of the rear lights perfectly matches the swooping motion created near the back of the side skirts.
Some people like the styling but many feel that it’s too quirky. Quirky has always been Lexus’ thing though, so it seems they know exactly what their customers want.
Interior
Here’s the thing: you don’t buy a Lexus for the way it looks. You buy it for its reliability, the Lexus customer experience, and perhaps most importantly, how it feels inside. Stepping into an IS feels worlds apart from stepping into a BMW 3-Series or an Audi A4. The first thing you notice is just how nice everything feels. The materials are soft and plush, including the plastics near the bottom of the door sills. Fit and finish really are second-to-none. Even though Audi does some of the nicest interiors in the business, Lexus has them beat when it comes to build quality. This thing feels like it could survive a nuclear apocalypse.
The styling of the dashboard is incredible. The large infotainment display sits deep inside the cutout in the middle, right on top of that ‘waterfall’ centre console. If I’m being completely honest, it doesn’t have the best ergonomics and the infotainment system is slightly behind those of the Germans, but it’s just as effective once you get used to it, which might take a while.
The driving position is spot on though. The steering wheel has clearly been inspired by Lexus’ LFA supercar, and the same can be said about that game-like digital instrument cluster. It’s a real joy to use, much more so than what BMW or Mercedes do with their digital displays. The seats are super comfortable, with a decent amount of lateral support and bolstering. They’re not sporty, but then again, the IS never claimed to be the ultimate performance saloon.
Engine and Performance
The 300h variant is a hybrid, so it uses both an internal-combustion engine and an electric motor. The 2.5-litre four-cylinder makes 175 horsepower, with the electric motor producing 141 bhp, but it’s not as easy as adding the two figures together. Because of the way the electric motor works (it supplements the engine and it fills in the torque gaps), total power output is rated at 217 bhp.
Unlike the non-hybrid variants which use a conventional 8-speed auto, the 300h uses a CVT to send power to the driven wheels. A lot of people criticize the CVT for not being engaging enough, but I can’t think of a single car that would benefit more from a CVT than a hybrid Lexus. If you’re driving a hybrid, chances are you’re not using it to win races. You’re using it as a daily driver, something to commute to work in. As a motorway motor, the IS just eats up the miles like no one else’s business.
Because the cabin is so well insulated, there’s practically no wind or tire noise from the outside environment. The CVT completely irons out how the drivetrain behaves, adding an extra layer of isolation and refinement. It’s by no means engaging or fun, but it’s remarkably civilized.
It still pulls hard though, far harder than the 217 bhp power figure suggests, but it’s not as quick as a high-end 3-Series. Interestingly, the steering is precise and accurate with plenty of feedback, which is something that might catch you off-guard when you first drive it. The suspension soaks up bumps and road imperfections without any complaint. It’s not an S-Class by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s a lot softer than even something like a C Class.
Lexus IS 300h Auto
Model: Lexus IS 300h
Year 2013
Trim: Luxury
Mileage: 78,000
Target price: £11,000 - £13,000
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Why you should buy one
People who buy a Lexus are always going to buy a Lexus, no matter what. Very rarely do Lexus owners go back to something else. Having driven an IS 300h, I can see why. If you need a practical, reliable, and extremely comfortable commuter, very few cars can compete with the IS. The fact that they hold their value extremely well once the initial depreciation hit settles in is another bonus. If you were thinking of buying a brand-new Lexus but didn’t have £30,000 laying around, why not get this one? It’s 95% as good at 33% of the cost.
