2003 Lexus IS 300 SportCross

Added storage space is available beneath a lift-out panel in the cargo area while a retractable/removable cover keeps contents out of sight.

Dynamically, the SportCross strongly parallels the basic driving manners of the IS 300 sedan. Quick reflexes, great overall balance, grippy, low-profile rubber and precise steering make it eminently capable, regardless of how serpentine the road may become. Backing out of the throttle in full attack mode elicits predictable rotation of the tail, but a quick stab of its well-modulated ABS disc brakes brings the SportCross back into line. Like the IS 300, the SportCross comes standard with a driver-selectable traction-control system. Options include a limited-slip differential and Vehicle Skid Control.


Pop the hood on the SportCross and you'll find the same 3.0-liter DOHC I-6 used in the IS 300 sedan. Here, too, it churns out 215 horses and 218 lb.-ft. of torque. Although the IS 300 sedan offers a 5-speed manual gearbox as well as a 5-speed autoshifter, the SportCross only comes with the latter transmission. Like its sedan counterpart, the SportCross is fitted with the trick E-Shift sequential system that uses buttons on the steering wheel to deliver brisk up/down gear changes. Despite its wagon-style body contributing an additional 125 pounds of curb weight, the SportCross requires only a manufacturer-reported 7.4 seconds to hit 60 mph, compared to 7.3 ticks for an autoshifted IS 300 sedan. On the upside, that's still plenty quick to easily handle any traffic situation, and the extra mass is distributed more evenly (53/47 percent versus a 54/46 break on the sedan).


Price of entry for the SportCross starts at $32,305 plus $545 in destination fees, which represents a $1,500 bump over a baseline autoshifted IS 300. A magnum load of options on our test car—headed by a full-leather package, sunroof, navigation system, limited-slip differential, heated seats, graphite-polished wheels and cargo mats—pushed its sticker to a considerably loftier $37,838 out the door. Lexus expects the SportCross to account for about 5,000 units annually, or roughly 20 percent of total IS 300 sales. But as the SportCross's looks continue to strike a responsive chord with U.S. buyers, don't be surprised to see that figure move considerably higher. (www.lexus.com)