Lexus IS300 SportCross   

The Smallest Lexus Just Got That Little Bit Bigger. Andy Enright Considers A Model Transformed

This doesnt happen too often, especially with the Japanese. Its taken some time for the IS series to blossom, but now that it has, it makes one wonder what Lexus were waiting for. The IS300 SportCross model is probably the most tempting in the entire Lexus range, combining elegant styling with a serious amount of punch from its 3.0-litre engine.

We thought wed seen all there was for the IS range. Lexus proved us wrong.

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What did the Lexus IS200 say about its owner? Here was someone who appreciated quality, had an eye for design, enjoyed the subtle rear-wheel drive handling, but wasnt overly interested in driving quickly. The IS300 SportCross changes the script slightly. Its 211bhp in-line six-cylinder engine will be familiar to many as the engine that has seen service beneath the bonnet of the GS300 model, but without having to haul around quite so much metal, it makes a more persuasive case for itself here. Of course, weve seen this sort of estate before in the form of the Alfa Sportwagon and the old BMW 3-Series Touring.

Whats interesting is that although many people accuse Lexus of slavishly aping the appeal of the 3 Series with the IS range, the latest 3-Series Touring seems to be moving away from the lifestyle estate sector and into a more practical role. It seems there could be a sleek, premium-quality sized hole in the market opening up, one which the IS300 SportCross at first appears amply qualified to fill.

"You would never mistake this for an antique dealer special."

Weve known for some time that Lexus have cracked the art of making automatic gearboxes that can slur shifts more smoothly than David Blaine can palm a queen of clubs into his drawers, but the IS300 SportCross illustrates their expertise superbly. The five-speed automatic transmission is a beauty, and it comes complete with E-shift steering wheel controls when, not if, you feel like turning the wick up a few notches. The 3.0-litre engine and the IS package have been on sale in the States for some time now, jealously eyed by UK customers and it was to the US that we turned for our first spell behind the wheel of the IS300.

Performance is lively, the IS300 SportCross hitting 60mph in 7.2 seconds on the way to a top speed the custodial side of 150mph. Youre aware of the IS300 SportCross sporting pretensions the moment you spot the big alloy wheels, the drilled aluminium pedal set and the cars aggressive stance. You would never mistake this for an antique dealer special.

Nobby Katayama, the cars Chief Engineer takes up the story. "We wanted to preserve the image of dynamic performance with the SportCross," he notes. "A conventional wagon body would detract from that image, and on the other hand we also knew that IS customers didnt need the full capacity of a conventional wagon. Thats why we opted for the innovative cross-over concept that is the SportCross." Whilst wed go along with the fact that most Lexus IS customers arent looking for Super Guppy carrying capacities, wed challenge his innovative claim. Werent Lancia doing a similar thing in the seventies with the Beta HPE? The Japanese, as ever, take an existing concept and refine it to perfection. The IS300 SportCross cargo volume of 280 litre under the parcel shelf is even less than that of the Alfa 156 Sportwagon. Seated behind the wheel, youll notice that the chronograph-style instruments that gave the IS200 such a big showroom wow-factor are still present, while metallic inserts brighten up the cabin.

Fire the engine up and you wont be greeted by the deafening silence most Lexus owners revel in, the 3.0-litre six instead beating a distant tattoo somewhere up front. Youll feel the slight vibration through the pedals, letting you know this isnt going to be a velvet glove of a drive. Double wishbone suspension front and rear were fine tuned by countless laps of the Nurburgring and a Torsen limited slip differential and electronic Vehicle Stability Control help prevent your IS300 suffering the same fate as a good proportion of the Rings more foolhardy visitors.

Flicking up and down through the gearbox using the E-shift wheel-mounted controls gives the torque converter something to do, but such is the gutsiness of the IS300s engine (289Nm of torque) that in many cases changing gear merely alters the pitch of the engine note rather than any perceivable difference in acceleration or engine braking. As youd probably expect from Lexus, standard equipment is generous to a fault. Perhaps feeling somewhat guilty that a manual gearbox isnt available in such a willing car, Lexus attempt to soften us up with full leather trim, electrically adjustable and heated seats, electronic folding door mirrors and a host of other fitments. You can spot the current model by its tinted rear light clusters, which were clear on the previous cars.

The £28,852 list price compares favourably with a BMW 330i Sport Touring, although keen drivers will still favour the German car, with its superior performance and manual gearbox. Its in the field of market and finance that the IS300 SportCross starts to look a little suspect against the German opposition. Lexus dutifully point out that the equivalent BMW would need an additional £6,000 worth of options fitted to it in order to bring it to a comparable specification, and the equivalent Mercedes would cost around £3,000 more even before youd factored in £6,000 worth of options. If you were after an effortlessly stylish, quick, six cylinder lifestyle estate but didnt want to pay German money, a top spec Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon does the job very well.

Want something quicker still? A Saab 9-5 Aero estate undercuts the Lexus and beats it to a bloody pulp in the performance stakes. Until we get a manual version, the Lexus IS300 SportCross is, at best, a rather pretty diversion. It doesnt do anything badly, its just that there are other more convincing claims for your money in a fiercely fought market sector. At £25,000 the IS300 would be a contender, but most would sooner have a standard spec BMW than a fully loaded Lexus.

Its a harsh lesson in badge engineering, and reality bites hard when you try to crash this particular party.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Lexus IS300 SportCross
PRICE: £28,852 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 15
CO2 EMISSIONS: 265g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 7.2s/ Max Speed 152mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 18mpg/ (highway) 23mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS with EBD / VSC
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height" 176/68/55.5

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