Segment: Small
Production years: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Lexus introduced the IS lineup in 1998 as a contender for the compact-sedan premium segment on the U.S. market, and, later on, it sold it in Europe as well.
Just by looking at it, it was hard not to notice that Lexus's marketing department studied long and hard the BMW 3-Series (E36) and decided to make a competitor for it. As a result, the design team tried hard to conceal that inspiration theme and produced something that didn't look like a BMW.
At the front, the IS had to stick to the corporate reversed trapezoidal grille with four slats that sported the logo in the middle. Its big headlights resembled those installed on the first generation of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W-202), but with raised corners instead of straight and lowered ones. It showed an original styling for the taillights with round lamps covered by a clear lens and a pair of round red fog-lights on the trunk lid in the rear.
Inside, the IS featured one of the most attractive instrument panels on the market. It was inspired by a sports chronograph watch with a center-mounted speedometer and three other gauges inside its dial and left room for a wide tachometer on the left and a fuel gauge on the right. Its ergonomically designed interior and the step-like pattern for the automatic gear selector showed keen attention to detail. There was room for two grown-ups in the back due to the high transmission-tunnel that crossed the car from the engine to the back.
Under the hood, Lexus installed an inline-six, two-liter engine like the BMW offered. It produced approximately the same amount of power and torque. That was the base engine. Apart from that, the carmaker offered three other engine options, including a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel, like Mercedes-Benz.
ENGINE SPECS - 200 6MT RWD (155 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 1988 cm3 |
Power: | 114 KW @ 6200 RPM 155 HP @ 6200 RPM 153 BHP @ 6200 RPM |
Torque: | 144 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM 195 Nm @ 4400 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 18.5 gallons (70.0 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 133.6 mph (215 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 9.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 6-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 215/45ZR17 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 173.2 in (4399 mm) |
Width: | 67.7 in (1720 mm) |
Height: | 55.9 in (1420 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59/58.3 in (1,499/1,481 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 105.1 in (2670 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.4 in (137 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.1 cuFT (399 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.28 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 2987.3 lbs (1355 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4034.4 lbs (1830 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 17.3 mpg US (13.6 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 30.1 mpg US (7.8 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 24 mpg US (9.8 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 233 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 250 6AT RWD (207 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 2231 cm3 |
Power: | 152.2 KW @ 6400 RPM 207 HP @ 6400 RPM 204 BHP @ 6400 RPM |
Torque: | 186 lb-ft @ 3800 RPM 252 Nm @ 3800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Direct Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 18.5 gallons (70.0 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 140 mph (225 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 8.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 6-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 215/45ZR17 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 173.2 in (4399 mm) |
Width: | 67.7 in (1720 mm) |
Height: | 55.9 in (1420 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59/58.3 in (1,499/1,481 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 105.1 in (2670 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.4 in (137 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.1 cuFT (399 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.28 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 3251.8 lbs (1475 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4310 lbs (1955 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 15.2 mpg US (15.5 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 29.4 mpg US (8 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 21.8 mpg US (10.8 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 256 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 250 6MT RWD (207 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 2231 cm3 |
Power: | 152.2 KW @ 6400 RPM 207 HP @ 6400 RPM 204 BHP @ 6400 RPM |
Torque: | 186 lb-ft @ 3800 RPM 252 Nm @ 3800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Direct Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 18.5 gallons (70.0 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 137 mph (220 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 8.7 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 6-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 215/45ZR17 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 173.2 in (4399 mm) |
Width: | 67.7 in (1720 mm) |
Height: | 55.9 in (1420 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59/58.3 in (1,499/1,481 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 105.1 in (2670 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.4 in (137 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.1 cuFT (399 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.28 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 3251.8 lbs (1475 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4310 lbs (1955 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 15.2 mpg US (15.5 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 29.4 mpg US (8 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 21.8 mpg US (10.8 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 256 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 300 5AT RWD (215 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 2997 cm3 |
Power: | 157 KW @ 5800 RPM 213 HP @ 5800 RPM 211 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 212 lb-ft @ 3800 RPM 288 Nm @ 3800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 18.5 gallons (70.0 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 142.9 mph (230 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 8.2 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 215/45ZR17 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 173.2 in (4399 mm) |
Width: | 67.7 in (1720 mm) |
Height: | 55.9 in (1420 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59/58.3 in (1,499/1,481 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 105.1 in (2670 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.4 in (137 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.1 cuFT (399 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.28 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 3251.8 lbs (1475 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4310 lbs (1955 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 15.2 mpg US (15.5 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 29.4 mpg US (8 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 21.8 mpg US (10.8 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 256 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 220d 6AT RWD (177 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 2231 cm3 |
Power: | 130.2 KW @ 3600 RPM 177 HP @ 3600 RPM 175 BHP @ 3600 RPM |
Torque: | 295 lb-ft @ 2000 RPM 400 Nm @ 2000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Turbocharged Common Rail |
Fuel: | Diesel |
Fuel capacity: | 18.5 gallons (70.0 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 134 mph (216 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 9.2 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 6-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 215/45ZR17 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 173.2 in (4399 mm) |
Width: | 67.7 in (1720 mm) |
Height: | 55.9 in (1420 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59/58.3 in (1,499/1,481 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 105.1 in (2670 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.4 in (137 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.1 cuFT (399 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.28 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 3251.8 lbs (1475 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4310 lbs (1955 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 15.2 mpg US (15.5 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 29.4 mpg US (8 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 21.8 mpg US (10.8 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 256 g/km |