2017 Lexus IS 300 Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?
What’s New For 2017
For the 2017 model year, Lexus has given the exterior of their luxury sport coupe IS300 a major upgrade. It has a new front bumper and grille as well as redesigned head and taillights. The IS300 has always been an attractive automobile, and this year’s model looks better than ever. On the inside, style upgrades continue to a larger display for the available navigation system. Lexus’s Safety System Plus is also now standard.
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2017 Lexus IS 300 – The Pros
1. Great Standard Features
The 2017 Lexus IS300 comes with a wide array of great features. These range for attractive 17-inch alloy wheels to keyless entry and ignition, and that is before you even get to the interior features. Inside, the IS300 sports premium upholstery and 8-inch center display. The vehicle has a number of great option packages, but even at its base model, the IS300 is extremely well appointment.
2. Strong Engine and Excellent Transmission
The 2017 IS300 comes equipped with a powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine. While not quite as powerful as the more expensive IS300, it sill delivers plenty of acceleration both from a stop and at speed. The engine sounds great as well, with a low pitch purr at idle that increase to a roar when at full acceleration.
3. Excellent Exterior Style
The aggressive, stylish exterior design of the Lexus IS300 is impressive in pictures, and even more impressive in person. Newly upgraded design features for the 2017 model year only make the vehicle look better. It has a wide, trapezoid grille mounted to a low, wide hood that trails back along a smoothly tapered profile to an athletic trunk and twin exhaust ports. The distinctive Lexus styling is instantly recognizable, standing out among its more ordinary competitors.
4. Luxurious Interior
The gorgeous sport luxury extends to the 2017 Lexus IS300’s interior. The twin gauges of the dash are set with a simple, distinct silver-on-black design. Symmetrical, comfortable steering wheel and stylish center console complete a pilot-like feel for the driver. Fine construction materials continue along the doors and seats. The IS300 seats five in comfortable, good-looking seats.
5. Smooth Ride
Even over uneven and bumpy terrain, the suspension of the 2017 IS300 delivers a smooth, comfortable ride. Tighter, sportier suspension packages are available, but even these don’t sacrifice ride comfort.
6. Quiet, Well-Designed Construction
The luxury feel and stylish look of the 2017 Lexus IS300 are complemented by the excellent construction of the vehicle’s frame, windows, and doors. The IS300 delivers a quiet ride, muffling engine and road noise to near-silence.
7. Firm Yet Comfortable Front Seats
The front seats of the 2017 Lexus IS300 are extremely well made. They strike a wonderful balance between control and comfort as well as firmness and softness. Legroom and headroom abound in the front row, and the seats can be adjusted to the comfort of an occupant.
8. Large Number of Exciting Options
In addition to the larger number of standard features that come equipped on the 2017 IS300, there are also some exciting options packages. Premium and Premium Plus packages added great features like heated front seats, blind spot monitoring, and more. The Navigation package ensures drivers will never get lost, and the F Sports Package adds a bunch of great performance features. No matter what drivers are looking for, they will be able to make the 2017 IS300 fit their needs.
9. Responsive Electric Steering
The 2017 IS300’s electric steering is responsive and firm around tight corners and at highway speeds. The feel of the steering is excellent, and the vehicle is always under the driver’s complete control. Upgrading to the F Sports package makes the IS300 handle even better.
10. F Sport Package
The F Sports package is an exciting options package for the 2017 Lexus IS300 that contains a number of great performance options. It includes larger wheels, sport-tuned suspension, and more. Inside, it comes with a new, performance-oriented gauge cluster as well. With the F Sports package equipped, the IS300 becomes even more fun to drive.
Reasons Not to Buy a 2017 Lexus IS 300 – The Cons
1. Smaller Back Seat
The 2017 IS300 has a well-designed, comfortable interior, but it is not perfect. The rear seating, in particular, is on the small side. Taller adults might find a lack of legroom when on long trips. It should be noted, however, that there is more than enough legroom and headroom in the front two seats.
2. Trunk Space Lacking
Like the back seats, the trunk of the 2017 IS300 is smaller than ideal. It is a bit shallow, though the lid does open and close firmly and flawlessly. The rear seats also do not fold flat to increase space as much as those in some competing automobiles.
3. Low Fuel Economy
The 2017 Lexus IS300’s has a larger engine than its smaller cousin, the IS200. The IS300’s V6 has similar power and performance to the four-cylinder turbo power plant of the IS 200. However, its fuel economy numbers are quite a bit lower at just 21 combined mpg. While the V6 engine drives and sounds great, some competitors have engines that are more fuel-efficient.
How it Stacks up to the Competition:
The 2017 Lexus IS300 finds itself well situated among its sport luxury rivals. Some of its European competitors like the 2017 BMW 3-Series or the Audi A4 might offer similar performance and a few more features, but the IS300 has a better mix of overall features. Among domestic automobiles, the Cadillac is also a strong performer, but can’t keep pace with the IS300’s luxury interior or exterior style.
Conclusion
A great vehicle both inside and out, the 2017 Lexus IS300 is a great choice for any driver looking for a sport luxury automobile. It delivers the kind of understated elegance that Lexus has come to be known for, and athletic performance to match. The IS300 is a vehicle that does nearly everything well, and one that should be among the top choices for 2017.
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