2014 Lexus IS300h DRIVING POV/REVIEW // THE CAR YOU SHOULD WANT

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[@ParagonCarsLondon]

CORRECTION: This is a 4 cylinder hybrid not V6 hybrid.

[@Birmingham_racing]

The bigger Lexus gs450h had the hybrid option with a v6. My brother had a couple 2005 and 2006. 3.5 v6 with a hybrid making 335bhp 30mpg around town and 40 mpg on the motorway. Not soo economical by modern standards but it was the first Lexus v6 hybrid and the the generation after did mid 40s average

[@pgivno4241]

at the moment we talking about is300h @@Birmingham_racing

[@petreticu6008]

This car is perfect on and off the city! I would buy it in a heartbeat! I could say its my dream car since i first saw it! A lot of people dont like its old look interior, but personally i love it! Though that exterior is amazing, it will never get old!

[@lloydgriffiths1847]

I HATE to be that guy because I absolutely love your videos but I’m pretty sure it’s a 2.5l 4 cylinder and not a V6

[@ParagonCarsLondon]

Thanks for pointing that out, it was the old is250 that used a v6.

[@sizif717]

Yes, it is a naturally aspirated 2.5l 4-cylinder petrol engine, that is the only downside of this car. Everything else in it feels like a 300hp car - brakes, suspension, handling...But they just have underpowered it. Modern times, modern downsizing...

[@toomuch9762]

@@sizif717underpowered it? Like how much power do you want for public roads?

[@sizif717]

Different people want different things. For ''public roads'' - some may say that you don't need more than 80HP..And they will have a point. Why buying Lexus then? A normal Yaris will do. I just say that the car feels like it can handle 300HP, but it is quite sow accelerating with that gearbox when on the IC engine. Compared to...let's say - a 2L Petrol turbo BMW 3 series...When I drove that IS300H- it felt slower than my current (at the time) 2006 IS250. So - why buying an almost new Lexus for £25,000? It is not a slow car by any means, but the chassis can handle much more and if they have fitted the 6-cylinder V6 which they fit on many of their hybrids - it would have competed the car itself.

[@renegerritsen6178]

@@sizif717 I know what you mean. That is how I feel every time I drive my girlfriend's Mazda 2. It is a cart for the public roads, but why didn't Mazda put in a nice 1.5 turbo engine to spice it up a bit. The handeling is amazing, but the engine lacks power. There are IS350's in the US, but in Europe they hardly sell due to high taxes and expensive fuel consumption. Two downsides for me about the IS300h though: - It can barely tow a trailer. 750kg is nothing and a real downside, especially if you consider the AWD NX300h, which has the same engine, can tow twice that! - They should have made a stationwagon/estate version of it. That would have been my ideal car. Now I would need to buy an NX300h if I wanted more luggage space, but I don't want to drive an SUV.

[@AndyGrouch]

Best car purchase I ever made was this one. I bought it before infaltion and the value has only gone up in 2 years. Very good car.

[@cjoseph6772]

Yes ditto great allround car

[@johnhealy4511]

I waited 2 years and now when i'm to looking to buy one thats not super inflated 😅

[@jonwright8236]

thanks for great review , thinking of checking a used one out soon, greetings from Ireland

[@storyclips]

Lovely review just discovered your channel greets from the Netherlands

[@leonardmills5003]

The best review I have seen of this car of all. Not so much about the interior and exterior, to much about that in other reviews. More of a drivers eye view of how it drives! You don't hang about do you? 😄

[@infinite_azure_]

Nice review, wondered what recording equipment you use to get the POV?

[@paoloochangco6072]

good review! 👍 analyzed for wat it was designed for, wc is a cruiser not a roadster

[@timsmith3229]

Nice review Tom. I have one of these and agree with virtually everything you said.

[@seemslegit6203]

I own a 2019 F-sport premium pack version and honestly I'm surprised these cars weren't that popular. Its packed with features, quality, and has a great balance of sportiness and lazy luxury to it.

[@AndyGrouch]

They sold very well in US. Europeans just see it as a more expensive Toyota, they rather buy Europeans or cheaper Toyota products, which is a shame since this car is a hidden gem. It combines all European executive features in one, BMW driveability, Mercedes comfort and Audi practicality, but not just as good as them. But what it does do win all of them hands down in reliability and customer service and build quality.

[@shane6115]

Hi dude, I have an FSport too, I’m just wondering what extras you get with the premium pack . Thanks 🙏

[@seemslegit6203]

@Shane not sure which of these specifically, but the fsport is mostly the styling pack. The premium plus pack is what gives it all the feautres. Those would be the full leather, ventilated seats, Larger display, seat memory, triple beam LEDs, reversing camera with parking assist. Thats just what i can name off the top of my head, but im sure theres more

[@shane6115]

@@seemslegit6203 thank dude for answering me back, I’m in Ireland and have the is300h FSport, and it has the full electric leather memory seat with heated and aircon ventilation plus it has the mark Levinson stereo reverse camera big sat nav and park assist It has the Bi-zenon headlights though, this market didn’t get triple led,s

[@seemslegit6203]

@Shane if its got ML thats probably the takumi pack. But yea outside the UK the headlights were optional. The takumi pack would be a step above mine, adding ML, a sunroof, BSM and adaptive suspension

[@eduardodacosta4670]

Also worth mentioning that it does not have a CVT gearbox, it is a eCVT. The name is similar, but the way it works is COMPLETELY different. It does not wine and it uses actual gears (planetary gearbox) instead of a metal belt, definitely does not suffer from the same issues as a CVT does.

[@alexgunner1882]

So how reliable is it? Can I expect to get one with 200k km, change the oil and have it last another 200k km?

[@eduardodacosta4670]

@alexgunner1882 apart from the hybrid battery, yes, it should last easily.

[@Jelmerize]

@@alexgunner1882Very, very reliable. Later Prius models have this transmission, seen them run well over 500.000km, no issues.

[@Wolfox360]

I have the same car but with facelift from 2018. The consumption you are looking for you get them with the 16" wheels, I have them and 4l/100 is very easy to optain. The Manual gearbox simulation I use it only when coming down hills / mountain, for the rest, leave it in auto. The beauty is that you never feel in the wrong gear and you don't have to worry about Clutches, belts and complex mechanics. Just keep 3000€ away that after 400000km you MIGHT need a new traction battery. To bad people buying useless SUVs are killing this category.

[@alexgunner1882]

At what speed do you get 4L/100km?

[@Wolfox360]

@@alexgunner1882 80/90kmh

[@johnhealy4511]

​@@alexgunner1882yes i am getting 7.4 L/Km short journeys

[@gord8743]

A thoroughly great hands on review of the quality Lexus IS300h prem model which is top of the range model. It’s a quality car & beats the comparable German cars hands down methinks. Glad you rectified the v6 engine reference as a 4 cylinder hybrid model. Good job n liked n subbed!!😉😎

[@ParagonCarsLondon]

Thanks for the sub!

[@adamforembski6039]

Exactly 4 cylinders in line. But still great car. Love it.

[@Miggi40]

just bought one a week ago. loving it. I had a vw golf r mk6. Changed to this because i feared the dsg blowing up and spent almost all my money for gas. Never buying german car again. Japanese know how to make cars.

[@alexgunner1882]

How much fuel is it using?

[@buddahfingers]

Hiya I've got a 1.6 2008 ford focus petrol and I was looking at getting one of these would you say the speed power is better in the lexus is300 and reliability.

[@russellwhite2883]

I bought the same year and model 2 years ago. Its been 100% reliable. Get it serviced at lexus and 1 year warranty upto 100,000 miles or ten years old and the hybrid system upto 15 years. Great review but when you were giving a bit of stick on the B Road the car wasn't complaining about your driving it was telling you that there is a speed camera ahead. 😉

[@ParagonCarsLondon]

thanks for the info 😁

[@damianpoland5110]

So hybrid system has warranty up to 15yrs old, any milage limit? How much is Lexus' service? Thank you

[@ThePANDA1885]

Hey Russell, great choice. I'm going to get one of these too. Was toying with an ES but the IS seems to be much better value. I love it!

[@zeberday1]

Love watching you being hooligan around Maple Cross haha

[@henryviiifake8244]

15:38 It may not have been 60mpg, but you had been flooring it before the economy section and started with about 35mpg or so. That's a 34% increase in a few minutes, which is promising for someone who's considering a non-plug-in hybrid as their next car.

[@shane6115]

I have a 2014 FSport model, with the mark levinson and heated and cooled seats.The suspension double wishbone on the from multi link on the back, they handle brilliantly. The quality of these cars is on another level to anything, bmw Mercedes even Audi haven’t got a patch on these cars on the build quality. The only let down in the infotainment system, but you’ll have to go up to Bentley Porsche or Rolls-Royce to match the sound and quality of the mark levinson stereo system.

[@zahimiibrahim3602]

I bought a used 2007 RX350 with the Levinson stereo and it still sounds incredible, best in any car I've owned. I used to think the Bose system in my wife's Audi A4 was good but there's no comparison.

[@shane6115]

@@zahimiibrahim3602 welcome to quality sound systems.

[@Letstalkaddiction1]

Great review

[@trustinflames1022]

Currently looking at replacing my Jag XF with one of these.

[@jblue2435]

I have a 2018 Lexus IS300h Advance with premium nav and I absolutely love it - though I would have liked 18" wheels! My previous car was a 2014 Mercedes C220d which looked great but had a really hard uncomfortable ride, rattled and sqeeked and sounded like a tractor - it really iritated me. The BMW 320d before that was also noisy.

[@eugenijussanda4958]

Got one couple weeks ago. Same age, same color, same trim. 60k on the clock. Lovely to drive. Very relaxing. Yet to try on motorway but in London it feels like a fish in a pond. With full tank and 1 heavy passenger it's 45 MPG. With Average foot on the throthle. Absolutely effortlessly goes to 30 mph. Cockpit very comfy and it's on a smaller side. It kinda surrounds you. Real comfort feels. Keep in mind it's small and heavy car. And it gives you sensation of very controllable and featherweight vehicle. Cvt feels OK. Just need time to get use to it.

[@vladde1579]

You had to reset the MPG counter once you got on a motorway, and you would get 52mpg+

[@rogerblack7764]

Same 2.5I 4 cylinder that's in a camry hybrid

[@Bartaz19]

so true. btw after month you get used to joystick easly.

[@blitzchaserjzx100]

On a 3hr 10 minute drive i got 65.7mpg out of my IS300H

[@markthorpe1528]

I bought a pre owned exec model 3 months ago.The car is brilliant in every way.The only two things i would critisise it for are the standard headlights,which are not that bright,and the lack of cubby spaces.

[@alexgunner1882]

Do you happen to know how much fuel it uses at various speeds?

[@johnhealy4511]

​@@alexgunner1882i am getting 7.4 L/Km short 10 minute commute to work everyday

[@markthorpe1528]

Around town only 50 to 53 mpg on a motorway normally 47 to 50 mpg.Never use sports mode,

[@mauripekkarinen1]

Love the car. It's a shame Lexus Europe has almost solely focused on boring FWD crossovers. If Lexus made a RWD or RWD biased estate, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. The GS Would also be nice but They don't have the 3.5 litre V6s anymore.

[@Shiinamusiclyricssubs]

they still make the 3.5L 2gr v6, but I don't think it has an electrified version. The GS was simply discontinued, what a shame. The base is350 in north america still uses a variant of the v6, for instance, but newer cars are usually a25 4cyl hybrids.

[@ReferenceFidelityComponents]

Nothing wrong with the 3.5 2gr hybrid RX450h. I don’t find it boring at all, just effortless, refined and about the most comfortable cruiser you’d ever sit in. It has surprising poke and handles very well. Had a gs300 previously, rwd v6 auto. Beautiful to drive but flawed as they had too many issues and weren’t as reliable as the later hybrid newer shape GS but were a more luxurious compliant drive. The IS makes a lot of sense. Not quite as quiet or roomy as an ES but sportier. Reliable too. Great used buy, light years better as an ownership prospect than any German saloon.

[@bennyking572]

I really have a soft spot but the only 1s i see are far away from where i live. Also the insurance is alot more expensive too :(

[@edmondhung6097]

Do I need to worry the traction battery for those high mileage used? Those with 140k miles+ and from 2014-ish

[@joonapuro8055]

Not really

[@CL4SSiCS]

There's one of these around me that's a taxi, I been in it a few times and they are nippy at lower speeds

[@gezgez2]

wow literally bought mine today and drove it from Leicester to scotland. Relaxing drive, lovely car. Same year and trim but 140k miles - all lexus dealer history though+1 year warranty left Im quite confident it will outlast my 2016 3 series with half that mileage

[@darshitcumdeepgupta6998]

Is it the black one ? 64 plate ? If so its been sitting for almost a year as no one wanted it as it is Ex Taxi

[@gezgez2]

@@darshitcumdeepgupta6998 64 yeah i assume it was taxi but still the condition is stellar mechanically and interior wise

[@gezgez2]

@@darshitcumdeepgupta6998 although it did have constant yearly mileage just 2-3 years of 30k miles plus annually

[@BigMan-ey8lk]

E cvt gearbox in lexus is completely different than normal cvt ...its far superior

[@jedimaster291]

Is sold?

[@MX9000YT]

Does it have double glazed windows for sound isolation?

[@fenrirComes]

only in the front if I recon. something like 3.5 in front and 2.5 at the back but I don't remember the unit of those measures.

[@sohailashraf8078]

I achieve fuel efficiency of approximately 21-22 km/L on the highway, but in the city, it’s disappointing, ranging from 13-17 km/L, possibly even worse in reality. My previous Camry Hybrid easily delivered 18-20 km/L in city driving. I’ve recently replaced my tires with Bridgestone Potenza. Any ideas on what might be causing this difference? or is this the price we pay for a luxury brand? 😊

[@-xYz--nk1gm]

12v battery?

[@roteroktober360]

does the A/C also work when you're in electric mode?

[@TerryMarsault]

it starts the engine then

[@mickesvensson9594]

yes the ac is electric

[@alper7701]

is the suspension on the comfy side or harsh side?

[@ParagonCarsLondon]

comfy side

[@fenrirComes]

well it is subjective but I would say harsh, with 18' wheels you can feel everything when the tires are at recommanded pressure. It is the only cons I have with this car but if you are used to german cars you could say comfy

[@pawelec66]

I get 48.2 mpg over 20000 miles on low profile tyres.

[@mickesvensson9594]

mine did 30-35 mpg and that is pretty bad for a hybrid, my bmw f31 320d does 40-50 mpg at half the price.

[@MistMonkey]

Question for hybrid car fans, would a diesel be better for saving money?

[@ParagonCarsLondon]

if you do a lot of motorway miles then yes

[@damianpoland5110]

I wouldn't recommend diesel. Done the line you have costly DPF problems, and fuel is already more expensive.

[@noneB974]

@@damianpoland5110whats dpf? And would a 320d be good choice?

[@mickesvensson9594]

@@noneB974 yep much better

[@racqueteer5606]

Only thing I don't like is the early ones don't have a digital dash - which is a must in Bristol with the absolute t*sser police and their speed cameras.

[@Bigbandi]

It is a 4 Cylinder

[@shaner3723]

This car confirms that we live in very low average IQ Society , why would anyone sane chose German over this . Its a symbol for reliability, confort, economy and design, yet again people buy other brands

[@gogutzy]

7.26 s to 60 is pretty far from the declared 8.7...

[@vytautaslingis162]

And motorway speed is 70miles

[@Birmingham_racing]

I wouldn't pick one over it's German rivals because I've never been too sure on the looks. Only point I didn't consider one when I was going taxi for a little while

[@vytautaslingis162]

Motorway 45mph

[@Outpostism]

I wish it was a V6…

[@-xYz--nk1gm]

There is is250 2.5 v6 n/a

[@noah4088]

you even don't know it's a L4, how can I trust your other words

[@Snap-on_tools]

is350 have a v6 non hybrid and 500 have v8 non hybrid