2005 Lexus IS 300 SportCross Trim Overview

The IS 300 SportCross was discontinued after 2005.  The wagon had not initially sold as well as Lexus had hoped, and sales had since tapered off even further.  The primary advantage of the wagon body was an extra ten cubic feet of cargo space over the sedan.
The IS 300  was powered by the same 3.0 liter inline six engine, with 215 horsepower and 218 pound-feet of torque.  The engine provided ample power for the compact wagon, pulling it from 0 to 60 in 7.9 seconds.  Large brakes dropped 60 to 0 stopping distance to 115 feet.   The performance-minded wagon's stiffer suspension was very in touch with the feel the road, and the available manual transmission also added to the experience.  The SportCross was again only offered with rear wheel drive.
The SportCross never moved above a limited production status.  Not many reviews exist, because not many people have one.  The IS series had been hampered by its entry-level interior appeal, a long list of options compared to what was standard, and a failure to chase down German competitors.  Still, the combination of performance and affordability had attracted many new drivers.  When Lexus rethought the IS series for 2006, they cut their losses with the wagon.