There's no auto-dimming rearview mirror or memory seating. The automatic climate control isn't truly automatic, as you have to activate the air conditioning manually. There is no center armrest. The flimsy front cupholders refuse to accept anything larger than 12-ounce aluminum cans. The steering wheel tilts manually and doesn't telescope.
Interior storage is skimpy.
The rear seat is adequate for short, in-town trips, but entry and exit is difficult, and the bigger your feet are, the harder it will be due to the tight foot well and limited legroom. The IS 300 has about 3 inches less rear legroom than Audi's A4, a car that we have maligned in the past for minimal rear legroom. OK, so far we have minimal features, a tightly constructed but nonetheless plastic dash, a cramped rear seat and an over 30-grand price tag. It would seem Lexus is trying to pull a fast one. And that's what we originally thought.