• Just two owners from new
• Less than 55,000 miles from new
• Full history from the supplying dealer
• Presents in excellent condition

These days the world seems to be awash with SUVs of all shapes and sizes and as a result some of the more traditional body styles are finding it difficult to keep a foothold in the market. The estate car is a case in point and it’s a great shame that this practical and stylish alternative to an SUV is almost becoming a dying breed. Admittedly some estates can be a bit dull and worthy but that’s not something you could level at the Lexus IS300 SportCross, a sharply styled and performance orientated compact estate car that’s a hugely rare sight on our roads today.

The Lexus IS range was launched at the tail end of the 20th century as the Japanese firm’s take on the small sporting saloon and was an attempt to take on the might of the German industry. Lexus had BMW, Audi and Mercedes in its sights and was determined to build a machine that could genuinely rival the established brands. Broadly speaking it was a pretty successful machine offering the classic front engine, rear-wheel drive layout combined with oodles of equipment and Lexus’ legendary build quality.

Not content with just rivalling the European saloons Lexus launched the SportCross estate in 2000 and the range-topping model, the IS300, featured a 3.0-litre straight-six with 211bhp which offered excellent performance. The machine we have here is one of these rare sporting estates and has had just two owners and has covered just 54,000 miles. It’s a real opportunity to own a very rare and exciting performance estate that should be destined for classic status in years to come.

The Lexus was first registered in December 2002 and was sold by the Lexus main agent in Chester. It would appear to have stayed in the same area for the whole of its life as each and every stamp in the service book is from Lexus in Chester.

The car’s second owner bought the IS300 in 2006 when the mileage was in the region of 28,000 going by the on-line MoT history and has owned it ever since, using it sparingly in the intervening years. Its condition demonstrates that it must have been loved and cherished during this time as it presents in excellent order today.

It’s a rare thing indeed to find a car that’s coming up for 20 years old that has a full service history, let alone a history that’s been with the supplying dealer from day one, but that’s exactly what the Lexus has. There are entries in the service book from 2004 (11,173 miles), 2005 (19,663 miles), 2007 (30,010 miles), 2009 (36,794 miles), 2010 (38,991 miles), 2012 (41,476 miles), 2013 (43,346 miles), 2014 (45,237 miles), 2015 (47,805 miles), 2017 (51,304 miles), 2018 (52,003 miles) and in 2020 at 53,883 miles.

Naturally enough the mileages of this Lexus can also be verified via the on-line MoT site and it passed its latest test with flying colours and no advisories with an MoT until June 2022. 

When it was new this Lexus was very well equipped and the interior features Grey Exmoor Anthracite Leather Sports Trim with light grey piping. It’s got loads of equipment too, including part electric heated front seats, electric windows, mirrors and sunroof, cruise control, climate control, auto lights, CD player, leather three spoke steering wheel and power steering.

Lexus’ legendary build quality along with careful previous owners has ensured that the interior of the IS300 presents in excellent condition today with the leather upholstery looking virtually unmarked and in very decent order. As you’d expect there are no rips or tears and the only blemish we could find is a tiny split in the piping on the driver’s seat.

Otherwise everything in in great condition with clean, undamaged carpets – even the original floormats are in great order – a spotless roof lining and door trim panels that are free from damage or blemishes. The dash and instruments are in fine fettle as is the steering wheel. 

The boot area is similarly spotless and it still has its original tools under the boot floor. The load cover is present and correct and in fine condition and there is a dog guard fitted too.

Externally the Platinum Ice paintwork presents in excellent order with no scrapes or blemishes and there are hardly any stonechips either – for a car of this age it really is in excellent order. The panel gaps and shut lines appear to be as tight and consistent as the day the car left the factory – Lexus’ excellent build quality showing through once again.

All the light units appear to be in good order and haven’t succumbed to that faded finish that can affect cars of this age, while the car’s glass all appears to be in great condition, too. The black trims around the windows is also in excellent order.

The seller tells us that the attractive 17-inch Lexus alloys have been recently refurbished and that the tyres have a good tread depth.

As you’d expect from a car with a spotless service history the SportCross runs very well indeed with the seller reporting that it drives superbly and that the silky smooth 3.0-litre straight six provides excellent performance. Under the bonnet everything looks to be in very good order – the paintwork is clean while all the black plastic components are in great condition too.

The Lexus IS300 SportCross is a very rare car indeed – the seller believes less than 4000 were ever sold – so to find one for sale is unusual, but to find one with just two owners with low mileage and a rock solid service history is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.

It’s a shame that the SportCross didn’t become a more popular sight on our roads as it really was a very decent machine and offered a great alternative to the far more common German alternatives. It had an excellent rear-wheel drive chassis set up that delivered entertaining handling along with a fine ride too. Add Lexus’s renowned build quality and reliability into the mix and you’ve got a sure-fire winner.

Today it’s a very sought after car, especially for those who want something a little bit different to stand out from the crowd. It could be used as daily driven classic – it even passes London’s strict Ultra Low Emission Zone criteria – or it could be squirrelled away to be used on high days and holidays keeping its mileage down and hopefully appreciating in value as its modern classic status becomes confirmed over the coming years. Rare, stylish, quick, loaded with equipment, practical and in excellent condition – what’s not to like?

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