2014 Lexus IS 300h with a strong hybrid system and a write-off on record

This 2014 Lexus IS 300h Executive Edition had covered 261,666 km and was being sold by a dealer. Mechanically it was a well-kept example for its mileage, with a hybrid system, engine and gearbox that drove perfectly. The finding that mattered most was on paper: a history check recorded a write-off in Ireland in 2022, and our paint gauge found filler on the front of the car that fits that record.

The car

The IS 300h pairs a 2.5 litre petrol engine (2AR-FSE) with an electric motor, 223 bhp in total, driving the rear wheels through an automatic hybrid gearbox (e-CVT). It was first registered in the UK in 2014 and came to Ireland in 2017. It had one owner in the UK, three in Ireland and two periods with garages.

The mileage checked out. The engine and hybrid computers agreed, and the national register, a February 2024 main dealer service invoice and earlier adverts all rise steadily. The NCT was valid until May 2027, no finance was recorded and both keys were present.

What we found

Front-end repair and a write-off record

Every panel was measured. The bonnet read 500 microns and the right front wing 1,700 microns, both consistent with filler under the paint. The right front door read 250 microns, which fits paint blended in after the wing repair. The left rear door and left rear wing read 200 microns each, an even repaint with no filler.

One history check recorded a damage alert in 2022 and a write-off in Ireland. In June 2022 the car was looked up by a motor assessor, an engineer and an auction house on the same day, which commonly happens after an insurance claim. The category had not been received when the report was written. No structural damage was recorded, the car drove straight and our inspector's first view was that the impact did not look major, but the category decides how serious it was.

Cold start not possible

The engine was already very warm on arrival, so a true cold start could not be observed. This engine family can rattle for a second or two on a cold start when the valve timing parts or timing chain are worn, and a warm engine hides it.

Service due and worn drop links

The last full service was about 21,200 km and two years seven months earlier. Engine oil, brake fluid and rear differential oil were due, and the hybrid gearbox fluid had no record of ever being changed. All four anti-roll bar drop links were worn, some with punctured rubber boots. They were not noticeable on the road yet.

Hybrid battery and diagnostics

The 16-block battery showed no hybrid fault codes and very even internal resistance, but a voltage spread of 0.711 V between blocks while charging, higher than we like to see. The pattern is commonly associated with uneven cooling, so a cooling fan clean was recommended before re-checking. Of 22 systems scanned, 21 had no codes. The only code was a historic window switch communication fault. The engine computer showed its codes had been cleared 307 km before the inspection by someone else.

Smaller points

The rear left tyre had 3.24 mm of tread and was a different brand from the other three. The locking wheel nut key was missing, the front badge was loose and the road tax had expired.

What it would cost

The work needed now came to €860 to €1,420, plus one small item needing a quote. A hybrid battery balancing service, only if the voltage gap stays after the fan clean, and any cold start repair, only if a rattle is heard, were listed as quote needed.

Our verdict

Conditional pass. The conditions were to get the write-off category and repair paperwork and confirm insurance, hear a cold start, carry out the overdue service and replace the drop links. The good points were real: no leaks, correct fluid levels, coolant in good condition, a smooth gearbox, no warning lights, brake pads only 5 to 10% worn, zero misfires and a mileage record with no sign of tampering.

Buying a used IS 300h in Ireland: what to check

• Hear the engine start from cold. A short rattle on start-up is a known weak point of this engine family.
• Ask whether the hybrid gearbox fluid has ever been changed. It is not on the manufacturer schedule, and at high mileage fresh fluid is cheap protection.
• Check the hybrid battery cooling fan and intake. Dust reduces cooling and can unbalance the blocks.
• Ask a Lexus dealer to run a VIN check for recalls. This model range has a fuel pump recall and a fuel tank vent tube recall.
• Look for leaks at the rear shock absorbers, which the report lists among the known weak points.

A car can drive perfectly and still carry a write-off on its record, which is why the panels and the history deserve the same attention as the road test.