Lexus IS 300 RWD vs Volkswagen Polo GTI : which one is faster?
0-100 km/h, 400 m, 1000 m, top speed — physics simulation calibrated on 7 measures.
0-100Simulation de performance
Race simulation at real speed
CONFIDENCE 93%Calibrated physics simulation: SCx via VMax, power curves, Crr via WLTP, drivetrain losses. Manufacturer 0-100 is the calibration target. Confidence 93 %.
IS 300 RWD vs Polo GTI: chronicle of a drag race at 251 km/h
The launch: 0 to 100 km/h
Off the line, the Polo GTI hits 100 km/h in 6.57 s versus 7.40 s for the IS 300 RWD. At this point, the Polo GTI leads by 0.83 s and sits roughly 10 m ahead.
From 100 km/h to 400 metres
At 200 metres, the Polo GTI is doing 130 km/h against 124 km/h for the IS 300 RWD. The gap is 0.52 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the Polo GTI crosses the line in 14.70 s versus 15.44 s. The 0.74 s gap represents roughly 31 m of track — a gap visible to the naked eye.
Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play
Past 400 metres, the Polo GTI continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 182 km/h versus 173 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Polo GTI finishes in 26.28 s versus 27.59 s, with a 1.31 s lead.
What the numbers don’t tell you
Electronically capped at 225 km/h, the IS 300 RWD never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor — it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.
With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (6.92 kg/hp vs 6.43 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.11 seconds. The 0.83 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Volkswagen Polo GTI has a clear edge over the Lexus IS 300 RWD to 100 km/h. This difference is clearly noticeable in spirited driving and widens on standing starts.