2023 Lexus RC

Overview

The aging RC still looks good but it has lost its edge in the competitive luxury-sports-coupe segment. The driving experience is not nearly as aggressive as the sharply angled exterior styling promises, as both the RC300 and RC350 models lack power and don’t handle well compared to their rivals. A soft ride and a comfortable interior are the positive tradeoffs. A turbo four-cylinder engine is standard, but opt for all-wheel drive or the more expensive RC350 trim and you get a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6. There is a V-8–powered RC F, reviewed separately, that provides more hard-core performance. Think of the RC as a luxury coupe with great lines, and you’ll understand what it’s all about.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

1

BMW 3-series

STARTING AT: $44,795

2

Audi A5 Sportback

STARTING AT: $45,695

3

Genesis G70

STARTING AT: $40,525

4

BMW 4-series Gran Coupe

STARTING AT: $46,895

5

Mercedes-Benz C-class

STARTING AT: $46,000

16

Lexus RC

STARTING AT: $45,470

What's New for 2023?

Updates for 2023 include a new touchscreen infotainment display, plus a newly available appearance package for the F Sport model that includes a two-tone gray-and-black exterior and 19-inch Enkei wheels.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The RC is an interesting car because it looks inherently sporty; however, it fails to live up to that illusion. That makes us question stepping up to the more powerful RC350, either with or without the F Sport package. Those looking for luxury and performance from a two-door coupe should consider one of its competitors, such as the Audi A5, the BMW 4-series, or the Infiniti Q60. If you’re smitten with its looks, we'd suggest sticking with the entry-level RC300, which has all the style of the RC350 for less money. Those who want all-wheel drive can have it for a few thousand dollars more. We'd also opt for the Premium package that adds heated and ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and more. The individual options we like are the 19-inch wheels, parking sensors, sunroof, heated steering wheel, and upgraded LED headlights.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The RC300 is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder making 241 horsepower and mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is the standard setup. We found the automatic to be a good match for the turbo-four, but the engine isn't up to the task of pulling the RC around with any alacrity. Lexus offers two versions of its V-6 to address the lack of power. Under the hood of the all-wheel-drive RC300, the V-6 makes 260 horsepower and pairs with a six-speed automatic. The range-topping RC350 gets a 311-hp V-6 that teams up with the eight-speed automatic (RWD only) or the six-speed (AWD only). In our testing, we've found this engine to be velvety smooth with linear power delivery, but it's still not as gutsy as its rivals’. While it managed a 5.6-second run from zero to 60 mph, the BMW 440i coupe we tested did the deed in 4.4 seconds—a performance difference that feels a lot bigger than it looks on paper. Ride comfort is where the RC succeeds—and it does so with honors. Upgrading to larger wheels with lower profile tires, as featured on the RC350 F Sport we tested, does put a sharper edge on the ride, but it is never harsh. The RC is not as eager as tauter coupes when it comes to enthusiastic driving, but there's still some room to play. The steering wheel transmits a good amount of road feel, and there's enough feedback to let you know when the front tires are losing their grip on the pavement.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Fuel-economy ratings for all of the RC's available engines are unremarkable and are outperformed by most rivals, with the most efficient model—the rear-wheel drive RC300—earning ratings of 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The turbocharged four-cylinder's real-world performance on our highway fuel-economy test route turned out to be a disappointing 29 mpg; in our testing, many higher-powered rivals either matched or surged past their highway estimates. In fact, the more powerful RC350 F Sport we tested exactly matched the results of the turbo four. For more information about the RC's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The RC's well-made interior is stylish, comfortable, and spacious, but only for front-seat passengers. Its wild exterior styling also comes with an interior drawback: big blind spots. The front seats in our RC350 F Sport test vehicle were supportive, well-cushioned, and wrapped in supple leather. All RC models come with dual-zone automatic climate control adjusted by touch-sensitive slider controls that are surprisingly intuitive and easy to use. Cargo space is limited in the RC, so if you're looking to take a long road trip, you'd better pack light. While the RC's trunk swallowed four of our carry-on cases, it managed to add only an additional five with both of its rear seats folded. Small-item storage throughout the cabin isn't particularly voluminous, but the Lexus's rivals don't offer much, either.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

An 8.0-inch touchscreen is standard, with a 10.3-inch touchscreen optional. The remote touchpad remains, but now that the screen is touch-capable it means you won’t have to rely on that fussy console-mounted controller. A variety of connectivity features are available, including onboard Wi-Fi and Amazon Alexa integration, along with smartphone-mirroring functions.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The 2022 RC has a smorgasbord of standard driver-assistance technology. For more information about the RC's crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Standard lane-keeping assist and lane-departure warning
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Lexus provides a longer powertrain warranty than most of its rivals, but the rest of the RC's coverage is average. A year's worth of complimentary scheduled maintenance is nice, but the BMW 4-series offers three years of coverage.

• Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 6 years or 70,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for 1 year or 10,000 miles

More Features and Specs