The Lexus RC is a luxury 4-seat coupe that places a heavy emphasis on sport. It competes with vehicles like the Audi A5, BMW 4-Series, Cadillac ATS, Infiniti Q60 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe. It's loosely based on the Lexus IS sedan and comes with rear- or all-wheel drive.
Prices start at $39,995 for the entry RC 200t and climb all the way to $48,715 for the top-level RC 350 F Sport. Standard equipment includes 18-inch wheels, selectable driving modes, LED headlights and taillights, heated side mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, rearview camera, leatherette upholstery, wood and aluminum trim and a 60/40-folding rear seat with armrest.
Three engines are offered. The rear-drive-only RC 200t gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that makes 241 horsepower and mates to an 8-speed automatic. The RC 300 comes with a 3.5-liter V6 that offers 255 horsepower. It comes with a 6-speed automatic and is only available with all-wheel drive. The line-topping RC 350 also gets a 3.5-liter V6, but it generates 306 horsepower and is available with rear- or all-wheel drive. Rear-drive models of the 350 get an 8-speed automatic while all-wheel-drive versions make due with a 6-speed automatic.
The RC comes with a 7-inch color display and a 10-speaker sound system with satellite radio, HD radio, auxiliary audio jack and USB connection. Adding navigation brings a console-mounted touchpad controller, upgraded voice controls and smartphone app. Also available are Mark Levinson audio package with 17-speaker surround-sound, sunroof, rear limited-slip differential, four-wheel steering and lane-departure warning and collision mitigation systems.
The RC is assembled in Japan and has a $940 destination charge.
Lexus was wise to pair the RC with its 2.0-liter turbo. The engine's torquey nature somewhat masks the RC's 3800-pound curb weight. The engine is smooth and refined and delivers power in an even and meaningful thrust. Stomp on the gas pedal and the 200t will rush to 60 mph from a standstill in about 7.5 seconds. That's average when compared to 4-cylinder competitors, but lags behind sparing partners with bigger and more powerful V6 engines.
The RC 200t's 8-speed automatic is a model performer. It shifts seamlessly between gears - up or down - and never seems to hunt on hilly terrain (again, likely thanks to the turbo 4s broad torque curve). The paddle shifters provide a nice "manual experience" but simply putting the drive selector in Sport + provides the best transmission shift performance. Traction can be a problem on wet or icy roads, even with the full-time traction control engaged. So if you plan on driving in the winter, make sure to swap out the all-season rubber for a set of snow tires.
The RC 200t is EPA rated at 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 26 mpg overall. Based on a week's suburban commuting, those ratings seem fair, if a bit pessimistic. Straight highway cruising at 60 mph yields 30 mpg overall and stop-and-go grocery getting brings about 24 mpg average. Thankfully, the RC does not require premium-grade fuel.
Apart from the Ferrari-aspiring Lexus LFA, the RC may be the best handling Lexus ever. The low-slung two-seater has a sophisticated suspension that does an excellent job of keeping the tires in contact with the road regardless of surface. The steering is sharp and instantaneous, in fact, you may find yourself turning into a corner too quickly when you first get behind the wheel. Brakes have more than ample stopping power. All told, the RC has the chops to tackle just about any twisty road you can throw at it.
At the same time, the suspension seems to magically reduce impacts to the point that you are fooled into thinking the RC is a touring car, rather than a sports car. Even over large expansion joints and badly broken roads, the RC stays composed. Road and wind noise are impressively suppressed and engine roar never intrudes.
Saying the RC is low-slung is certainly an understatement. You have to bend and contort to get in and the coupe's long doors complicate egress further. Once nestled into the tight cockpit front-seat passengers will find firm and well bolstered cushions and good leg room. Head and hip room are marginal, meaning larger adults might need to recline the seatback to a somewhat awkward angle to find enough head clearance. Outward visibility is fine forward, but somewhat restricted to the side and rear. Thankfully there's a blind-spot warning system. Rear seats are really tokens, but you can put children back there if you move the front seats up a bit.
Interior materials are more than appropriate for the class. Depending on engine/model choice, drivers face either a single dial that shows engine speed surrounding a digital speedo or a dual dial setup for RPMs and speed. In either case there's a configurable digital display as well. The center console houses a forward-set display screen and traditional climate and audio controls. Opting for the navigation system brings an awkward-to-use touch pad that allows driver or passenger to cycle between functions as well a program navigation and audio systems.
Interior storage is tight - which is normal for this class. Map pockets are small and the center-console bin is shallow. Conversely, the trunk is fairly roomy with a rather large opening and the rear seatbacks fold to increase cargo space when necessary.
Lexus built its reputation on providing comfortable and quiet luxury vehicles. The RC is anything but. It's a sports coupe with a healthy dollop of luxury. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the RC is the way it tenaciously grips the road while providing a quiet and comfortable ride. Most competitors in this class do one or the other, the Lexus, somehow, does both.
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