Lexus RC (2015-2020) Review

It might be, if you’re not keen on the oh-so-obvious Germanic norm in the premium class and have previously nailed your colours to Lexus’s mast.

The likelihood, then, is you’ve had Lexus cars before – perhaps an IS or GS as your company car, or an RX SUV for the family – the kids have grown up and you want something a bit more indulgent, but still with four seats, just in case.

You’ll be used to the driving characteristics of the hybrid system and the quirky controls you’ll find in the otherwise finely finished interior, so they’re no surprise, and, likewise, you’ll have a great relationship with your Lexus dealer. If that’s the case, they’ll be only too happy to sell you an Lexus RC, and the chances are, you’ll be more than happy with it, too.   

The standard Lexus RC with the 300h 2.5-litre hybrid will please your sensibilities, and pocket, drive reasonably well and look good. No it’s not got the F's screaming 5.0-litre V8 under the bonnet, but if you want it to look a bit like it does, you can have your Lexus RC with the F Sport trim, which goes some way to replicating the looks of that range topper. 

Lexus also offered the Lexus RC in 2.0-litre turbocharged form, called the Lexus RC200t, but the like the Lexus IS offered with the same engine it sold in even fewer numbers - buyers largely chose the hybrid Lexus RC or went for the full mad-dog Lexus RC F.

Key rivals for the Lexus RC are as familiar as it is unusual and include the excellent BMW 4 Series Coupe, the stylish Mercedes C-Class Coupe or Mercedes E-Class Coupe and the classy Audi A5. 

Taking the high performance Lexus RC F into the consideration means you’ll be looking at those excellent German rivals again, but wearing sporty M, AMG and RS badges respectively, so the Audi RS5 and BMW M4 are strong contenders here.  

The Lexus RC might look a bit different to the premium norm inside, but there’s no question about the quality of the materials, at least most of them. All the touch areas are of high quality, while smooth plastics, soft leathers and the weighting of things like the volume knob scream premium, but there’s the odd lower rent plastic that you’d be hard pushed to find on something like an Audi A5. 

There might be a CD slot in the centre console, but the Lexus RC isn’t entirely mired in old tech when it comes to its infotainment offering – it comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, which is a relief because the built-in system is a pain to use. 

The 10.3-inch centre screen isn’t, like in all rivals, a touchscreen, instead it has been substituted for a touchpad with haptic feedback, which is at best fiddly and at worst downright frustrating, particularly when you’re trying to use it while driving.  Get it all set-up before you head off then, and use the steering wheel controls for any changes on the move. 

There’s Bluetooth phone and music streaming connectivity, and a 10-speaker Pioneer sound system. The range-topping Takumi model and – oddly, given its stripped out other bits and pieces for weight reduction – the Track Edition Lexus RC F have the incredible 17-speaker premium Mark Levinson surround sound system.

The Lexus RC is a coupe, and with that comes the usual compromises of tight interior space in the rear, with access to the back seats not exactly easy, either. Best reserved for a couple of children then, or, flexible, smaller adults on the shortest of journeys. 

That’s not really a negative though, as the Lexus RC is no different in this respect than any of its competition, likewise it’s much the same in only offering a pair of rear seats, with the area in between them not offering a third seatbelt. There’s a pair of ISOFIX child seat mounts in the back for the (grand)children though, and the boot’s a decent size, with a respectable 340 litre volume in the Lexus RC. The Lexus RC F’s a bit bigger (no hybrid battery to house) with 366 litres. 

If that’s not enough space for all your stuff the seatbacks do fold (in a 60/40 split) making it a good bit more practical, those wanting the Lexus RC F though are denied folding rear seats, and instead get a small access hatch to the rear, while the Track Edition doesn’t even get the hatch. 

You should find yourself comfortable enough up front, though the seats are quite high for a coupe, which means headroom does become a bit of an issue if you’re on the taller side. 

Oddment storage is decent, with a couple of door pockets, a good-sized glovebox and a pair of sizeable cupholders in front of the useful lidded cubby between the front seats.

The Lexus RC dimensions are 4695mm long, 2069mm wide and 1395mm tall.

Like the ride and handling, the Lexus RC’s choice of engines really are at two ends of the spectrum. 

The 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder in the standard Lexus RC is assisted by an electric motor and battery pack, to produce 223PS for a 0-62mph time of 8.6 seconds and a 118mph top speed. 

The Lexus RC F sees that capacity double, and the cylinder count, too, with a 5.0-litre V8 under the bulging bonnet, which more than doubles its relation’s output to 464PS. That’s enough to exactly half the time the Lexus RC takes to get to 62mph, with the Lexus RC F managing the benchmark sprint in 4.3 seconds and reaching a 168mph maximum. 

So, the Lexus RC F is the one to have, then? Not necessarily. While the Lexus’s naturally-aspirated V8 engine is brilliant, the Lexus RC F never lives up to its promise, not least because it needs all the revs, all the time, to feel like it’s anything like as powerful as the figures associated with it. 

That duality might suit some, but it only really feels special when you’re extremely committed, and opportunities to do so on the road are limited. BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz’s powerplants all feel far more eager, engaging and exciting even at moderate speeds. The Lexus RC F’s powertrain is also hampered by the lethargic automatic transmission.

The Lexus RC200t falls between these two extremes, and not in a good way. With 244PS it's a bit more powerful than the hybrid and a little quicker as a result, but not by much, and is much thirstier. It's also nowhere near as quick or as engaging as the Lexus RC F, so it's something of a pointless compromise.

The Lexus RC’s hybrid powertrain is the relaxed, more refined choice thanks to its less compromised set-up, it’s smooth and quiet the majority of the time, though it can be noisy if you’re asking for all its power, say on an overtake, where the CVT automatic transmission seeks out high revs and maintains them. 

Around town it’s far better, and that hybrid system does allow moments of electric-only serenity, and even when the petrol engine assists, it cuts in quietly and smoothly. 

Naturally, the Lexus RC F is a bit more compromised, its larger wheels and tyres and the more focussed suspension inevitably results in a bit more road noise, while the engine’s a good bit louder too, though if that’s an issue, you’ve perhaps missed the point… 

Lexus hasn’t scrimped on the safety equipment, with all Lexus RCs coming with ABS, automatic high beam lights, active cruise control, lane assist, front and rear parking sensors, a pre-collision system, road sign recognition, a tyre pressure warning system, traction control, stability control and Brake Assist. 

The airbag count, meanwhile, includes driver and front passenger front two-stage airbags, kneebags and sidebags with a further curtain airbag running the length of the interior. There’s a pop-up bonnet to help protect pedestrians, and a pair of ISOFIX child seat mounts in the rear seats. 

The Lexus RC hasn’t been crash tested by Euro NCAP, but it’s closely related to the Lexus IS saloon, which was awarded a 5-star Euro NCAP rating back in 2013. 

The Lexus RC hybrid will run briefly on electricity alone but for no more than three miles.

As you'd expect Lexus performed exceptionally well as a brand in the same survey, placing second overall behind only Dacia. So if you find yourself a well-maintained Lexus RC you can be pretty confident it will give you few problems.

The regular, hybrid Lexus RCs sit in insurance Groups 31-35 depending on the trim levels, which is competitive with its class rivals. 

The Lexus RC200t is group 40, which makes it almost as expensive to insure as the full-house Lexus RC F.

Unsurprisingly, with its more sporting intent and twice the Lexus RC's power the Lexus RC F attracts a more sizable grouping, it sits in Group 45-50, with the Track Pack car being the priciest of the lot to insure. 

The Lexus RC spans the big April 2017 change in VED rules, so how old the car is will significantly affect the cost.

Pre-2017 hybrid Lexus RCs are cheap - you'll pay just £20 a year if you buy one the right age, regardless of spec. After that these same cars will cost £510 for years two to five after registration before reverting to £155, so it's worth thinking carefully about how new you need your Lexus RC to be.

The Lexus RC200t will cost £265 a year for a pre-2017 car and £520 for a post-2017 example.

The Lexus RC F is in the highest category, so you'll pay £630 for a pre-2017 car, then £520 for newer cars.

Even basic Lexus RC models get a healthy list of kit that includes  Lexus Safety System +, Smart Entry, 8-way electrically adjusted, heated, seats, 10.3-inch sat nav with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and 18-inch alloy wheels. 

Lexus RC F Sport models look and feel sportier. They come with five driving modes, variable suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and F Sport styling inside and out. 

Lexus RC Takumi models are the luxurious choice. Over the standard Lexus RC, they add 19-inch alloy wheels, a Mark Levinson premium stereo, ventilated front seats with a memory function, heated steering wheel, sunroof and blind spot monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. 

Lexus RC F are most notable for their V8 engine, but they also get sporty upgrades such as 19-inch forged alloy wheels, a sporty body kit, Adaptive Variable Suspension, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, 10-speaker Pioneer stereo and a 10.3-inch infotainment screen. 

Lexus RC F Carbon models look even sportier. They add 19-inch polished forged alloy wheels, a carbon fibre bonnet, spoiler and roof and an active rear spoiler which is also carbon. Carbon trim inlays finish off the look.  

Lexus RC F Track Edition models are the most hardcore of the lot. They have 19-inch BBS alloy wheels, carbon ceramic brakes, a torque vectoring electronic differential with three modes, a fixed rear carbon wing and red Brembo brake callipers. Oddly, given this is basically a track car, you also get the Mark Levinson stereo.