2016 Lexus RC: New Car Review

The 2016 Lexus RC premium compact coupe is meant to compete with the likes of the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5. It made its debut in 2015 with the RC 350 and the high-performance RC F. Now the range has double to four variants. Pricing starts at $40,935 (including $940 destination charge).

What’s New for 2016

This model year sees the introduction of two new variants, both less powerful than those carried over from 2015. The RC 200t has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the RC 300 AWD uses a de-tuned version of the RC 350’s V6 and puts that power to the ground via a standard all-wheel drive system. The Enform infotainment system has also received an upgrade that allows users to review information about their RC using an iPhone app, or the LexusDrivers.com website. Orange-painted brake calipers are now available for the sportier versions.

Exterior Design

Spindle grille: discuss. Love it or otherwise, it’s a strong feature on the RC’s nose. As it is on the rest of the Lexus range. You can’t blame the company for wanting to stand apart and be instantly recognizable. The rest of the car is a well-proportioned coupe shape and it’s not until we get to the tail lights that things become crazy-sharp and angular again. The important thing is that the RC has its own dedicated styling, so it’s not just an IS with two doors.

Interior Features

It’s a cosy cabin with wood and aluminum accents, and a smart-looking analog clock in the center console. The seven-inch infotainment screen is somewhat recessed, and the dashboard’s lower edge is high enough to obscure the lowest half-inch or so of the screen, which might irritate those with an OCD-ish disposition. The track-grade RC F goes big on high-tech displays in the instrument cluster.

Trim Levels

There aren’t any trim levels in the conventional sense, it’s more separate models with their own (though overlapping) equipment inventories, plus several options packages. The models, in ascending levels of performance capability are: 200t, 300 AWD, 350, 350 F Sport and RC F. The difference between the regular 350 and the F Sport are mostly cosmetic, but the latter also has an adaptive suspension and rear-wheel steering for even greater driving precision. It’s the usual array of options for most of the range: navigation, moonroof, park assist, upgraded audio system, and an intelligent cruise control that uses radar. The 200t and rear-drive F Sport may also come with a limited slip differential and a sportier suspension setup. The RC F, meanwhile, offers the choice of a carbon fiber roof, cutting overall weight and lowering the center of gravity.

Comfort & Cargo Capacity

Think two-plus-two. The front seats make a point of being snugly supportive rather than outright comfy, but that means better torso gripping through quick corners. Unsurprisingly, the two rear seats are short on legroom and headroom. The trunk holds 10.4 cubic feet, which isn’t that great but probably still enough for the obligatory two sets of golf clubs. And the two rear seats fold down for a little extra space (except for those in the RC F).

Safety

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) made the 2015 RC a Top Safety Pick Plus and the 2016 model is no different in this respect. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t crash-tested the RC yet. Hill start assist is standard in every RC, but blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, forward collision alerts and adaptive cruise control are all optional. The stability control systems in the F Sport and the RC F offer some flexibility for the driver to adjust the threshold before all those electronic aids chime in.

Engines

Slowest first: the 200t deploys a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes a turbocharged 241 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels. Consumption-wise, the 200t is rated at 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. In the 300 AWD’s engine bay is a 3.5-liter V6 cooking up 255 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. In every all-wheel-drive version of the RC, the automatic transmission has six gears, as opposed to the eight gears of rear-drive counterparts. The 300 AWD’s thirst is estimated at 19/26/21 mpg. The same V6 is tuned to develop 306 hp and 277 lb-ft in the 350. Uses gas to the tune of 19/28/22 mpg in rear-drive form, or 19/26/21 mpg with all-wheel drive. Naturally, the rear-drive-only F is the pinnacle of RC motoring, with a 5.0-liter V8 dishing out 467 hp and 389 lb-ft of torque, but it takes some revving to access that output. The fuel price to pay is 16/25/19 mpg.

Performance

With the exception of the RC F, standstill-to-60 mph times are hardly breathtaking, ranging from 7.3 seconds to 5.8. Instead, the RC functions as a smart coupe with a reasonable degree of power and agility while making few compromises in terms of ride quality. All-wheel-drive models also enjoy greater traction in bad weather. The RC F, on the other hand, is quick: 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 170 mph. It’s also packed with driver aids, such as a limited-slip differential or an optional torque vectoring differential. In road-going terms, it’s virtually foolproof and brings the ability to control the car even at speeds that most would find daunting.

Pros & Cons

: Lexus always does well in customer satisfaction, dealer experience and buyer loyalty surveys. The RC is just as well made and reliable as the rest of the Lexus range. At least it’s not another crossover. : If you’re considering the RC F, you owe it to yourself to check out the BMW M4, which really is the king of the compact super-coupes. At 3,958 pounds in curb weight, the RC F is 428 pounds heavier than the M4.