It’s been 5 years already since Lexus added this coupe to its lineup, giving shoppers a small taste of the LFA life for a tenth of the price. But until now, I’ve only experienced the V8-powered F model. So this week I’m in the RC 350; a less ambitious yet still fun-to-drive sports model very much cast in the Lexus mold.
It’s hard to believe but it’s been five years already since lexus added this coupe to their lineup giving shoppers a small taste of the lfa life for about a tenth of the price but until now i’ve only driven the v8 powered f model so this week i’ve got the rc 350 a less ambitious yet still fun to drive sports model very much cast in the lexus mold the term coupe is
Thrown about quite casually these days but if you still define it as a two-door sports car the consumer offerings quickly dwindle and if you want one with all-wheel drive and a non-turbocharged v6 well you can stop right here the rc was last refreshed for the 2019 model year and carries over here largely unchanged with a starting msrp of 42 320. when considering
The rc it is crucial to know the differences in trim levels because the mechanical specs are actually quite different the 300 rear wheel drive is powered by a turbo 4 and a manual-like quick shifting 8-speed automatic the 350 rear wheel drive drops in a v6 making it the fastest rc in the lineup but once you begin to add all-wheel drive things change quickly
You’ve got the 300 all-wheel drive which gets a vastly detuned v6 while this 350 all-wheel drive runs with a 311 horsepower version of that engine but with all-wheel drive comes more weight a slower shifting traditional 6-speed auto in the absence of some key chassis components this here is the 350 f-sport all-wheel drive the top model within the non-v8 powered
Rc lineup fitted with a 3.5 liter v6 producing 311 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque working through a six-speed auto delivering quick enough mid-range acceleration but a less than blistering 0-60 time of 6 seconds flat power transfer is biased 80 to the rear wheels and can be evenly split 50 50 as needed at 3 900 pounds it isn’t exactly lightweight but
That’s about the same as its closest competitor the infiniti q60 however a peak over an audi’s lineup reveals a substantially quicker more fuel efficient s5 for about the same price nevertheless the rc possesses that unique blend of lexus luxury and its ride quality with a spirited character that’ll have you seeking the long way home coupe owners obviously crave
Fun and driving precision and the rc provides that without any white knuckle drama as it sticks to the road with all-wheel drive grip and the benefit of the f-sport tune adaptive variable suspension dial into the highest sport s-plus drive mode and gear shifts happen faster the steering is firmer and the suspension less yielding but to get the most out of the
Experience use the paddle shifters otherwise the 6-speed can feel tardy and even though from out here the rc doesn’t sound like much lexus has created a convincing soundtrack for those inside it really works quite well all season tires make sense on this trim i suppose but a more aggressive set of rubber would help scrub out some of this understeer as you attack
A corner lexus keeps their sports cars within very defined boundaries meaning that they’ll never sacrifice the brand’s luxury ethos for performance for example this car rides like an absolute dream it is everyday usable and long trip comfortable now you may hear f sport and think hardcore but it’s really not that at all especially not with all-wheel drive it is
Safe and predictable yet fun to drive in a lexus defined way and the rigid body contributes a great deal to that optional items like rear wheel steering variable gear ratio steering and a limited slip differential are all reserved for the rear wheel drive model however but for year round driving in places where the snow flies this rc specification which includes
A snow driving mode will certainly keep you going i really love the yellow accents in here i think it’s my favorite f sport touch and these seats are absolutely sports car perfection blending supreme everyday comfort with strong bolstering now they’re not very easy to get in and out of but the driving position is stellar and this cabin looks sweet despite the
Archaic infotainment system but at least this one uses the preferred touch pad and not the dreaded lexus mouse the f-sport treatment bundles lots of goodies such as the lfa inspired instrumentation the bolstered heated and ventilated seats 19-inch wheels and unique front and rear styling among a number of other safety and convenience features my tester adds the
Fast response heater and water repellent front door glass of the all-weather package triple beam led headlamps the big mark levinson audio and navigation package parking sensors a moon roof and heated steering wheel for a total of fifty seven thousand seven eighty five gas mileage checks in at 21 mpg and mixed driving on premium even five years in and the rc
Is still a looker but not so much in this attention robbing nebula gray a more flamboyant flare yellow or infrared would be the way to go for me the cabin looks and feels good even if it’s not on the cutting edge of modern but just remember this is a two plus two so even though there’s motorized assistance to the back with memory return of the front seat the rear
Seats are really just placeholders as is typical with long lexus life cycles the rc isn’t expected to be reimagined until 2024 so you can buy now without fear of missing out on what’s next for testdrivenow.com i’m steve hamas
Transcribed from video
2020 Lexus RC 350 F SPORT | Should you RWD or AWD? By Steve Hammes New Car Reviews
