2022 Lexus RC Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Lexus may make mainstream luxury cars for people concerned with quality and longevity over performance, but a few models show the...

Lexus may make mainstream luxury cars for people concerned with quality and longevity over performance, but a few models show the automaker’s motorsport pedigree. The RC coupe is one of them, with a range of powerful engines and aggressive styling. Lexus offers the car in several configurations, including RC300, RC350, and RC F. While the standard RC saw no changes for 2022, the RC F got a new Fuji Speedway Edition. The package is limited to 50 cars and brings aerodynamic enhancements and carbon fiber, which reduce the car’s 0-60 mph time to just 3.96 seconds.

All four of the RC’s available powertrains are strong and offer good acceleration. The base engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Two 3.5-liter V6 engines are available: One with 260 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, and one with 311 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The top RC F gets a 5.0-liter V8 that makes 472 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard for all models, as is rear-wheel drive. Lexus offers all-wheel drive for select models.

The standard turbo-four offers reasonable acceleration, but there’s no getting around the fact that any of the optional powertrain options makes a better match for the car. The two V6 configurations deliver strong acceleration and good responsiveness, and the eight-speed auto shifts quickly. Though it’s not the rowdiest V8 out there, the RC F’s engine produces a wonderful sound and can propel the car to 60 mph from a standstill in around four seconds.

The RC comes standard with 18-inch wheels, bi-LED headlights, push-button start, dual-zone climate controls, power seats, a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa functionality, voice commands, HD radio, SiriusXM radio, and ten speakers. The RC F picks up adaptive suspension, a 5.0-liter V8, Brembo brakes, 19-inch wheels, and a limited-slip differential.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hasn’t given the 2022 RC crash test scores yet, but the 2021 car performed well in testing. It was awarded “Good” scores in all crash test categories, a “Superior” score for its standard vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention systems, and a “Good” score for LATCH system ease of use. Lexus Safety System + is standard for all models, bringing automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alerts, and automatic high beams. Lexus offers individual options that include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, a parking assist system, LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and auto tilt-down outside mirrors.

The base RC300 starts at $43,545. The more powerful RC350 starts at $46,475. At the top end of the standard RC lineup, the RC350 F Sport starts at $50,945. The RC F starts at $66,945, and the RC F Fuji Speedway Edition starts at $102,170.