Topic: Test Drive: 2015 Lexus RC 350 AWD

[Autos_Editor]

Lexus RC 350 is a highly fashionable personal luxury coupe that is happier cruising than chasing lap times.
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[JohnnyMac]

There are a couple of angles where this car is pretty nice looking, but that front end is just too polarizing.  With looks like this it should offer a bit more performance.  I'd be looking at the germans to fill my coupe needs and probably at the S5 if I'm honest.  That being said if all I cared about was driving dynamics I'd probably end up with the Caddy ATS.

[jamesautos]

I believe one of the early concepts wore that excellent paint

btw the interior of this car does not belong to the as-tested 60k car...maybe a $45k car

also it begs the question....why would anyone buy this over the base 2015 BMW 435i xDrive Coupé that is $55400

I guess this car is one that you can buy and owe for many years without breaking the bank while the BMW is purely a lease special...

[DriverJeff]

I think the expected longevity is the most compelling point for RC 350 ownership over {Your preferred German coupe} alternatives.  Folks shopping for these personal luxury coupes are less bothered by ultimate and outright performance numbers than by the way the cars handle their daily needs and image. 

For outright performance, there are all sorts of alternatives that are more sporting for the same, or less money -- Mustang GT, Subie STI, even an M235i. 

[Railton]

I think the expected longevity is the most compelling point for RC 350 ownership over {Your preferred German coupe} alternatives.  Folks shopping for these personal luxury coupes are less bothered by ultimate and outright performance numbers than by the way the cars handle their daily needs and image. 

For outright performance, there are all sorts of alternatives that are more sporting for the same, or less money -- Mustang GT, Subie STI, even an M235i.

Hey. I guess I missed my test drive/G37S comparison romp?
Railton

[Kris78]

I have a feeling that this is one of the cars you have to see in person to appreciate. In photos, the ATS Coupe seems just as dramatic (and better looking to my eyes). The German coupes are certainly more conservative, but then, aren't they usually?

[Snowman]

I think the expected longevity is the most compelling point for RC 350 ownership over {Your preferred German coupe} alternatives.  Folks shopping for these personal luxury coupes are less bothered by ultimate and outright performance numbers than by the way the cars handle their daily needs and image. 

For outright performance, there are all sorts of alternatives that are more sporting for the same, or less money -- Mustang GT, Subie STI, even an M235i.

Agreed and good Review. The RC has the same rear legroom as my TT 0.00" 

[dirtyjeffer]

That being said if all I cared about was driving dynamics I'd probably end up with the Caddy ATS.

i think the new ATS is a heck of a nice car, period...and the ATS-V = 

[DriverJeff]

I think the expected longevity is the most compelling point for RC 350 ownership over {Your preferred German coupe} alternatives.  Folks shopping for these personal luxury coupes are less bothered by ultimate and outright performance numbers than by the way the cars handle their daily needs and image. 

For outright performance, there are all sorts of alternatives that are more sporting for the same, or less money -- Mustang GT, Subie STI, even an M235i.

Hey. I guess I missed my test drive/G37S comparison romp?
Railton

You didn't, I did.  Very sorry about that Railton.  That week really got away from me, largely because I was in Quebec for the first half of it and spent the latter half playing catch up.  Apologies. 

[Railton]

I think the expected longevity is the most compelling point for RC 350 ownership over {Your preferred German coupe} alternatives.  Folks shopping for these personal luxury coupes are less bothered by ultimate and outright performance numbers than by the way the cars handle their daily needs and image. 

For outright performance, there are all sorts of alternatives that are more sporting for the same, or less money -- Mustang GT, Subie STI, even an M235i.

Hey. I guess I missed my test drive/G37S comparison romp?
Railton

You didn't, I did.  Very sorry about that Railton.  That week really got away from me, largely because I was in Quebec for the first half of it and spent the latter half playing catch up.  Apologies.

Well....you could try making it up to me? What else is coming up in the near future?
Railton

[DriverJeff]

I think the expected longevity is the most compelling point for RC 350 ownership over {Your preferred German coupe} alternatives.  Folks shopping for these personal luxury coupes are less bothered by ultimate and outright performance numbers than by the way the cars handle their daily needs and image. 

For outright performance, there are all sorts of alternatives that are more sporting for the same, or less money -- Mustang GT, Subie STI, even an M235i.

Hey. I guess I missed my test drive/G37S comparison romp?
Railton

You didn't, I did.  Very sorry about that Railton.  That week really got away from me, largely because I was in Quebec for the first half of it and spent the latter half playing catch up.  Apologies.

Well....you could try making it up to me? What else is coming up in the near future?
Railton

I'm picking up a Mazda CX-5 tomorrow.  Tempted?     Otherwise, in mid-March, I do have another coupe coming -- not sure if it'd be on your shopping list, but you might like it.

[Railton]

I think the expected longevity is the most compelling point for RC 350 ownership over {Your preferred German coupe} alternatives.  Folks shopping for these personal luxury coupes are less bothered by ultimate and outright performance numbers than by the way the cars handle their daily needs and image. 

For outright performance, there are all sorts of alternatives that are more sporting for the same, or less money -- Mustang GT, Subie STI, even an M235i.

Hey. I guess I missed my test drive/G37S comparison romp?
Railton

You didn't, I did.  Very sorry about that Railton.  That week really got away from me, largely because I was in Quebec for the first half of it and spent the latter half playing catch up.  Apologies.

Well....you could try making it up to me? What else is coming up in the near future?
Railton

I'm picking up a Mazda CX-5 tomorrow.  Tempted?     Otherwise, in mid-March, I do have another coupe coming -- not sure if it'd be on your shopping list, but you might like it.

I'll pass on the CX-5 but PM me the 'March coupe' please.
Railton

[Benhaze]

That being said if all I cared about was driving dynamics I'd probably end up with the Caddy ATS.

i think the new ATS is a heck of a nice car, period...and the ATS-V = 

The ATS-V will be a whole lot more sport car but it will also be a bit more expansive. Expected to start at $62k US not doubt it will be north of $70K here. But I don't see these two car in the same categories anyway. The RC-F would be a closer match and the price is also a bit higher.

[Benhaze]

The dashboard design and layout is sensational, just as it is in its IS 350 sibling.

Funny if there is one thing that I dislike a lot about the IS/RC is the dash and center console design.  It is of course a matter of personal taste but I found it disjointed, inconsistent and honestly quite ugly. As much as I would want to love these two cars I really can't. I can live with the grill but I can't stare at this dash for a number of years no matter how good the materials are...

[initial_D]

^^ Agree with the dash. Seem segmented, especially the vents & clock, those really stick out (in the pics anyway). Prefer the German counter parts.

Seem like a nice enough vehicle, but for me, there isn't anything about it to like, other than the fact it will be super reliable during ownership.

[DriverJeff]

Bah... can't please anybody any of the time these days.

People will whine because the BMW has the "iPad glued to the dash" look (which is highly functional and works great, and a design I also like).  It's little things about the RC's layout that make sense.  For one, as I mentioned in the review, there is a feeling of clean simplicity to the design -- it's never overwhelming with buttons.  And while I'd prefer the rotary knobs for volume, tuning and climate control like in the BMW, the switches in the Lexus all work very well.  But also look at the placement of the touch pad in the Lexus -- it falls to hand when your arm rests on the armrest.  Look where the iDrive knob is on the BMW -- up and over to the right.  Altogether it's a functional design. 

PS... why won't BMW Canada give us those nice grippy seats from that photo?!

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Bah... can't please anybody any of the time these days.

People will whine because the BMW has the "iPad glued to the dash" look (which is highly functional and works great, and a design I also like).  It's little things about the RC's layout that make sense.  For one, as I mentioned in the review, there is a feeling of clean simplicity to the design -- it's never overwhelming with buttons.  And while I'd prefer the rotary knobs for volume, tuning and climate control like in the BMW, the switches in the Lexus all work very well.  But also look at the placement of the touch pad in the Lexus -- it falls to hand when your arm rests on the armrest.  Look where the iDrive knob is on the BMW -- up and over to the right.  Altogether it's a functional design. 

PS... why won't BMW Canada give us those nice grippy seats from that photo?!

With iDrive you have to fumble with the control puck and look at the screen to see which hot spot it's on. How is that better than just reaching over and touching the hot spot?

This looks better. The screen is the same height as the tacked on iPads, but it's actually integrated into the dash.



The Lexus interior styling kind of hearkens back to rectilinear Japanese interiors of the 1980s.

[wing]

Funny in person I thought the RC interior was great, in photos it looks weird.

[OliverD]

^ The tacked on screen in the BMW above is clearly higher up than the screen in the Buick.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

^ The tacked on screen in the BMW above is clearly higher up than the screen in the Buick.

Possibly, but the angle of the photo for the BMW is exaggerating the difference, and the Buick has a larger screen with the bottom lower than the bottom of the BMW screen.

Say it is different, is it even close to enough to make a difference? No. It's a stupid styling decision and that's all.