Used 2017 Lexus RC 300 for sale 

The RC 300 is available in 2 variants both having AWD as standard. The Lexus RC 300 is a sporty coupe that looks sharp because of the aggressive styling. It remains unchanged since 2015 when it was introduced. The Lexus RC 300 coupe blends performance and comfort, seamlessly. It has 2 variants being the RC AWD and the RC F Sport trim.

The F Sport trim offers slightly better performance with a bump of 5 hp and other unique styling cues that distinguish it from the standard RC. Moreover, it adorns some advanced safety features along with a few necessary driver assistance technologies. 

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The F Sport trim offers slightly better performance with a bump of 5 hp and other unique styling cues that distinguish itfrom the standard RC.

The Lexus RC 300 coupe is packed with a 3.5L V6 motor that produces a peak power of 255 horsepower and 236 lb-ft torque. Meanwhile, the F Sport trim produces 260 horsepower and is offered with a stiffer suspension setup and active dampeners for a sportier ride. Both of these versions are mated to a 6-Speed Automatic transmission, the likes of which are very intuitive but lack the quirkiness between shifts.

Besides, an AWD is standard on the RC300, no matter what.

The power delivery is smooth and linear, but the 6-speed automatic transmission is not very gutsy when compared to its rivals. The AWD setup used in the RC 300 along with the 2-liter inline-four engine provides adequate power but is nowhere close to the RC F Sport variant.

When stacked up beside the contenders, the Infiniti Q60 has a smaller 3.0L V6 motor but produces 300 horsepower and the Cadillac ATS churns out a respectable 335 horsepower from its 3.6L V6. The prices of both of these are, however, more than the RC 300.

2017 Lexus RC300 Acceleration

The RC 300 takes 6.3 seconds to complete its 0 to 60 MPH. The quarter-mile is achieved within 15.4 seconds. The peak torque is accessible at 2000 RPM and Lexus engineers have done a good job to keep the power delivery linear and predictable. At the end of the day, the RC would leave you wanting for more power.

The rivals offer stiff competition to the RC 300. Naught to 60 is achieved at 5.5 seconds and 4.9 seconds by the Q60 and Caddy ATS respectively. The Lexus RC 300 feels underpowered for a luxury performance coupe and should definitely have better numbers.

2017 Lexus RC300 Ride and Handling

The RC 300 features four driving modes and depending upon your mood you can choose to push it hard or enjoy a compliant and comfortable ride. The RC F variants are offered with an RWD and torque vectoring system that makes cornering at higher speeds safer. The RC 300 isn't composed over rougher terrain. Any road undulations travel to the cabin, and the ride will be choppy if pushed hard over the rough surfaces. The RC displays moderate handling characteristics.

Unfortunately, the RC 300 F Sport is less than the sum of its parts. Acceleration is underwhelming for a luxury sport coupe, and it's not a particularly rewarding car to drive fast around turns. Meanwhile, the active four-wheel steering with optional variable-ratio electric-assisted power steering sounds nifty, but in actual use, the car feels nervous in corners and difficult to predict or get used to. Thankfully, this option is not available on the RC 300.

2017 Lexus RC300 Braking

The Lexus RC 300 has 13.2-inch diameter front brakes and 12.2-inch diameter rear brakes. With a curb weight of almost 3,900 pounds, it feels a bit heavy and takes 110 feet to stop from 60-0 MPH.

The contenders, however, each sport 12.6-inch front brakes. For the rear, the Infiniti has 12.1-inch brakes and the Cadillac has 12.4-inch brakes. The Infiniti has a curb weight of 3939 pounds and the Cadillac is much lighter at 3693 pounds. The stopping distance is shortest for the Infiniti with 109 feet and 115 feet for the Cadillac.

The fuel economy offered by the Lexus is rated as 19 MPG in the city, 26 MPG on the highway, and a combined economy of 21 MPG. With this kind of economy, the RC 300 Coupe proves to be a capable daily commuter as well as a highway cruiser.

The Lexus, Infiniti, and the Cadillac all have similar fuel economy numbers. However, Infiniti and Cadillac have identical numbers, which are better than the RC 300 at 22 MPG combined mileage. The urban mileage for all three vehicles is the same. 

The RC 300 has the greatest ground clearance amongst the contenders but still is a tight squeeze when interior space is considered. The passenger capacity is that of 4 but the rear seats are too tiny, even for children, let alone adults. The front seats are comfortable and tech-infused, electronically-assisted, and provide a good experience overall. It boasts a touchscreen infotainment system but it is not really easy to use.

 It takes some time to get used to. In short, the interior of the RC 300 is well-built but has some issues. User interfaces are frustrating at best, and the space is good up front but ultra-tight in the back. There are few places to put things such as cellphones, the trunk is small, and many visibility aids cost extra.

The headroom and legroom are plenty in the front which when teamed up with the leather upholstery feels premium and roomy. The Infiniti and the Caddy have a similar problem when talking about the rear seating but at the same time, provide comfort and beautifully designed cabins to the driver and front passenger.

2017 Lexus RC300 Cargo Volume

The cargo volume of the Lexus RC 300 is 10.4(ft. 3) which is identical to the Cadillac ATS. It is enough space to carry luggage for a weekend getaway making the Lexus a pretty good practical coupe. The Infiniti loses a point here having 8.7(ft. 3) in the trunk.

If practicality is a concern, there is nothing better than the Lexus RC 300 as a luxury coupe. Being developed under Toyota, the RC 300 exhibits lots of storage bins in and around the cabin along with the roomy center of luxury.

The Lexus is on the heavier side of the scale. The RC 300 weighs 3891 pounds. It is the longest and tallest out of the bunch. The handling is unnerving around the corners, it demonstrates a bit of body roll when cornered at high speeds.

The steering transmits a good feel of the road and lets you know when the car starts losing grip. It doesn't really feel confident to corner aggressively despite the presence of electronic aids like the Traction Control and ESC.

The Cadillac is the lightest in the mix and because of that, it handles very well. AWD technology of the Caddy helps in confident handling. Even though Infiniti is the heaviest, the power delivery and the steering is better than the RC 300.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the nonprofit, independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluate vehicles for crashworthiness in the United States. The new Lexus RC 300 is well equipped with safety features to make the drive reliable and free of mishaps. It features standard safety features like airbags, traction control to prevent slipping, ABS (Anti Lock Braking System) to handle emergency braking scenarios. Safety monitoring is an optional safety feature that can be opted to increase the safety of the vehicle.

• Safety Connect Emergency SOS
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• First Aid Kit
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -including Pretensioners

Infiniti Q60 3.0t Premium (AWD) Vs Lexus RC 300

The Infiniti Q60 is a very well designed coupe that packs all the essentials a luxury performance coupe should have. It sports a sticker price of $46,300 which is thousands more than the Lexus. The extra $4000 brings much more power, better acceleration, shorter stopping distance, and better fuel economy. Infiniti offers a good value for money and these increments make the Q60 a better overall contender.

Cadillac ATS Premium Luxury 3.6 (AWD) Vs Lexus RC 300

As aggressively designed as the Lexus is, the Cadillac ATS has the additional performance to match it as well. It packs a 3.6L motor that produces 335 hp. Acceleration of the Lexus doesn't come near the Cadillac. Although fuel economy and cargo volume are similar the Lexus has better braking performance. The pricing of the Cadillac works to its disadvantage. The Lexus RC 300 Coupe offers a better value for money.

The 2017 Lexus RC 300 is a good value for money luxury performance coupe with lots of features alongside a solid build quality. The performance of the Lexus is subpar and it feels underpowered when compared with the rivals. The styling of the coupe is aggressive from every angle, it makes you crave extra power. The styling is a two-way affair- either you would love it or you wouldn't even look at it.

The Lexus RC 300 betters the Cadillac owing to its better daily drivability and practicality which is offered at a lower price. However, the Infiniti Q60 is the all-rounder for this segment. As it ensures amazing practicality and performance.