Used 2017 Lexus RC 350 Base for sale 

The Lexus RC 350 is available in two trims, the base RC 350 and the sporty RC 350 F Sport. The price difference isn't too much though, and the power output is identical. The only difference boils down to the level of equipment.

We recommend

We recommend the RC 350 F sport, due to the superior equipment levels. It isn’t as exciting as the V8 powered RC F, but that doesn't in any way mean it's a bad car. The comfort levels are great and the ride is excellent, especially at this price.

The RC 350 is powered by a naturally aspirated 3.5-Liter V6 engine which churns out a healthy 306 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Although the power figures aren't the best, they manage to push the car along at a healthy pace.

The power is either transferred to the rear wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox for the rear-wheel-drive version, or to all the four wheels via a simple 6-speed automatic for the four-wheel-drive version.

The competition is more or less in the same ballpark as the Lexus, although they manage to put out a little more power. The Cadillac is the most powerful car here, but only by a hair's breadth. It also loses out heavily on torque, being only slightly better than the RC 350. The Audi S5 is the most premium car here and is also the most all-rounded offering.

Acceleration

The moderate power of the RC 350 translates to moderate performance on the tarmac as well. The car is just shy of 6 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill. Even the quarter-mile takes a modest 14 and a half seconds. Although it isn't a deal-breaker, the lack of performance really hurts the car, especially when the competition is so strong.

The Audi S5 is the quickest to the 60 MPH mark, taking a mere 4.8 seconds for it. The quarter-mile is slightly slower though, with the BMW beating it by a tenth of a second and the Cadillac by still another tenth of a second.

Braking and Handling

The braking department of the RC 350 employs disc brakes all around, 13.2 inches in the front and 12.2 inches in the back. These are not ceramic units, but rather solid steel discs with high friction pads. Even though the car is not very heavy, the braking performance is below par for this segment, and even the brake pedal felt a little firm to press.

The handling is adequate at best, and the steering is a little too urgent, a little twitchy, which doesn't bode well for the car. The feedback is good though, matching its sportier competitors. The suspension is tuned for comfort, and the body roll becomes a bother when cornering enthusiastically, and even the tires give way after a while.

The competitors achieve far better braking performance than the Lexus, regardless of whether they are heavier or lighter. In fact, the heaviest car in this comparison, the Audi S5, is the fastest to come to a halt from 60 mph. The BMW and the Cadillac aren't too far behind though, losing to the Audi by only a few feet.

Fuel economy isn't too bad for the Lexus RC 350, although it isn't the segment leader either. It manages to stretch a gallon of fuel up to 19 miles in the city and can run for 28 miles on the highway on the same amount of fuel.

The 440i coupe is the most efficient car here, both in the city and the highway, followed closely by the ATS sedan. The Audi is the thirstiest car here, being barely outrun by even the Lexus.

The RC 350 has beautiful and classy interiors, although space is inadequate for the rear seat passengers. Still, front passengers get a lot of space to sit comfortably and enjoy the ride.

The cabin doesn't feel roomy though, and there are quite a lot of blind spots to look out for. This isn't helped by the dark color choice for the fabric and interior panels which, although comfy, is a little drab.

Rear seat comfort is a compromise for all the cars here, although the BMW 440i manages to squeeze the maximum space in the cabin. The front passengers have a lot of space though, along with a plethora of creature comforts. 

Infotainment system

The RC 350 and 350 F sport offer a 7.0-inch infotainment display as standard on all models. Sadly, Lexus does not offer AppleCarPlay or Android Auto on the RC 350 and 350 F. Apart from that, there are many other features too such as:

• SiriusXM radio
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Real-time Traffic and Weather conditions
• USB and AUX input
• Two navigation packages (optional)

Cargo Capacity

The lack of space in the rear extends to the complete rear end, as in even the trunk space feels insufficient. The disappointingly small boot measures at just 10.4 cubic feet, which roughly translates to 1 week worth of groceries. You could squeeze in 4 carry bags, although it would look a little ugly.

BMW engineers have designed the car to offer just a little more than what the competition offers. Although the boot space isn't much, it still is the best in the segment. The Audi S5 has a little more space in the trunk than the Lexus, while the Cadillac offers the same space.

The Lexus RC 350 comfortably fits into the mid-size luxury sedan segment, with a length of a smidge shorter than 185 inches and a width of nearly 72 inches. It isn't particularly heavy too, sitting bang in the middle of this segment at nearly 3750 pounds. The roof is a little higher too, primarily to liberate space in the cabin.

Speaking of the cabin, the 107-inch wheelbase is a bit too short to properly accommodate rear-seat passengers. The ground clearance is good though, not for heavy-duty off-road work, but enough for the back-country dirt roads.

All the cars in this segment fit neatly into the same dimension range, and even the weight doesn't differ by a lot, with the Audi being the heaviest at above 3900 pounds and Cadillac the lightest at just over 3500 pounds.

Exterior Features

The exterior features of the Lexus RC 350 include the following features:

• Intricately designed mesh grille (F Sport only)
• 18 and 19-inch alloy wheels
• Integrated fog lamps (optional)
• Body-colored rear spoiler (optional)

Lexus vehicles are equipped with decent safety features and comes with a sturdy build quality since the brand is associated with Toyota. The NHTSA has not crash-tested the coupe but IIHS has done the same and the car performed brilliantly in the tests by scoring an overall “Good” in all the aspects. Apart from that, the car is equipped with some advanced safety aids that makes it one of the safest among its rivals.

Safety Features

The Lexus RC 350 coupe has a lot of safety features available onboard. The standard safety features are listed below:

• First Aid Kit
• Driver and Passenger Knee Airbag and Rear Side-Impact Airbag
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Safety Connect Emergency SOS
• Side Impact Beams
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control

Audi S5 3.0 TFSI vs Lexus RC 350

The Audi S5 3.0 TFSI is one of the best midsize luxury sedans in the market today. It has a good combination of power and efficiency and equipment. Add to it the German build quality and reliability, and you have a winner on your hand.

The biggest strength of the RC is its price point, which is the lowest amongst these cars. When compared to the Lexus, the Audi feels extremely overpriced, and for all that premium, you don't really get a lot of extra goodies.

BMW 440i coupe vs Lexus RC 350

BMW 440i offers the most space inside, both in the cabin and the trunk. It also has the best driving dynamics, along with not-so-bad ride quality. If you were to ask for the most versatile mid-size sedan, this is the car we would suggest.

The RC still holds its cost advantage over the BMW. It also has the magic carpet ride quality, which the BMW lacks. If only Lexus would increase the rear legroom, it would have been a stronger option.

Cadillac ATS Premium Luxury vs Lexus RC 350

Cadillac uses a slightly bigger engine than the Lexus, has a little more power and torque than the Lexus, and is also a little more efficient. The rear seat space is also better, although neither can seat adults in the back.

The main difference between the two falls to which aspect you would prefer, comfort or sportiness. The Cadillac is a relatively quick car, while the Lexus has better interiors and a smoother ride.

The 2017 Lexus RC 350 is an extremely well built Japanese mid-size sedan, and like a typical Lexus (save for a few), very unexciting to drive. It isn't really powerful, or quick, or loud and throaty. What it is, is a simple comfy car that will drive you from point-A to point-B without any fuss. Sometimes, that is all you need, right?