Used 2018 Lexus RC 300 Base for sale 

The 2018 Lexus RC is available in four different trims: the base RC 300, RC 350, RC 300 F-Sport, and the RC 350 F-Sport. The RC 300 comes with a 2.0 turbo engine mated with 8-speed automatic transmission. All the variants are available both as AWD and RWD. Features like simulated leather upholstery, 7-inch screen, 10 speakers, 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and an active safety features suite is standard on all RCs.

The top-end trim Lexus RC 300 F-Sport and the RC 350 F-Sport have upgraded headlights, LED fog lights, limited slip differential, driver-seat memory settings, a special instrument cluster and sunroof in addition to the standard list of features. Interestingly, the RC 350 F-Sport also features a four-wheel steering wheel.

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If you are really in search of a sports coupe, the top of the line RC 350 F-Sport trim is certainly the best one amongst all. It's the only trim where the engine power gives a somewhat sporty character. At a price of $49,435, the vehicle is pretty expensive to buy, but the extra features like the adaptive suspension and four-wheel steering system make it worth the money you spend on it.

The 2018 Lexus RC is available in a total of three engines and two drivetrain options. The base RC 300 RWD and the RC 300 F-Sport RWD variants feature the 2.0L turbo inline motor, which produces 241 hp and 258 lb-ft torque. The RC 300 AWD and the RC 300 F-Sport AWD variants get a 3.5L V6 engine, which delivers 260 hp and 236 lb-ft torque.

The bigger RC 350 and RC 350 F-Sport share the same 3.5L V6 that produces 311 hp and 277 lb-ft torque. All RWD models are paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox, while the AWD models are paired to a 6-speed torque-converter type automatic gearbox.

The Lexus RC's engine offers a linear power delivery. Both 8-speed and the 6-speed gearboxes are effective between the shifts and maintain the same gear for a modestly high rpm. The Infiniti Q60 is underpowered in the comparison. It also feels slow in gear acceleration. However, the 7-speed automatic in the Q60 is slick and quick to respond. The Mercedes C300 Coupe is similarly powered as the Lexus, but the slick 9-speed automatic makes it feel much more sportier from behind the wheel. 

Acceleration

There's no denying that the Lexus LC is a super bulky car. RC's substantial curb weight is perhaps its biggest enemy. The power delivery is pretty linear due to the gearbox, but the car at no point feels like a sports coupe. The suspension feels too soft, which makes it hard while cornering. The AWD system enables it to provide adequate grip.

This sends power to the ground effortlessly, making it launch much quicker. However, the 6-Speed electronically assisted torque converter in the AWD is not the quickest to respond. 

The RWD Lexus RC 300 manages to sprint 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds along with a quarter mile sprint at 15.2 seconds, which seems to be the slowest car amongst its rivals. However, the AWD version of the RC300 can touch 60 MPH in just 5.8 seconds and clover the standing quarter mile in just 13.9 seconds. Both the Mercedes Benz C300 and the BMW 430i are relatively almost an entire second or so faster in both the runs.

Braking

The Lexus RC features particularly beefy 13.1-inch brake rotors in the front and 12.2-inch brake rotors in the rear. The braking distance of Lexus RC is 110 ft, which is almost the same as its rivals. The brakes are best tuned for city driving. The brakes are not jerky at all even when applied aggressively. The system is aided by advanced electronics, which includes a 4-0 channel ABS system and EBD, which improves the braking efficiency. 

The 2018 Lexus RC300 also gets an adaptive cruise control system. When the steering detects that the car in front is slowing down, the RC300 automatically brakes the car during auto cruise to slow down the car, maintaining the predetermined distance from the car in front. The RC300 is marginally heavier than the rivals. The brakes however, work amazingly to provide the best braking performance. The RC300 can come to a halt from 60MPH in just 110 feet, which is almost in par with the more luxurious Mercedes Benz C300 Coupe.

Ride and Handling

The true USP of the 2018 Lexus RC300 is its well damped and comfortable ride. That said, the suspension is not that good as expected but keeps the vehicle composed and steady. The steering wheel, although electric, provides enough feedback to know the exact whereabouts of the vehicle. The mode selectors further extend the versatility of the car.

However, for sportier driving, the suspension lacks the stiffness. This translates into a slight floating feel while gunning down the expressway. The RC300 gets adaptive suspension for 2018, and the option is well paid off with the value. The upgraded suspension offers excellent ride quality, which changes depending on the drive mode. 

The Lexus RC 300 is not a fuel economic car, but so is the case with the competition. The Lexus returns a fuel economy of 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, which is quite low for a 2L turbo engine. There are proper sports cars that return a better fuel efficiency.

The fuel efficiency rating of both the Lexus RC and the Infiniti Q60 are almost at par with each other. The BMW 430i coupe fares slightly better with figures of 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. While the Mercedes Benz C300 coupe returns a segment-leading fuel economy of 24 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

The front seats on the Lexus RC300 are phenomenal. They are both ventilated and power adjustable by the push of a button. The space available is enough for even the taller folks out there. The perforated leather seats sure add a premium look to the overall interior quality. The seats are covered in posh soft leather, which provides excellent seating comfort for long journeys.

The rear seats, however, are a little cramped, and even kids might find it difficult to be comfortable. 

The passenger volume of the Lexus RC300 is smallest at 82.0 ft cube, while the BMW 430i coupe easily manages a segment-best 90 ft cube. The rear seats have dismal legroom and headroom, which means it can barely fit occupants comfortably. The Mercedes Benz C300 has the most shoulder room at the rear and can seat 4 with decent comfort.

The list of features on the Lexus RC300 is very long. Some of the features are-

• Dual-zone climate control
• Sunroof
• Rearview camera
• Heated or cooled seats
• Premium Leather upholstery
• Rear Bucket Seats

Infotainment

The Lexus RC300 features a 7-inch infotainment system connected to a setup of 10 speakers. The top trims are equipped with an optional onboard navigation 10.3-inch screen. The Lexus Infotainment system adds a host of touch inputs. The lag on the system is pretty apparent, and the touch control is quite slow in this regard. 

The controls on the system are uninspiring to the core and are very confusing to use. Notably, there is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto offering on the Lexus RC. However, the system responds well to inputs, and the audio quality is exceptional. The screen also doubles as a reverse camera monitor. For 2018, you also get a WiFi hotspot in the cabin across all variants. Few key features include-

• 10.3-inch infotainment screen
• 10-Speaker Audio System
• Trackpad controller
• WiFi Hotspot
• Navigation
• Bluetooth
• USB

Cargo Capacity

Being a coupe, the cargo capacity of the Lexus RC is not a strong point. The space on the inside is limited. But then, so is the case with most of the sports coupes in the market as of now. So, all in all, if you pack light, there should not be much of an issue as the ergonomics are such that enough small bags can be fitted without much adjustment. The rear seats can always be brought down in a 60:40 split or completely if required.

The 2018 Lexus RC300 offers a cargo space of 10.4 ft. cube. The Infiniti Q60 is the only car that has a smaller cargo volume than the Lexus RC at around 8.7 ft. cube. The BMW 430i Coupe leads the pack with a generous 15.7 ft. cube boot space. However, the rear seats of all the coupes can be folded down to open up more space on the inside. However, the raked roofline does intrude into the space making it less practical to carry taller items. 

The stance is low, and the proportions are the best fit for the Lexus RC Coupe. The F Sport models with larger wheels and tires are simply a delight. The RC300 is a handsome looking car. The car now gets LED headlamps and taillamps as standard across the range. 18-inch wheels are standard through the Lexus RC trim lineup.

The standard wheels are upgraded to 19-inch wheels in the F-Sport packaged trims.The optional 19-inch alloy wheels suit exceptionally well, making it look sportier on the road.

The weight and dimensions of the Lexus RC and the Infiniti Q60 are almost the same. The 5.3 inches ground clearance is something good about the Lexus RC. The coupe goes fine on uneven roads because of good ground clearance. The Lexus RC 300 is on the heavier side at 3,737 lbs. The wheelbase is short at 107.5 inches, which translates into the cramped rear seats.Some of the prominent exterior features on the 2018 Lexus RC300 are:

• Led Headlamps
• Led fog lamps
• 18 and 19-inch alloy wheels
• Striking design Character
• Shark fin roof antenna

The smart coupe by Lexus has bagged the Top Safety+ accolade in the crash tests conducted by the IIHS as it featured Good in all the test categories. Along with reliable body structure, active safety features such as cruise control, forward collision warning and mitigation, lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist come standard on all trims of the 2018 Lexus RC. Other major features include-

• Brake Assist
• Daytime Running Lights
• Traction Control
• Auto-Leveling Headlights
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
• Blind Spot Monitor (Optional)
• Lane Departure Warning
• Cross-Traffic Alert (Optional)

2018 Lexus RC vs Infiniti Q60

The Infiniti Q60 is another Japanese car that competes against the Lexus RC300. Both of them feature quirky and out of the box designing schemes. The dimensions of the Q60 and RC300 are similar to a very large extent. The engine options get complicated with the Lexus, while the Q60 offers a streamlined 2.0L engine as standard on all trims excluding the sport submodels.

Since both the cars share too much similarity, it all boils down to personal preference.

2018 Lexus RC300 vs Mercedes Benz C300 Coupe

You can't argue on the superiority of Lexus's design, which is a breath of fresh air when compared to the monotonous style of the C300 Coupe. The engine on the Lexus feels more refined while the Merc offers better dynamics and rideability. In our honest opinion, style is the only thing on the Lexus RC's side.

The Mercedes can easily be declared the better amongst the two as it is faster, roomier, agiler, and relatively techier than the Lexus. Another crucial thing is the low ownership cost of the C300 as compared to the Lexus RC300. The verdict on this is clear as a whistle. Mercedes Benz C300 wins a hands down.

2018 Lexus RC300 vs BMW 430i Coupe

At $43,500, the BMW 430i Coupe is almost $3,000 costlier than the Lexus RC300. For that extra money, the BMW offers a better engine with better acceleration, better rear seats, sharper ride, larger cargo capacity, and a lot more. There is no argument before declaring that the BMW 430i has claimed the victory fairly easily.

The Lexus RC300 sacrifices too much on performance while the BMW 430i Coupe, although not an excellent driver's car in itself, is much more focused on the road than the Lexus RC.

The Lexus RC300 is what one would call a paradox. The design style on Lexus RC300 makes the car appear as it is gliding through the air even when it's not moving. The performance does even begin to complement the look. However, the car is extremely comfortable, especially for the front passengers. The case with the rear seats is very different as there is not enough space to accommodate adult passengers comfortably. The Lexus RC could've been a very capable vehicle but its heavyweight and disappointing driving dynamics make it very vulnerable to the competition.