Used 2021 Lexus RC 300 for sale 

The Lexus RC 300 is only available in a singular trim level,with its performance F trim treated as a different model. The pricing of the 2021 model will probably be the same as its 2020 model, with some marginal rise because of inflation. Below are the features of the RC 300-

The 2021 Lexus RC 300 comes in both All-Wheel Drive and Rear While Drive. As far as feature list distribution is concerned, both almost get the same feature list, where Blind Spot Monitoring Control comes as a standard feature on all Lexus RC’. So if you thinking which one to go for in this price range, check below! And if you can stretch your pocket, then the RC F Sport AWD can be that cure. Check out the Lexus RC F Sports competes against the Jaguar F-Type

Lexus’ parent company, Toyota is well-known for its reliability. So despite being a luxury car, Lexus becomes much more liveable over the years. The J.D. Power gives the RC 300, a consumer verified overall score of 81, proves its feasibility to live with. Scoring high on dealership experience comes as an advantage for being a subsidiary of Toyota. With low repair costs and a not so dipping depreciation in value, the RC 500 enjoys a pretty favorable position amongst its buyers. Let’s decipher the scores of the Lexus RC 300 on the reliability front?

Reliability and Ownership Costs

Unlike its German competitors the Lexus RC 300 hods a V6, that shoots up to two things - maintenance cost and fuel consumption. On the contrary, the RC 300 is not the most efficient of the All-Wheel Drive car in its segment too. But luckily, the RC does not see excruciatingly painfully depreciation value costs like its German competitors. As can be seen from the table below that has been compiled by Edmunds, where a 2017 Lexus RC 300 was driven for five years and 15,000 miles every year. 2021 RC 300 is definitely more refined than the one shown here since Lexus has addressed the issue with its improved driving behavior with a bit of zest.

As far as recalls are concerned, certain RC 300 from the 2020 batch was sent for recall over a faulty low-pressure fuel pump that could stall the engine. Alongside the RC 300, other Lexus models including GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, and the LS 500, alongside a bunch of Toyota SUV’ including the Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, and Tundra.

Warranty

Lexus shows us its unbeatable reliability with its solid 4 years or 50000 miles warranty coverage. With this plan, you also receive a 1 year scheduled maintenance service that is valid up to 10000 miles. Corrosion perforation coverage runs for a time of 6 years with unlimited mileage. Other aspects like powertrain and 24/7 roadside assistance also have reliable coverage.

Lexus’ solid warranty coverage only faces peril from its nearest rival BMW that provides scheduled maintenance service of 3 years/36000 miles.

Miles Per Dollar

Consider the average maintenance costs and fuel costs for the first year of usage which comes out to a total of approx. $2200. In a year, the average driver runs his car for around 15000 miles. Calculating further, the Lexus RC 300 will shell you out 6.8 miles for a dollar’s worth, with this number bound to decrease after every year of usage.

The Lexus RC 300 sports only one trim level. So you may well equip it with some packages to enhance your overall experience. For optimum performance, settle for the AWD model that will get you the most power. Equip the Navigation/ Mark Levinson Premium Audio Package and the Premium Package. With this, you get rich features like navigation, premium audio, heating and ventilation front seat functionality, and much more for the ultimate luxury. The outdoor thrill-seekers can equip the All-Weather package.

Is buying a used car Lexus RC 300 a good idea?

The 2020 Lexus RC 300 is fundamentally the same as its upcoming version, with the only exception of the inclusion of a standard Blind-Spot Monitor. Android Auto became standard in the 2020 model. So it should be a good bet. Beyond that, the 2019 model made Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa a priority, along with improved suspension and refreshed design. Don’t go beyond the 2019 model, as its resale value won’t be worth an investment. 

The 2021 Lexus RC 300 will carry forward the same powertrains as that of the 2020 model. The Lexus RC 300 gets both the rear-wheel-drive and the all-wheel-drive configurations. Lexus treats each drivetrain with a different approach, reserving different powertrains for each model. Powering the 2021 Lexus RC 300 is an efficient 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is capable of generating about 241 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Lexus mates this engine to its snappy 8-speed Sport Direct-Shift transmission that extracts tiny bits of power from the engine to utilize its full potential.

For the AWD model, Lexus has its special premium V-6 as its privilege. This engine can chug out more horsepower than the RWD model at 260 hp and is capable of rotating the motor at a torque of 236 lb-ft from 2000-4800 rpm. The transmission part is a little sticky on the AWD model, an 8-speed automatic transmission equipped to do the dirty work.

The BMW 4 series clearly comes out with its performance-tuned engine that produces the most power and torque. It even hits peak torque the earliest. All these calculations culminate into quicker off-the-line experiences and reach top speeds early, leaving the pack behind.

2021 Lexus RC 300 Acceleration And Braking Performance

While Lexus’ trusty engines aren’t that meek on paper, the spec sheet of the speed and acceleration figures narrate a different tale. The fastest Lexus RC 300 is its AWD variant that completes the 0-60 run in a subpar 6.3 seconds. The Lexus RC 300 RWD lags further behind the AWD, finishing its 0-60 run a second later at 7.3 seconds. Even the electronically limited top speed varies for both the drivetrains- the RWD model has a top speed of 143 MPH while the AWD reaches its peak at 130 MPH.

While these speed figures are mainly of the 2020 model, expect the same sluggish scores for the 2021 Lexus RC too.

It is hard to see where the 2021 Lexus RC 300 falters. Is it its transmission response or its aging engine? Whatever may be the reason, the 2021 RC 300 is in dire need of some modifications to its powertrain. All its rivals have a 0-60 time well below the 6-second mark and the Infiniti Q60 again topples the speed charts with its agile 0-60 and quarter-mile times, though almostdismissing the BMW by a millisecond.

Every luxury coupe often overlooks the necessity of decent fuel efficiency. But the Lexus 300 with its combined MPG of 24, manages to offer decent range. Interstate travels in the RC 300 will see some stops for fuels but definitely not as much as the Infiniti. With a fuel tank capacity of 17.4 gallons, the 2021 Lexus RC 300 cruises for a total mileage of 365/522 miles for city and highway.

The Lexus RC 300 has an average fuel economy that sits at par with its segment. However, it is the BMW 4-series that takes the initiative to woo the cash-savvy public with its class-leading fuel economy and mileage.

The interior of the 2021 Lexus RC 300 takes notes from its 2020 predecessor. The front seats are comfortable and sport a unique seatback shape that frees up some knee space for the rear passengers. The rear seats however lack the practicality of the front, it has severely cramped legroom making it no good for a luxurious cruiser. It is better to utilize the 60/40 split functionality of the rear seats to transport your cargo. The center console is very utilitarian, hosting an armrest, storage bin, minijack, accessory power outlet, and USB connectivity to charge portable devices for your convenience. You can also access the playback feature on it to control the audio system.

An auto-dimming inside mirror eliminates the glare from vehicles behind you. Enjoy the smooth feeling of handling the hand-selected leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift-knob. All while indulging in the cozy atmosphere set by the dual-zone climate control with smog sensor inbuilt. Other interior features are optional like- auto-dimming outside mirrors, heated steering wheel (only for AWD), heated and ventilated front seats, outer-sliding moonroof, Lexus memory system, and more.

The 2021 Lexus RC 300 has a tight trunk space of 10.4 cubic feet that may be sufficient enough for a weekend getaway. You can free up some space by folding the rear seats to accommodate some extra bottles and backpacks. However, competitors like the BMW 4-series and Mercedes-Benz C-class may entice you with marginally better trunks space figures than the Lexus RC 300, at 12 and 10.5 cubic feet resp.

How’s the 2021 Lexus RC 300’s infotainment system?

Every RC model sports a 7-inch infotainment display at the center of the dashboard. You can control it with a knob and a series of buttons on the center console. If you opt to purchase one of the navigation packages, you get a touchpad control to access the infotainment. This touchpad has its limitations, with plenty of bugs and laggy touch response. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration are now standard, which is good news for all our smartphone users. 4G LTE hotspot, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio/HD Radio are also a part of the package. Remote vehicle access is also available through your smartphone.

Other smart features include the steering-wheel-mounted controls to access the infotainment commands, Amazon Alexa voice recognition, color multi-information display, and the SmartAccess keyless entry. Pay-to-use feature include navigation, Bluetooth voice command, Mark Levinson premium audio system, and a 10.3-inch high-resolution screen

On the first look of the 2021 Lexus RC 300, there aren’t many differences to point out compared to its 2020 model. Lexus only brings out a special ’Black Line’ edition for the performance F trim of the RC 300. All the RC 300 models are available in a pallet of 9 exterior colors, including a new color Grecian Water. The RC 300 adorns the same dynamic coupe style of its 2020 variant. Sleek, polished, and aggressive. The Lexus RC 300 is an eye turner. The daunting front grille looks bold along with the sharp triple beam LED headlamps complementing its style. The rear too looks appealing and curvy from every angle combined with the expressive taillamps.

Other exterior aspects like the illuminated door handles and the moonroof add to the elegance and opulence of the luxury coupe.

The Lexus RC 300 has the same harmonic and proportionate dimensions as its 2020 model. Its exterior design is charming and perfectly balances its performance and opulence.

IIHS and NHTSA haven’t tested the 2021 Lexus RC 300 yet. But IIHS gave its 2020 model a ‘GOOD’ rating in every aspect. For 2021, Blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert will be standard, so that might boost its safety quotient. The Lexus RC 300 has a rigid body construction with special crumple zones in the front and rear designed to absorb the maximum force of impact during a crash. The Lexus Safety system is its trustworthy safety suite with a load of active and passive safety features. They are included as follows-

• Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) for skid prevention
• Blindspot monitor with cross-traffic alert
• Backup camera with dynamic gridlines
• Optional rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Optional intuitive parking assist
• Hill-start assist
• Smart-stop technology
• Optional windshield wiper de-icer and headlamp washers

The fact that most standout safety features of the 2021 Lexus RC 300 have to be purchased separately might be a huge turnoff for buyers.

2021 Lexus RC 300 Vs BMW 4-series

While performance and ride quality is the BMW 4-series’ selling point, Lexus hits back with its sensational reputation for reliability. The interiors of the BMW may hit the right notes with its practicality and fuel economy. The 4-series looks like the better deal here but Lexus’ cheap maintenance costs may work in its favor.

If you want to savor a classy performance, pick up the 4-series or else choose the RC 300 for the comfort of a luxury coupe at a great price tag.

2021 Lexus RC 300 Vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-class

Another German bestseller competing with the RC 300 is the Mercedes-Benz C-class that is similar to the RC 300 in most aspects. However, the C-class has more energetic performance and a better fuel economy than the RC 300.

The C-class’ also has a plethora of safety and technology features, most of them which are optional in the RC 300. However, Lexus stands out in terms of quality and reliability and the RC 300 is a worthy buy for the thrifty customers.

The 2021 Lexus RC 300 is a decent addition to Lexus’ standout lineup of luxury vehicles. Performance-wise, it may not be the sportiest Lexus ever but it gets its priorities right with its wonderful array of rich luxury features. The car still looks stylish and fresh as ever, and Lexus as a solid reputation behind its name to attract the customers. The 2021 Lexus RC 300 is a perfect car for those seeking to experience a lavish car at not-so-lavish expenses.