2019 Lexus RC 300

header-image
Rating7.4

Ranked #5 in 

Compact Coupe
Write Review
$41,145 - $50,035
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on November 2, 2023

ProsConsWhat's New

Quiet and comfortable interior

Useless rear seats

Updated exterior styling

Great feedback from the brake pedal and steering wheel

Frustrating touchpad infotainment system

Blue Vortex Metallic exterior color

Handles bumps really well

Rivals have better throttle response

Revised interior elements

Standard Lexus Enform Remote, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa

Retuned steering system

Revised suspension

The premium package gets a lot of additions such as driver seat memory settings, rain-sensing wipers, heated and cooled front seats, and more

Specs & Features

$41,145

price

241 hp @ 5800 rpm

horsepower

258 lb.-ft. @ 1650 rpm

torque

8-Speed Shiftable Automatic

transmission

2.0L 4cyl RWD 8A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The 2019 Lexus RC 300 Coupe is a compact coupe that offers only one trim with a base MSRP of $41,145. For that price, it mainly competes with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the BMW 4 Series, and the Audi A5. With standalone trim, the RC 300 offers 2 powertrains. The base engine is a 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 capable of making 241 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. If more power is required, there is also a 260 horsepower-making 3.5L V6. The former engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission whereas the latter is connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The RC 300 reaches 60 mph from zero in 7.3 seconds on its base engine, which gets pumped up to 6.3 seconds with the 3.5L V6 engine. Depending on the powertrain, the RC 300 can manage a combined fuel economy of between 21 and 24 MPG. While we're on the topic of choices, the 7 striking colors the RC 300 comes in really pull you towards itself.

Buying Advice

The 2019 RC 300 Coupe gets the V6 engine and heated ventilated front seats with an all-wheel-drive system but we will recommend the RC 300 with rear-wheel drive and Inline-4 engine as it is cheaper and more fuel-efficient. It is not the fastest runner but it does offer a comfortable ride. We also suggest the Premium Package and Navigation System with Mark Levinson Premium Audio Package.

Trims

    Base
    $41,145 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl RWD 8A
    • Horsepower: 241 hp @ 5800 rpm hp
    • Torque: 258 lb.-ft. @ 1650 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 5.3 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 24 mpg
    F Sport
    $47,860 onwards
    • Engine: 3.5L 6cyl AWD 6A
    • Horsepower: 260 hp @ 6400 rpm hp
    • Torque: 236 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 6.3 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 21 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$41,145- $50,035

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

7.38

Horsepower

260 hp @ 6600 rpm

Torque

258 lb.-ft. @ 1650 rpm

Capacity

4

Read Review

$46,995- $71,795

Gasoline

7.42

265 hp @ 5600 rpm

295 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm

5

Read Review

$157,500

Gasoline

7.21

573 hp @ 6500 rpm

476 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

2

Read Review

$52,400- $68,800

Gasoline

8.04

349 hp @ 5400 rpm

369 lb.-ft. @ 1370 rpm

4

Read Review

$140,380- $162,880

Gasoline

7.49

-

-

4

Read Review

$30,250- $41,500

Gasoline

6.43

208 hp @ 5500 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1200 rpm

5

Read Review

$44,600- $62,000

Gasoline

7.53

248 hp @ 5200 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm

4

Read Review

$69,150- $103,100

Gasoline

7.28

320 hp @ 5500 rpm

330 lb.-ft. @ 1380 rpm

4

Read Review

$33,950- $35,950

Gasoline

7.11

208 hp @ 5500 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1250 rpm

5

Read Review

$33,200- $39,750

Gasoline

7.01

187 hp @ 4700 rpm

221 lb.-ft. @ 1400 rpm

5

Read Review

2019 Lexus RC 300 vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    5.3 sec13.9 sec-
    3.1 sec11.2 sec191 mph
    3.6 sec12.2 sec155 mph
    4.4 sec12.5 sec-
    2019 BMW M4

    Ranked #3

    4.4 sec12.9 sec155 mph
    2019 Audi TTS

    Ranked #3

    4.4 sec13.4 sec155 mph

    2019 Lexus RC 300 vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      21 mpg30 mpg24 mpg17.4 gal.365.4/522 mi.
      23 mpg33 mpg27 mpg14.2 gal.326.6/468.6 mi.
      24 mpg33 mpg27 mpg13.2 gal.316.8/435.6 mi.
      24 mpg33 mpg27 mpg13.2 gal.316.8/435.6 mi.
      2019 Audi A5

      Ranked #1

      23 mpg34 mpg27 mpg15.3 gal.351.9/520.2 mi.
      21 mpg34 mpg27 mpg15.8 gal.379.2/537.2 mi.

      2019 Lexus RC 300 vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        184.8 in.72.4 in.54.9 in.5.3 in.107.5 in.
        207.2 in.76.7 in.58.3 in.6 in.124.8 in.
        195.5 in.72.2 in.57.2 in.6 in.114.6 in.
        194.2 in.75.4 in.52.9 in.5 in.115.8 in.
        192.4 in.72.2 in.66.6 in.7.2 in.113.8 in.
        185.2 in.72.6 in.54.7 in.5.1 in.107.5 in.

        2019 Lexus RC 300 vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          10.4 cu.ft.82 cu.ft.20.6 cu.ft.
          17.2 cu.ft.-43.6 cu.ft.
          14.4 cu.ft.142.2 cu.ft.14.4 cu.ft.
          2019 Audi A5

          Ranked #3

          11.6 cu.ft.81 cu.ft.79.2 cu.ft.
          18.7 cu.ft.-18.7 cu.ft.
          10.4 cu.ft.82 cu.ft.66.3 cu.ft.

          2019 Lexus RC 300 vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            20.6 cu.ft.10.4 cu.ft.20.6 cu.ft.-
            62.4 cu.ft.10.1 cu.ft.62.4 cu.ft.-
            50.8 cu.ft.10.7 cu.ft.67.6 cu.ft.-
            8.7 cu.ft.8.7 cu.ft.8.7 cu.ft.-
            94 cu.ft.17.2 cu.ft.43.6 cu.ft.-
            57.5 cu.ft.20.7 cu.ft.57.5 cu.ft.-

            2019 Lexus RC 300 vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              -700 lbs.3737 lbs.
              3968 lbs.983 lbs.3285 lbs.
              3500 lbs.1195 lbs.3574 lbs.
              3306 lbs.-3296 lbs.
              2500 lbs.1432 lbs.3818 lbs.
              1000 lbs.1153 lbs.3652 lbs.

              Top Lexus Cars

              2019 Lexus LC 500

              Horsepower : 471 hp @ 7100 rpm

              MPG Combined : 19 mpg

              0-60 : 4.4 sec

              #1

              2019 Lexus GS F

              Horsepower : 467 hp @ 7100 rpm

              MPG Combined : 19 mpg

              0-60 : 4.4 sec

              #2

              2019 Lexus RC F

              Horsepower : 467 hp @ 7100 rpm

              MPG Combined : 19 mpg

              0-60 : 4.4 sec

              #3

              2019 Lexus LS 500

              Horsepower : 416 hp @ 6000 rpm

              MPG Combined : 23 mpg

              0-60 : 4.6 sec

              #4

              2019 Lexus LX 570

              Horsepower : 383 hp @ 5600 rpm

              MPG Combined : 15 mpg

              0-60 : 7.4 sec

              #5

              2019 Lexus LS 500h Hybrid

              Horsepower : 354 hp @ 6600 rpm

              MPG Combined : 28 mpg

              0-60 : 5.1 sec

              #6

              2019 Lexus LC 500h Hybrid

              Horsepower : 354 hp @ 6600 rpm

              MPG Combined : 30 mpg

              0-60 : 5.4 sec

              #7

              2019 Lexus IS 350

              Horsepower : 311 hp @ 6600 rpm

              MPG Combined : 23 mpg

              0-60 : 5.6 sec

              #8

              2019 Lexus RC 350

              Horsepower : 311 hp @ 6600 rpm

              MPG Combined : 23 mpg

              0-60 : 5.8 sec

              #9

              2019 Lexus GS 350

              Horsepower : 311 hp @ 6400 rpm

              MPG Combined : 21 mpg

              0-60 : 5.8 sec

              #10