2023 Lexus RC 300

The Lexus RC 300 is available in two trims and the price for the base trim starts at an MSRP of $45,820. The F Sport trim sits right above the Base trim and starts at an MSRP of $50,440 without any packages or options. You can get the Lexus RC 300 either in RWD or AWD drivetrain options. The base trim will get you 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, keyless entry with keyless ignition, synthetic leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and other infotainment features. Similar to most Lexus models, you get plenty of advanced driver assistance technologies as standard right from the base trim. The F-Sport trim adds some sportiness and gives some cosmetic treatment to the Lexus RC 300 includes bigger wheels, unique front fascia, unique interior fittings, an upgraded instrument panel display, upgraded brakes, and sport-tuned adaptive suspension dampers among other features.

Packages

Navigation package

• 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Navigation system
• Upgraded voice controls

Premium package

• Driver's seat memory settings
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Power-adjustable steering wheel
• Heated and auto-dimming outside mirrors
• Automatic windshield wipers

Navigation with Mark Levinson Premium Audio package

• Contents from the Navigation package
• 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system
• Aluminum audio control knobs

F Sport Appearance package

• Two-tone paint scheme
• 19-inch Enkei alloy wheels

We recommend

We recommend going with the base trim of the 2023 Lexus RC 300 as it offers the best bank for your buck. You can consider getting the AWD drivetrain if you live in an area with snowy roads or rough terrains. The F-Sport trim does not add anything in terms of power and just giving cosmetic changes and making it sporty is not a great idea considering the lazy engine of the Luxus RC 300 is best for comfort. You can consider adding the Navigation with Mark Levinson Premium Audio package which adds a bigger screen, navigation system, and upgraded audio system.

The 2023 Lexus RC 300 is not the most fun compact coupe in its class from behind the wheel. If you go with the RWD variants of the Lexus RC 300, it comes with a 2-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine that is good for 241 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The engine comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. If you upgrade to the AWD trim of the Lexus RC 300, it comes powered with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 260 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine with an AWD drivetrain, sends power using a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Lexus RC 300 with an inline-4 engine takes 7.3 seconds to complete the 0 to 60 mph run. No matter which engine option you choose, you are not going to get exciting acceleration from the Lexus RC 300. The top speed is limited to 143 miles per hour for the RWD RC 300 while it is limited to 130 miles per hour for the AWD option.

The BMW 4-Series offers the best acceleration for its class and it takes only 5.2 seconds to go from a standstill to 60 mph. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe is not far behind either and it takes 5.3 seconds to complete the 0 to 60 mph sprint. The Audi A5 also takes an identical time to go from 0 to 60 mph. The Bimmer also comes with the highest top speed in the competition at 155 miles per hour. But it is manufactured to claim top speed and you might get a limitation depending on the state rules. The Lexus RC 300 falls behind the German automakers by quite a significant margin taking 7.3 seconds to complete the 0 to 60 mph sprint.

2023 Lexus RC 300 Ride and Handling

The 2023 Lexus RC 300 is not meant for fun around the corners. It is not an ideal coupe if you are planning to push it hard around the twisty roads. The slow acceleration from the engine is the first disappointment that you have to make. But when it comes to driving manners, you do not have to make any compromises in that aspect. The Lexus RC 300 comes with composed driving manners and it does not feel immature in terms of driving dynamics.

You should not expect as aggressive driving dynamics from the Lexus RC 300 as some of its German counterparts but it still offers excellent driving dynamics. The steering wheel offers a decent feel and feedback and you do not feel underconfident around the corners. The F-Sport trim makes things even better and you can carry even higher speeds around the corner in the sportier settings. One more good thing about the Lexus RC 300 is that you do not have to make compromises with the ride quality with either trim of the car.

2023 Lexus RC 300 Braking Performance

The Lexus RC 300 comes with a decent braking system for the class. But the good news is that you will not be complaining about the brakes of the RC 300 as you get good feedback from the brake pedals. Although the Lexus RC 300 is not as quick as its German rivals, you do not have to make any compromises with the braking performance of the RC 300. It comes with 13.2 inches of brake rotors in the front wheels and 12.2 inches of brake rotors in the rear wheels of the Lexus RC 300. You get an even better and upgraded braking system with the F-Sport trim of the Lexus RC 300 that offers even better feedback from the pedals. However, the official stopping distance is not available for the same.

The BMW 4 Series will impress you the most in terms of braking performance too. It takes the least distance in the segment to come to a complete stop from a speed of 60 miles per hour. The Bimmer also uses the largest brake rotors in the competition. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe comes next taking 112 feet of braking distance to come to a complete stop at the same speed. The Audi A5 is slightly heavier than the Bimmer and Merc but the official braking distance is not available for the same.

The Lexus RS 300 is not your best call if you want the best fuel economy in the competition. The smaller engine of the Lexus RC 300 means that you will have to rave the engine out for acceleration. Even the rivals that use engines of the same size offer better fuel economy figures. The Lexus RC 300 manages to return a fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg of combined fuel economy. You get a decently large fuel tank capacity of 17.4 gallons. It translates to a decent driving range and you can drive it without a stop at the gas station for 539 miles on the highway.

The Lexus RC 300 returns the lowest fuel economy figures in the segment. However, a decently large fuel tank capacity means that you get a decent driving range for the class. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe comes next in terms of fuel economy figures. It also gets a similar capacity fuel tank as the Lexus RC 300. The BMW 4 Series offers the best fuel economy in the competition. Even with its smaller fuel tank, it gets an impressive driving range on the highway. The 2023 Audi A5 comes next in terms of fuel economy. It comes with the smallest fuel tank capacity and is the only car that comes with a maximum driving range of less than 500 miles in the competition.

The Lexus RC 300 comes with a comfortable and luxurious interior for its class. The front seats are quite spacious and supportive. The F-Sport offers even better support with better side bolsters for the driver and the front passenger. The quality of the cabin feels quite premium for the class. You get a generous use of soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. There are no ergonomic issues in the interior of the RC 300 either and the controls for the driver are easily accessible. But you have to make some compromises with outward visibility and there are multiple blind spots for the driver. One other area where you have to make compromises is the space for the rear seat passengers. The limited legroom for the rear seat passengers makes it hard for even kids to fit in there. The cargo area of the RC 300 is not that impressive either and you can only keep limited luggage there.

The Lexus RC 300 offers you a big disappointment in the interior space department too. You get the least legroom for the rear seat passengers. And that does not translate into a spacious cargo area either. It will give you the least space to keep your cargo. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe offers a relatively spacious cabin for the rear seat passengers. However, the Merc also does not get a very large cargo area compared to the RC 300. The Audi A5 is similar to the Merc in terms of space for the rear seat passengers and gets a marginally larger cargo area. The BMW 4-Series offers the best legroom for the rear seat passengers. And to make the deal even better, it also gets the most spacious cargo area in the segment.

Standout interior features:

• 8-way adjustable front seats
• 60-40 split-folding rear seats
• Power tilt/telescopic steering wheel
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Cruise control
• Remote keyless entry

2023 Lexus RC 300 Infotainment

The 2023 Lexus RC 300 comes with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display as standard. But you have the option to upgrade the infotainment screen to a larger 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The infotainment screen is nicely integrated into the dashboard. But it’s when you start using the infotainment system then you notice the flaws of the infotainment system. The infotainment interface feels behind its rivals. It does not get all the modern features that you expect in a modern infotainment system. The infotainment system gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. You also get Lexus Enform connectivity services with onboard Wi-Fi connectivity. It comes with a 10-speaker sound system. But you can upgrade to an optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.

Standout infotainment features:

• 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• Amazon Alexa voice control
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Navigation system (Optional)
• 10-speaker audio system

The exterior styling of the Lexus RC 300 might be one of the reasons to consider the car above its rivals. It looks stunning from the outside and it is hard to go unnoticed on the road when you are driving a RC 300. The first thing that draws your attention is the sleek LED headlights with turn signals and LED daytime running lights. They are integrated with each other very beautifully. The front grille is also very attractive and it gets even better with the F-Sport trim. At the side, you notice the beautifully designed 18-inch wheels. The F-Sport trim gets larger 19-inch wheels. The sloping roof gives it a nice and proportionate look from the side. The rear of the car gets a complete LED taillights setup which is nicely integrated into the tailgate. You can also find exhaust pipes on both sides of the car.

The BMW 4-Series is the longest and the widest car in the competition. It also gets the longest wheelbase which you can notice when you get inside the cabin of the car too. The Lexus RC 300 is the second-longest car in the competition but it gets the shortest wheelbase in the competition too. That means you have to make compromises with the space inside the cabin of the car too. The Audi A5 comes in third position in terms of overall length but gets the second shortest wheelbase. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe is the shortest car in the competition and it is the second longest car in terms of wheelbase.

Standout exterior features:

• 18/19-inch wheels
• LED headlights with LED daytime running lights
• Electrochromic heated outside mirrors
• Rain-detecting wipers
• Black grille
• LED Brakelights

Lexus is one of the brands that give high priority to the safety of their vehicles. The Lexus RC 300 is no exception and it also comes with high safety standards. In the typical Lexus fashion, you get plenty of advanced driver assistance technologies as standard. You do not have to pay extra to get all the driver assistance features like some of its other rivals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not tested the 2023 Lexus RC 300 for its safety ratings as of now. But it managed to score well on the crash test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It scores a Good rating in all 6 crashworthiness tests. However, it did not manage to get the Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS.

Safety features include:

• Traction control
• Electronic stability control
• Forward collision mitigation
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane-keeping assistance
• Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning
• Automatic high-beam assist

2023 Lexus RC 300 vs. 2023 Audi A5

The 2023 Lexus RC 300 is an excellent choice in the segment if you do not care much about the space for the rear seat passengers. It is not the most practical choice in the segment. The Audi A5 comes with a more spacious cabin and it also comes with a more intuitive infotainment system. The Audi A5 is also quicker than the Lexus RC 300 in terms of acceleration. If you are someone who keeps quicker acceleration on priority, the Audi A5 is a better choice. The Lexus RC 300 on the other hand comes with more standard driver assistance technologies. The choice between the two depends on what you want.

2023 Lexus RC 300 vs. 2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe is not as attractive of a package as its other German rivals. It has not received a complete redesign for quite some time now. But still, when you compare it with the Lexus RC 300, it comes out as a better option in terms of performance. The fuel economy figures are quite close for both coupes so you can not call out a clear winner here. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe also gets a better list of technology compared to the Lexus RC 300. The Merc also gets a more spacious cabin compared to the RC 300. Again, it’s your call if you want the Lexus RC 300 or the C-Class Coupe.

2023 Lexus RC 300 vs. 2023 BMW 4 Series

The 2023 BMW 4 Series is a strong contender in the compact coupe segment. It comes with a very long list of features and gets a lot more technology compared to the Lexus RC 300. The BMW 4 Series also outperforms the Lexus RC 300 in other areas. It gets the most spacious rear seats in the segment while the RC 300 gets the least space for the rear seat passengers. The BMW 4 Series is also a great choice in terms of performance and it is a lot quicker compared to the RC 300. The 4 Series also comes with a better balance between ride and handling. The BMW 4 Series comes out as a clear winner between the two.

The 2023 Lexus RC 300 is not the best choice in the compact coupe segment. It has not received a complete redesign for many years. The current generation of the Lexus RC 300 has been in the market for more than 7 years now. It got a complete redesign for the last time in the year 2015. That affects the list of standard technology of the car. It lacks behind its rivals in terms of technology. The infotainment system feels quite outdated compared to its German counterparts. The engine under the hood of the Lexus RC 300 is not that exciting either. You get a significantly slower acceleration figure compared to its rivals. The fuel economy figures also lack behind its rivals. But it gets a long list of standard driver assistance technologies and the driving manners are also quite good for the class. You can get the Lexus RC 300 if it seems like a good option for your money.