Would you have this RC350 F-Sport AWD or a BMW 430i?

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#Lexus #RC350 #RCF

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This is the 2021 Lexus RC350. As a member of the RC family it’s meant to be Lexus’s sporty and exciting coupe to get people without AARP subscriptions excited.
So does it?
It’s got a naturally aspirated v6 that displaces 3.5L and that makes 311 hp

It’s got a 6 speed automatic gearbox with fancy paddles mounted to the steering wheel so when you’re at full opposite lock you can change gear
nAd it’s got full time AWD so it gets maximum grip on launch
So what does that all come together as?
0-60 is done in just under 6 seconds which isn’t what I would consider blistering
But there’s more to a car than 0-60. The F-sport versions also get special suspension with adaptive damping
It also gets a torsen LSD and those work together well to compose the 3750lb body and shoot power to whatever wheel needs it
It’s actually pretty fun, and I love the way the N/A engine revs out!
The key word here is N/A, this is a field where you really don’t get umch of that anymore.
The v6 revs out in a linear and predictabe fashion and the sound that goes with it is much better than something you’d get from a 330i or c class
However, this RC350 is a bit of a tweener and I can’t help but miss the torqiness of the B58 in the M340 or the turbo v6 in the C43
Ultimately, the RC350 comes together, dynamically, as a perfectly satisfactory driving experience if not lacking just the slightest hint of drama
But this is a Lexus after all so there’s a whole lot more to the car than simply how hard yu can beat on it from behind the wheel
My favorite things that I’ve taken away from all my time with the latest Lexuses isn’t the ragged edge of performance, but the uniqueness and liveability of the cabin.
This car is showing its age a little with some of the buttons and is due for the new gen interior, but the ergonomics and comfort all makes sense and is easy - not something you can say with every car these days
And then there’s the overall design of the cabin. It’s not ornate or overly dramatic, but what I like about it is this interior designs reserved for the IS and the RC and that’s it. Unlike BMW interiors where you get the same design basically across the entire lineup
And then there’s all the creature comforts like heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, and 10 way adjustable seats.
Technology is current, and gves you everything you want like ACP and AA though they’re not wireless - you can get the car wifi enabled and Alexa will help you out, and you do get a pretty comprehensive safety suite
And it all comes together to make a very pleasant diving experience that’s very Lexus
The ride is soft and smooth when you want to cruise, but can straighten up for harder driving
The cabin is filled with good materials and it’s quiet even at highway speeds
The technology is ...ok… there are a cuple things missing like wireless ACP and a more advanced autopilot system, but this car is due for a refresh so the new car should bring a more modern suite
At the end of the week with this thing, it’s been a great companion
So, the Lexus RC is a bit of an outlier.
In a totally turbo field it stays with a N/A v6
In a segment that priorities technology and gimmicks, it’s refreshingly simple
And while competitors like BMW are pushing the sportscar narrative and Mercedes are pushing opulence, the Lexus RC delivers a comfortable balance
The problem is the price. In 350 f-sport trim it starts just over 55,000 which puts it over the Audi S5 and the Mercedes C43 but delivers noticeably less performance and drama due to it’s n/a v6

So if you want the most zip for your dollar you may want to look elsewhere, but if reliability and balance matter to you then the Lexus RC might be worth a look

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