2017 Lexus RC 200t Review

Name: 2017 Lexus RC 200t
Brand: Lexus
Price: 17681 USD

Price Estimate: $22,990

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Lexus RC 200t model years

Lexus RC 200t for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by Mark Takahashi

Pros

Interior craftsmanship is excellent
The smooth ride will provide hours of comfortable touring
Fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine
Precise steering in standard form

Cons

Overall performance comes up short against rivals
Infotainment interface is difficult to operate
Tiny backseats are small even for children

What’s new

The Lexus RC 200t is essentially unchanged for 2017.

Vehicle overview

Held back by middling performance and frustrating user interfaces, the 2017 Lexus RC 200t falls well short of the benchmark set by many of its rivals. Yes, it's comfortable, stylish and fuel-efficient, but you'd be better served by other luxury sport coupes.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

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31 listings

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2017 Lexus RC 200t
Base Coupe
$28,991
fair price
$687 below market
- 42,962 miles
- No accidents, 3 owners, personal use
- 4cyl automatic
- Kimberly Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (464 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Davenport, IA
Clean F-Sport coupe in Atomic silver over red. F-Sport trim includes 19 wheels, heated and ventilated front seats, dual power seats with driver's side...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
26 Combined MPG (22 City/32 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JTHHA5BC5H5004952
Stock: 1028B6B
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 08-28-2025
Price Drop
2017 Lexus RC 200t
Base Coupe
$23,219
fair price
$930 below market
- 105,291 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 4cyl automatic
- Reynolds Automotive (506 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Merriam, KS
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
26 Combined MPG (22 City/32 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JTHHA5BC1H5005550
Stock: 5389
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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Also, controlling the navigation and entertainment features through the Remote Touchpad is an exercise in frustration. Further hurting the RC's chances of becoming a top pick is the lack of storage and cargo space. If all you're after is a stylish and comfortable luxury coupe, the RC 200t may satisfy. But overall we think other luxury sport coupes will deliver a better all-around experience.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

3.5 / 5

Hampered by middling performance, the 2017 Lexus RC 200t falls well short of the benchmark set by many of its rivals. Yes, it's comfortable, stylish and fuel-efficient, but you'd be better served by other luxury sport coupes.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions, although trim levels share many aspects. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2015 Lexus RC 350 Coupe with the F Sport package (3.5L V6 | 8-speed automatic | RWD). Note that although we have not yet evaluated the Lexus RC 200t that uses a smaller and less powerful engine than the RC 350, our findings here are broadly applicable to the RC 200t. Since this test was conducted, the RC has received only minor revisions.

Scorecard

Overall	3.5 / 5
Comfort	4.5
Interior	2.5
Utility	3.0
Technology	2.0

Driving

Unfortunately, the RC 200t is more show than go. Acceleration is underwhelming for a luxury sport coupe, and it's not a particularly rewarding car to drive fast around turns.

Acceleration

The RC 350 version we tested accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, which is about average for the class. But the 200t is slower. Lexus says the 200t will require 7.3 seconds, which is between 1 and 2 seconds slower than rivals.

Braking

The brake pedal provides excellent response without feeling grabby or abrupt in normal use. But in our simulated-panic stop, a RC 350 F Sport with summer tires stopped from 60 mph in 120 feet. That's disappointing, and we don't expect a RC 200t will perform much better.

Steering

2.5

The RC 350 F Sport we evaluated came with active four-wheel steering with optional variable-ratio electric-assisted power steering. It all sounds nifty, but in actual use, the car feels nervous in corners and difficult to predict or get used to.

Handling

In theory, the optional chassis enhancements should provide superior handling, but the RC posted only mediocre handling evaluation numbers at our test track and confounded us (and the electronic stability-control system) on our twisty evaluation route.

Drivability

Despite its steering and handling idiosyncrasies, the RC is a very easy car to drive so long as you don't lean too hard on it. For highway or commute driving, it's quick and smooth.

Comfort

4.5

Even kids will find rear legroom lacking, but otherwise the RC 200t F Sport should provide an exceptionally comfortable ride, above-average front seats and one of the quietest cabins available.

Seat comfort

3.0

The F Sport's heated and ventilated soft-leather front sport seats are well contoured for body-hugging grip and road-trip comfort, but they could be a bit snug. The two rear buckets, also leather, have a good shape, but there's little headroom and zero legroom.

Ride comfort

4.5

With its adaptive variable suspension, the 200t F Sport offers an exceedingly sophisticated ride that envelops road imperfections with ease and poise. Dial it up, and it grows firmer without becoming harsh, making it better than most.

Noise & vibration

5.0

Whether idling at a stoplight, accelerating up to highway speeds or cruising at 70 mph, the RC is one of the quietest cars in its class. Wind, road and engine noises are all isolated almost out of existence.

Interior

2.5

The interior of the RC 200t is well-built but has some issues. User interfaces are frustrating at best, and the space is good up front but ultra-tight in back. There are few places to put things such as cellphones, the trunk is small, and many visibility aids cost extra.

Ease of use

2.0

It's remarkable how Lexus got the layout and electronics interface so wrong. From the terraced center stack and semi-responsive touch-sensitive temperature sliders to the finicky touchpad controller, it's an ergonomic disaster.

Getting in/getting out

3.0

Coupes are notoriously difficult because of their long doors, and so is this one. The front seats auto-slide to afford rear-seat access, but they are infuriatingly slow and threaten rear passengers' shins and feet upon return.

Roominess

3.0

The RC 200t provides slightly above-average room for the front passengers but by far the least room in the rear when compared to its Audi, BMW and Mercedes coupe peers. Think of it as a 2+2 coupe with the comfort priority placed on the first 2 in that equation.

Visibility

3.0

Overall visibility is challenging, particularly with its big rear blind spots. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and adaptive cruise with frontal pre-collision system are all optional, but we think some of these should be standard.

Quality

4.5

As with any Lexus, the RC 200t's build quality (door closure, leather, paint, and cabin isolation) is outstanding. Not a squeak or rattle, ever. Even the few plastic bits have the look and feel of high quality.

Utility

3.0

Given the lack of storage for your personal items and the small trunk, the Lexus RC 200t trails the competition when it comes to utility.

Small-item storage

3.0

It lacks cubbies and nooks and has shallow bucket cupholders, a small center bin, narrow and hard-to-access door pockets and only an adequate glovebox.

Cargo space

3.0

With a trunk volume of only 10.4 cubic feet, the RC 200t isn't the most cargo-friendly coupe in the class. Fortunately, the standard 60/40-split fold-down rear seats expand space.

Technology

2.0

Lexus' Remote Touchpad infotainment interface is simply one of the worst controllers we've experienced. It works much like a laptop trackpad, but it's very difficult to use while in motion. On the bright side, the display is crisp and offers a lot of features.

Compare 2017 Lexus RC 200t trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2017 Lexus RC 200t models

The 2017 Lexus RC 200t is a luxury sport coupe that represents the base model for the RC lineup that continues with the RC 300 and RC 350 models. Standard features are mostly identical among these variants, with the engine the most significant difference. The RC 200t is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (241 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque) paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels.

Standard feature highlights include 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, heated mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, power front seats, premium vinyl upholstery and a 60/40-split folding rear seat, Bluetooth connectivity, a 7-inch center display, voice controls and a 10-speaker sound system with satellite radio. Also standard is Lexus Enform Service Connect, which provides access to vehicle status and maintenance alerts via a smartphone app.

A number of options packages are offered, although availability can vary depending on where you live. The Premium package adds heated and ventilated front seats, auto-dimming side mirrors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Luxury package includes those items plus automatic wipers, perforated leather upholstery, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and driver-seat memory settings. The All-Weather package offers headlight washers, windshield wiper de-icer, water-repellent front door windows and a supplementary electric cabin heater.

The Navigation package adds a console-mounted touchpad controller, a navigation system, upgraded voice controls and smartphone app integration (including Destination Search, Yelp, Pandora and iHeartRadio). The Navigation/Mark Levinson package adds a 17-speaker surround-sound audio system.

The F Sport package pads on appearance items such as a mesh grille and a unique front fascia along with substantive bits including 19-inch wheels with summer tires, adaptive sport-tuned suspension dampers, upgraded front brake pads and sport front seats. F Sport models also get perforated leather upholstery and trim, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, driver-seat memory settings and a special instrument cluster.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

$188/mo

$164/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

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Model

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Reliability

The 2017 Lexus RC 200t has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 2 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Recalls

2 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 20V682000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 20TA02, 20
Number of vehicles affected:: 1517721
Defect Description:: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Defect Consequence:: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed beginning November 23, 2020. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

Recall Number:: 20V012000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 20TB02/20T
Number of vehicles affected:: 1830752
Defect Description:: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Defect Consequence:: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Toyota notified owners of the safety risk with an interim notification between February 17, 2020 and May 4, 2020. Toyota will send a second notice to owners to have the fuel pump replaced once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

Warranty

4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 6 years / 70,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 6 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 4 years / unlimited miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 1 years / 10,000 miles

Lexus RC 200t Owner Reviews

4.6

7 reviews

5(57%)

4(43%)

3(0%)

2(0%)

1(0%)

See all 7 reviews Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Love My Lex

Jason, 05/10/2016

2016 Lexus RC 200t 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Spent a great deal of time reviewing many cars. Z370, Audi, Porsche Cayman and even a used 911. In the end, the styling and reliability and drivability of the RC won out. I love the looks and the fact that for around 45K or so I can have a brand new Coupe that looks this good with this many features. Got the F Sport Version on a 200t. I drove the 350, but I found the acceleration …

Sporty 2016 RC200t

tom lee, 09/04/2016

2016 Lexus RC 200t 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Great car. Fun to drive, great looks, comfortable, gas mileage good. Improvements I would like to see are as follows: 1. Rain sensing wipers; 2. Auto trunk closing and 3. warning beep on lane change

check it!!!

chris moreno, 05/11/2016

2016 Lexus RC 200t 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Definitely happy I went through Edmunds. Knew what I wanted and absolutely LOVE my Lexus RC 200. Great for small stature people.

Hot looking car!

David W, 08/30/2016

2016 Lexus RC 200t 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

This car is beautiful. Designed very well. Only downside is Inline 4 with turbo. Lexus IS behind BMW and Audi in this department. Even though this engine has more horsepower than it's IS predecessor baby V6. That old entry level engine gives you better acceleration off the line. If you can spare the cash it may be better to step up to the RC350. Other than that you can't go wrong with …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2017 Lexus RC 200t, so we've included reviews for other years of the RC 200t since its last redesign.

See all 7 reviews of the Lexus RC 200t

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2017 RC 200t Highlights

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$40,155
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$188/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the RC 200t models:

Pre-Collision System: Warns you if a collision is imminent and will apply the brakes if you don't act in time.
Blind-Spot/Rear Cross-Traffic Alerts: Lets you know if there's a vehicle in your blind spot or approaching while you're backing out of a parking space.
Lexus Enform Safety Connect: Helps when you need it most with automatic crash notification and roadside assistance.

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

2017 Lexus RC 200t Review

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Vehicle overview

For sale nearby

2017 Lexus RC 200tBase Coupe

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2017 Lexus RC 200tBase Coupe

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Technology

Which RC 200t does Edmunds recommend?

2017 Lexus RC 200t models

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Recalls

Warranty

Lexus RC 200t Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Love My Lex

Sporty 2016 RC200t

check it!!!

Hot looking car!

2017 RC 200t Highlights

Safety

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2017 Lexus RC 200t
Base Coupe

2017 Lexus RC 200t
Base Coupe