2022 Lexus RC 350 Review

Name: 2022 Lexus RC 350
Brand: Lexus

Price Range: $24,990 - $46,998

Average

7.2

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2022 RC 350 exists in a space between a grand-touring coupe and a sports car. It never really settles into either role, but it does deliver on the luxury coupe experience with excellent build quality and eye-catching styling. A frustrating tech interface and tight interior, however, make it tough to fully recommend.

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Average price: $28,505

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Appraise My 2022 Lexus RC 350

Lexus RC 350 model years

Lexus RC 350 for Sale

Pros

Excellent interior craftsmanship
One of the quietest cars in its class
Smooth power from the V6 engine

Cons

Overall performance comes up short against rivals
Infotainment interface is difficult to operate
Tiny back seats are small, even for kids
Offers less cargo room than competitors

What's new

The RC 350 carries over unchanged
Part of the first RC generation introduced for 2015

Overview

Written by automotive expert Dan Frio

1/7/2022

If you want a car with curb presence, the 2022 Lexus RC 350 has it. Like a home that draws you in with shaded porticos and intricate flagstone, this Lexus sport coupe cuts a sharp figure with its creased metal, steeply raked windshield and sloping roofline. The RC isn't quite as sporty as it looks, however. Its 311-horsepower V6 engine hauls the car up to speed just fine, but in the curves and corners, the portly RC 350 proves less nimble than its main rivals. The F Sport trim's adaptive suspension and optional grippy summer tires dial up handling performance, but ultimately the RC 350 is more about cruising and comfort than speed or dynamic movements.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

47 listings

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New Listing
2022 Lexus RC 350
Base Coupe
$24,990
good price
$552 below market
- 143,988 miles
- 6cyl automatic
- 24 mi away
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Arlington, VA
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (20 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
JTHDZ5BC9N5025693
Stock:
7448
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
New Listing
2022 Lexus RC 350
F SPORT Coupe
$46,998
fair price
$984 below market
- 21,195 miles
- 6cyl automatic
- 930 mi away
- Delivery available*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
Close
Located in Doral, FL
Wanna drive? CarMax puts you in the driver's seat-and that includes transparency and pricing without document or processing fees. Certain cars may hav...
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (20 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
JTHGZ5BC3N5026352
Stock:
70228869
Certified Pre-Owned:
No

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The interior is small, but the soft-touch materials are supple and tightly assembled. The firm ride is absorbent enough for choppy commutes, and the seats hold fast without intrusive bolstering. Perhaps the RC 350's biggest drawback is that it hasn't evolved much since its introduction. Recent updates to the Audi A5/S5 and BMW 4 Series have made them more fuel-efficient and tech-friendly than the Lexus. But the RC 350 still has enough appeal to make it worth checking out if you want a distinctive and comfortable luxury coupe. Read our Expert Rating for a deeper dive into the pros and cons of this year's RC.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Average

7.2

out of 10

We drove the 2022 Lexus RC 350 on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

8/10

How does the RC 350 drive? Outright performance isn't the game the RC 350 prefers to play. Accelerating to 60 mph takes 6.2 seconds. That's not as quick as most of its competition, especially those fitted with six-cylinder engines.

The F Sport's available summer performance tires return fairly good braking and handling numbers should you decide to drive with some gusto. The car responds well to steering inputs but lacks the eagerness to change direction you might expect in a sport coupe. Much of that comes down to the RC's 3,800-pound curb weight. But the RC 350 will inspire confidence and is ultimately easy to handle at the limit.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the RC 350? Tight interior aside, the RC provides the level of suppleness you'd expect from a luxury brand. The well-bolstered seats help keep you in place while cornering, but the bolsters aren't so large that they make the seats uncomfortable.

The stiff, sporty ride matches the RC 350's visuals. In short, it's busy over less than perfect surfaces and can be tiring over longer drives. The RC 350 is pretty quiet, though. Road and wind noise is minimal at any speed.

Interior

7/10

How’s the interior? The RC is one of the larger luxury coupes in the segment, but it has the smallest interior. We struggle to think who the rear seats would serve. Even small children will find the lack of rear legroom a problem. As with many coupes, the RC's long doors can be an issue in tight parking lots.

It takes a while to get used to the layout of the center stack's organization and the types of inputs — both physical and touch-sensitive — but it makes sense after practice. The touchpad that controls the entertainment system requires too much attention from the driver.

Technology

6/10

How’s the tech? The large entertainment screen looks impressive, but it's frustrating to operate. It locks out many functions while the RC is in motion — that might be a good thing because of how cumbersome it is. Phone integration now includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay at least. And the optional Mark Levinson audio system sounds terrific.

The adaptive cruise control manages speed without needing much driver input. Unfortunately, it doesn't work under 25 mph, so it's ineffective during the most frustrating parts of the commute. You also have to be ready on the brake pedal for when traffic slows and the system stops working.

Storage

6.5/10

How’s the storage? The RC's trunk is one of the smallest in this class. You can get more room by lowering the rear seats, but you can't do so from the trunk. You have to climb into the back to reach the release switches.

The center console has just enough room for a few phones. The door pockets fall on the smaller side of the spectrum, and there are just two cupholders. Outside of these options, the back seat becomes the main storage space for larger bags and sports water bottles.

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? With an EPA combined rating of 23 mpg, the rear-wheel-drive RC 350 returns slightly below average fuel economy for the class. Adding all-wheel drive lowers that number further. Competitors with similar performance are able to achieve better highway mpg. We averaged 20.7 mpg over the course of 365 miles in our test car.

Value

7.5/10

Is the RC 350 a good value? The RC boasts meticulous attention to detail. The interior panel gaps are uniform throughout, and the absence of squeaks and rattles provides a sense of quality assembly. Some plastic materials, especially the panel that surrounds the center clock and air vents, look slightly out of place.

You'll likely pay less to get an RC compared to some rival coupes, and you get some true highlights for the money, such as the sound system and the build quality. But German competitors offer more performance, interior space and fuel economy for your dollar.

Wildcard

7/10

It's tough to classify the RC 350 since it straddles the line between a grand tourer and a sport coupe without embodying either particularly well. But that's not to say it's without merit. There's some flash to the design both inside and out, and the engine delivers pleasing performance without any fuss.

2022 Lexus RC 350 trim level differences

The 2022 Lexus RC 350 is available in two trim levels: base and F Sport. Both come with a 3.5-liter V6 engine (311 horsepower, 280 lb-ft) joined to an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional. The turbocharged four-cylinder RC 300 and high-performance RC F are reviewed separately. Compare the 2022 Lexus RC 350 trim levels in-depth.

Which RC 350 trim does Edmunds recommend?

We recommend opting for the F Sport configuration. Its adaptive suspension, upgraded brakes, and optional summer tires and limited-slip differential help its handling potential live up to the promise of its extroverted styling. If you live in a wet-weather climate, or even if you're determined to extract every potential ounce of handling performance, opt for all-wheel drive.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$256/mo

$222/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

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Reliability

The 2022 Lexus RC 350 has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and no recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #9 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent

#9 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$523/yr

vs. $607/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Frequency

0.77x/yr

vs. 1.36x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Severity

7.2%

vs. 10.5%
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Recalls

There are no recalls for the 2022 Lexus RC 350

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 350 Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.5

26 reviews

5(81%)

4(7%)

3(0%)

2(4%)

1(8%)

See all 26 reviews of the Lexus RC 350

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2022 RC 350 Features & Specs

Trim:

Base

Est. Market Value	$33,971
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$256/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 350 models:

Pre-Collision System: Warns the driver of a possible impact with pedestrians or other cars. Can automatically apply the brakes if necessary.
Lane Departure Alert with Keeping Assist: Warns you when the car's drifting out of your lane and intervenes with steering input if needed.
Safety Connect: Includes automatic collision notification, an emergency assist button and stolen vehicle location services.

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