2017 Lexus RC F Review

Name: 2017 Lexus RC F Review
Brand: Lexus

Price: $38,995

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Lexus RC F model years

2017
2016
2015

Lexus RC F for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

byJason Kavanagh^{Senior Vehicle Test Engineer
Jason joined Edmunds' testing team in 2006 as a vehicle testing engineer. Jason believes true appreciation of modern cars stems from owning really, really bad old ones.}

Pros

Gorgeous, well-built cabin
Refined and powerful V8 with a soundtrack to match
Benign handling characteristics are user-friendly
Many comfort and convenience features on offer

Cons

Feels heavy (because it is)
Touchpad-based infotainment and climate controls can frustrate
Benign handling characteristics fail to excite
No manual transmission option

What’s new

The Lexus RC F receives adaptive suspension dampers and Scout GPS Link capability for 2017.

Vehicle overview

The distinctively styled Lexus RC F doesn't have it easy. Its German competitors were strong when it debuted in 2015, and they haven't relented in the meantime. The main hurdle for the RC F is weight — it is hundreds of pounds heavier than the BMW M4. In the traditional metrics of performance-car accomplishment, therefore, the RC F suffers. This prodigious poundage blunts not only its acceleration but also its eagerness to change direction. Moreover, its brakes can wilt under hard use, although this is something you'll only encounter when lapping a racetrack.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2017 Lexus RC F 2dr Coupe (5.0L 8cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.77 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$235/mo

$155/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

In the real world, the RC F finds its groove. Its interior is flat-out gorgeous, its seats superb and its driving manners refined. Its non-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 may not pin you to your seat as firmly as the 467-horsepower rating suggests, but it's plenty quick for street use and makes wonderful sounds.

What it's like to live with?

Edmunds' editorial team acquired and lived with a 2015 Lexus RC F for six months, logging over 10,000 miles. We fell in love with the RC F's powerfully smooth V8 engine and attractive cabin but found its infotainment system frustrating to use. The 2017 Lexus RC F differs from our long-term 2015 RC F in that Lexus updated the suspension to give the car a smoother ride. It's the same generation, though, so most of our observations still apply. Read our long-term RC F test to learn more.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

3.0 / 5

The 2017 Lexus RC F enters its third model year with precious few changes. It's the same hefty, friendly performance coupe it's always been, boasting a killer cabin and polarizing styling. This year, the suspension receives an update intended to improve both handling and ride comfort.

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 F (5.0L V8 | 8-speed automatic | RWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current Lexus RC F has received the notable addition of adaptive suspension dampers. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's RC F.

Scorecard

Overall	3.0 / 5
Driving	3.0
Comfort	3.0
Interior	3.0
Utility	3.0

Driving

3.0

The numbers on the track don't match the way this car feels on the street. The RC F is some 500 pounds heavier than a BMW M4 and drives the part, so its 467-horsepower V8 is blunted to some extent. The transmission is slow to downshift, and the engine needs revs to thrive. Excellent brakes, though.

Acceleration

4.5

No launch control and a system that penalizes brake/throttle overlap make launches tricky. Zero to 60 mph takes 4.6 seconds. Upshifts are fast if you've selected the right mode. Otherwise, acceleration is less aggressive, but it still sounds good. Low-end thrust trails that of turbocharged rivals.

Braking

4.5

We experienced no fade during testing (the shortest stop from 60 mph was 110 feet) and found the firm pedal easy to modulate on both the track and the street. Very good.

Steering

3.0

Quick-quick-quick steering takes some getting used to. On the street, we were never quite sure how much input would be required for certain corners and were constantly readjusting.

Handling

On the track, the RC F nearly matches the BMW M4, but on the road, the heavyweight RC F suffers from understeer at virtually any speed, and its chassis is upset by imperfections. Competitors are more capable and rewarding.

Drivability

3.0

In its sportiest mode, the RC F's eight-speed automatic upshifts quickly but suffers from erratic downshift speeds and rev-matching. Sometimes it matches revs; sometimes it simply slams the next gear down as the car lurches in response.

Comfort

3.0

It's hard to get over the RC F's poor ride. The seats are exceptionally built, and it's not loud inside (as you'd expect from a Lexus), but the rough, jittery ride is out of place for a car in this class.

Seat comfort

4.0

The RC F's seats are extremely comfortable if they fit you. The fixed bolsters are tight, the lumbar adjustment is only two-way, and there's no adjustable thigh support. There's lots of room for tall drivers, but lateral space is less generous.

Ride comfort

For a car that doesn't have particularly sharp handling, it's surprising that the RC F's ride is so rough. Seemingly every road imperfection gets transmitted through the seats and steering wheel. Not a great road-trip car.

Noise & vibration

4.0

One of the traditional Lexus-like bits of the RC F is its quietness. With the exception of the rowdy exhaust note on throttle and some sticky-tire-related road noise, everything's calm and collected on the inside.

Interior

3.0

Design and materials are excellent, perhaps class-leading. Usability is poor, however, as is visibility. Space for passengers and stuff is merely OK.

Ease of use

2.0

The RC F is an ergonomic disaster, with only semi-responsive touch-sensitive temp sliders and the finicky Remote Touch touchpad controller (which takes the place of a knob/button setup or touchscreen). Simple tasks become distracting and frustrating.

Getting in/getting out

3.0

Coupes tend to have unwieldy doors, and this one is no exception. It's thoughtful that the front seats automatically slide forward to afford rear seat access, but they are infuriatingly slow and threaten rear passengers' shins/feet upon return. Fixed side bolsters don't help.

Roominess

3.0

The RC F provides above-average front room if you're narrow-bodied or have narrow feet. The rear seats are the least roomy in the segment. The cabin feels tight, not airy.

Visibility

3.0

Visibility is challenging, especially with the rear blind spots. A rearview camera is standard. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and front and rear parking sensors is optional.

Quality

4.5

Take things like performance and ride out of the equation and this feels like a $70,000 car. Beautiful materials, excellent workmanship. Feels solid and refined.

Utility

3.0

With a smallish trunk, limited cabin storage options and a fixed-in-place rear seatback, practicality takes a hit.

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

The 10.4-cubic-foot trunk is small for a coupe. The RC F loses the 60/40-split folding backseat of its lesser RC stablemates and gets a small center pass-through instead.

2017 Lexus RC F models

The 2017 Lexus RC F is offered in a single configuration, so if it has piqued your curiosity, the only thing left to do is to decide on optional equipment. The Premium package is our favorite extra — it bundles a lot of the best stuff such as automatic wipers, LED headlights, heated and ventilated seats, parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert. Audiophiles will understandably be tempted by the 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system. You might think we'd automatically recommend the Performance package, but the RC F is one case where we suggest you reconsider. For its intended purpose of providing a sporty experience on the street, the RC F is just fine without this expensive add-on.

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Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2017 Lexus RC F.

5 (90%)

4 (10%)

3 (0%)

2 (0%)

1 (0%)

4.9

20 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

The RC-F Has Alot Going For It.

Ron Palick, 03/24/2016

2015 Lexus RC F 2dr Coupe (5.0L 8cyl 8A)

Ok, so let me say there are a lot of choices in this type of car category, however, if you are looking for something that has "Snap your Head Back performance', excellent build quality, and an interior that reflects an attention to detail , this is going to be a car you should take a close look at. Better yet, take it for a drive, you will be suitably impressed. Before purchasing this … car, I owned my first Lexus, an RC 350 F Sport, a nice car no doubt. However, while the RC -350 is nice, the six cylinder just did not do it for me. I looked at the M4 and then Came back to Look at the RC-F. Yes, the M-4 is a nice car and has a lot going for it , however, so did the RC-F. While the RC-F is heavier, there were four things which won the day. The first is the V-8. When you fire this up in the morning you know you are riding a rocket as this baby really rumbles to life. The second thing that is really attractive, is the over all design and lines to this vehicle. I see all kinds of BMW's and the body shape and size all looks very similar, not the RC-F, this has a very distinctive look to it. Third, is the interior and seating. The attention to detail in this interior is flawless, something I think Lexus has dialed in. Finally let me say the overall performance of this car is truly breath taking. Dial; this in to Sport + mode and its ready to rip. Now I will never take this on a track, but lets just say when you put your foot into it, the rocket ship takes off. Are there faster cars out there. Yes, no doubt and while you could look at any one thing and say its no big deal, I think when you put them all together they made a compelling reason for me to purchase the RC-F. Okay, as with all things there are some things I don't like, or, feel they could be drastically improved on. The first is the Navi Screen. I would like to see a bigger one . The M-4's Navi looked nicer. The other thing I would like to see improved is a faster shifting transmission. No doubt when you are in Sport plus mode this does does shift faster, however in my opinion it could be improved upon, nevertheless to me this was not a deal breaker. I think at the end of the day the RC-F delivers performance and quality. for me, whats not to like? Up-Date: 11/2017 Let me just make a brief update. I have had this car for just about two years. First let me say, I have had Zero Problems mechanically with this car. Taking it on long distance trips I have gotten 28 miles to the gallon. Do not miss understand , I did not buy this car for the mileage aspect, however, if you keep your foot out of it, the mileage can be very respectable. The hard part is keeping your foot off the accelerator. Let me also mention, Lexus did a software up date on the Transmission last year. It now shifts faster and is better at anticipating how you drive. Let's be clear, its not a dual clutch tranny so don't expect that, nevertheless, its still a thrill ride. Okay, so let me sum this update up. I like this car a lot and would not hesitate to buy another one. I am not a gran Prix driver, but like the acceleration and fine handling characteristics. This is a fun car to own and drive with zero, or minimal problems.

2016 RCF - reliable, comfortable, qualilty, V8

Steve Kreiser, 06/09/2017

2016 Lexus RC F 2dr Coupe (5.0L 8cyl 8A)

Back seat is small. We don't use it much. I traded in a 911 Turbo. RCF not as visceral, but more comfortable, significantly higher quality, and absolutely no problems. Porsche had lots of niggling problems; Porsche service was PIA - waited over a week for service on multiple occasions. This is our 9th Lexus, the cars never break/give problems. The car is chunky though - 3958 lbs. …

RC F--Exceptional Balance of Luxury and Performanc

MP, 09/15/2015

2015 Lexus RC F 2dr Coupe (5.0L 8cyl 8A)

Are you looking for a masterpiece V8 in a singular design with exceptional handling, acceleration, and curb appeal? This is my second F, the first being the IS F. This is a world-class machine with exceptional handling and performance. The car will run head-to-head with the M4 and defeat the RS5. If you are looking for a car that will run 4.3 0-60 mph runs all day and climb to 176 mph …

1 year of RC-F ownership - it's amazing!

UltrasonicinCentennial, 10/30/2016

2015 Lexus RC F 2dr Coupe (5.0L 8cyl 8A)

I've owned my RC-F for about a year now and I've tracked it a few times and it's also my daily driver. First, daily driving impressions: When you start it up cold, it sounds like you would expect a muscle car V8 to sound. AMAZING. Not like "annoy your neighbors" loud, but just right. If this car does not put a smile on your face when you start it, you're already dead and can't …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2017 Lexus RC F, so we've included reviews for other years of the RC F since its last redesign.

See all 20 reviews of the Lexus RC F

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2017 RC F Highlights

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$64,165
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	19 MPG
Cost to Drive	$235/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the RC F models:

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: This system sounds an auditory warning if it detects a vehicle or object approaching as you reverse.
Pre-Collision System: When it detects an imminent front crash, this system primes the brakes for quicker stopping.
Lexus Enform Safety Connect: A subscription service that provides GPS-based emergency services in the event of a collision or breakdown. The first year is free.

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
Not Tested
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

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2017 Lexus RC F Review

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Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Vehicle overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2017 Lexus RC F 2dr Coupe (5.0L 8cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.77 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.

What it's like to live with?

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

Which RC F does Edmunds recommend?

2017 Lexus RC F models

Most helpful consumer reviews

The RC-F Has Alot Going For It.

2016 RCF - reliable, comfortable, qualilty, V8

RC F--Exceptional Balance of Luxury and Performanc

1 year of RC-F ownership - it's amazing!

2017 RC F Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2017 Lexus RC F 2dr Coupe (5.0L 8cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.77 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}