GO
GoAutoLogo
MENU

Make / Model Search

Car reviews - Lexus - RC - 200t

Our Opinion

We like
Engine and gearbox a sweet match with capable chassis
Room for improvement
Calm temperament doesn’t match its go-fast looks

Gallery

Click to see larger images

2 Dec 2015

THERE are a few cars that look fast just sitting on the forecourt, and the edgy, swoopy rear-drive Lexus RC is one of them. With more than a hint of LFA in its silhouette, the handsome RC is a revelation for the company, whose line of faithfully luxurious but functionally staid cars is steadily being worked over by Toyota’s head man, Aiko Toyoda.

GoAuto has had the pleasure of belting an RC F around for a few days, and came away impressed with its enormous capability and straight-line grunt, but a little underwhelmed by its lack of theatre.

The entry-level RC200t promises much, with the four-pot turbo’s 185kW augmented by a healthy 350Nm of torque across a 1650-4400rpm range. Its heft, though, is a surprise, at 1675kg, which restricts its 0-100km/h time to 7.5 seconds.

Economy is rated 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres.

It differs not at all from the RC350 range in spec, so leather buckets and a stylish, edgy cabin greet us on what turns out to be a very short drive of the RC200t F Sport variant.

The chief upgrade for the F Sport – aside from Bridgestone Potenza tyres on 19-inch rims – is the fitment of what Lexus calls Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS). It’s not a new system, but it’s effective, with actuators atop the shocks varying the damping rate depending on various inputs from the chassis.

All of the RC200t models score a limited slip diff, as well as a front performance damper, which ties the front end together and acts to isolate out some of the unwanted harshness a small inline engine can generate.

They do miss out on the dynamic rear-steering functionality of the 350s, though.

On our short loop, the RC200t makes for a highway cruiser par excellence, with nothing but silence from the engine bay, tyres or door mirrors. The ride is firm only in that the chassis itself is bank-vault taut, which allows the suspension to work more actively, keying into the road very nicely.

The front end isn’t as tactile as we had hoped, given the lower engine mass over the front tyres and the fact that those fronts only have to steer, not drive the car. It grips well enough and will take a set when asked, but there’s not a lot in the way of feedback coming through the steering wheel.

The powertrain itself is more GT than GT3, with the long-geared eight-speed automatic set up pretty conservatively in both auto and manual override modes.

It refuses to allow manual downshifts even though road speed is sufficiently low, and it’ll shift up for you at 6200rpm, a few hundred shy of the redline.

The engine itself is a sweetie, though, with lag-free linearity through the rev range and a smooth, refined feel underfoot. It’s not what you’d call lightning fast, but it propels the RC200t along at an agreeable pace.

Our test loop was far too short to get much of a handle on the car’s day-to-day performance, but we can tell you that the moonroof is not a great spec choice – the RC’s roofline is low for tall drivers and passengers at the best of times, and the old-design split-glass roof gobbles up far too much of that precious space.

There’s just a three-grand price difference between the RC200t and RC350 ranges, and Lexus reckons the buyer split will be 40/40, with the remaining 20 per cent opting for the RC F.

We’ll reserve final judgement until we’ve had more of a go in the RC200t, but at first blush, it’s an enticing enough package to attract buyers from the top ends of mainstream marques like Volkswagen to check out a handsome, well equipped car from one of the world’s true luxury brands.

Click to share

Click below to follow us on
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram

GoAuto can help you buy a new RC

Customer Terms and Conditions – New Car Lead enquires

Agreement

This is an agreement between GoAutoMedia Pty Limited ACN 094 732 457 of PO Box 18, Beach Road, Sandringham, VIC, 3191 (“we/us”), the owner and operator of the GoAuto.com.au website (“the website”) and the person wanting GoAuto.com.au to provide them with a lead for the purchase of a new car (“you”).

By completing a New Car Lead Enquiry, you agree to the terms and conditions and disclaimers and acknowledge the policies set out below.

Terms and Conditions

  • In order for us to effect a lead you must you must complete a New Car Lead Enquiry (“Enquiry”).
  • We will call you as soon as possible after you complete the Enquiry and certainly no later than the next business day. When we call, we will discuss with you your new car requirements.
  • You consent to our passing on the Enquiry and your requirements to an appropriate authorised motor car dealer as a lead.
  • We will contact you again in approximately eight days following your initial enquiry to check on the progress of the Enquiry.
  • While we will provide the dealer with the Enquiry and details of your new car requirements, we take no responsibility for what happens after passing on that material as a lead.
  • You acknowledge that we are a new car information service providing new car editorial information, pictures and prices to our customers as a guide only. Any new car prices published on the website are the manufacturers’ recommended retail prices and do not include delivery charges and on-road costs. Any authorized motor car dealer to which we pass on your Enquiry as a lead will provide you with full details of the price at which the vehicle will be sold to you.
  • You acknowledge that we do not sell motor vehicles. Any sale of a new car to you by a dealer after we have passed on your Enquiry to that dealer as a lead, is a sale by that dealer not by us.

Privacy Policy– New Car Lead Enquires

  • We take privacy very seriously. We understand that you will only complete an Enquiry if you can trust us to protect your personal information and use it appropriately. Our policy is to ensure that the personal information collected when you make an Enquiry is only used for the purposes of connecting you with an authorised motor car dealer.
  • We do not on-sell information collected from you or any other customer.
  • From time to time, we may email you with information or promotions that may be relevant for car buyers. You will continue to receive communications from us unless you tell us that you do not want to receive any advertising or promotional information in the future by unsubscribing from these communications.
close
* Denotes required field
** Australian inquiries only

RC pricing

Motor industry news

GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events.

Catch up on all of the latest industry news with this week's edition of GoAutoNews
Click here