2021 Lexus RC F Review

　　

2021 Lexus RC F Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Lexus is the only Asian automaker competing in the high-performance luxury coupe category, but it does so with a car that's seen eight years since its last full redesign. Its lusty V8 engine aside, the 2021 Lexus RC F is increasingly anachronistic in a segment that includes the likes of the Audi RS 5, BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C 63.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 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 $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$241/mo  for RC F Base

　　RC F Base

　　2dr Coupe (5.0L 8cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $65,975 MSRPFuji Speedway Edition 2dr Coupe (5.0L 8cyl 8A) - $97,200 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Still, Lexus is doing its best to keep RC F fresh. There's a new limited-production Fuji Speedway Edition this year. And when we say limited, we mean it. Lexus plans to build just 60 examples of the car. It comes with special paint and extra carbon-fiber body panels, among other extras. All RC Fs also have more standard features this year.

　　The RC F is the last "F" model Lexus sells, now that the GS F sedan is gone from the automaker's lineup. Soon, the new 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance arrives, equipped with the same V8 engine found under RC F's hood. According to Lexus, it "ushers in a new era of F Sport Performance models." If you read the tea leaves, it's easy to conclude that the RC F's days might be numbered. Should you still get a 2021 RC F? Check out our Expert Rating below for our in-depth evaluation.

　　

What's it like to live with?

zzdcar spent six months living with a 2015 Lexus RC F, and while the car has had many improvements over the ensuing years, it is fundamentally the same high-performance luxury coupe we put over 10,000 miles on at the time. If you're curious about what it's like to live with the Lexus RC F, check out our long-term test report.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the RC F drive? The RC F comes with a responsive 472-hp V8, a trick active rear differential and an adaptive suspension. But none of it can fully overcome the RC F's beefy curb weight. We've yet to test the 2021 RC F, but in testing a 2018 model we were able to do 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. That's not slow in the broader scheme of things but slow for the category.

　　But it's not all doom and gloom: The engine sounds great when pushed, and the RC F is one of the few remaining V8-powered coupes on the market. The RC F's braking performance is also competitive in the sports car class, and the transmission responds quickly to shift requests from the paddle shifters.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the RC F? Comfortable front seats and good insulation from the sound of surrounding traffic are highlights, adding to the grand-touring character of the car. The front seats also provide ample bolstering for aggressive driving and have effective heating and ventilation. The adaptive suspension does a good job taking the edge off bigger bumps and making the ride more compliant. It's still firm but it smooths out road imperfections enough to keep it comfortable on long drives.

　　The climate system's automatic mode works well. The capacitive-touch temperature controls are responsive, if a bit overeager, and manual adjustments are mostly easy. Unfortunately, more in-depth control requires navigating the frustrating infotainment system.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The RC F has a solidly constructed and upscale cabin. Most drivers will find the seating position to be roomy with enough adjustability for both sporty driving and comfort. Getting in and out is much easier than it is in other sports cars because you don't sit so low in the car. There's good visibility toward the front, though the thick rear roof pillars create blind spots.

　　The back seat is small and nearly unusable by people. Just consider it a storage shelf and you'll be fine. The biggest issue is that the RC F is saddled with one of the worst infotainment interfaces in the industry. Its touchpad system is difficult to use, especially while in motion, and some of the menus are confusing to navigate.

　　

Technology

7.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The optional Mark Levinson stereo is excellent and provides clear sound that doesn't distort with volume. The infotainment screen is clear and can even display helpful things such as live traffic information. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone integration is standard but the integrated voice controls, though they provide a good amount of functionality, are slow to respond and require following correct syntax.

　　Another area that the Lexus falls distinctly behind is in active driver aids. Adaptive cruise control only works over 25 mph and can't handle stop-and-go traffic. The lane-keeping assist system is weak and loses track of lane lines sometimes.

　　

Storage

5.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The RC F's trunk is one of the smallest in the class, and there aren't many options for in-cabin item storage either. The cupholders, a small console box, a small glovebox, and narrow door pockets are all you get. Overall, there's not a lot of room for your stuff in this car. But at least the trunk opening is wide, and the trunk floor is deep and flat, making what space there is more usable.

　　The rear seats don't fold down, but there is a small pass-through for longer items. Child safety seat installation is a challenge due to the RC F's cramped rear seat room.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The RC F's EPA ratings are average for the segment. Our test car averaged just under 20 mpg on our freeway-heavy test loop, which is a bit under what we expected. In everyday driving in traffic, our average dropped precipitously.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the RC F a good value? The RC F is priced competitively with the class, though options can add up. It comes with above-average warranty coverage of any of its main competitors, and it's also built as solidly as you expect from a Lexus. Even the plastics are well textured or treated so they don't feel tacky. However, it is also the oldest car in its class and offers the least performance for the money.

　　

Wildcard

6.5/10

　　We want to like this car. The comfy seats and sweet-sounding engine are definite highlights. Plus, the sleek and hunkered-down look is distinctive. But driven aggressively, the RC F is ultimately a little disappointing, and daily driving can seem like a punishment due to the compromised utility, driver aids and infotainment.

　　

Which RC F does zzdcar recommend?

It's all about the options since there's just one trim level of the RC F. Since this car is best suited for cruising rather than maximum performance, it's probably a good idea to get the Premium package (heated and ventilated front seats) and the sweet-sounding Mark Levinson audio system.

　　

2021 Lexus RC F models

The 2021 RC F luxury coupe comes in just one trim level. Under the hood is a 5.0-liter V8 engine (472 horsepower, 395 lb-ft of torque). It's connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission that drives the rear wheels. Standard feature highlights include:

　　19-inch forged aluminum wheels Limited-slip rear differential Driver-selected driving modes Launch control Adaptive suspension dampers Summer performance tires Speed-activated rear wing-style spoiler Dual-zone automatic climate control Simulated leather upholstery Power-adjustable seats Digital gauges with g-force meter and lap timer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Lexus Enform connected services, including Wi-Fi Amazon Alexa integration 10-speaker audio system Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)

　　The RC F also includes Lexus Safety System+, a collection of advanced driving assistance systems with:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Lexus and the car in front) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Automatic high-beam headlightsMost RC F buyers will want the Premium package, which includes:

　　Leather seats Heated steering wheel Heated and ventilated front seats Power-adjustable steering wheel Front and rear parking sensorsA Carbon package is also available. It includes the contents of the Premium package plus:

　　Carbon-fiber roof Carbon-fiber spoilers, splitters and rear diffuser panel Carbon-fiber interior trimThe Navigation/Mark Levinson package is a worthy upgrade. It installs:

　　Navigation system Dynamic voice recognition 17-speaker premium surround-sound system Lexus Enform Destination Assist concierge servicesAdditional options include triple-beam LED headlights, a power sunroof and a torque-vectoring rear differential.

　　The RC F Fuji Speedway Edition emphasizes weight reduction to shave nearly half a second off the car's standard 0-60 mph time of 4 seconds. Highlights of the car include:

　　19-inch ultralight forged aluminum wheels Exclusive Arctic Blast Satin or Cloudburst Gray paint Carbon-fiber hood Carbon package (with red interior carbon-fiber trim) Red synthetic suede interior trim Carbon-ceramic brakes with red brake calipers Titanium exhaust system Limited-production MSTR automatic movement watch (for your wrist)

　　

2021 RC F Highlights

Trim: BaseFuji Speedway EditionBase

　　

Base MSRP	$65,975
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	19 MPG
Cost to Drive	$241/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles