2018 Lexus RC 350 F Sport: It’s a Looker, but What About its Performance? [Video]

Does the Lexus RC 350 F Sport have what it takes to be a great sports car?

All is not as it appears in this car. The Lexus RC coupe slots in as the brand’s entry-level executive coupe, below the new LC grand tourer. It starts off at less than half the price of an LC, but is it still a good entry-level option? In this video, Sarah takes the RC 350 F Sport out into the Arizona wilderness.

There are three flavors of the RC coupe overall. There’s the RC 300 with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder to start, at $40,640 and up. At the other end of the range, there’s the hard-charging RC F, with a 467 horsepower 5.0-liter V8. Then there’s the mid-range model, housing Lexus’ ubiquitous 3.5-liter V6 engine. The F Sport package adds adaptive variable suspension and a cache of aesthetic upgrades. The F Sport also includes a digital instrument cluster inspired by the LFA supercar.

The 2GR-FKS 3.5-liter V6 in the 2018 Lexus RC 350 packs 311 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive versions of the RC coupe sport an eight-speed automatic transmission. However, all-wheel drive models only have a six-speed automatic, although both models come with paddle shifters. In this 2018 Lexus RC 350 F Sport, the engine and transmission combination shift the car to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. Fuel economy stands at 20 City / 28 Highway / 23 Combined mpg. That’s not blisteringly fast, especially for the price tag. While the car starts around $40,640, this one rings in at $57,988.

For that money, you do get the aggressive front end styling, engine and interior prevalent throughout the lineup, including the larger, more expensive LC. How is the rest of the car to live with? Find out in the video above!

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