In our country, cars with the “coupe” body type are not very popular. There are a number of reasons for this, and some of them are very biased. First, many people think that when a car has only two doors, it necessarily makes it impractical. This is something we should check out, but on the other hand, not everyone needs rear doors at all. And secondly, it is believed that the coupe is always a story about a rigid suspension and “twitchy” power plant settings. Lexus RC 300, the hero of our test today, and there is something to answer.
Lexus RC300 front view
Finally, the visual impression of this Japanese coupe may suggest associations with sports cars that have serious dynamic indicators. Is this RC 300 fair? Now we’ll figure it out.
Appearance
Lexus RC 300 has a very bright appearance, and the color of our particular instance adds even more dynamics to the image (and even a certain amount of aggression). However, with all this hidden ” audacity “in the fairly smooth lines of the RC 300, you can see the IS, which simply” took ” the rear doors. On the other hand, we can not say that the appearance of this coupe is secondary, even if the RC is somewhat similar to the younger sedan of the Japanese brand.
Lexus RC300 side view
The RC coupe appeared at the end of 2013 as a completely new model – it had no direct predecessors. I can’t say that before the restyling, the Lexus RC was unsympathetic, but now it looks even more spectacular. Now the coupe resembles the LC model, which can formally be considered a real supercar. The headlights were enlarged here, and after the restyling, they don’t look disproportionately small. Also in the updated RC, the rear optics, bumpers and the General appearance of the false radiator grille have changed. And in the front bumper, real (and not fake, as is often the case with other cars) passive air ducts are implemented for more efficient cooling of the brake system.
Lexus RC300 rear view
Interior and trunk
In the cabin of this Lexus there is no room for a person with a height of 2 meters. So I’m not going to say that I couldn’t get comfortable or that I could only fit your laptop behind me. The lowered roof, power structure and forced “reclining” landing do not give me the expected comfort. But if you are a driver of average height, this salon will please you in every way: both when using Lexus as a weekend car, and if it becomes your everyday car.
Lexus RC300 interior
First, the landing process itself is not at least something complicated, so getting in and out of the car is quite convenient. Secondly, the chairs here are very comfortable (although there are not too many settings, but it is pleasant to sit). Third, the equipment also creates the” right ” atmosphere. The fact is that the RC is offered exclusively in one configuration (already with the f-Sport body kit). There is a heated steering wheel and seats, as well as ventilation of the latter. It is also worth noting the digital dashboard, which looks very stylish-to match the car. In addition, it also knows how to impress with a wide range of functionality. At first glance, all this seems like small things, but just such pleasant little things and consists of RC 300.
Lexus RC300 seats
Of course, the interior of this Lexus is not completely new or completely original. We’ve seen all this somewhere before, and if you look closely, you can even tell where exactly. The architecture of this cabin does not make sense to compare with the new Audi concept, for example – there is a completely different approach.
Lexus RC300 dashboard
But at the same time, if I was creating a car of my own dreams, I would absolutely want the front console in this car to be exactly like this. I really like the buttons, the rotary knobs, the tilt of the panel. And not only because it is aesthetically pleasing, but also because these controls are convenient to use. But the main thing is the feeling of being in the cabin of this Lexus. The CS 300 feels authentic quality in everything you touch. The quality of the actual Assembly is also high (although from a car with a price of 55 thousand rubles). you don’t expect anything else).
Lexus RC300 multimedia
The multimedia system is traditional for Lexus. But it looks pretty good here, I think. However, you need to get used to managing it.
Lexus RC300 second row of seats
I won’t talk about the back row in detail. Just know that there isn’t much space here. Of course, someone can fit there (and drive 30-50, or even 100 kilometers). It is only desirable that this “someone” should be short, and the lower it is, the better.
Lexus RC300 trunk
But the trunk in the RC 300 pleasantly surprised me. Its volume is 370 liters, which is a good indicator. However, for the sake of the body shape, the trunk opening itself was low. And if you do not pay attention to the not very convenient mechanism for folding the rear seats, then for the transformation of the Luggage compartment, this Lexus can be given a good rating. By reclining the back row, you can put something bulky in the trunk. For example, a few snowboards if you decide to take the RC 300 to the Carpathians. Which is quite possible, because the clearance of 12 centimeters will allow you to feel quite confident (if you remember that we have a coupe, of course).
The engine and dynamics
Did I need to think about special air ducts for cooling the brakes? The question (at least for our version) remains open. The fact is that in some markets more powerful versions are available: the RC F with a V8 engine and the RC 350 with a V6 engine. But only the RC 300 is available on the Ukrainian market, and don’t let the nameplate with the number ” 3 ” mislead you about the 3.0-liter engine. Under the hood of our Lexus is a 2.0-liter gasoline turbo engine, and the version itself was previously called 200T. the engine produces 245 HP and 350 Nm of torque. Of course, these indicators are not bad, but you should not expect hurricane dynamics from the coupe.
Lexus RC300 engine
Acceleration to the first 100 km / h, according to our measurements, took 7.38 seconds. On the one hand, this is even faster than indicated in the model’s passport data (7.5 seconds). On the other hand, by the standards of today (and even if the car has such an appearance), this acceleration can not be called fast, and the figure of 7.38 C will not surprise anyone. Approximately the same amount of time is spent on acceleration to the first “hundred” in Audi A5 and BMW 4-series with basic engines. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe with a 2.0-liter engine accelerates even faster (although the base version usually has a 1.6-liter engine).
Lexus RC300 accelerates to 100
We can conclude that the recoil of this engine does not match the appearance of the car. After all, when you look at the Lexus RC 300, you see an aggressive sports coupe. But when you go out on the road, it’s better not to ask for impromptu races with representatives of premium brands. Most of our cars are not bought in basic versions, so they will be able to overtake you even without switching to Sport mode.
Lexus RC300 automatic transmission selector
But this does not mean that Lexus is not able to deliver emotions. Even as it can, because the thrust from the engine is transmitted exclusively to the rear wheels! So you just need to turn off the traction control, and then the RC 300 can be easily put into a controlled skid. Believe me, while others will definitely not leave you and your Lexus without attention.
Drive
However, despite the fact that the RC 300 makes it easy to break with slippage and twist “bagels”, it was not created for this purpose. This is made clear by several factors. For example, it is not possible to completely disable the stabilization system here, and once you reach a certain speed, the ESP will somehow interfere with your driving. And the gearbox has a manual mode, but when the “red zone” of revs is reached, the car-even in manual transmission mode-will switch to the next gear. However, I note that the gears themselves (and there are eight of them) are not very long, and the 2.0-liter turbo engine “turns” willingly. As a result, although the car allows you to “light up” a little, having a rear-wheel drive in the Arsenal, it keeps everything under control, not allowing you to cross the boundaries of what is allowed.
Lexus RC300 in drift
But in everyday city driving, the RC 300 can still give the impression of a sharp car in Sport and Sport+modes. And this” plus ” is supplemented by the fact that you are willingly passed in the flow of cars (and I think more is not needed).
The braking system in RC can not be called any “sports”. The braking performance here is relatively good: on winter tires at a speed of 100 km / h, we managed to stop in 41.25 m. This indicator is better than the Opel Insignia, for example, but worse than the Audi A6 55 TFSI. The brake pedal itself seems “civilian”; I wouldn’t have the slightest complaint about it if it was a Lexus IS. But for a sports coupe, I’d like to see more predictable clicks. And here we come close to the main meaning of this whole test. The Lexus RC 300 is not a sports car at all, but… a GT. Yes, small, but still Gran Turismo.
Wheels and brake system for Lexus RC300
“Gran Turismo” is a class of high-speed cars for long trips with comfort. It can include both a Ford Mustang and a Bentley Continental GT, and in General, a lot of things fall under this designation.
Despite its modest size, the Lexus RC is ready to give you maximum comfort. The steering wheel at low speed is too light here, it does not have a pronounced “zero”, and from the point of view of” sport ” you can also find fault with it, because the steering is not particularly sharp (almost three turns from stop to stop). But when you set the speed, the steering wheel becomes heavy, and the car behaves very stable.
Lexus RC300 steering wheel
I was also pleasantly surprised by the suspension. At first, I didn’t expect much comfort from the Lexus RC. But it turned out that even on the cobblestones, you get the feeling that you are not driving a coupe, but some decent sedan.
Lexus RC300 driving on paving stones
In addition to the Sport and Sport+ modes, the car also has Normal and Eco settings. And the latter really changes the behavior of the coupe. In this mode, it is generally very difficult to perceive the RC 300: the car becomes too “wadded” and unhurried. Although I did use these settings several times during the test.
Noise insulation-traditionally for this brand-is at a high level. I just want to remind you that Lexus is almost synonymous with the word “silence”. The engine, of course, is audible, but the sound is not very pleasant, even in sports mode. Still, under the hood there is an in-line “four”.
Lexus RC300 driving at night
In General, I would very much like to go on this Lexus somewhere far away, say, on a tour of European countries. If only this car was better suited for people with 2 meters of height, as we have already said before.
Convenience of urban operation
We should also focus on the features of operation of the Lexus RC 300 in the city. For example, it seems to me that in a pair to the camera behind you would need to install another one in front. The fact is that the front bumper is seriously protruding here, so the size is sometimes difficult to determine, but the camera could protect the beautiful body element from damage. However, the front Parking sensor is present in the configuration, and its “advice” should be carefully listened to.
Lexus RC300 in the city
I was attracted by an interesting feature in the functionality of the rear camera/rear Parking sensor. When you Park in reverse, the car stops on its own when approaching an obstacle (meaning you don’t need to apply the brake). I am sure that this” reinsurance ” function will be appreciated by both novice and more experienced drivers.
Lexus RC300 behavior on the road
It should also be noted that the RS 300 has a very small u-turn diameter of 10.8 m (but this indicator is difficult to feel until you get behind the wheel). Therefore, the coupe is perceived as a very nimble car. However, if you are already used to mediocre visibility back. And there’s nothing you can do about it, because it’s all about the body type. But the exterior mirrors are excellent, and the Central pillars are slightly pushed back, so the view on the sides is also at a high level. The disadvantage of this arrangement of body racks is that it is really not convenient to reach for the seat belt. And even special harnesses at the end of the front seats, which are threaded through the belts, do not save the situation.
Conclusions
Do not compare this Lexus with direct competitors from Germany. Both BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi with similar technical characteristics will cost less. But if you equip them in the same way as the RC 300 is equipped, the price of these cars will easily exceed the mark of 55 or even 60 thousand dollars.
Lexus RC300 headlights and bumper
And the RC 300 has a very decent configuration: in addition to the equipment I mentioned, there is also a collision warning system (when driving both forward and backward), active cruise control, blind spot monitoring and a lane keeping system (although it does not work very clearly). It is also worth noting the premium acoustics Mark Levinson with 17 speakers. The system produces a smooth, clear, very pleasant sound. I would call it pop (in a good sense of the word) and bright. Match the appearance of this car.
On the other hand, all the things that I have listed, there are also competitors. But what exactly they do not find, so it is so spectacular appearance. Cars of the “big German three” are not able to collect as many enthusiastic glances from passers-by and other motorists as the Lexus RC does.
Lexus RC300 tail lights
The only worthy rival of Lexus, creating competition in this regard, I think Infiniti Q60, in the appearance of which there is less” sport”, but on the move, on the contrary, more. At least, according to the characteristics of the motor. For the money that you need to pay us for the Lexus RC 300, you can get a Q60 with a 405 HP V6 engine. with this engine, the Infiniti dynamics will be much better (the manufacturer’s declared acceleration is 5.1 s). And having saved 10 thousand dollars, you can take a very similar version of the RC Infiniti with an inline “four” under the hood.
But here we are not talking about dynamics and dry numbers. The buyer of a car of this class, it seems to me, relies on emotions (thinking in a way childish): “If I like a yellow bike, why the hell would I want a blue one?» After all, I’m sure no one has any doubts that over the years, pragmatism replaces dreams, and the sincerity of feelings of having something like this simply disappears. Therefore, I will sincerely envy those whom I meet behind the wheel of such a car. And this is not about their financial capabilities. I’m talking about the courage to make the decision to buy the “yellow bike” from my childhood, which I never managed to get for my birthday in the third grade.
