I have to admit, I didn’t have high expectations of the Lexus RC 350. I figured it was just another Lexus – guaranteed to be refined, comfortable, loaded with features and well screwed together, but devoid of any characteristics that might add up to make it an involving driver’s car.
With more creases, tucks and folds than a piece of origami, I imagined the RC coupé had been penned to compensate for its lack of dynamic flair with its over-stylised facade. Forget the clean styling of the Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series. The RC is festooned with a host of air vents (both fake and real), a furrowed brow with angry eyes and a gaping, scowling mouth. The rear end is just as elaborate, with complex tail-light clusters and faux vents with strakes at either extremity of the bumper.
The shape might be contrived, but it is striking. You’ll notice an RC when you see one on the street, because it looks like nothing else out there. And while it might not be a classical beauty by any stretch, the Lex does have a certain in-your-face charm. It’s a reflection of the premium Japanese brand’s intent to target a more youthful audience.
But here’s the good part. The RC 350 backs up visual bravado with actual substance – that becomes obvious the moment I enter a 270-degree exit ramp at a decently brisk pace. I expect languid body control, over-light steering and protesting front tyres, which would have been the result in pretty much every Lexus I’ve pedalled to date (the brilliant LFA supercar being the notable exception, and the latest IS saloon, to an extent), yet this isn’t the case.
Instead, the RC simply hooks up to the tarmac, tracks the intended line without any tyre-scrubbing deviation and feels pretty taut. Yes, the steering might not be the most feelsome, but it is accurate and well weighted, encouraging you to make the most of the grip available. Just to be clear, I’m not suggesting the RC 350 is a Porsche Cayman basher, but it’s refreshingly taut for a mainstream Lexus offering.
It’s also worth noting that the version I’m driving is the RC 350 Platinum, not the F Sport model that comes with adaptive variable suspension and dynamic rear steer. The latter function results in the rear wheels turning in the opposite direction to the fronts at speeds under 80kph to boost manoeuvrability, while at more than that, they turn in the same direction for added stability.
The RC 350’s propulsion comes from the familiar 3.5L V6 seen elsewhere in the Lexus and Toyota line-ups, but in this application, it pushes out 314bhp and 377Nm. It’s a smooth, willing and refined unit, but the exhaust note is far too muted for something of this genre. For a lesson in how a sporty coupé should sound, Lexus could look to the likes of BMW’s M235i, which we recently reviewed in these pages.
Lexus quotes a 0 to 100kph split of 6.1 seconds, which is reasonably brisk considering the RC’s hefty 1.7-tonne weight – although to put it in perspective, a BMW 435i is a full second quicker. That said, the Bee-Em is significantly pricier when similarly specced.
The eight-speed auto (with flappy shift paddles) is also somewhat dated, lacking the crispness and quick response of the dual-clutch gearboxes or automatic transmissions that come standard in its German rivals. But you’ll only notice this when you really want to hustle along; it’s perfectly adequate for normal day-to-day driving.
There are no gripes about overall refinement levels, as the RC cruises in relative silence at highway speeds, and the ride is pleasantly plush for something with mildly sporting characteristics.
The interior layout is neat and uncluttered, and the leather sports seats are nicely form-fitting, but there’s lots of hard plastic trim throughout the cabin, which is a bit subpar in a Dh200,000-plus offering. The switchgear isn’t the most tactile either, and the low-resolution multimedia screen is embedded deep in the centre console.
As you’d expect in a Lexus, you get loads of kit as part of the deal (unlike prestige German brands). The RC 350 Platinum comes standard with 19-inch alloys, a Mark Levinson sound system with 17 speakers, radar cruise control, pre-crash safety system, lane-change assist with blind-spot monitor, lane-keeping assist and plenty more bells and whistles.
So, is the RC 350 a worthy rival to the likes of the 4 Series and A5? There’s no doubt the 4 Series is a more dynamic driver’s car; and the A5 is more classically stylish. On a pure value-for-money basis, though, the Lexus stacks up pretty well. It offers enough rewards behind the wheel, is refreshingly out-there in its styling and is guaranteed to be still worth a good chunk of what you paid for it in three years.
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