We rate the Lexus RC F highly. Thanks to its 471bhp V8, the full-fat sporty coupé has plenty of go to match the show, as well as all the refinement, luxury and quality you’d expect from this prestige Japanese brand. But does the model work as well in more sedate, four-cylinder guise? We tried the 241bhp 2.0-litre RC 200t in muscular F Sport trim to see if it lives up to the promise.
While the turbocharged engine seems powerful on paper, the RC is a fairly hefty car to lug around. That its weight works against it here can be felt in both the performance and handling, and although the newcomer is 60bhp up on the lighter BMW 420i M Sport, its 7.5sec 0-62mph time is slower. This isn’t helped by slightly sluggish kickdown on the otherwise smooth-operating eight-speed automatic gearbox, and the paddleshift-operated manual mode could be quicker as well. The good news is that it all comes together nicely once you’ve reached cruising speeds.
A firm low-speed ride evens out once the pace is increased, aided by well judged steering and adaptive suspension modes labelled Eco, Normal, Sport and (for the F-Sport only) Sport+. Aided by a limited-slip rear diff, it adds up to really quite excellent handling around fast B-roads.
The interior is well specced and of high quality, with features such as perforated leather steering wheel trim and aluminium pedals living up to that alluring name. One disappointment is the claustrophobic rear compartment; even kids wouldn’t want to spend too much time in it. Sat-nav is only an option, too, which seems a little stingy on a car that starts at £36,495.
We reckon that the hard-charging F Sport name is the main issue here. It gives an expectation that this less-than-svelte four-cylinder model simply can’t live up to. And it’s not as though the RC 200t makes up for its performance shortcomings with impressive efficiency, either, as its official 38.7mpg doesn’t compare too well with the faster 420i M Sport’s 44.1mpg. The two models cost about the same, as do certain racy Mercedes-Benz offerings. You get little value for money here – and so we can only award this particular Lexus two stars.
Lexus RC 200t F Sport
Engine size: 2.0-litre petrol
Price: From £36,495
Power: 241bhp
Torque: 258lb ft
0-62mph: 7.5 seconds
Top speed: 143mph
Fuel economy: 38.7mpg
CO2: 168g/km
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