2021 Lexus RC

Lexus, Toyota’s upscale sub-brand, is among the few luxury automakers that successfully merges technologically-advanced designs with consistently great reliability. Interiors are quiet and finished with finely-crafted materials. The engines are generally smooth and powerful. Many of its cars and SUVs are available with more fuel-efficient hybrid powertrains. Lexus continues to sell sedans, with its ES, IS, and top-shelf LS models. Most of its SUVs have done well in our testing, including the NX, RX, and TX. The brand’s first all-electric vehicle, the RZ, is a luxury version of the Toyota bZ4X EV. Lexus also sells two-door coupes and convertibles, the RC and LC. Multiple Lexus models have earned Consumer Reports’ recommendation for used cars.

The new RC is an aggressively styled sports coupe with seating for four. Essentially a coupe version of the IS sedan, it uses a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine hooked up to an eight-speed automatic. An all-wheel-drive version is available with a six-speed automatic. Top-trim RC F versions, fitted with a 467-hp, 5.0-liter V8, target the BMW M4. That prodigious output is routed to the rear wheels with a torque-vectoring differential, which sends power to the wheel that has the most grip. The RC F is super-quick, with a loud exhaust bark. The various driving modes sharpen throttle and steering response, but the car's weight ultimately compromises agility. The 2018 model brought lots of standard safety equipment. 2025 is the final year for the RC.