Lexus RC F 2019 Review

The Lexus RC F is no spring chicken, having arrived in Australia as long ago as 2014. A year later the V8-engined coupe was taking part in Australia's Best Driver's Car and not rating that highly within the field of competitors, sad to say.

Since then, the RC F has been enhanced, scoring adaptive dampers, for instance, and uprated driver-assist technology. The RC F remains fundamentally the same, however, – powered by a stonking V8 under the bonnet, and driving the rear wheels through a competent eight-speed automatic transmission.

Back in 2015 we found fault with the RC F principally for its weight and its chassis tuning. The engine was fine at the time, and it still is.

It’s very refined, and yet punchy. V8 fans will thrill to the stirring sound as the 5.0-litre engine spins up high in the rev range – all the way up to the 7000rpm redline. Performance is not in the same league as that of a BMW M4 or Mercedes-AMG C 63, but it's strong enough to take away the breath of most drivers. It will readily overpower the rear-wheel traction.

Set it up in launch mode and the RC F is highly entertaining – but it doesn't actually optimise acceleration. Any reasonably competent driver will launch the RC F off the line faster and without all the commotion. Compared with more adept systems from some of its rivals, the RC F's launch control system is more of a Launch Kaos system. Release the brake and the wheels spin and the car immediately crabs sideways. It's fun, in a dramatic, noisy and visually arresting way – but not actually that quick off the mark.

But driven at anything less than wide-open throttle, the V8 is docile and quiet. In fact, its power delivery in normal mode is actually somewhat uninvolving. Inevitably, when the old-age pensioner in the Yaris next to you is leading you away from the traffic lights – and you prod the accelerator for a bit more urge – the RC F will immediately change from plodding performance to full-scale blitzkrieg. And that may result in a torque-triggered flogging for the rear tyres.

While maintaining traction is a challenge for the RC F in a straight line, it also compromises handling as well. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres at the rear, measuring 275/35 ZR19, just can't keep up with the torque on tap.

Arrive at a corner with enough speed, nose the car in and power on – even with some care – and the RC F will yaw with whip-crack eagerness at the apex of the turn. Power oversteer can be quickly induced on a damp road surface, and while the road-holding is acceptable and the slide is easily corrected, the RC F can be dispatched by a half-decent hot hatch, and the front-wheel drive hatch will show greater composure doing so.

It recalls another high-performance Japanese coupe that couldn't get its power down...

To its credit, the RC F never steps out on a trailing throttle; it just steers tighter into the apex when the driver is backing off. Overall, however, the RC F’s handling was not as predictable as some of its German rivals, nor the Alfa Romeo Giulia QV.

Stability control calibration seems to be an issue there as well, interfering clumsily and also over-adjusting braking action and ignition retardation to correct oversteer.

Despite the respectable road-holding from the 235/55 ZR19 Michelins up front, the RC F doesn't communicate that facet of its dynamics with the same forthrightness that its rivals do. Yet there's nothing inherently wrong with the steering; the RC F corners with reasonable precision.

The RC F’s ride is comfortable at low speeds and there’s little to no impact harshness, but the car does bounce around on bumpy country roads. It's no boulevard cruiser, but nor is it a 'sports car'. Think of the RC F as a capable tourer.

The brakes of the RC F are strong, and also quite firm underfoot when you’re standing on the pedal. There’s a ‘progressive’ feel unless you’re braking hard. Then the brake pedal feels like you're mashing a rubber-wrapped brick. In much gentler driving, however, there’s more than enough fine modulation for softly pulling up to a halt.

Take the Lexus RC F out of the febrile sports-car context and it's a pleasant car for cruising. At 100km/h the engine ticks over at about 1800rpm and cannot be heard. About the only noise in the cabin at that speed is some muffled road noise. If anything, the RC F is a little too quiet. The indicators are really soft, even at lower speeds.

Fuel consumption is moderately high. According to official figures the combined-cycle test result is 11.2L/100km for the RC F, but over a 70km drive loop the Lexus finished up at 13.4L/100km. In urban commuting it was up around 17L/100km. We've seen better figures than that from V8-engined limousines.

For night driving, the RC F's headlights feature an auto high-beam facility that works overtime, even in built-up areas. It’s frequently slow to dip the lights for oncoming traffic and didn’t dip them at all for a vehicle approaching a corner from the right. The RC F’s headlights are not outstanding on low beam either, which is probably the reason for the auto high beam being over-reactive. While the low-beam mode shines a white light along the road ahead, it’s not a very powerful light and it does seem to be adjusted for shorter distances.

Something rarely noted in other test vehicles: the RC F's demist function proved very effective. Few cars will clear the windscreen and mirrors as quickly as this Lexus – less than a kilometre into a journey from a cold start. And the auto wipers work pretty well also.

There are pluses and minuses to report for the cabin of the Lexus RC F. The RC F features a great driving position. The front seats are very comfortable, despite the aggressive contouring. About the only thing the seats are left wanting is an extendable base.

As far as instrumentation and controls are concerned, the RC F features a foot-operated parking brake, which is not everyone's cup of tea. The minor instruments are difficult to read at a glance, and there's no head-up display, which we take to be a sign that the RC F is not a particularly fresh design, after five years in the market. At least the indicator stalk is on the right side of the steering column – a relative rarity among prestige brands.

Using the haptic touch pad is difficult, slow and frustrating. The haptic ‘bumps’ are too pronounced and if you’re not left-hand dominant, you’ll likely overshoot the menu item you want to select. Frankly, the ergonomic needs of the eye and brain are not the same as the needs of the hand.

If you want to change your media source and it’s ‘USB’ for example, that’s listed alphabetically at the bottom of the screen, with the cursor remaining near the top of the previous screen for ‘Source’ – so it takes some multiple finger strokes to select that item. It's fine once the infotainment is sorted to suit your needs; it's just the time spent getting there.

The voice recognition works well in the Lexus though. It is easy to use, whether making a phone call from the contacts list in your paired phone or plotting a course to your home address.

Relative to other two-door cars on sale in Australia, the Lexus provides easy access, with doors that open wide enough in even tight parking spots and hold where you want them to stay. Climbing in the back isn't too challenging either, although the powered front seats take their own good time sliding forward far enough.

It's when you're seated behind the driver's seat that you realise the RC F lacks headroom and legroom for adults. Once it threatens to break your knee caps, the powered driver's seat will ease forward again for more legroom, but that then compromises legroom for the driver. The BMW 4 Series provides more rear-seat legroom, but both the German car and the Lexus are tight for headroom in the rear seat. These are cars that cater to rear-seat occupants no taller than young teens.

There are two cupholders between the rear seats in the Lexus, and adjustable vents are provided as well, but no third zone for the climate control.

Boot space in the RC F is large and practical, thanks to the tyre repair kit in place of a spare tyre. Since the Lexus is fitted with different sizes of wheel, front to rear, a spare tyre would make little sense, unless it were a space saver.

Lexus has clearly put a great deal of thought into the RC F over a longer period of time. It's thoroughly well put together and the fit and finish is impeccable. It also should prove to be bullet-proof in service and then there's the famed Lexus resale to consider. Finally, it's a comfortable machine that will satisfy drivers who want that blend of refinement and performance, at a reasonable price.

But it remains more a GT than a sports car.

How much does the 2019 Lexus RC F cost?
Price: $133,771 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 5.0-litre eight-cylinder petrol
Output: 351kW/530Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.2L/100km; 13.4L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 254g/km
Safety Rating: TBA