Review: 2023 Lexus RC 350 F Sport AWD - Better with Age

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

I spend a week with the 2023 Lexus RC 350 F Sport AWD to see how the RC has held up after nearly a decade on the market. With a great sounding V6 and a more analog feel that its competitors, the now old-school feel of the RC has taken on a new appeal and I think now in 2024, the Lexus RC is more appealing now than ever before. What do you think about the RC350? Thanks to Lexus for providing this vehicle to review!
Time stamps:
0:00 Exterior
1:42 Interior
7:01 Initial impressions
8:52 Acceleration
10:48 Handling and ride
13:42 Highway driving and safety tech
15:37 Thoughts after a week
16:19 Fuel economy
17:06 Pricing and competitor comparisons
20:42 Final thoughts
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Пікірлер: 106

  • @ImGairBair
    @ImGairBair13 күн бұрын

    I have a 2015 RWD version of this car and I love it. It’s perfect. Good gas mileage, comfortable, sporty when you put it in Sport+ (only with FSports). It does need an exhaust to wake it up. I got a Greddy axle back and it’s still to this day the best purchase I’ve ever made. Car looks and feels great and I just hit 100k. No issues at all, just maintenance

  • @romero1337
    @romero13376 ай бұрын

    Alot of other reviewers are coming back to these cars waxing poetic about how these vehicles have old school charm when just a few years ago they blasted the RC/IS350 F SPORT for being these same things against their competitors. Funny how things are now with sooo many soulless vehicles on the road today...

  • @ArseneLupin786

    @ArseneLupin786

    6 ай бұрын

    Very true. Shows their lack of professionalism in reviews.

  • @MattMaranMotoring

    @MattMaranMotoring

    6 ай бұрын

    I always liked most of the Lexus products. You can watch my RC350 review from 8 years ago if you don’t believe me.

  • @romero1337

    @romero1337

    6 ай бұрын

    @@MattMaranMotoring Agreed. I shouldve clarified that you are not one of those reviewers, in fact you nailed it in this review!

  • @MattMaranMotoring

    @MattMaranMotoring

    6 ай бұрын

    @@romero1337 Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

  • @bjsimon802
    @bjsimon8026 ай бұрын

    I drove this car last summer, there was no sound. Such a refined sport car with minimal sound. Amazing engineering

  • @palmals4
    @palmals46 ай бұрын

    Love the reviews! Keep it up brotha, as long as we see the passion you have, we will be here. Can't wait to see what 2024 brings all of us!

  • @MattMaranMotoring

    @MattMaranMotoring

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks, I really appreciate the support!

  • @ashescat99
    @ashescat994 ай бұрын

    This car is super underrated sure it’s outdated and not the most thrilling car but if you are single be perfect commuter. Cars like this don’t exist anymore. But realize this car will never die. It’s super reliable and you are saving thousands of dollars compared to German rivals. Imo this car looks better than the IS

  • @RedPanda555
    @RedPanda5556 ай бұрын

    Interesting how such a daring exterior design has managed to look so timeless, so far.

  • @yay842

    @yay842

    6 ай бұрын

    Absolutely. They were ahead of they're time

  • @blu_is500
    @blu_is5006 ай бұрын

    Another great review! You are exactly correct in the RC's staying power. Thanks for posting!

  • @falcon64z8
    @falcon64z86 ай бұрын

    I love the design of the RC line up, it ages well like a fine wine, but for the price of $60k I would get a used RCF because of the motor and probably cheaper.

  • @javierduran1390
    @javierduran13906 ай бұрын

    The design is really well done. My 2016 RC 350 F Sport gets a lot of compliments

  • @eddy67
    @eddy673 ай бұрын

    Great review Matt! Makes me miss my old GS. The induction noise is so good - it will be a sad day when that buttery V6 is gone

  • @2ZZGE100
    @2ZZGE1006 ай бұрын

    The paddle shifter are actually metal. If you tap the paddles, you hear solid metallic sound. Not a hollow plastic sound. I have an 2019 IS350 F-Sport AWD and I agree, the 6 speed is not great. The AISIN 8 speed tuned for the RCF, feels night and day with it as I have an RCF as well, but I love the V6. Such a beautiful engine.

  • @tedadamgreen
    @tedadamgreen6 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the review Matt!

  • @MattMaranMotoring

    @MattMaranMotoring

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching it Ted!

  • @vnitto
    @vnitto6 ай бұрын

    I think both Matt and the car are maturing well together, and complement each other more

  • @jamesrose298
    @jamesrose2986 ай бұрын

    I have this same car year and color put a ground effect kit from NIA tinted windows and some carbon fiber pieces and I love it ❤️

  • @dwaynetherock-hardjohnson5676
    @dwaynetherock-hardjohnson56766 ай бұрын

    my only issue with the AWD has always been the transfer case bump in the drivers footwell, my 2015 Fsport RWD is by far my favorite car ive ever owned

  • @MattMaranMotoring

    @MattMaranMotoring

    6 ай бұрын

    Has the transfer case bump bothered you during your ownership? I noticed it when I got in the first time and then completely forgot it was there the rest of the time I drove it.

  • @dwaynetherock-hardjohnson5676

    @dwaynetherock-hardjohnson5676

    6 ай бұрын

    @@MattMaranMotoring I owned the RWD version, but I test drove both extensively, it was instantly noticeable, but as I went for the RWD I never had time to get used to it If it’s truly not that bad, I plan to pick up a AWD version at some point, winters up here make it hard to justify a RWD fun car lol

  • @blazegamefame

    @blazegamefame

    6 ай бұрын

    @@dwaynetherock-hardjohnson5676 the 2021 IS 300/350 AWD seem to have a smaller hump than my 2020 IS. Not sure how the RC's compare but maybe worth checking out a 2021+ IS AWD if the RC hump feels awkward.

  • @dwaynetherock-hardjohnson5676

    @dwaynetherock-hardjohnson5676

    6 ай бұрын

    @@blazegamefame good to know! I’ve always liked the way the IS looked, the rear quarter panel to door flow is VERY good, but for now I’m in the market for a coupe :)

  • @fransb8543
    @fransb85433 ай бұрын

    This car in candy red with tan leather or gun metal grey over dark red leather, sign me up! Too bad we don't get the 350 over here just the 300h. Nice enough, but no v6 sound. I wish I could get the RC with the drive train from my GS 450h, that would be just perfect.

  • @Bmwguy2011
    @Bmwguy20116 ай бұрын

    I can’t wait to watch this…although I’m falling in love with the lc 500 of late

  • @jake2772
    @jake27726 ай бұрын

    That intake sound, put some headphones on 😮‍💨

  • @imnotusingmyrealname4566

    @imnotusingmyrealname4566

    6 ай бұрын

    Ooh thanks for the tip. At what part in the video is it?

  • @Therafester14
    @Therafester146 ай бұрын

    Awesome review. I hope these stay around longer. A new gen would be cool but I don’t think people buy coupes anymore. If I could find a RCF that would be awesome

  • @MattMaranMotoring

    @MattMaranMotoring

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

  • @RyneLanders
    @RyneLanders5 ай бұрын

    I love the design of this car, and the sound isn't bad. Howver, having driven a few of these and the RCF against other cars, the power output is simply far too low for the weight of the car. It really feels heavy and slow. The car looks agressive and sporty, but a nearly 6 second 0-60 time tells you how much that weight ks really dragging it down. And the transmission wasnt fast to respond to inputs either. The car really needed the power output of the V8 in the RCF as the base, and i found thst to be pretty good. Not super fast, but well balanced all around with plenty of speed and an intoxicating sound (especially with aftermarket exhausts). I think a higher performance variant from there (kind of similar to the Track Edition) would have been a good position for the RCF if the RCF became the base.

  • @dekkerlundquist5938
    @dekkerlundquist59383 күн бұрын

    Beautiful old school GT car with Lexus quality. Love it. Cars like this are going away unfortunately.

  • @ChavaYang
    @ChavaYang6 ай бұрын

    That blue is so nice!

  • @Darylrb1983
    @Darylrb19836 ай бұрын

    The only thing i dont like about these is the way the front is higher than the rear (wheel gap bigger in the front)

  • @FRFM00
    @FRFM005 ай бұрын

    I bought one, a 2021 arctic white 350 Fsport 3 Black Line. It is amazing. But the gas mileage in stop and go is bad imo. The interior is amazing, the dome lights, the big dome light, its almost gesture/tap. the mark levinson is incredible, the steering wheel and paddles are perfect. the drive mode selector feels awesome. The car really is incredible. heated cooled seats, peddles. gear shift feel good. Insurance is good too, im almost 40, city, 160/month full coverage. The trunk is very good and the cargo net is nice. All the audio controls etc are perfect. I love the touch pad! its super quick and you can really fine tune it. the infotainment is perfect too. Climate is so cool. Ive never had a car w ac, and ac seats! incredible ice cold! road noise is almost zero, only a bit of wind from the door edge behind u somewhere. only things I dont like is getting out, I seem to lean on the face of the side bolster getting out. The dimming mirror makes quick checks a bit sketchy at night. also the transmission in automatic is a bit lazy when youre speeding around. the steering and weight of the car is a bit sketchy if youre lets say in between walls on a highway ramp or going down hill cornering you can just feel the weight. Im coming from a civic si so its a big change. Car excels in cruise control 125kph eco mode, sips gas I swear. The final S+ sport mode is when this car comes alive. 1st 2nd 3rd gear, and high end 4th feels adequately fast. if you are in the market I highly recommend. it is the real deal, but you need the f sport 3 w the mark levinson and the triple beams... but you have to take the MPG in consideration

  • @TonyKimtheamusementparkfan
    @TonyKimtheamusementparkfan6 ай бұрын

    The 6-speed automatic is definitely archaic with the AWD models, but it is a proven transmission that has been built for years. Lexus is always very reliable and bulletproof with everything they do. It is good since it doesn’t gear hunt that much.

  • @blarghman332

    @blarghman332

    6 ай бұрын

    Exactly. This is a solid all-rounder. Not the fastest, not the most luxurious. A “just right” option. Proven reliability is another boon.

  • @Tehilliym

    @Tehilliym

    6 ай бұрын

    @@blarghman332and it’s made in japan. Def want to get one of these one day

  • @calinator51

    @calinator51

    4 ай бұрын

    It's interesting because the AWD version actually has a purpose rather than the RWD version just being a lower tier RC-F. If the F had an AWD version id have that.

  • @hellokyle_
    @hellokyle_6 ай бұрын

    Great looking car. Especially in this color.

  • @CaptDnaDonut
    @CaptDnaDonut6 ай бұрын

    When I was looking into getting my first car, I fully expected it to have a CD player (I didn't have any money saved up when I was first thinking about getting a car and was working part time for less than $10/hr) So much so that I bought CDs that look like vinyl disc. But I realized after I order my Mustang Mach-E I couldn't use them 😔. I even tried plugging in a USB disc drive but it didn't work 🙁.

  • @calinator51
    @calinator514 ай бұрын

    I've had much faster cars before but since the AWD version has become my daily driver it is the best car, I love it!!

  • @quicktoevil
    @quicktoevil6 ай бұрын

    I have no complaints with the AWD 6spd. Its bulletproof and doesn't gear hunt. If I wanted a sports car I'd get a manual anyway. 6spds again.

  • @MercOne

    @MercOne

    5 ай бұрын

    So that's the new excuse for this outdated car and it's outdated transmission, that it doesn't gear hunt? Newsflash, modern 8,9 and 10 speed automatics don't "gear hunt" either when tuned properly. The excuses here are laughably pathetic. At what point does a car get a redesign, 10, 15, 20 years?

  • @willhpwr7924
    @willhpwr79246 ай бұрын

    Great review. Every time I see an RCF on the street, I wonder why I don't have one - it looks so much better and has more character than current BMW's. Then I remember, "oh yeah, they don't offer manual any more". Sigh 😞

  • @yubeeeep
    @yubeeeep6 ай бұрын

    Own a 2015 not much diffrence except for the screen. And older headlights. Mines a rwd same color with a 1 hr drive to work keeps me happy.

  • @davidgillham6847
    @davidgillham68476 ай бұрын

    Awesome daily driver that!

  • @paragkikla3628
    @paragkikla36286 ай бұрын

    Hey Matt! Loving the weekly updates and the reviews! Your 2024 goals video had me thinking…I’ve noticed that some channels (e.g. MotoManTV) who post videos of their interviews with company representatives (like Toyota’s chief engineers during their press reveals) seem to do very well. It’s the kind of content that car nerds love and really allow us to get behind the scenes and understand the decisions that the engineers had to make during vehicle development. It also allows them to express their passion for the product in a way they don’t get to do very often. You have that passion yourself and would do a great job at asking them the right questions! I also wonder if collaboration with other KZread channels (like Redline Reviews) through a shared review or a guest spot on the weekly update (or in their videos) will allow you to reach a wider audience. You already know them well since you keep seeing each other at the same press events! Always love your work and wishing you a very successful 2024!

  • @MattMaranMotoring

    @MattMaranMotoring

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts! I agree that manufacturer interviews would be cool, and I do occasionally have opportunities to set something like that up. Usually the opportunities are during a drive day though, and I usually need all the time I can get to film the review. But if things line up on an event where I have some spare time, I'd love to try and see if I can do some of those this year. Thanks for the suggestion! I definitely wanna do more collabs this year too, but they'll most likely be separate videos. With my reviews and updates I try to keep them lean and concise, and adding in another person's thoughts usually balloons the video length and can ultimately hurt the video's performance in my experience. I tried incorporating collabs into a couple reviews last year with my Prius Prime review with RevMatchTV and my Ioniq 6 review with Kirk Kriefels, and both of those videos ended up being longer than I would have liked and neither performed well. This year I wanna try just either doing a separate discussion video with the other person, or doing a video focused on the other person and unrelated to the car we're in. Hopefully that will do better because it's always fun hanging with other reviewers and if I can capture some of that fun on camera, it would be a fun watch.

  • @ArseneLupin786
    @ArseneLupin7866 ай бұрын

    Excellent car

  • @nintendoatarikiller
    @nintendoatarikiller6 ай бұрын

    RC 350 AWD makes so much sense as a daily in Canada. Q60 would be another car to consider, as they aren't clapped out yet.

  • @calinator51

    @calinator51

    4 ай бұрын

    I live close to Canada and only have one car. This was a perfect daily for me. I love it.

  • @joepen1955
    @joepen19556 ай бұрын

    love your videos matt the japanese make great cars period

  • @motaz1975
    @motaz19752 ай бұрын

    always hated the front wheel gap with the AWD model. the rwd model looks normal. i had a rc 350 awd years ago. now i have an rcf.

  • @blackedout5.0fan39
    @blackedout5.0fan396 ай бұрын

    Hi Matt! Awesome review as always! One thing I would say is that I wish Lexus would offer a key ignition as an option for this car since everything feels old school (in a good way).

  • @imnotusingmyrealname4566

    @imnotusingmyrealname4566

    6 ай бұрын

    I totally agree with you. Putting the key in, turning it and the engine starting makes you feel connected to the car because you are starting it more directly. It would make perfect sense for this model.

  • @im_an_alvani
    @im_an_alvani6 ай бұрын

    They really nailed the styling for it to have such staying power. That blue is 100% Lexus F sport and the way to spec these IMO.

  • @im_an_alvani

    @im_an_alvani

    6 ай бұрын

    No gloss black AND a CD player?? Sign me up!

  • @MattMaranMotoring

    @MattMaranMotoring

    6 ай бұрын

    @@im_an_alvani Haha I agree!

  • @garynapoli3042
    @garynapoli30426 ай бұрын

    I really like those interest rates go down I might buy a 19 or newer

  • @imnotusingmyrealname4566
    @imnotusingmyrealname45666 ай бұрын

    This is gonna be interesting. In Canada they only offer it with AWD, so RC 300 AWD and RC 350 AWD.

  • @JRZ67
    @JRZ676 ай бұрын

    I recently test drove a IS350 but wound up putting a deposit on a BMW 230i XDrive. 43k for a vs 54k for the IS.

  • @georgemcunty6383

    @georgemcunty6383

    6 ай бұрын

    Enjoy the maintenance

  • @RelaxAndSmokeMeth

    @RelaxAndSmokeMeth

    6 ай бұрын

    lexus is stale and for old people.

  • @quix9556

    @quix9556

    6 ай бұрын

    I hope you’re leasing it, those repair bills are gonna catch up quickly to the point that it might be more money in the long run than the Lexus.

  • @sethm10
    @sethm106 ай бұрын

    Nice review. I really wanted a RC 350f RWD but this and the IS do not have power folding mirrors. A deal breaker since I have a small garage. Was also surprise- no button on the trunk area to open the trunk. It’s 2024 Lexus - get with the competition! Then theres the dated tech. Oh, then there’s the CD player - what a wasted space. Ended up buying a 2024 Genesis G70 sport prestige. Cost less then my wife’s Lexus ES yet my G70 has more features then the ES.

  • @FRFM00
    @FRFM006 ай бұрын

    I'm seriously in the market for one. Market is looking good. 2019-current, 350, clean, around 50,000km, f sport 2 or 3 is a great deal.

  • @Frank00

    @Frank00

    Ай бұрын

    I just bought a 2016 with 58k for 24k, its a awesome car

  • @FRFM00

    @FRFM00

    Ай бұрын

    @@Frank00 yeah I got one, but the gas mileage wtf

  • @Frank00

    @Frank00

    Ай бұрын

    @@FRFM00 not sure what you mean. I’m getting 20 in the city, better than my previous car. Had a 06 525, was getting 17

  • @FRFM00

    @FRFM00

    Ай бұрын

    @@Frank00 guess I'm not used to it. Coming from civic si

  • @Frank00

    @Frank00

    Ай бұрын

    @@FRFM00 oh got it

  • @user-wf5xr4nk9u
    @user-wf5xr4nk9u6 ай бұрын

    I’ve own a es350 all i care about is reliability I’ll be buying a rc350 just to add a bit more excitement.

  • @Netryon
    @Netryon4 ай бұрын

    This design is beautiful, it is as much as having every person with slight different BRZ looks Night Cop Chase Kapraku.

  • @corysekine-pettite1783
    @corysekine-pettite17836 ай бұрын

    Great-looking car, but for so much money (for what is a essentially a 10-year-old car), they should at least throw in the updated infotainment OS. Come on, Lexus!

  • @EvaSlash
    @EvaSlash5 ай бұрын

    Isn't the is500 more fun?

  • @gudalawrence3746
    @gudalawrence37466 ай бұрын

    RC500 up next!!

  • @josepholiva3674
    @josepholiva36746 ай бұрын

    Isn't the TLX type S also a competitor?

  • @MattMaranMotoring

    @MattMaranMotoring

    6 ай бұрын

    Not in my opinion since that's 4 doors. The IS and ES would be the competitors to the TLX.

  • @MyGoogi
    @MyGoogi17 сағат бұрын

    LEXUS ❤

  • @arminsokocevic4585
    @arminsokocevic45856 ай бұрын

    For a little less money you could buy a BMW M240i with the B58 and ZF8.

  • @user-pl7lr5dn8q

    @user-pl7lr5dn8q

    Ай бұрын

    yea but the money u save is gonna go towards keeping it on the road

  • @integrafreak1
    @integrafreak16 ай бұрын

    Why does the front always look so high on these

  • @jake2772

    @jake2772

    6 ай бұрын

    That AWD the rwd doesn’t look so tall

  • @whiteandnerdytuba
    @whiteandnerdytuba6 ай бұрын

    Mercedes is still making the c class coupe it just got a price increase and a new generation. If I was older I’d probably be in one of these

  • @Sir.VicsMasher
    @Sir.VicsMasher6 ай бұрын

    Wish they still made the V8 powered GS-F or morphed it into the ultimate Japanese sport Crossover.

  • @bryantcurtis2573
    @bryantcurtis25736 ай бұрын

    Still looks cool but is still rather buy an Is350 RWD F Sport

  • @desalineyanga1116
    @desalineyanga11166 ай бұрын

    The Q60 is the closest competitor

  • @nightcoregirlprinzeugen7234

    @nightcoregirlprinzeugen7234

    4 ай бұрын

    Yes, you're absolutely correct. Although, Lexus should have Turbocharged the 2GR-FKS V6 in order to make it more competitive with the competition.

  • @MercOne
    @MercOne5 ай бұрын

    Reading the thread here is really just sad. The excuses made for 10+ year old car. Of course it's reliable, it's a 10 year old car with an engine that goes back to 2006. There is no approach here as the reviewer said. An approach would be to make a NEW car with an analogue feel vs just being a leftover car from a bygone era. Total nonsense. Why do people who champion Lexus' outdated RWD based cars like the IS and RC totally ignore that Lexus has a showroom full of newer products? Are their newer products unreliable? Lexus can't do reliable and new at the same time? If they can then there is no excuse for this car to exist in it's current form anymore. When should a car get a redesign, 10, 15, 20 years? When it's sales totally dry up? Sales of the RC are laughable now and some question why? Are you kidding? Who buys a new one when you can get a used one from 5 or 6 years ago that's the same car?

  • @PresidentJackBauer
    @PresidentJackBauer6 ай бұрын

    Back when lexus interiors didn't look like Toyota interiors

  • @RANDsreviews
    @RANDsreviews6 ай бұрын

    I wouldn’t get it only because the interior is still 2012. 😂

  • @PaulTC777
    @PaulTC7776 ай бұрын

    cool but the LC is way nicer

  • @user59371

    @user59371

    6 ай бұрын

    And way more expensive 🤨

  • @zamorajasonjz5162
    @zamorajasonjz51626 ай бұрын

    Hi

  • @bmitchellc
    @bmitchellc6 ай бұрын

    It would look a helluva lot better if it didn't have great-grandma's hairnet grille.

  • @kajukuja
    @kajukuja6 ай бұрын

    🙂👍

  • @2bunphettered788
    @2bunphettered7886 ай бұрын

    1:16 min - Matt Maran likes curves and hips. 😁💙👍🏾

  • @93ksj
    @93ksj6 ай бұрын

    I still the IS refresh looks miles ahead of this older design

  • @jnagime
    @jnagime6 ай бұрын

    automatic sport coupe,nah.

  • @user59371

    @user59371

    6 ай бұрын

    Even with the edit you still made a mistake.

  • @jnagime

    @jnagime

    6 ай бұрын

    @@user59371 fixed fan boy.

  • @user59371

    @user59371

    6 ай бұрын

    @@jnagimeproud of you 😘

  • @salimrandall

    @salimrandall

    6 ай бұрын

    @@user59371The lower case a should be capital. There should be a space after the comma. Still an idiot.

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