Lexus RC350 review: a genuinely good-looking coupe that plays it safe underneath
3.9/5MotorsSouq Editorial Team
The RC350 is the coupe for a Bahraini buyer who wants two-door presence with Lexus reliability rather than outright dynamic sharpness. It looks the part parked at Bahrain Bay, has enough mid-range V6 pull to feel genuinely quick, and asks for nothing beyond routine maintenance for years. Buyers wanting more should look at the RC F's naturally aspirated V8; buyers wanting less compromise on rear seats and boot space should look at an IS instead.
Pros
- Distinctive coupe styling that stands out among four-door-based rivals
- Strong, smooth 311 hp V6 with typical Lexus reliability
- Comfortable, well-isolated cabin suited to causeway and highway running
- Cheaper to run than a comparable German coupe
Cons
- Rear seats are occasional-use only, and boot space is modest
- Not as sharp through corners as a BMW 4 Series or Audi A5
- Low roofline makes entry and exit less convenient than a sedan
- RC F step-up is a significant jump in both price and running costs
The RC is built from familiar parts — the IS's rear-wheel-drive platform, the GS's V6 — wrapped in genuinely distinctive coupe sheet metal that stands out in a segment increasingly dominated by German four-doors dressed as coupes. In Bahrain, where a two-door still reads as a deliberate style statement rather than a practical family choice, that visual impact is a large part of the appeal.
The RC350's 3.5-litre V6 makes 311 hp through an eight-speed automatic, enough for a genuinely quick-feeling car in daily use, if not a class-leading one against a BMW 4 Series or Audi A5 in outright cornering feel. Lexus tuned the RC for a comfortable, composed drive rather than outright agility, which is a deliberate trade-off, not a shortcoming buyers should be surprised by.
Living with it day to day
Rear seats are strictly occasional-use — this is a genuine four-seater in the loosest sense — and the low roofline means entry and exit take more care than an IS sedan. What buyers gain in exchange is a cabin quiet enough for causeway runs to Saudi Arabia and a reliability record that keeps ownership costs well below a comparable German coupe's.
Facelift and the RC F alternative
The 2019 facelift sharpened the exterior detailing and modernised the infotainment, worth seeking out if choosing between similarly priced used examples. Buyers wanting more theatre should look at the RC F, which swaps the V6 for a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 and a genuinely aggressive soundtrack — at a real step up in both price and running costs.