The 2022 Lexus RC F is the last in the line, and Lexus has given no announcements about a replacement sports coupe to fill its price and performance space. The RC F isn’t a terrible sports car, but it has struggled with underperforming compared to similar or cheaper models.
If it caught your eye and you’re looking for alternatives before committing to a purchase, this list will help you place the RC F within the field.
The 2022 Lexus RC F
Pricing and Trims
The RC F has two available trim levels. The basic RC F trim can be modified with the RC F Premium Package or the RC F Carbon Package. The RC F Fuji Speedway Edition is the other trim for the 2022 model.
The Premium Package adds a few creature comforts and minimal functionality with Intuitive Parking Assist that can also be purchased separately. The Carbon Package is primarily cosmetic, adding carbon fiber accessories throughout the car.
The basic model starts at $67,295 for the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP. $6,375 adds the Premium Package, and the Carbon Package is another $17,775. The Fuji Speedway Edition spikes the price considerably to an MSP of $102,170.
Appearance and Style
The RC F matches the smooth and long lines that are common in modern performance vehicles. The sharp angles on the headlights and front grill really sell the aggression in its performance, and the addition of a spoiler from the Fuji or Carbon Package really amps up the ferocity.
Performance
The RC F’s engine is a 5.0L V8 that provides 472 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque through a rear-wheel drive train with automatic transmission. The healthy displacement and power cut into the fuel economy compared to a more typical daily driver, at 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.
Lexus reports a top speed of 168 mph for both trims and 0-60 times of 4.2 seconds for the basic RC F and 3.96 seconds for the Fuji Speedway Edition. A 5% speed increase for almost $35,000 is a bit steep, but the Fuji Edition does have other benefits.
Safety
The 2022 Lexus RC F has not yet been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the RC F Good ratings in every category and a superior rating on its front crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle incidents.
Driver assistance features are limited with only the parking assistance option for an extra $500 or as part of the Premium Package.
Infotainment and Technology
The RC F has a suite of infotainment and tech features like a digitized instrument display, center console touchpad, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity with support for both Android and Apple devices. A SmartAccess system with a push-button ignition allows for easy startups.
The tech features have an integrated control point through the Lexus Enform Remote. I remember when being able to control a vehicle through a phone seemed like a wild spy gadget when Brosnan’s Bond drove his BMW with one.
This isn’t quite the same degree of control, but it does give you control over some functions like the ignition and reports on the car’s status.
The Top 3 Models Similar to the Lexus RC F
These models are strong competitors for the RC F that match or beat it in the majority of metrics while staying close to its spirit. The other models are not necessarily worse, but these most closely fit while providing some notable benefits.
1. Porsche Taycan
It’s impossible to deny that electric vehicles are rapidly becoming strong competitors to conventional fuel engines when it comes to performance metrics. The Porsche Taycan Turbo is an electric sports car that can pull to 100 km/h, or just over 60 mph, in 3.2 seconds.
It also costs less than the Fuji Speedway Edition and the 911 at $86,700 MSRP to start. A decent driving range of 308 km (about 191 miles) can cover a commute to work, a few errands, and some joy riding every day. Commercial chargers are becoming more common, and level 2 home chargers cover most usage with an overnight “fill up”.
For double, the price, the Turbo S version is a staggeringly fast upgrade that reaches 60 mph in close to 2.7 seconds. That goes well beyond the Lexus RC F price range and opens up more opportunity costs, but it’s worth a look for true speed demons.
2. 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
The Corvette’s sharp design screams performance, and the model delivers more bang for your buck than the RC F at every trim level. The starting 1LT trim costs less than the RC F while beating out the speed gains of the Fuji edition. With the Z51 performance additions, that time can drop to under 3 seconds.
Unless you happen to have a distaste for the Corvette’s body style, there is little reason to pick an RC F over a Corvette. The MSRP for a fully loaded 3LT Corvette Stingray Coupe with the Z51 additions is still about $20,000 less than the RC F Fuji Edition.
There’s no loss of essential safety or infotainment features, but there is a small drop in city fuel economy with better fuel economy on the highway.
3. 2022 Ford Mustang
The Mustang is a classic sports car line that delivers decent performance at a budget on the lower trims and the ability to go toe-to-toe with luxury sports cars at entry-level prices at higher trims. The ultimate form of the Mustang, the Mustang Shelby GT500, has a starting MSRP just $12,000 above the base form of the RC F.
The cheaper models get much better mileage than the RC F at 21 mpg city and 30 highway for the EcoBoost Fastback, but the 2.3L engine does drop acceleration by about 50% to a 6-second 0-60 time. That all changes when you get the 760 hp inside the Shelby GT500 rocketing you to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.
With a much wider range of options and overall lower pricing, the Mustang is a good addition to the shopping list for anyone cringing when they look at the six figures on the Fuji Edition’s price tag.
Related: 29 Cars Similar to Ford Mustang
Other Vehicles Similar to the Lexus RC F
The rest of the list are vehicles that may also outshine the RC F in one or more areas, but they may not be quite as similar as the first three due to a wider range of price and performance.
4. 2022 Audi TT RS
Audi’s luxury coupe streaks past the Fuji Edition with a 3.6 second 0-60 time despite a smaller 2.5L V5 with only 354 lb-ft of torque. While trying to reach the TT RS‘s enforced speed cap of 155 mph will lower the fuel economy, standard driving burns less gas than the RC F at 20 mph city and 29 mpg highway.
The TT RS doesn’t have fussy trim levels to deal with, so the starting MSRP of $73,200 is a good baseline for the expected price with no major performance changes to consider. Its performance doesn’t quite match up with the models in the top 3, but the power of the TT RS won’t be disappointing.
5. 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera
Few cars have the clout of the Porsche 911. The 911 Carrera sits at the very bottom of the line, sliding in just under the Fuji Speedway Edition’s MSRP. The high end of the line more than doubles that price at $207,000 for the Turbo S and $219,800 for the Turbo S Cabriolet.
Without spending more, the 911 is slower on the track at nearly 5 seconds to hit 60 with the 3.0L V6 engine. The city fuel economy is slightly higher at 18 mpg, but it matches the RC F on the highway.
There are cheaper cars that can hit the performance levels of the high-end trims, but the 911 line has more variety and value than the RC F for shoppers with bigger budgets.
6. 2022 Lexus LC 500
The LC has a more bubble-like canopy than the RC F, but it otherwise falls close to the look, performance, and pricing of the Fuji Speedway Edition. The 0-60 time is a little lower at 4.4 seconds, but the LC otherwise sticks to the RC F.
Notably, the LC 500 has a hybrid engine option that dramatically improves the fuel economy back to the level of a daily driver sedan. It also has far more driver assistance features, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, Brake Assist, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure assist, lane keeping assist, and more.
The LC is an excellent option for those who like the style of Lexus vehicles, don’t mind the pricing of the Fuji Edition, and wanted more tech and safety features instead of a tiny bit of performance.
Related: 11 Cars Similar to the Lexus LC
7. 2022 Mercedes-AMG GT-Class
The four-door coupe version is a little bit slower than the RC F, but it can still hit 60 mph in under 5 seconds with the basic GT 43 trim. The GT 53 takes that down to 4.4 seconds. Its fuel economy also isn’t stellar in comparison, at 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.
The MSRP of both the four-door does come in a bit under the Fuji Edition, though, which combines with the luxury feel for an alternative that has more posh style with a less posh price tag. As with the RC F, it’s not a bad luxury sports car, but nitpicking the performance will lower its rating.
The two-door variety is faster and more expensive.The basic GT Coupe starts at $118,600 and takes 3.7 seconds to hit 60, and the GT C costs at least $153,500 while slightly faster at 3.6 seconds. The range of options dances around the higher RC F trim, so it’s sure to have one version that fits the bill.
8. 2023 BMW M8
BMW calls the M8 a “competition coupe”, and it lives up to that moniker. Its 0-60 times are reported at 3.0 seconds, or 25% faster than the Fuji Speedway Edition. The overall aesthetic is similar to the RC F with the modern blend of smooth lines, sharp angles, and a pronounced hood.
The MSRP is solidly in the luxury range with a minimum of $130,000 on the tag, but that extra cost shouldn’t feel too bad. If you were already considering spending $35,000 to shave off 0.2 seconds, then another $30,000 to shave a whole second off is a fair deal. Otherwise, the high price isn’t necessary to get a vehicle that goes about as fast.
9. 2022 Chevrolet Camaro
The Camaro is another budget option that ranges from affordable at subpar performance to fully loaded trim levels that beat the RC F in all its varieties. The starting MSRP ranges from $26,395 to $65,940. That higher price tag adds a 6.2L V8 engine that hits 60 mph in 3.5 seconds according to Chevy.
The non-supercharged version of the V8 reaches 60 mph at a decent clip of 4.8 seconds. It’s got the same sports coupe style as the RC F, though a wider grill, a higher back end, and scoops on the hood set it apart. If you liked the Mustang as an alternative, the Camaro is similar with a very minor loss of top-end acceleration compared to it.
Related: 14 Cars Similar to the Chevy Camaro
10. 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
Although it’s a four-door sedan, the CT4-V doesn’t lose any sportiness. At 3.9 to 4 seconds to reach 60 mph, it’s a fraction of a second faster at accelerating than the Fuji Speedway Edition and should have a quarter of a second on it in a quarter-mile.
It also costs less than either version, at $58,995 to start for the manual and $62,170 for the automatic.
11. 2022 Audi R8
A monstrous V10 pushes the R8 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds, but that plus other luxury design features also pushes the starting MSRP to $148,700 and closer to $200,000 to get that potential speed. That higher price gets you less car, too, with no room in the back for additional passengers.
Other makes and models simply offer more of a value, but the R8 might be tempting for those who aren’t worrying about the budget.
Related: 14 Cars Similar to the Audi R8
12. 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid
Tesla advertises the Model S Plaid as having a “1.99” second 0 to 60 time, which feels like a redundant grab for more speed on paper when a 2 second time is faster than many million-dollar cars. It’s pricier than the RC F and most other models on the list, but the shocking speed leaves those worries in the dust.
As an electric vehicle, it does require a bit of time and planning to keep the vehicle charged. The range is much higher than the Taycan even when the advertised 396-mile range drops to real-world levels.
The steering yoke is one notable difference that might throw off potential buyers. It’s possible to purchase an aftermarket replacement for the yoke, but the design is likely to be the only option from Tesla itself for the foreseeable future.
Related: 9 Cars Similar to Tesla Model S
