When driving the 2020 Lexus RC F, one must put themselves in the correct frame of mind. The RC is a beautiful sports car and like all sports cars it demands something almost ideological of its driver. Strapping yourself into the RC, there is no doubt that speed and exhilaration will follow but while that experience sounds joyous, it must be put into prospective. Questions must be asked, such as “What are the realities of your day-to-day drive.”
My reality: I’m a father of a 15 month toddler whom I drive to a sitter every-day of the work week. A flashy vehicle like the RC doesn’t automatically scream “parent’s vehicle,” but that doesn’t mean that a dad driver – or a mom driver for that matter – can’t have a blast owning one. It all comes down to the frame of mind of each particular driver, because the RC comes with tradeoffs. What frame of mind does a vehicle like the 2020 Lexus RC put me into once both my daughter and I are in the car? Into a perplexing state of cautionary joy that has its ups and downs.
You Know You’re a Dad When the Yellow is Too Much
Since its debut in 2014, the RC F has been a head turner due its sleek design and aggressive stylings. Add an extravagant paint job to the mix and you’ve got a vehicle that will stand out like a dirty diaper. The RC F I reviewed came in a fantastically eye-catching “Flare Yellow,” which actually turned out to be a beautiful shade of yellow the more I took photos of the car in various lighting environments. BUT as dope as the Flare Yellow is, it can draw too much attention for my taste. I have a crying baby, so I’m good on unwanted attention.
Over the 2019 model, the 2020 RC F has some new design elements that ratchet up its sporty nature. Some of the highlights are the new Bi-LED headlamps and the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires which sit on 19-inch alloy rims. Designed for performance and wet/dry conditions, these tires look spiffy and certainly assist in keeping the RC F grounded. The speed-activated rear wing is also a new performance addition that just looks freaking cool when you see it in motion through the rear view mirror.
At a length of 185.4 inches, the RC F is compact and less heavier than the 2019 model; 55 pounds lighter to be exact. While the flare yellow may be too much for my eye, the contours of the body stylings are downright attractive. Just take a look at the photo below of the nose of the RC F. The “lightning bolt” shaped headlights, the hourglass grill design, the swooping hood that is accentuated by the contrasting black tones of the side mirrors and the roof – it all comes together in a very sexy package.
0-60 in Less Time then It Takes My Daughter To Lose Her Shit
4.2 seconds. That’s all it take for the 2020 RC F to get from 0 to 60 mph. That’s slightly quicker than the 2019 model and lot of that has to do with a quicker throttle response and the inclusion of an electronic launch control. At 3,902 pounds, the RC F is still heavier than rival sports cars in this class but I for one enjoy the trade off – a heavier car makes for a more grounded feel while driving.
Under the hood sits a 5.0 Liter V8 engine that produces 472 Horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque – it’s a beast of an engine that eats gas like there is no tomorrow. Paired with an 8-speed transmission, the RC F is plenty fun to drive, both aggressively and moderately. Handling is stiff but appropriate and for a car thats so low to the ground, I was surprised at how smooth the ride was. I tested the prowess of the RC F on some wide open roads and expanse parking lots, which led to some thrilling speeds. As expected the RC F is agile and responsive, particular in Sport Driving Mode. Even when I oversteered slightly, the RC F compensated and I never felt out of control.
In city, bumper to bumper highway traffic, the thrill of the RC F is lost but that’s true of any sports car driving in urban environments. However, I was grateful for its small size because it allowed me to navigation congested streets with ease.
Inches Away from Each other
The Lexus RC F is billed as a four seater but let’s be real, it’s a 2 adult seater with a back seat fit only for children or very, very short people. As a Dad Diver who only has one daughter, this shouldn’t be a problem, but Zoe is still in a car seat which requires me to buckle her in while she’s facing backward. In most vehicles I can do this from standing outside the car. Not in the RC F. I had to literal squeeze myself into the small back seat with Zoe to properly strap her in. It was an unwanted ordeal for sure but to be fair, Lexus engineers aren’t building this car for easy transportation of infants/toddlers.
Upfront, however, Lexus has done an excellent job of creating what is essentially a cockpit with style and finesse everywhere you look. The expression of speed is highlighted in everything from the interior door design to the retro-style air vents. I dig the recessed infotainment screen and enjoyed its wide aspect ratio; however, I still loath the touchpad input system that Lexus implements in their vehicles. There have been improvements in functionality to this system over the years but it’s still unintuitive to use while driving.
Driver and passage have ample seat and leg room, particularly for a sports car of this size. I felt firmly bolstered into the driver’s seat and at an ideal position to view the road. And while it was a hassle to get Zoe her in and out, one positive aspect about the small cabin overall was that it allowed me to be closer to her than I usually am in my personal vehicle. She was literally inches away from me even though she was in the back seat and that was comforting.
A Mixed Bag of Pros and Cons
It difficult to find fault in the 2020 Lexus RC F when you have a wide open stretch of paved road in front of you and the adrenaline is pumping through your veins as you hit 80-100 miles per hour in no time flat. But Dad Driver or not, most people are not hitting those speeds on a consistent basis so other factors like style, comfort and reliability are key to the overall day-to-day experience. While there is a lot to love about the RC F, some drivers might find that there are enough drawbacks that hinder a full enjoyment of owning this vehicle.
For instance, fuel consumption is atrocious for someone like me that drives at least 80 miles to and from work every day. Fuel economy for the 2020 Lexus RC F is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The RC F does have a powerful engine so that gas is definitely being put to use but I had to fill up at least twice during the week that I spent with the RC F. Not ideal if you live in a large sprawling metroplex and this is your only vehicle in which to run errands in.
On the other hand, the RC has earned high marks for its reliability and comes with a slew of key safety features. Lexus’ Safety System + consists of pedestrian detection, lane departure, HDR cruise control and a steering assist. The rear view camera that comes standard is outstanding and “good-guy” Lexus has included its useful Enform Safety Connect for free for the first ten years of ownership. This subscription includes features like an emergency assistance button to use in case of an accident, automatic collision notification, enhanced roadside assistance and stolen vehicle locator.
Dependent on your budget, cost for the RC F can be steep. The base RC F starts at $64,900 which is slightly below competitors like the BMW m4 Coupe ($69,150) and the Audi R25 Coupe ($74,200). The version of the RC F I tested came in at $88,305 but a lot of that extra cost consisted of frills that you could do without if you needed to keep the price down. In fact the Premium package that includes, among other things, Blind Spot Monitoring was the key add-on to the vehicle I tested. This package alone would bring the base model cost up to just above 70k. No chump change but perhaps appealing to the right audience.
Appealing to the right audience is the most efficient way to describe the RC F – it’s the right kind of sports car for the right kind of driver. Don’t get me wrong; it’s my dream to cruise a vehicle like the RC F down the winding paths of the Austin Hill Country – for example – on an easy Sunday afternoon. But my driving habits at this point in my life are much different than that and therefore I need much more from a vehicle than I can get from the 2020 RC F. The RC F might be the perfect compromise between price and performances, but I’ll be in the next car over, glancing over at that Flare Yellow blur whiz past me and live vicariously through it.
Phillip is a filmmaker, an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and craft beer aficionado. He writes about cars, car tech, and various other cool Dad things. He lives, works and plays in Dallas, Texas.
