Compare the2023 Lexus RC FVS 2023 Aston Martin Vantage

The RC F’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Vantage doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Lexus RC F has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Vantage doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The RC F has standard Pre-Collision System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Vantage doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The RC F’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Vantage doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RC F’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Vantage doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The RC F’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Vantage doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The RC F has standard Safety Connect®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Vantage doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the RC F and the Vantage have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems and available rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RC F the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 230 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Vantage has not been tested, yet.

The RC F comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Vantage’s 3-year basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RC F 3 years longer than Aston Martin covers the Vantage. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Vantage ends after only 3 years.

There are almost 7 times as many Lexus dealers as there are Aston Martin dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the RC F’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the RC F gets better fuel mileage than the Vantage 5.2 turbo V12 (16 city/24 hwy vs. 14 city/22 hwy).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus RC F higher (5 out of 10) than the Aston Martin Vantage (3 to 5). This means the RC F produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Vantage every 15,000 miles.

The RC F’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Vantage doesn’t offer launch control.

The RC F’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Vantage’s standard 40 series front tires.

For better maneuverability, the RC F’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Vantage’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The RC F uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Vantage doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the RC F is quieter than the Vantage Coupe:

The RC F has standard seating for 4 passengers; the Vantage can only carry 2.

The RC F has 32.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Vantage (79.4 vs. 47).

The RC F has .3 inches more front headroom and 3.1 inches more front legroom than the Vantage.

With its coupe body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the RC F offers cargo security. The Vantage’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the RC F. The Vantage doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The RC F has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Vantage doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The RC F’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower both of them with the lock engaged. Aston Martin does not offer a locking feature on the Vantage’s standard power windows.

The RC F’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Vantage’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the RC F detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Vantage doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RC F has standard extendable sun visors. The Vantage doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The RC F’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The Vantage’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

The RC F’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Vantage has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the RC F has a standard Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Vantage doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Lexus RC outsold the Aston Martin Vantage by almost five to one during 2022.