Compare the2023 Lexus RC FVS 2023 Chevrolet Corvette

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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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 Corvette 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 Corvette 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 Corvette 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 Corvette doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The RC F offers optional Intuitive Park Assist to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Corvette doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The RC F has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Corvette’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RC F has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Corvette.

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 Corvette doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RC F and the Corvette 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 and rearview cameras.

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 Corvette has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

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 Corvette’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RC F 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Corvette. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Corvette ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The RC F’s 6 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Corvette runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the RC F has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Corvette.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the RC F’s reliability 37 points higher than the Corvette.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Chevrolet is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in overall reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 17th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the RC F gets better mileage than the Corvette:

		MPG
RC F
	5.0 V8	16 city/24 hwy
Corvette
	5.5 DOHC V8	12 city/21 hwy
	Carbon Aero 5.5 DOHC V8	12 city/19 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the RC F’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Corvette:

	RC F	Corvette
Front Rotors	14.9 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13.3 inches

The RC F stops shorter than the Corvette:

	RC F	Corvette
60 to 0 MPH	107 feet	113 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The RC F has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Corvette; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the Corvette don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

Suspension and Handling

The RC F’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55% to 45%) than the Corvette’s (40% to 60%). This gives the RC F more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the RC F’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Corvette with Magnetic Ride Control’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.4 feet). The RC F’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Corvette’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

Chassis

The RC F is 5.3 inches narrower on average than the Corvette, making the RC F easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

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

	RC F	Corvette
At idle	43 dB	47 dB
Full-Throttle	85 dB	92 dB
70 MPH Cruising	72 dB	74 dB

Passenger Space

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

The RC F has 28.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corvette (79.4 vs. 51).

The RC F has 2.6 inches more front legroom and 1.9 inches more front hip room than the Corvette.

Cargo Capacity

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

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Chevrolet. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 45% lower rating, Chevrolet is ranked 16th.

Ergonomics

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. Chevrolet does not offer a locking feature on the Corvette’s standard power windows.

If the front windows are left open on the RC F the driver can close them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Corvette can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RC F’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Corvette’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RC F offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Corvette doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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 Corvette doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

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 Corvette doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

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