Compare the2023 Lexus RC FVS 2022 Ford Shelby GT500

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus RC F have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Ford Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Shelby GT500 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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

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 Shelby GT500.

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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RC F and the Shelby GT500 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras 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 Shelby GT500 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 Shelby GT500’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 Ford covers the Shelby GT500. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Shelby GT500 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The RC F’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Shelby GT500’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated lower.

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 Ford 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, Ford is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 22nd.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the RC F gets better fuel mileage than the Shelby GT500 (16 city/24 hwy vs. 12 city/18 hwy).

The RC F has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Shelby GT500 (17.4 vs. 16 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus RC F higher (5 out of 10) than the Ford Shelby GT500 (3). This means the RC F produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Shelby GT500 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus RC F, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Shelby GT500.

Brakes and Stopping

The RC F Track Edition has standard heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

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 Shelby GT500; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The RC F’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55% to 45%) than the Shelby GT500’s (56.6% to 43.4%). This gives the RC F more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the RC F’s turning circle is 8.4 feet tighter than the Shelby GT500’s (35.4 feet vs. 43.8 feet). The RC F’s turning circle is 8.7 feet tighter than the Shelby GT500 Track Package’s (35.4 feet vs. 44.1 feet).

Chassis

The Lexus RC F may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 pounds less than the Ford Shelby GT500.

The RC F is 4.1 inches shorter than the Shelby GT500, making the RC F easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the RC F is quieter than the Shelby GT500:

	RC F	Shelby GT500
At idle	43 dB	61 dB
Full-Throttle	85 dB	94 dB
70 MPH Cruising	72 dB	74 dB

Passenger Space

The RC F has .2 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear hip room than the Shelby GT500.

Cargo Capacity

With its coupe body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the RC F offers cargo security. The Shelby GT500’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 59% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional in the Shelby GT500, the RC F (except Track Edition) offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The RC F (except Track Edition)’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer an easy entry 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. Ford does not offer a locking feature on the Shelby GT500’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 Shelby GT500 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RC F has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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 Shelby GT500’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The RC F’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the Shelby GT500’s xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

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 Shelby GT500 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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The RC F’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford charges extra for heated mirrors on the Shelby GT500.

When the RC F is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Shelby GT500’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 Shelby GT500 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the RC F’s optional (except Track Edition) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The RC F offers an optional center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the RC F has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer rear vents.

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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

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