Compare the2023 Porsche 911VS 2023 Lexus RC

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the 911 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The RC doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The 911 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The RC only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the 911 and the RC 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The 911’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the RC’s (12 vs. 6 years).

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the 911’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the RC’s camshafts. If the RC’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The 911 has more powerful engines than the RC:

As tested in Car and Driver the Porsche 911 is faster than the RC 350 3.5 DOHC V6 (automatics tested):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the 911 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability. The RC doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 911’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The RC doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 911’s optional fuel tank has 6.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the RC (23.7 vs. 17.5 gallons).

The 911 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The RC doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The 911 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The RC doesn’t offer an SMG.

The 911’s optional 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 RC doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the 911 Turbo S/Sport Classic’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RC:

The 911 offers optional 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 RC doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The 911 stops much shorter than the RC:

For better traction, the 911 Turbo S/GT3/Sport Classic’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RC (F:255/35R20 & R:315/30R21 vs. F:235/40R19 & R:265/35R19).

The 911 Dakar’s standard 295/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RC’s standard 45 series tires. The 911’s optional 245/35R20 front and 305/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the RC’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 911 has standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the RC. The 911’s optional 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the RC.

The 911 (except Base/GT3) offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The RC doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 911 GT3 handles at 1.16 G’s, while the RC 350 AWD pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Porsche 911 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 600 pounds less than the Lexus RC.

The 911 is 7.1 inches shorter than the RC, making the 911 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the 911 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RC doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 911’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 RC’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the 911 (except Cabriolet/GT3) offers an optional rear wiper. The RC doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the 911 offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The RC doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The 911 has a standard 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 RC doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The 911 (except Manual/GT3)’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote ParkAssist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The RC doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Porsche 911 comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Lexus RC isn’t available as a convertible.

The 911 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 911 will retain 56.25% to 60.11% of its original price after five years, while the RC only retains 51.63% to 53.31%.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 911 first among premium sporty cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The RC isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Porsche 911 outsold the Lexus RC by almost three to one during 2022.