Compare the2023 Mercedes E-Class CoupeVS 2023 Lexus RC

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes E-Class Coupe are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Lexus RC doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The E-Class Coupe offers an optional Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The RC doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The E-Class Coupe has a standard Maneuvering Brake Function that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The RC doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The E-Class Coupe has a standard Surround View System 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 E-Class Coupe and RC have Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, but the E-Class Coupe has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The RC’s Rear Cross-Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the E-Class Coupe and the RC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and lane departure warning systems.

Warranty

There are over 57 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the E-Class Coupe’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the E-Class Coupe has a standard 850-amp battery. The RC’s 580-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The E-Class Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 121 more horsepower (362 vs. 241) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the RC 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The E-Class Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 102 more horsepower (362 vs. 260) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 236) than the RC 300 AWD’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The E-Class Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 51 more horsepower (362 vs. 311) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 280) than the RC 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the E-Class Coupe gets better mileage than the RC:

			MPG
E-Class Coupe
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/30 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/30 hwy
RC
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/31 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/28 hwy
	AWD	350 3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the E-Class Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The RC doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the E-Class Coupe’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.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes E-Class Coupe higher (6 out of 10) than the Lexus RC (5). This means the E-Class Coupe produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the RC every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes E-Class Coupe, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the RC.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the E-Class Coupe’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RC:

	E-Class Coupe	RC	RC F Sport
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	13.2 inches	14 inches
Rear Rotors	14.2 inches	11.7 inches	12.7 inches

The E-Class Coupe stops shorter than the RC:

	E-Class Coupe	RC
70 to 0 MPH	156 feet	162 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the E-Class Coupe has larger standard tires than the RC (245/45R18 vs. 235/40R19). The E-Class Coupe’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RC (F:245/45R18 & R:275/40R18 vs. F:235/40R19 & R:265/35R19).

The E-Class Coupe’s optional 245/35R20 front and 275/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RC’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the E-Class Coupe offers optional 20-inch wheels. The RC’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the E-Class Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The RC doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The E-Class Coupe has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The E-Class Coupe’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The RC doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The E-Class Coupe’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The RC doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the E-Class Coupe’s wheelbase is 5.6 inches longer than on the RC (113.1 inches vs. 107.5 inches).

The E 450 Coupe 4MATIC handles at .90 G’s, while the RC 350 AWD pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The E-Class Coupe has 5.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RC (89 vs. 83.8).

The E-Class Coupe has 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 8.6 inches more rear legroom and 7.9 inches more rear hip room than the RC.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the E-Class Coupe’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The RC doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

The E-Class Coupe has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The RC doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the RC, the E-Class Coupe has standard 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 E-Class Coupe’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the RC.

The E-Class Coupe offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The RC doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The E-Class Coupe’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The RC’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The E-Class Coupe’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.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the E-Class Coupe to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The RC doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the E-Class Coupe has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RC doesn’t offer cornering lights. The E-Class Coupe also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the E-Class Coupe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RC doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The E-Class Coupe 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 E-Class Coupe offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RC.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes E-Class has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The RC doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The E-Class Coupe’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The RC doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Mercedes E-Class comes in coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Lexus RC isn’t available as a convertible, sedan or station wagon.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the E-Class Coupe is less expensive to operate than the RC because typical repairs cost much less on the E-Class Coupe than the RC, including $64 less for fuel injection, $19 less for a fuel pump, $216 less for a timing belt/chain and $477 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Motor Trend selected the E-Class as their 2021 Car of the Year. The RC has never been chosen.

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the Lexus RC by over seven to one during 2022.