Compare the2023 Toyota Supra VS 2023 Lexus RC

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Supra offers optional Emergency Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The RC doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Supra and the RC 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Supra for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RC (2/25000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Supra’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Supra’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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lexus is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Lexus is ranked second.

The Supra has more powerful engines than the RC:

	Horsepower	Torque
Supra 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	255 HP	295 lbs.-ft.
Supra 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	382 HP	368 lbs.-ft.
RC 300 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	241 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
RC 300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6	260 HP	236 lbs.-ft.
RC 350 3.5 DOHC V6	311 HP	280 lbs.-ft.

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

	Supra turbo 4 cyl.	Supra turbo 6 cyl.	RC
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	3.7 sec	5.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5.7 sec	4.7 sec	6 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.1 sec	2.5 sec	3.3 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.4 sec	2.9 sec	3.7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.1 sec	12.2 sec	14.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	105 MPH	114 MPH	100 MPH
Top Speed	155 MPH	160 MPH	132 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Supra gets better mileage than the RC:

			MPG
Supra
RWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/31 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
RC
RWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/31 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/28 hwy
AWD	Auto	350 3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Supra’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 Supra offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The RC doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Supra Auto’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 RC doesn’t offer launch control.

The Supra stops much shorter than the RC:

	Supra	RC
70 to 0 MPH	147 feet	162 feet	Car and Driver

For better traction, the Supra has larger tires than the RC (F:255/35R19 & R:275/35R19 vs. 235/40R19). The Supra 3.0’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RC (F:255/35R19 & R:275/35R19 vs. F:235/40R19 & R:265/35R19).

The Supra 2.0’s standard 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 Supra 3.0’s tires have a lower 35 series profile than the RC’s optional 40 series front tires.

The Supra’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.5% to 48.5%) than the RC’s (54% to 46%). This gives the Supra more stable handling and braking.

The Supra 3.0 Premium handles at 1.07 G’s, while the RC 350 AWD pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Supra’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the RC’s (34.1 feet vs. 34.2 feet). The Supra’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the RC AWD’s (34.1 feet vs. 34.8 feet).

The Toyota Supra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 550 pounds less than the Lexus RC.

The Supra is 1 foot shorter than the RC, making the Supra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Supra 3.0 Premium/A91-MT has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and warning 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 Supra’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 Supra’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 quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Supra 3.0 Manual has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The RC doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Supra, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Supra was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023 and 4 more times in the last 41 years. The RC has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Toyota Supra outsold the Lexus RC by 87% during 2022.