Compare the2023 Lexus RCVS 2023 Porsche 911

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus RC have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Porsche 911 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The RC’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 911 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Lexus RC 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 911 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The RC’s standard 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. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 911.

The RC has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 911’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RC’s standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The 911 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The RC’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 911 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RC and the 911 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and 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 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 234 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 911 has not been tested, yet.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RC 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Porsche covers the 911. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the 911 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 25 percent more Lexus dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the RC’s warranty.

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 Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Porsche is rated below average.

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 Porsche 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, Porsche is rated lower.

On the EPA test cycle the RC gets better mileage than the 911 Coupe:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus RC higher (5 out of 10) than the Porsche 911 (3 to 5). This means the RC produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 911 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the RC’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the 911:

The RC 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 911; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RC’s wheelbase is 11 inches longer than on the 911 (107.5 inches vs. 96.5 inches).

The RC’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54% to 46%) than the 911’s (39.5% to 60.5%). This gives the RC more stable handling and braking.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the RC a Subcompact car, while the 911 Coupe is rated a Minicompact.

The RC has 10.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 911 (83.8 vs. 73).

The RC has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the 911.

The RC has a much larger trunk than the 911 Coupe with its rear seat up (10.4 vs. 4.6 cubic feet).

With its coupe body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the RC offers cargo security. The 911’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Porsche. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 18% lower rating, Porsche is ranked third.

The RC has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The 911 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The RC’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. Porsche does not offer a locking feature on the 911’s standard power windows.

If the front windows are left open on the RC 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 911 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The 911 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RC has standard extendable sun visors. The 911 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the RC owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the RC will cost $2975 to $13750 less than the 911 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Lexus RC will be $43615 to $112386 less than for the Porsche 911.