Compare the2024 Lexus RC FVS 2024 Chevrolet Corvette

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 Corvette doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Lexus RC F 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 Corvette doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The RC F offers optional Intuitive Park Assist to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Corvette doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The RC F 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 Corvette’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RC F has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Corvette.

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 Corvette doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RC F and the Corvette 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

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 206 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Corvette has not been tested, yet.

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 Corvette’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 Chevrolet covers the Corvette. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Corvette ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The RC F’s 6 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Corvette runs out after 100,000 miles.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the RC F has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Corvette.

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 Chevrolet 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, Chevrolet is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 20th.

On the EPA test cycle the RC F gets better mileage than the Corvette:

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

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

The RC F stops shorter than the Corvette:

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 Corvette; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The RC F’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55% to 45%) than the Corvette’s (40% to 60%). This gives the RC F more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the RC F’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Corvette with Magnetic Ride Control’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.4 feet). The RC F’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Corvette’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The RC F is 5.3 inches narrower on average than the Corvette, making the RC F easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the RC F is quieter than the Corvette Z06 Z07 Coupe:

The RC F has standard seating for 4 passengers; the Corvette can only carry 2.

The RC F has 28.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corvette (79.4 vs. 51).

The RC F has 2.6 inches more front legroom and 1.9 inches more front hip room than the Corvette.

With its coupe body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the RC F offers cargo security. The Corvette’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Chevrolet. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 45% lower rating, Chevrolet is ranked 16th.

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. Chevrolet does not offer a locking feature on the Corvette’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 Corvette can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Corvette’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Corvette doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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 Corvette doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.