Compare the2024 Porsche 718 CaymanVS 2024 Lexus RC

Both the 718 Cayman and the RC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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 crash mitigating brakes and blind spot warning systems.

The 718 Cayman’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 718 Cayman’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 battery on the 718 Cayman is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the 718 Cayman’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The RC’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 718 Cayman third among compact premium sporty cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The RC isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is rated lower.

The 718 Cayman has more powerful engines than the RC:

As tested in Car and Driver the Porsche 718 Cayman is faster than the RC 350 3.5 DOHC V6 (automatics tested):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the 718 Cayman lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability. The RC doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the 718 Cayman GT4 RS/GTS 4.0’s fuel efficiency. The RC doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the 718 Cayman’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 718 Cayman’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 718 Cayman offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The RC doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The 718 Cayman offers an optional 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 718 Cayman PDK’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 CCB’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RC:

The 718 Cayman GT4 RS 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 718 Cayman stops much shorter than the RC:

For better traction, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RC (F:245/35R20 & R:295/30R20 vs. F:235/40R19 & R:265/35R19).

The 718 Cayman GT4 RS’ 245/35R20 front and 295/30R20 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 F Sport’s 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 718 Cayman offers optional 20-inch wheels. The RC’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Porsche 718 Cayman may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 700 pounds less than the Lexus RC.

The 718 Cayman is 1 foot shorter than the RC, making the 718 Cayman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 718 Cayman has a much larger trunk than the RC (14.9 vs. 10.4 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 718 Cayman’s available trunk can be opened just by holding your hand near the emblem on the trunk, leaving your hands completely free. The RC doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The 718 Cayman 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.

The 718 Cayman’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 718 Cayman offers an optional rear wiper. The RC doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the 718 Cayman has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The RC doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Porsche 718 comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Lexus RC isn’t available as a convertible.

The 718 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 18 more times in the last 20 years. The RC has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Porsche 718 outsold the Lexus RC by almost three to one during 2023.