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Lexus IS vs Lexus RC

2025 Lexus IS vs 2025 Lexus RC — two rivals compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Lexus IS

2025 Lexus IS

Compact CarsAWD/4WD
VS0 – 2Lexus RC wins 2 of 2 categories
Lexus RC

2025 Lexus RC

Subcompact CarsAWD/4WD

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The short version

Across all model years since 2005, the Lexus RC has had fewer recall campaigns (3 vs 15).

The two cars

The 2025 Lexus IS is a compact car offered with 3 engines (2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl and 5.0L 8-cyl) and rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 185 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 110-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,715 lb (300 4dr Sedan RWD).

The 2025 Lexus RC is a subcompact car offered with 3 engines (2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl and 5.0L 8-cyl) and rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 185 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 108-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,891 lb.

Buying used? The 2024 IS and the 2024 RC have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2015 IS and the 2017 RC.

Basics

Compact Cars
Class
Subcompact Cars
Premium Gasoline
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

25 MPG
Best combined MPG
25 MPG
21 city
City / highway MPG (best)
21 city
$3,300
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$3,300

Performance & space

311 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
311 hp
185.4 in
Length
185 in
72.4 in
Width
72.4 in
56.3 in
Height
55.1 in
3,715 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,891 lb

Safety & reliability

12
Driver-assist features standard
13
0
Recalls (2025)
0
15
Recalls, all years since 2005
3
1
Owner complaints (latest year)
1

Interest

28,367
Wikipedia views, 30 days
7,571

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2024
2015
Year to avoid
2017

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Lexus IS if…

It doesn't clearly beat the Lexus RC on any measure we track.

Choose the Lexus RC if…

  • You put reliability history first (3 vs 15 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2025 Lexus IS

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • No recalls so far
  • Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 25 MPG combined, 13% below the 2025 compact car average of 28.6 MPG.
  • Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
  • Modest powerUp to 311 hp, versus about 396 hp for similar 2025 models.

2025 Lexus RC

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • No recalls so far
  • Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.

Full 2025 Lexus IS specs →Full 2025 Lexus RC specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →