Lexus RC F boot space, practicality and safety

EuroNCAP has yet to test Lexus RC F safety, though it has put the IS model through its stringent paces, and that’s performed well – we’d expect the RC F to do similar. In fact, so far, every Lexus tested by the safety body has achieved a full five-star overall rating.

Regardless, this sports coupe is loaded with safety tech, including eight airbags (with one for the driver’s knees), Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitor (which now operates at a greater distance than before) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert for reversing out of blind car park spaces.

And while some cars offer tyre pressure monitoring, Lexus goes one step further with the RC F and has system that detects a loss of pressure in individual wheels and alerts the driver to exactly which rim is under-inflated.

The bodyshell has been constructed from high-tensile steel where possible, designed to dissipate any impact loads in the event of an accident and reduce cabin deformation to a minimum.

As an option the Lexus can be specified with a Pre-Crash safety system, using a radar at the nose of the vehicle to detect whether an impact or accident is unavoidable and then alerts the driver to the problem and provides supplementary braking assist at speeds of up to 37mph.

A look backwards reveals the rear seats come complete with a pair of ISOFIX child seat mounts too.

It’s a simple 2+2 coupe, so Lexus RC F practicality is unsurprisingly mediocre – the rear seats are far more suited to children than adults thanks to the sloping roofline and tiny windows. Certainly there’s little chance of getting an adult to sit comfortably behind another in the RC F. At least up-front the seats offer plenty of adjustment and space, so you never feel claustrophobic despite the sporty layout of the cabin.

There is an average amount of storage space on offer though, with a large cubby under the central armrest, a slimline glovebox, a pair of cupholders in the transmission tunnel and decent doorbins. Plus the bootspace is a reasonable 366 litres, with a large enough opening for most items to slot comfortably through – though the seats don’t fold and only offer a load-through ski-hatch facility.