• Hybrid’s batteries compromise boot space
• Rivals offer greater practicality
• Restricted rear seat space

The Lexus RC’s practicality is limited by the rakish coupe styling. Passengers up front are likely to have little to complain about but two adults relegated to the back seats are likely to be less enamoured by the experience.

It’s all beautifully trimmed but headroom is compromised by the tapering roofline and legroom’s on the tight side, too – particularly with the front seats slid rearwards. In between the rear seats is a central storage area, while the seat backs themselves are split 60/40 to add a degree of flexibility when hauling longer loads.

How much boot space you have at your disposal depends upon which version of the RC you opt for. Take the conventional RC 200t and there’s 374 litres of space available but the batteries under the floor of the 300h hybrid reduce that total to 340 litres– though the seats don’t fold and only offer a load-through ski-hatch facility.

Both figures are significantly short of the space on offer in the trio of German rivals: the BMW 4 Series Coupe offers 445 litres, the recently launched Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe musters 450 litres while the Audi A5 Coupe’s 455-litre total is the most generous in this company.

Elsewhere the cabin’s peppered with sensibly sized storage bins, easily accessible cupholders and a large glovebox.

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Safety

• Should achieve top Euro NCAP score, if it’s tested
• Wide array of driver assistance packages available
• Both front seat occupants have knee airbags

Although Lexus RC safety hasn’t been verified by the experts at Euro NCAP, its sibling, the IS saloon, received a five-star rating when it was tested in 2013. Every Lexus RC is equipped with eight airbags (including knee bags for both front seat occupants), a suite of electronic systems to bolster braking and handling capabilities, tyre pressure monitors, automatic main beam, a pair of Isofix child seat mounting points in the back and a pop-up bonnet to help cushion pedestrians in the event of a frontal impact.

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.

The Lexus Safety System+ – standard on all models – comes with adaptive cruise control, pre-crash safety system, traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist, automatic high beam and an adaptive LED lighting system.