These Are The 10 Best-Handling Lexus Cars Ever Made

Totoya’s luxury division Lexus is famous for its top-notch refinement and unmatched reliability in luxury sedans such as the LS500 and brutish SUVs like the LX500. The average enthusiast may find most of its offerings vanilla, but there are some exceptional models among the bunch. Besides superb craftsmanship and exaggerated styling, Lexus also makes perfect sports cars with enormous power and exceptional handling characteristics. And because some have exquisite and exotic designs, they win alternatives to premium European or American sports cars.

Some sports cars have a reputation for poor handling, but Lexus makes their sports cars so that even a child can look like a pro driving them. This article will look at ten of the best-handling Lexus cars ever made.

10/10 Lexus RC 350 F-Sport

The RC 350 F is today’s entry-level Lexus sports car. It has about 306 hp, and like the current F Sport, it comes with upgraded suspension and sport aero bits. This GT car has an all-wheel-drive version that is superb for all-weather driving.

This car is a great option for those seeking a taste of the Lexus performance on a strapped budget. These cars feel at home on curvy canyon roads, as they have responsive steering and remain planted in corners thanks to that firm suspension.

Related: 10 Cheapest Japanese Sport Coupes Americans Can Buy Used

9/10 Lexus IS 350 F-Sport

This fantastic sedan feels quicker off the line than a BMW 335i, thanks to the powerful V6 that makes a beautiful sound under full throttle. It handles like a pro, and that silky smooth ride feels luxurious even in sport configuration.

Although it comes with a V6, its best performance features lie in the steering, the brakes, and the suspension. These elements give the car a feeling of athleticism and agility that you can’t get on other cars in its class.

8/10 Lexus IS-F

One of the Japanese cars we’d like to own for being that good to drive is the Lexus IS-F. These cars’ production lasted five years from 2008, but they had a fantastic automatic gearbox, a thrilling rear-wheel drive, and a smile-inducing V8 engine that made about 416 hp.

0-60 in about 4.5 seconds on this sedan with proper handling characteristics made it a strong competition to the likes of the Mercedes AMG C-Class and the BMW M3 (E90 & E92) of the same generation.

7/10 Lexus SC (Z30)

Also sold as the Toyota Soarer, this Lexus Sports coupe saw four generations. The one you want is the first-generation model that sold between 1991 and 2000. It came with various engines, including the highly sought-after 3.0-liter 2JZ.

Related: 11 Best JDM Project Cars $10,000 Will Buy

This unassuming little JDM sports car could make a 0 to 60 sprint in 6.1 seconds. However, enthusiasts cannot help but add power to these engines because they have endless tuning potential.

6/10 Lexus RC F

467 hp and 389 lb-ft of torque from a 5.0-liter V8 engine on the RC-F can accelerate the car from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds. This Lexus sports car is one of the best rear-wheel-driven cars, and it sounds amazing in full cry.

An eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters gives more control to the driver. Putting it in sport plus mode disables many driver aids, which is scary given all the available power. But with all systems engaged, this thing remains planted around bendy roads and is cheerful to pull on track days.

Related: This Is The Best Feature Of The Lexus RC F Sport

5/10 Lexus LC 500

An LC 500 (the non-hybrid version) is also a V8-powered sports coupe that is absolutely stunning. The 490 hp can do 0-60 in 4.3 seconds, running the quarter mile in 13 seconds flat.

Not only does the LC 500 have an amazing V8 engine soundtrack and blistering performance, but it also has the luxury amenities to rival top Euro sports cars. Its distinctive profile is borderline exotic, with a beautiful presence on the road.

4/10 Lexus GS 350 F-Sport

Sadly, Lexus intends to phase these great-performance cars out. The F version has a 5.0-liter V8 engine that makes about 480 hp. You get sport-tuned suspension on a rear-wheel drive chassis that handles like a dream.

These cars might be rather large, but they accelerate quickly, doing a 0-60 mph run in 4.3 seconds. Besides the overdone grille (trademark Lexus), you can spot one from the integrated sporty accents on the front and back and decent matching wheels.

Related: 10 Coolest Cars Getting Discontinued By 2023

3/10 Lexus RC 200-t

Lexus made RC to replace the mighty IS-F, one of our favorite Lexus of all time. Underneath the hood is a 2-liter turbocharged engine that produces 245 horsepower to compete with the likes of the BMW 430i or Mercedes-Benz C class 300 coupe.

Disappointingly, these cars are 220 lbs lighter than the RC and are faster. Traction control is aggressive, making this car grippy, but you can turn it off if you want to have some fun drifting.

2/10 Lexus IS 500

The IS 500 is an old-school, naturally aspirated V8 sport sedan, a format that will soon go extinct. It makes about 470 hp and 400 pound-feet of torque. These are huge numbers for a car the same length as a Honda Civic.

It does 0 to 60 in the low four-second range while sounding fantastic. High throttle response and precise steering on comfortable suspension sum up the driving experience of this bad boy.

1/10 Lexus LF A

The wonderful supercar-based Lexus LFA initially came out as an all-aluminum, rear-wheel drive, 6-speed automated manual hooked up to a 4.8 V10 engine co-developed with Yamaha that produced 556 hp.

This car is one of the masterpieces of today, and Lexus made only 500 examples between 2011 and 2012. Some fanatics wish this were the only sports car Lexus makes because it was blisteringly fast and incorporated advanced performance technology.