While Lexus may arguably be more famous for turning out some of the market’s finest examples of luxury and serene rides, its sports car market has for a long time been the thorn in the side of more expensive European and American rivals. From the legendary Lexus LFA to more modern iterations like the Lexus RC F, there are a lot of reasons to choose a Lexus sports car over a German one.
One of the biggest reasons we have seen for decades is the typically low ownership costs compared to European rivals, with the Japanese marque generally striking a balance between fun and affordable. So, we are looking into how much it will cost you to buy, maintain, fuel, and run the latest Lexus sports car models.
Lexus LC 500
Five-Year Ownership Cost: $81,772
As the last model year of the almighty Lexus LC, the 2026 Lexus LC 500 is going to be your last chance to get your hands on one of the best Lexus sports cars in the last 10 years. Lexus is dropping the iconic model after 2026. Starting prices for the coupe flavor are approximately $102,000, and if you want the convertible, it will cost you $109,000. There will also be a limited run of LC 500 Inspiration Series models for the U.S.A. (200 coupes and 350 convertibles), which will be the pinnacle of the last lineup. You get a fine balance between a comfortable and plush cabin, with leather trim, sweeping lines, and a 12.3-inch Lexus Interface touchscreen, and proper on-road grit. At the center of everything we love about the LC 500 is a naturally aspirated V8, a real rarity on today’s market.
The 5.0-liter 2UR-GSE V8 under the hood shifts out 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, giving you 0–60 mph times of around 4.6 seconds. While that may not sound like a lot of juice, the aim of the game for Lexus has always been precision and feel over outright power, and this is what you get here. The V8 can redline at 7,300 rpm and is very perky underfoot. It is mated to a 10-speed DirectShift automatic transmission, with all the power sent to the rear wheels via a Torsen limited-slip diff for a very engaging and grippy feel behind the wheel. It is going to be missed when it is gone.
“The LC’s 5.0-liter V8 engine is a peach. Complete with quad cams, four valves per cylinder, and a power output of 471 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm, it’s a dream for cruising, and the exhaust note is tuned for enthusiasts’ ears. It’s not an engine for taking people on at the lights, but it’s not shy about getting up to speed.”
CarBuzz Test Drive Review of the Lexus LC 500 by Ian Wright
Being the luxury arm of Toyota has its perks; the biggest one being the Japanese marque’s dedication to quality. For a fun, relatively high-powered sports car, the Lexus LC 500 is relatively cheap to maintain, with the 2024 MY garnering an overall reliability rating of 92 out of 100 on J.D. Power. RepairPal says that it will cost you just $551 (on average) to maintain an LC 500 per year, while typically impressive Lexus levels of depreciation also take center stage.
While CarEdge estimates that after five years the LC 500 will lose just shy of $31,000 of its value, we think that there is a chance that the latest iterations will become future classics because of its end-of-an-era legacy. We have already seen a 2021 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series Convertible go under the hammer for $2 million, though this example was sold for charity. However, a little more realistically, another highly original and mint condition 2021 LC 500 did go under the hammer for just shy of $200,000, so well over its original MSRP of $102,000 – mint condition final edition models could become classics in the future, especially the limited run of Inspiration Series models.
- Five-Year Depreciation. $30,972.
- Five-Year Insurance Costs. $18,820.
- Five-Year Interest Costs. $16,486.
- Five-Year Fuel Costs. $12,835.
- Five-Year Maintenance Costs. $2,609.
Lexus RC F
Five-Year Ownership Cost: $81,003
Like we are seeing the end of the LC after 2026, another V8-toting legend had its curtain call this year: the 2025 Lexus RC F. This awesome sports coupe boasts the same 2UR-GSE 5.0-liter V8 as the LC 500, with the same horsepower and torque output (471 horsepower/398-pound-feet) but instead of being mated to a 10-speed auto, you get a DirectShift eight-speed transmission with paddle shifters. 0–60 mph times have been clocked at 4.2 seconds, and top speeds on a track have been recorded at 168 mph.
Lexus has thrown a lot at the Lexus RC F Final Edition performance-wise; you get the aforementioned hand-built, Takumi-class NA V8, a Torsen LSD, Brembo brakes, launch control, F-tuned Adaptive Variable Suspension, lightweight 19-inch forged BBS wheels wrapped in Michelin tires, and lots of aero features such as a carbon fiber roof, a front splitter, side skirts, and a rear diffuser. You get speed, a legendary nameplate, a huge amount of grip, and one of the last naturally aspirated V8s on the market; there isn’t a huge amount not to like.
Starting prices for the 2025 Lexus RC F Final Edition are $94,120, so somewhat cheaper than its other outgoing V8-toting sibling. RepairPal has given the RC F a reliability score of 3.5 out of 5; these sentiments have been echoed by owners on Kelley Blue Book (KBB), also, with a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5. RepairPal has also said that it will cost you approximately $754 a year to maintain. The 2UR-GSE V8 is one of the most beloved and famously reliable V8s on the market, so with proper maintenance, despite its heavy-loaded nature, you should see a lot of very enjoyable miles from it.
However, the big cost you should expect each year is for gas. According to FuelEconomy.gov, the Lexus RC F can achieve a combined mpg rating of 19 mpg (16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway). They estimate that it will cost you $3,050 a year on gas; $7,250 more over five years compared to other modern cars, and $5.12 to drive 25 miles.
- Five-Year Depreciation. $25,765.
- Five-Year Insurance Costs. $25,910.
- Five-Year Interest Costs. $14,675.
- Five-Year Fuel Costs. $12,160.
- Five-Year Maintenance Costs. $2,493.
Despite the relatively frugal CarEdge estimated five-year cost of just over $81,000, information from KBB suggests an estimated five-year cost to be much higher at $131,627, taking into consideration their estimate of nearly $55,000 in five-year depreciation.
Lexus IS 500
Five-Year Ownership Cost: $60,924
Another model we are going to miss after 2025 is the Lexus IS 500. This year and next year really are the end of a chapter in reliable, naturally aspirated V8 fun for Lexus and the market. The 2025 Lexus IS 500 is going to be available in three grades for its curtain call: the IS 500 F SPORT PERFORMANCE, the IS 500 F SPORT PERFORMANCE PREMIUM, and the IS 500 F SPORT PERFORMANCE ULTIMATE EDITION.
|
2025 Lexus IS 500 F SPORT PERFORMANCE |
2025 LEXUS IS 500 F SPORT PERFORMANCE PREMIUM |
2025 Lexus IS 500 F SPORT PERFORMANCE ULTIMATE EDITION |
|---|---|---|
|
$60,815 |
$65,315 |
$71,495 |
As standard, the last IS 500 comes equipped with the same 5.0-liter NA V8 as the other 500 models above, stacked quad exhaust tips, adaptive suspension, and a finely-trimmed cabin with NuLuxe seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, and an 8-inch touchscreen. The PREMIUM trim adds a 10.3-inch touchscreen, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio rig, and triple-beam LED headlights, while the ULTIMATE EDITION is only seeing 500 models delivered in the U.S., and comes equipped with 19-inch matte black BBS wheels, an exclusive ‘Wind Metallic Gray’ paint scheme, and Brembo brakes.
There is no denying that Lexus has a knack for delivering luxury and reliability in a single package, and the final rollout of the IS 500 is estimated to be no different. RepairPal says that the average maintenance bill for an IS 500 is $551; you benefit from a lot of owner confidence, with owners on KBB giving the IS 500 a 4.7 out of 5 reliability rating, and it boasts a low CarEdge-estimated five-year maintenance bill of $2,181.
Depreciation rates are relatively low for a performance-oriented luxury sedan, at an estimated 29% over five years, but you should note that with an average five-year insurance cost of $18,995 ($3,799 per year), and average annual fuel costs of $2,900, you do pay slightly more than your average car. However, you are looking at one of the last naturally aspirated V8-equipped performance sedans on the modern market that strikes a stellar balance between seat-gripping and serene.
- Five-Year Depreciation. $18,429.
- Five-Year Insurance Costs. $18,955.
- Five-Year Interest Costs. $9,809.
- Five-Year Fuel Costs. $11,550.
- Five-Year Maintenance Costs. $2,181.
Lexus IS 350
Five-Year Ownership Cost: $54,978
Available as the Lexus IS 350 F SPORT DESIGN with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and the Lexus IS 350 F SPORT with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the 2026 Lexus IS models have respective starting prices of $45,155 (DESIGN RWD), $47,155 (DESIGN AWD), $47,230 (SPORT RWD), and $49,230 (SPORT AWD). All models come equipped with the same 311-horsepower/280-pound-foot V6 that gets you to 60 mph in between 5.6 and 6 seconds, while offering an engaging and perky feel underfoot.
You get a classy yet subtly aggressive exterior design with 19-inch wheels and a newly designed, athletic-looking front fascia as standard, while the F SPORT comes equipped with a rear spoiler and optional features such as BBS forged wheels, blacked-out elements, and red brake calipers. You can make it look very sporty indeed. Underneath, the IS 350 is equipped with a new rack-and-pinion electronic steering rig for easy handling at speed and around town, and is available with adaptive suspension and the SPORT+ driving mode, which tightens up the suspension and makes the throttle snappier. It may not be as powerful as the outgoing IS 500, but Lexus is still bringing a lot of luxury performance sedan guts to the market for a reasonably low asking price with the IS 350.
Overall running costs are cheaper than its 5.0-liter V8-equipped cousin, and that is mainly due to the engine being smaller, less powerful, and more efficient. FuelEconomy.gov has estimated that the RWD IS 350 can achieve 23 combined mpg, costing you $2,550 a year for gas, while the AWD IS 350 can achieve 22 mpg, costing you $2,650 a year for gas. Lexus recommends that you fill the IS 350 with premium gas, which, of course, is dearer than regular; it will cost you $68 to fill the IS 350’s 17.4-gallon tank.
Maintenance costs over five years have also been estimated by CarEdge to be lower than a lot of its Lexus sports car counterparts, at just shy of $2,000. RepairPal backs this up with their own estimate of $543 per year for maintenance, and an impressive reliability rating of 4 out of 5. This makes the IS 350 the ninth-cheapest luxury mid-sized car that RepairPal keeps tabs on; not bad for something that still offers a lot of calm luxury and a decent amount of poke when you want it.
- Five-Year Depreciation. $19,311.
- Five-Year Insurance Costs. $16,265.
- Five-Year Interest Costs. $7,413.
- Five-Year Fuel Costs. $10,045.
- Five-Year Maintenance Costs. $1,944.
Lexus RC 350 Coupe
Five-Year Ownership Cost: $54,246
It is not just the Lexus 500 models that we are seeing the end of this year; it is also the end of the Lexus RC Series altogether. The 2025 Lexus RC 350 will be the last MY you can get. However, with starting prices of $49,895 for the rear-wheel-drive model and $52,010 for the all-wheel-drive model, things are off to a good start, affordable-luxury-wise. Under the hood sits a snappy 311-horsepower 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 that features VVT-i, 24 valves, and a compression ratio of 11.8:1. This translates to rest-to-60 times of 5.8 seconds for RWD models and 6 seconds for AWD models, and top speeds of 143 mph and 130 mph, respectively.
Both the RWD and AWD RC 350 models are relatively light: 3,748 pounds and 3,891 pounds, respectively; handling is kept in check thanks to independent multi-link coil-over suspension, stabilizer bars, and a speed-sensitive steering that needs 2.8 turns lock-to-lock. Inside is as elegant as you’d expect from a legendary sports coupe, with a standard-fit 10.3-inch touchscreen, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 10-speaker sound system, and heated and ventilated seats. In other words, you get relatively low starting prices for a very nippy, comfortable, and luxe sports coupe that is one of the last of its breed.
RepairPal estimates that it costs $721 a year to maintain an RC 350; the 2GR-FSE V6 under the hood is renowned for its durability with proper maintenance (thanks largely to its dual-injection system); the KBB owner-rated reliability rating is high at 4.5 out of 5, and like all Lexus models, it benefits from their eye for detail and work alongside Takumi Masters.
There is also another payoff for choosing an RC 350 over the more powerful RC F, and that is in fuel costs. While it can’t be described as the most fuel-efficient coupe on the market, the EPA-estimated combined mpg rating of between 22 mpg and 23 mpg, depending on whether you opt for AWD or not (AWD musters less), is not the worst. It is estimated that it will cost you between $2,550 and $2,650 a year for gas, again depending on whether you go for the AWD configuration. The big spending point here is that you have to fill the RC 350 up with premium gas, which, over five years, means you’re estimated to spend between $4,750 and $5,250 more on gas compared to the average modern vehicle.
- Five-Year Depreciation. $15,669.
- Five-Year Insurance Costs. $18,105.
- Five-Year Interest Costs. $8,340.
- Five-Year Fuel Costs. $10,045.
- Five-Year Maintenance Costs. $2,087.
Lexus IS 300
Five-Year Ownership Cost: $49,555
As the least powerful variant of the Lexus IS lineup, the IS 300 also bows out of the U.S. market after 2025. The above IS 350 will be the only gas-only Lexus IS model up for grabs in 2026. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage of the relatively low starting prices and cheaper running costs of the 2025 Lexus IS 300. Starting prices are just under $42,000 and stretch up to $47,195, and for that you get a choice of three luxe trims: the IS 300, the IS 300 F SPORT DESIGN, and the IS 300 F SPORT, two nippy engines: a turbo-four or a V6, and either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
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Spec |
2025 Lexus IS 300 RWD Lineup |
2025 Lexus IS 300 AWD Lineup |
|---|---|---|
|
Engine |
2.0-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four |
3.5-Liter V6 |
|
Horsepower |
241 Horsepower |
260 Horsepower |
|
Torque |
258 LB-FT |
236 LB-FT |
All models come equipped with an eight-speed DirectShift transmission with paddle shifters, so you get silky changes and feel athletic as you slam through the gears by the wheel, and a well-tuned suspension setup for the base IS 300 offers a decent blend of sport and comfort. However, if you opt for the F SPORT, you also benefit from a Torsen limited-slip diff, 19-inch Enkei wheels, adaptive dampers, and two-piece aluminum brakes; in other words, a lot of bang for your buck and some very tight cornering ability.
According to FuelEconomy.gov, the turbo-four-equipped IS 300 models can achieve a combined mpg rating of 25 mpg (21 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway), and the V6-equipped, AWD IS 300 models can achieve a combined mpg rating of 22 mpg (19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway). Neither is the least fuel-efficient sports car this year, and it is estimated that it will cost you between $2,350 and $2,650 a year for gas. Or between $3,750 and $5,350 more over five years for gas compared to the average modern car.
Reliability-wise, the IS 300 carries on the good work of luxury Lexus sports sedans and boasts an impressive 3.5 out of 5 for reliability on RepairPal. They have also said that the IS 300 will only cost you a mere $428 a year to maintain; this puts it far below the market’s average maintenance bill of $652, making it an exceptionally frugal little sports sedan to own. CarEdge also estimates that with a five-year insurance cost of just shy of $16,000, it is the cheapest current Lexus sports car to insure. On average, insurance for a Lexus IS 300 is $3,176 per year; still some way over the average car insurance cost per year in the U.S.A. of around $2,900, but still lower than its brand-sake counterparts.
- Five-Year Depreciation. $15,425.
- Five-Year Insurance Costs. $15,880.
- Five-Year Interest Costs. $7,087.
- Five-Year Fuel Costs. $9,240.
- Five-Year Maintenance Costs. $1,923.
Lexus RC 300
Five-Year Ownership Cost: $45,620
According to the data we have found on Lexus sports car ownership costs, the 2025 Lexus RC 300 is the cheapest Lexus sports car to maintain, fuel, run, and own. Starting prices are low at $46,195 for the RC 300 and $51,335 for the RC 300 F SPORT, but that doesn’t mean you miss out on the athletic prowess on the outside and the Lexus-grade luxury on the inside.
Under the hood sits a choice of two engines and the choice between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. RWD RC 300 models come equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four good for 241 horsepower, while AWD RC 300 models come equipped with a 260-horsepower V6. 0–60 mph times have been clocked at 7.3 seconds for the RWD models and 6.3 seconds for the AWD models, so not rapid, but plenty enough to get you onto a highway and spurt it about up in the twisties. Which, especially the F SPORT models, is where it is most suited; you get a Torsen LSD, Lexus Dynamic Handling, and adaptive suspension, while a driver-centric cockpit and sporty noise from the rear (courtesy of a sound resonator) make driving one feel very athletic.
“This car offers a smooth, quiet, and agile driving experience. Yet, it also has a playful side, delivering impressive speed and a satisfying sound when you need it.”
Owner review of their 2025 Lexus RC 300 on Kelley Blue Book
Like most Lexus models, the RC 300 holds its value relatively well, with CarEdge saying that it will lose around $16,000 (around 31%) of its value in the first five years. Compared to something like the base-level 2025 BMW 4 Series, which is also equipped with a turbocharged inline-four good for 255 horsepower as standard and will lose around $28,000 of its value over the same time, or around 48%, the RC 300 looks to be a ‘safer’ model to buy in the luxury two-door coupe market.
Fuel costs-wise, the RC 300 will cost you the same amount as the IS 300, even though it is smaller. According to FuelEconomy.gov, the turbo-four models can muster a combined mpg rating of 25 mpg, costing you around $2,300 a year for gas, while the more-powerful V6 models will cost you $2,650 a year for gas and can achieve a combined mpg rating of 22 mpg.
- Five-Year Depreciation. $15,882.
- Five-Year Insurance Costs. $18,070.
- Five-Year Interest Costs. $7,937.
- Five-Year Fuel Costs. $9,240.
- Five-Year Maintenance Costs. $2,061.
Sources: Lexus, CarEdge, RepairPal, J.D. Power, Classic.com, and FuelEconomy.gov.