Lexus RZ review

Is the Lexus RZ a good car?

With its sharp lines and pointy details, the Lexus RZ has a look that fits perfectly with the rest of the company’s line-up. Under the skin, it uses the same platform as the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra, although the downside to that is a relative lack of range when compared with some rivals.

The addition of the RZ 300e to the line-up helps, with a maximum claimed range of 297 miles on offer, while the more powerful four-wheel-drive RZ 450e can cover up to 272 miles. Both powertrains use the same 71.4kWh battery, while the two models are available in Urban, Premium, Premium Plus and Takumi trims.

There’s plenty of advanced tech on board, too, although we’ve yet to see the car’s optional ‘yoke’ steering wheel appear in the UK. This replaces the standard circular rim with an aircraft/Knight Rider-style twin-handled joystick that has less turns lock to lock, because the car’s electronics are designed to know how much lock to apply, depending on your speed and the road that you’re on. We remain to be convinced, although early reports claim that it’s a better solution than Tesla’s interpretation.

How much does the Lexus RZ cost?

With the arrival of the lower-powered RZ 300e, prices for the line-up have fallen slightly, and now start from around £50,000. That’s around £5,500 less than the starting price on the more expensive RZ 450e, and is a gap that stays consistent as you go through the range.

The RZ is a five-door electric SUV, although its sharp lines and low roof give it a look more like a coupe SUV than a family model. However, the amount of space inside is good, thanks to a low-set floor. There are two or four-wheel drive versions on offer, with the front-wheel drive version badged RZ 300e and four-wheel drive model called 450e. All cars feature the same 71.4kWh battery, while the RZ 450e has 309bhp, compared with 201bhp for the RZ 300e.

Trim levels are identical between both variants, with the lower-priced Urban model joining the line-up to help bring list prices down. This is still a well-equipped model, though, with LED lights, two-zone climate control, heated seats and steering wheel, and full suite of safety systems as standard.

Upgrading to Premium trim gets you an electric tailgate, a fixed panoramic glass roof, privacy glass, electric front seat adjustment and side window insulation to cut down wind noise at speed. Premium Plus trim builds on the extensive list of standard features of the Premium specification with a head-up display, a 360-degree camera system, driver’s seat memory settings, front seat ventilation, and electric steering wheel adjustment. The top-of-the-range Takumi comes with an 1,800-watt, 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, adaptive headlights, and interior ambient lighting. While the top two level comes with plusher materials inside, you don’t really need to upgrade to it to benefit from the RZ’s luxury appeal.

28

With 201bhp on tap, the Lexus RZ 300e has enough power to easily keep pace with traffic, but it’s not the fastest accelerating electric SUV on the market. The RZ 450e is more in tune with class rivals thanks to having 309bhp combined from front and rear motors, but the penalty is a shorter range. The RZ’s character means this isn’t a car that majors on performance, though, and is at its best when taking things easy. Read more about the Lexus RZ's electric motors, performance and drive…

The starting price of the RZ has been lowered with the arrival of the RZ 300e, with the range kicking off from around £50,000, rising to around £66,000 for a top-spec version. You get a lot of standard equipment even at the entry point to the range, too, so you don’t have to seek out one of those top-spec cars for a luxury experience. Everyday costs should be decent, too, with different levels of energy recuperation on offer to help maintain battery charge. Read more about the Lexus RZ's range, charging and running costs…

All versions of the Lexus RZ feature premium materials and an upmarket feel, while high-spec versions offer a luxury car ambience. There’s plenty of tech on display, with the large central touchscreen offering lots of features, although we’d like to see a few more physical controls. Top-spec cars feature sporty suede-effect upholstery, although all cars come with synthetic leather rather than conventional cow hide. A panoramic roof provided on Premium trim and above boosts the cabin ambience and features an electrochromatic shade to keep the sun off. Read more about the Lexus RZ's interior, design and technology…

The practical benefits of an EV platform are made clear in the Lexus RZ. While the swooping roof and sporty shape looks as if it will demand compromises when it comes to carrying passengers and luggage, but a low, flat floor and long wheelbase combine to create a generous amount of room inside. Rear-seat passengers will especially benefit from the space on offer, while the boot is a decent size, rather than being cavernous. Read more about the Lexus RZ's boot space, comfort and practicality…

The Lexus RZ uses the same EV platform as the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra, and this is the first all-electric architecture that the company has used for a production car. The use of electric motors cuts down on the number of components that have the potential to go wrong, while rigorous testing will have taken place to ensure everything works properly and reliably. As with other Lexus models, it’s possible to extend the standard three-year warranty by up to 10 years with annual main dealer servicing. Read more about the Lexus RZ's reliability and safety…

Lexus RZ 450e Takumi long-term test

39

Our creative director, Darren Wilson, has been living with the Lexus RZ 450e Takumi as part of our long-term test fleet. Although the price of this range-topper is rather steep at £74,000, Darren feels that the RZ’s quality definitely reflects the price.

This all-electric luxury SUV has fared well in wintery conditions, too, with the real-world battery range only decreasing by 19 miles down from the 205 miles that Darren achieved in much fairer and warmer weather. It’s important to note, though, that this was still 66 miles below the RZ’s WLTP combined range.

Lexus RZ alternatives

There are plenty of premium compact SUVs that rival the Lexus RZ. The lower starting price places it in competition with the Audi Q4 e-tron, BMW iX1, BMW iX2, Mercedes EQA, , Genesis GV60 and Volvo EX40, while the Tesla Model Y is a big-selling alternative. You could save money by choosing the Toyota bZ4X, Subaru Solterra, Volkswagen ID.4, or Volkswagen ID.5, but none of these have the premium appeal of the Lexus. At the higher end of the price range, the RZ rivals the likes of the Audi Q6 e-tron and Porsche Macan Electric, although it’s not as spacious as any of these models.