Lexus RZ 450e Review (2023-present)
Lexus RZ 450e cars for sale
3.0
Expert review
The CarGurus verdict
The Lexus RZ is rather clinical in the way it drives and, while it’s more than roomy enough, it could be much more versatile as a large family SUV. It could also be a touch cheaper, and we’d like to see a longer-range option on offer in the line-up, in addition to the RZ 450e.
But, the RZ also well equipped, has great safety ratings and an industry-leading warranty (provided the car is serviced at Lexus dealers). It’s not hard to see why you would choose it over alternatives that don’t have the same peace of mind on offer, but just keep in mind that there are alternatives that cost usefully less, are better to drive, go further to a charge and have a more flexible interior. The RZ is a solid, risk-averse purchase in this increasingly competitive class, but there are better options at the price.
What is the Lexus RZ?
The Lexus RZ is a large, premium electric SUV that is currently only offered in one model variant, the Lexus RZ 450e. It offers a driving range of between 251- and 271 miles courtesy of a 61.4kWh usable lithium-ion battery (74kWh total capacity), and gets a 308bhp dual electric motors and Lexus’ patent Direct4 all-wheel drive system.
It’s also unmistakably Lexus, in design. While, to our eyes, it looks rather fussy and over-styled, there’s no doubting that it also looks very modern. Neat design cues like the ‘Blade’ LED rear light emphasise the futuristic look.
The battery, powertrain and e-TNGA platform in the Lexus RZ is shared with the Toyota bZ4X and the Subaru Solterra, but there are big differences between the Lexus and the others – not least that the RZ is bigger, at 4.8m long, and has more equipment and a more premium finish. This, and prices that start from £64,500 and stretch up to over £70,000, put it more in keeping with rivals like the Audi Q8 e-tron, BMW iX3 and iX, and the Mercedes EQE SUV, not to mention cheaper but similarly-sized alternatives like the Jaguar I-Pace, Tesla Model Y, Genesis GV60, Nissan Ariya, Volkswagen ID.4, Polestar 2, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Audi Q4 E-Tron and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The Lexus RZ is not short of rivals, that’s for sure.
How Practical is it?
The Lexus RX would make a great family car given the spacious rear seats and useful 522-litre boot (an iX3 gets a 510-litre boot and the Audi Q8 E-Tron gets 569 litres, for some context).
However, it is short on versatility, as the seats fold in a 60/40 split rather than the more flexible 40/20/40 split of some alternatives, and there’s no through-loading facility. Nor is there a seven-seat option: for an electric seven-seater your options are still limited to the Mercedes EQB and Tesla Model X.
Still, there’s a huge amount of legroom and enough headroom to keep a six-footer happy, and the boot is a good size with underfloor cable storage. A high load lip might not suit an ageing dog, but the same can be said of many modern SUVs, and you do get a powered bootlid as standard on every RZ.
Up front, there’s a storage tray below the centre console and more space in the armrest, but the doorbins are too small for a big bottle and – oddly – there’s no glovebox.
The driving position is very good, with masses of adjustment and support, but visibility to the rear three-quarters and out of the narrow rear window is fairly limited. Thankfully, a reversing camera and blind-spot warning system are standard across the Lexus RZ range.
Where the RZ does disappoint is its driving range. Many rivals offer big battery models with potential range of over 300 miles, but the RZ is limited to this one battery option. Its real-world range is a touch middling, too; expect some 150- to 200 miles in the real world, depending on the conditions and driving style.
What’s it Like to Drive?
Comfortable and refined, but otherwise unremarkable. Which isn’t to say that it’s not quick: a 0-62mph time of 5.6sec is hardly to be sneered at, and the Lexus does feel rapid whether you’re pulling away from a standstill or going for an overtake or fast merge.
Comfort is the most impressive aspect. Our test car rode on 20-inch alloy wheels and Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres, and delivered a nice, gentle, loping ride over most road surfaces. The soft suspension setup does bring a lot of body lean, though, and also some noticeable ‘float’ as the car’s body heaves over undulations or crests. Still, the cushy ride is one of the RZ’s chief assets, as it’s not a car that you want to drive quickly, anyway.
It's composed on sweeping corners – that Direct4 all-wheel drive shuffles torque between the wheels as it sees fit, and does make the RZ feel rather implacable. But, the steering is devoid of feedback regardless of which drive mode you choose, so you never feel very connected to what the car’s doing. The top-spec Lexus RZ Takumi gets performance dampers, so is likely to have a bit less body lean and firmer ride, but we’re yet to try it.
There is also a new ‘yoke’ steering wheel and steer-by-wire system, called One Motion Grip, that’s due to be made optional on the RZ from 2025. This is a racecar-style steering wheel, not dissimilar to that seen on the Tesla Model S Plaid, and the steering response will be electronic with no direct mechanical link in use. However, there will be a mechanical connection for backup in case of any issues with the fly-by-wire steering response. It's another aspect of the RZ that makes the tech-focus in the RZ very clear.
Refinement is excellent in the RZ. Even by the standards of electric vehicles, the RZ has very little motor whine or road noise. Overall, it’s a very calm cruiser, but there are plenty of alternatives that feel more connected and enjoyable to drive, including the BMW iX3 and Genesis GV70 Electrified.
Technology and Equipment
The Lexus RZ is very well equipped, with even the entry-level Lexus RZ Premium Pack getting a panoramic roof, 18-inch wheels, keyless entry, synthetic leather, electrically adjustable front seats and 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Premium Plus Pack is our pick of the range, and adds 20-inch wheels, a head-up display, 360-degree parking camera and infrared heated seats that radiate heat to warm up your knees and other extremities, yet are very energy-efficient so will help to improve the cold weather range if you use these instead of the climate control system. The Lexus RX Takumi is the range topper, and gets a semi-autonomous parking aid, a dimmable glass roof, performance dampers and upgraded interior ambient lighting.
The infotainment touchscreen in the RZ is very decent, with a huge, glossy touchscreen offering a portal to the standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as to Lexus’ own sat-nav system with charger search function, and all the other music and system setting that you’d expect. The screen is a bit prone to reflecting light, and shows up fingerprints quite badly, but otherwise it responds quickly enough and the icons are big enough to be easy to hit when you’re driving. There are also over-the-air software updates for the system.
Safety features are excellent, with lane-keep, traffic sign recognition and semi-autonomous adaptive cruise control all as standard. Even blind-spot warning is standard on every RZ, which is often an option on some rivals.
It’s a shame that there’s no vehicle-to-load charging feature, though, as this ability to power other electrical devices from your vehicle’s battery is becoming popular amongst many EV owners.
How Much Will it Cost to Run?
The Lexus RZ isn’t cheap to buy - the marginally smaller Genesis GV70 Electrified makes it look particularly pricey - but the Lexus is more generously equipped than many rivals, and is competitive on list price and monthly costs.
Electric cars have become more expensive to charge since energy prices rose in 2022, but they remain cheaper to fuel than a petrol or diesel car. If you charge at home at the higher rate of 40p/kWh, you’ll be paying roughly 13p per mile for electricity in the Lexus RZ,a similar cost to a diesel car doing 55mpg. However, most EV drivers use cheaper overnight tariffs to charge their car, which can see that cost drop to as little as 3p per mile. Public charging costs are higher, and vary drastically depending on the charge provider and location.
Servicing is very reasonable; the cost can be spread into monthly payments of between £15-£30, which includes on full service and two intermediate services, plus various additional services depending on your plan. The RZ requires servicing every 12 months or 10,000 miles.
How Reliable Will it be?
Lexus has proven itself beyond any doubt, when it comes to reliability and customer service. The Japanese brand – and its parent company, Toyota – have routinely topped ownership surveys on used car and new car reliability and satisfaction, for many decades now.
On top of that, the RZ comes with a three-year warranty that is then automatically extended by another 12 months every time the car is serviced at an official Lexus dealership, extending right up to ten years and 100,000 miles. Lexus has also stated that the new thermal battery control system in the RZ helps to improve the longevity of the lithium-ion battery pack, with tests showing that it should retain some 90% of its as-new range potential after ten years of typical usage. That’s actually in line with what most modern lithium-ion batteries will deliver, but it’s good to see Lexus publicising an estimated battery life, for further peace of mind.
- The RZ charges up via a Type 2 and CCS socket, which are the European standard socket types used by almost every EV (other than the rather forgettable Lexus UX 300e that was Lexus’ first electric car). Rapid charging speed tops out at 150kW, which is competitive with many rivals, and will mean that you will get a 10-80% charge time of under 30 minutes if you plug into a 150kW charger, although charging performance will vary depending on ambient temperature, battery state, charger condition and more.
- Plug into a 7kW home wallbox and the RZ will be fully charged in under 10 hours. The Type 2 cable needed to plug into a home wallbox or most slower public chargers is provided, but you’ll have to pay extra to for a three-pin cable that allows you to charge up from a normal domestic socket. It will take well over 24 hours for a full charge from your everyday socket, but it is often useful to have that backup option if you occasionally stay away overnight with friends or family.
- The Lexus RZ isn’t a great option if you want to tow, as it’s only rated to tow 750kg even with a braked trailer; it’s not suitable for caravans or horse boxes. The all-wheel drive variants of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Tesla Model Y can tow up to 1600kg, while the Genesis GV70 Electrified and Mercedes EQC can tow up to 1800kg. The Tesla Model X and BMW iX can both tow well over 2000kg.
- If you want the cheapest one: Go for the entry-level Lexus RZ Premium Pack, as it’s usefully cheaper than the other trims yet still has most of the features that you want. There are no options, other than style choices, and the option of an easy entry function where the wheel and seat move as you get into the car, to give easier access. If purchase price or monthly costs aren’t your absolute primary concerns, though, the mid-spec Premium Plus Pack is our pick of the RZ range given its better tech- and style features.
- If you want the best company car: Go for the Lexus RZ Premium Plus Pack, which is our pick of the range for balance of equipment, luxuries and costs. In the premium SUV class, tech and comfort features are very in demand, and help to boost the car’s used value, which is why we reckon that the Lexus RZ Premium Plus model - which gets a head-up display and 20-inch alloy wheels, as well as various other additional features – is the sweet spot for business and retail buyers.
- If you want the best high mileage commuter: Again, we’d stick with the Lexus RZ 450e Premium Pack Plus – especially as it has the clever heated and ventilated seats, and a head-up display, which will make life comfy on long journeys. You can’t add any options, but you don’t really need to.
- If you want the best family car: As we’ve said, the Premium Pack Plus is a sweet spot for value and comforts, and it would be our first choice of trim for family buyers, too.
