Lexus RZ Review & Prices

The electric SUV market is booming right now, and the more premium end is getting crowded, with Lexus being the latest to join the scene with this, the RZ. With alternatives like the Mercedes EQC SUV, BMW iX3 and Audi Q4 e-tron, the RZ has some serious competition. 

Lexus is a bit behind its main alternatives though by introducing at this time, a lot like YouTube Shorts which dragged behind TikTok and Instagram with short-form content. 

But Lexus has been fashionably late by introducing a stylish model. The RZ does include the ‘spindle grille’ look of other Lexus models, but is smoothed off as it doesn’t need the openings. It’s very sharp all-round, while you get dinky roof spoilers at the back to add some sportiness. 

It’s a great looking car from most angles, with the roofline raking down sharply at the rear, while the rear lightbar looks very good too.

The cabin is of a high quality, with faux leather, faux suede and black plastics, while silver trim pieces help outline the dashboard and centre console. 

You get a decent amount of space and seating adjustment in the front, but with the batteries mounted under the floor, you sit high and there’s a smaller gap between the seat base and footwell. That means your thighs have less support. 

In the back seats, you have the same issue, while headroom is also a little tight for some. The latter problem can be fixed by reclining the seat back, while you can ask the person in front to lift the seat up so you can slide your feet under the seat and improve leg room that way. 

The boot is about average compared to alternatives at 522 litres. That figure’s more than an Audi Q4 e-tron, BMW iX3 and Mercedes EQC SUV, but the Tesla Model Y outclasses it.

The RZ gets a 71.4kWh battery pack and dual-motor setup on all versions with 313hp on tap. Depending on the wheel size you choose, you can get up to 272 miles on a single charge, with efficiency figures of 3.5mi/kWh.

In town, you’ll find the RZ to have comfortable suspension that rounds off the edges of bumps, while the steering is light to help with manoeuvring. The view out of the back is very poor though, as the rear window is tiny and the pillars either side are massive. 

The RZ settles down wonderfully on the motorway, with plenty of sound deadening to reduce exterior noise. The dual-motor setup gives you enough kick to overtake and get off slip roads. It’s not as efficient as the Tesla Model Y though.

Twisty roads aren’t where the RZ is at its best, but it’s more than capable. Switching it into Sport mode, you get weightier steering and more response from the motors, while it doesn’t lean too much through the bends. It’s not exciting though.

While there are some elements of the RZ that aren’t up to scratch with alternatives, it’s still a quality product that’s comfortable and practical, with Lexus finally getting up to speed with EVs. 

You can get the latest deals on the Lexus RZ with carwow, as well as deals on other new Lexus models. You’ll find used Lexus deals on carwow, where you can also sell your car – helping you change your car all in one place.

Being a more premium feeling product, the Lexus RZ does cost a fair bit more than the Tesla Model Y, but both the BMW iX and especially the Mercedes EQE SUV are much more than it. 

With the RZ based on the same platform as the Toyota bZ4X, this is also a big step up in price from that car. Having a more high-end finish though, it makes sense.

The RZ is quiet, comfortable and easy to drive in most situations, but rear visibility is a stumbling block

In town

With light steering for easy manoeuvring and comfortable suspension rounding off the edges of humps and potholes, there’s a lot to like about the RZ. You also get a reversing camera, while mid- and top-spec models get all-round camera view to help you know what’s around you. 

One problem with RZ though is the view out of the back. It’s no understatement in saying it’s like a letterbox window, with a narrow aperture and large pillars either side making it a real issue. Luckily you have the aforementioned cameras, and the wing mirrors are good. 

You can choose different levels of regeneration from the motors, although you can’t have pure one-pedal driving. You’ll always be creeping forward, and it also loses its effectiveness and provides less stopping power the slower you go. 

On the motorway

Lexus continues to make relaxing, comfortable vehicles and the RZ is on that level. The sound-deadening is excellent, with limited tyre and wind noise – something normally amplified with an electric vehicle as there’s no engine noise.

You’re also able to get up to speed swiftly enough, with the dual motors developing 313hp. That allows you to overtake people or accelerate in traffic easily.

One thing you won’t be too pleased about though is the efficiency. With our limited time with it, the RZ achieved 2.5mi/kWh, severely limiting range to just 180 miles. That’s a lot less than the Tesla Model Y, which does more with its battery pack. However, that’s all down to driving style and if you drive in town more than at higher speeds. 

On a twisty road

The RZ is a surprise here. We won’t say it’s fun but it’s stable, has accurate steering and doesn’t lean too much – something not normally said about a large electric SUV. 

Switching it to sport mode, which is actually quite difficult to do in the infotainment, you get better throttle response and a heavier feel to the steering. With the batteries mounted low down, you don’t get a lot of body roll, and the RZ feels rather nimble for a car weighing over 2,000kg. 

Even in sport mode the suspension soaks up a lot of bumps and rough surfaces really well and gives you a smooth ride.

While storage throughout is pretty good, you don’t get a front boot, while the seating position can be uncomfortable for some

The cool design of the exterior is continued into the cabin. You have a pod-like feel when you’re in the driving seat, with a defined line between you and your front passenger. You get decent headroom and plenty of adjustment on the steering column and seat. 

What isn’t so good though is that the floor and seat base are quite close together. That means you don’t get a lot of under-thigh support compared to other SUVs as your knees are a lot higher, and that’s all due to the batteries being mounted in the floor. 

Storage-wise, the RZ is rather good. You get two well-sized cupholders, a cubby under the armrest that can be opened from both sides, decent doorbins and a fairly sizeable place for your smartphone under the central screen. 

Space in the back seats

You have the same issue in the back as with the front. The flat floor is quite high, so under-thigh support is an issue for comfort. But it’s good that there’s decent kneeroom and headroom, which can further be altered by reclining the seat back. Footroom is also quite good, as you can slide your feet under the seat in front. 

Sitting three can be a bit of a squeeze, as the body isn’t quite wide enough to be comfortable. You’ll also find the rear door opening to be a bit on the small side, but you can still fit a child seat without much issue. You do have to stab around for the ISOFIX points a little, but you can mount on the anchor points easily enough.

For keeping things tidy, the seat pockets are pretty substantial, while the doorbins are big enough for one bottle at a time – not bad, but could be better. There’s also open cupholders in the middle armrest. You also get two USB-C charging ports to keep your mobile devices topped up.

Boot space

While the 522-litre space of the RZ is better than the BMW iX3 (510 litres) and Mercedes EQC (500 litres), the Tesla Model Y streaks ahead of the Lexus and all the alternatives with its 854-litre storage. The Tesla also has the advantage of a space under the bonnet, something Lexus chose not to go with here. 

Folding the rear bench is a bit of a stretch to the buttons on the seat backs, but when you do put them down, you have a flat space. That makes it easy to slide things forward and the 1,451-litre area is rather useful. 

With sharp lines and high levels of kit, the RZ has a good interior, but some of the infotainment menus can be tricky to use on the go

We’re fans of the interior design of the RZ, with the pod-like layout that we described earlier with all the main kit angled towards the driver. In the Takumi top-end model we tested, you get a series of high-end materials, such as faux leather and suede, that offer a very premium feel throughout. 

You won’t be finding many scratchy and rough plastics either, as all the main surfaces are soft to touch, while all the switchgear is well-built. 

The centrepiece is the massive 14.0-inch central touchscreen that has bright graphics and is fairly simple to navigate at a standstill. When you need to dive into menus when you’re driving though, it can be a little tricky to use. 

Thankfully, the climate control system is separate from a menu in the infotainment. At the bottom of the screen are two dials for the temperature, while the fan speed and additional heating or ventilation elements, like the seats and steering wheel, are above that. It’s easy to use – something other premium brands should be doing as well, rather than making the driver use screens to adjust temperature while you’re on the move. 

The driver’s display isn’t that great though. It’s really small in the instrument binnacle and is surrounded by panels for the warning lights – at least they shouldn’t turn on that often though, with Lexus being one of the most reliable brands around. The screen feels like a missed opportunity, but you do get a very clear head-up display. 

To keep things simple, Lexus only offers the RZ in three trims and only the options area two-tone paint finish or special metallic paint. The mid-tier Premium Plus Pack strikes the best balance of equipment and high-end finish, without being too pricey. 

All versions of the RZ feature the same 71.4kWh battery pack and dual-motor setup. Depending on which wheel size you choose – between the softer riding 18-inch units or more stylish but less efficient 20-inch versions – you get an official 272 or 252 miles respectively on a full charge. 

Electric SUVs aren’t the most efficient due to their taller, blockier shape, so you need to be averaging above 3.5mi/kWh to reach that kind of figure. On our test, the RZ was getting 2.5mi/kWh equating to 180 miles of range, but if you do a lot of urban driving you can get closer to the claimed figure. 

On a DC fast charger, the RZ will charge at up to 150kW. That allows you to go from 10-80% full in around 30 minutes. Using a slower AC charger at 11kW means the same charge will be done in six and a half hours – much better suited if you’re charging overnight or the car is parked up all day. 

As an EV, VED wouldn’t normally apply to the RZ. But as it costs more than £40,000 on all versions, you’ll need to pay the annual charge from the second year of ownership onwards. And don’t forget that from April 2024, all EVs will be subject to an annual charge, however much they cost.  

Lexus prides itself on high quality and safety, so it’s no surprise the RZ is a very secure car. Although the RZ hasn’t specifically been through the stringent Euro NCAP safety tests, the car that it’s based on, Toyota’s bZ4X, has. 

That scored the full five stars from the tests, including high levels of occupant and safety assist scores. Those transfer to the RZ that gets a full fleet of safety assists as standard, such as lane keep assist, driver attention monitoring, blind spot monitoring, front and rear cross traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. 

You also get a full alarm and immobiliser system, as well as airbags throughout.

While the RZ is still rather new, it hasn’t befallen any major recall issues. Its  Toyota bZ4X sister car has though. Airbag mounting issues and wheel hub failures meaning the wheels potentially falling off have been issued for the Toyota, but they should have been ironed out prior to the Lexus’s launch.

As standard, the RZ comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. To give you additional peace of mind, you can get an extra year and 10,000 miles every time you service at a Lexus dealer, all the way up to the car being 10 years old.