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.

Used - available now

2025 Lexus

RZ

4,400 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £49,950

View RZ

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.

While the Lexus RZ looks sharp, the driving experience is geared towards comfort rather than sportiness, and that’s to the car’s benefit.

What is the Lexus RZ like to drive?

In town

At low speeds the RZ is quiet and refined, while light steering makes it a doddle to manoeuvre. Front and rear sensors and a reversing camera help with parking, which is handy, because there’s a relatively long bonnet that dips down ahead of you, and the rear windows are narrow.

Lexus offers four levels of energy recovery that are selectable via a pair of paddles behind the steering wheel. The weakest setting turns it off completely, so only the physical brakes do any stopping, while the most extreme offers strong resistance, but not enough for one-pedal driving. It’s useful having the paddles so that you can adjust the settings on the fly without taking your eyes off the road and delve into the central touchscreen like a Volvo EX40.

On A- and B-roads

Unlike many rivals, the RZ 300e lacks the punchy acceleration that electric SUVs are commonly known for. It still has a decent throttle response and the car keeps pace with traffic without any trouble, but the power tails off sooner than in other EVs. At least that means the front tyres aren’t overwhelmed by excessive torque, and even in slippery conditions, there are no signs that the car loses grip.

If you want that addictive surge, then the more powerful RZ 450e can cater for your needs, although it still doesn’t feel as urgent as some EVs, such as the EX40.

Having the battery in the floor between the axles helps keep the RZ’s centre of gravity low, so body lean is kept in check in corners. The steering is light and weights up at speed, but the suspension does tend to bobble a little over rough surfaces as it attempts to control the car’s mass while dealing with imperfections. It’s not a deal breaker, though.

Take a quick glance at the tyres on the RZ, and you might assume an error has been made, because different sizes are used at both ends of the car, with 235-section rubber for the front axle and 255-section tyres on the rear. 

It seems odd for a front-wheel-drive car to have fatter rear tyres, but the RZ’s rear track is also wider by 15mm, and the difference is designed to boost the car’s handling. Interestingly, the platform-sharing Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra have the same tyre sizes at each corner.

On the motorway

Refinement at higher speeds is great, with tyre noise being the biggest bugbear, although things are still reasonably quiet. The car tends to shimmy over bigger bumps, but overall, the RZ is comfortable.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed

Power for the RZ 300e comes from a single electric motor that makes 201bhp and is mounted on the car’s front axle. This gives the Lexus a 0-62mph time of eight seconds exactly, while the model’s top speed is limited to 99mph.

Upgrade to the four-wheel-drive RZ 450e, and the front-mounted motor is augmented by an additional 108bhp motor at the rear, while the total system output is rated at 309bhp. The extra traction of this model means it can sprint from 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds, which is more in keeping with electric SUV rivals. As with the 300e, this car’s top speed is also limited to 99mph.

Electric range, battery life and charge time

Both versions of the RZ come with a 71.4kWh battery, which is a bit smaller than what’s offered by some rivals. The introduction of the more efficient front-wheel-drive RZ 300e has boosted the available range, with the official figures claiming that up to 297 miles is possible from a full charge. That’s 25 miles more than the RZ 450e can achieve, although the larger 20-inch alloys that are available on both models have a negative effect on the overall range.

Charging speeds are reasonable rather than outstanding, with a maximum rate of 150kW available when plugged into a DC source. That will get the battery from 10-80 per cent capacity in half an hour, but on a range of rapid chargers, we rarely saw anywhere near that charging speed, and above 80 per cent, the charging speed tailed off far more dramatically than we’ve seen in rival electric cars. 

The RZ is capable of accepting a three-phase, 11kW AC feed (which will recharge the battery from zero to 100 per cent in around seven hours), but most homes in the UK will only be able to support a 7.4kWh wallbox home charger, which will take around 11.5 hours to fully recharge an RZ. All versions of the RZ feature a heat pump that takes a load off the battery to warm the car in cold weather.

During our time with the RZ 300e, we returned an economy rating of 3.6 miles per kWh, which is comparable with rivals, but isn’t the most efficient in the class. At that rate, the car’s maximum range is around 40 miles short of the official figures, although our car had the larger 20-inch wheels, which negatively impact range. We also noticed that turning the climate control on knocked around 15 miles off the car’s overall range.

Tax

The Lexus RZ is currently exempt from road tax, even when you factor in that the range starts in excess of £40,000, because the luxury vehicle tax doesn’t apply to zero tailpipe emission vehicles like EVs. 

For business users, the two per cent Benefit-in-Kind tax rate applies for 2024/25, so annual costs are minimal, with the entry-level RZ 300e costing £200 a year for lower-rate taxpayers.

Insurance groups

The RZ range starts at Group 38 for insurance ratings, and that’s the same for Urban and Premium trims. The high-spec Takumi version is in Group 40, while upgrading from 300e to 450e powertrains sees the rating rise to Group 43 for Urban trim, 44 for Premium and 45 for Takumi.

Depreciation

Heavy discounts off the RZ’s list price are having an impact on resale values. The range falls into the 48-50 per cent bracket, which is behind rivals such as the Tesla Model Y and Renault Scenic, but ahead of the likes of the Volvo EX40, Audi Q4 e-tron and the platform-sharing Toyota bZ4X.

To get an accurate valuation for a specific model, check out our free car valuation tool... 

There are six exterior shades to choose from. The complimentary colours are black, or a rather smart-looking Aether Blue – although the fetching Sonic Copper is a mere £250 extra. 

Inside you can pick between three interior colours: black, grey, or hazel. There’s a driver-focused cockpit that is easy to navigate, although there are a few too many controls on the touchscreen.

What is the Lexus RZ like inside?

There’s good space up front, and the high centre console divides the cockpit into two distinct areas, while the central screen is angled towards the driver for ease of use. The layout is similar to many other Lexus models, so you get clear labelling and satin silver trim, while the air vents are positioned high on the dashboard. The rotary controls for these are part of the touchscreen, so it looks like they are set on the screen with the temperature numbers in the centre.

Choose the Premium Plus model, and this adds natty infra-red heaters behind the lower portion of the dash in front of the driver and front passenger’s knees. It’s a low-energy consumption alternative to cranking up the heating on a cold day, and it feels like putting a blanket over your legs.

What is the interior quality like?

The materials used throughout the interior are befitting of a premium model, with lots of soft leather, grained plastics and metal switchgear on display.

One novelty that can also be found on the Lexus NX and Lexus LBX SUVs is the e-Latch electronic door release. Rather than having pull handles, the RZ has a button release on the back of the handle that opens the doors from the outside, while a similar push-button arrangement is fitted inside.

From on board, simply grab the interior handle, press the button with your thumb and push the door open at the same time. It takes a bit of getting used to, but soon becomes second nature – it also has safety benefits, because the system uses sensors to detect if you’re opening the door into approaching traffic.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

A large 14-inch display controls most of the functions in the Lexus via the Lexus Link Pro software. However, the screen is integrated with a pair of touch-sensitive climate controls beneath – the rotary temperature dials are easy to use when on the move. Still, the buttons on the smooth display are less responsive.

The main screen is easy to navigate, with shortcuts stacked vertically to the right of the screen. Another button below the main screen takes you to a custom menu where you can add frequently used functions and quickly access the driver-assistance tech. If you want to utilise your phone instead of the on-board software, then there’s both Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity are provided as standard.

The Lexus RZ looks like a coupé-SUV from the outside, but clever EV packaging means that interior space isn’t compromised. The five-door body gives good access, with a powered tailgate fitted as standard on all variants.

Dimensions and size

The sporty profile of the Lexus RZ means it has a longer, lower appearance than some models, such as the upright Volvo EX40. It measures 4,805mm long and has a wheelbase measuring 2,850mm, which leaves short overhangs front and rear. The roofline is 1,635mm tall and blends into a steeply raked tailgate, so while it looks sporty, it’s set quite high. At 1,895mm wide, there shouldn’t be any issues with guiding the RZ through width restrictions, plus there is a full suite of parking sensors and cameras on offer to help.

How practical is the Lexus RZ?

Seats & space in the front

The centre console that divides the cockpit isn’t too high, so you don’t feel hemmed in by it, and there’s a wide range of wheel and seat adjustment, meaning it’s easy to get comfortable at the wheel. Rear visibility could be better, especially because there’s no rear windscreen wiper to clean the screen, but cameras and parking sensors help when reversing.

The central armrest bin has a clever lid that can be opened from the front or rear, and there is a large void beneath it for storing items. Ahead of that are a pair of cup-holders with rubber grips, plus there’s a wireless charging pad under the main touchscreen. 

There’s additional hidden storage beneath the centre console that’s accessed via slots on either side. These are covered by fabric flaps that you lift, but the opening is narrow, so only slim items such as phones, wallets or glasses will be able to fit. This is a useful space to use, because there’s no glovebox.

Seats & space in the back

A flat floor boosts cabin space in the back, while the seat is wide, so fitting three across it is simple enough. Legroom is good, but foot space is limited under the front seats. Two ISOFIX points are provided on the outer positions.

You might expect the RZ’s coupé-like profile to compromise headroom, but it’s actually fine – especially with Premium trim models and above that feature a panoramic roof with electrochromatic glass that eliminates the need for a retractable sunshade. This means headroom is fine.

Storage is poor in the back, with only small bottle-shaped door bins and no other pockets, but there are USB-C connections and a three-pin plug socket on the back of the central armrest for connecting devices.

Boot space

There’s a slightly high load lip on the RZ, but the floor is level with it, so loading heavier items is simple enough. The RZ has a false boot floor, though, and it lifts to reveal a deep well below that can take charging cables and other items, while lashing eyes and cargo hooks are set in the sides of the boot. 

The back seats fold to leave a completely flat load area, and a maximum capacity of 1,451 litres is decent. One slight disappointment is the load cover, which is made from flimsy fabric, although it folds in half so that it can be stowed under the boot floor.

Towing

The low 750kg maximum braked towing limit of the RZ means that any EV driver wishing to tow a decent-sized caravan will need to consider the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, or four-wheel drive Nissan Ariya because all pull greater weights.

With the might of Toyota behind it, and a certain weight of expectation around the Japanese giant’s first dedicated electric platform, you can be sure that the Lexus RZ has been developed to be as reliable and trouble-free as possible. 

If you do need to visit a Lexus dealer, you can expect some of the best customer service to be found anywhere in the new-car market, according to owners that have fed back to the Driver Power ownership survey.

Every version of RZ has lots of standard safety tech, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assistance, front and rear cross-traffic alert (it warns you of vehicles that’ll cross your path when reversing out on to a road), and traffic-sign recognition. Like the Subaru Soltera and Toyota bZ4X, the RZ has a driver monitor system to ensure you’re paying attention to the road. If it thinks you are falling asleep or your attention wanders, it’ll ping up a warning.

Warranty

The standard Lexus warranty is three years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first, which is similar to the sort of cover offered by the company’s premium rivals. There’s roadside assistance for the same period, too.

However, where Lexus pulls out an advantage is with its extended warranty. If you book a service at a Lexus franchise, then the company will cover your car for an additional 12 months or 10,000 miles, up to a maximum of 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Even better, if a regular service is missed or work is done on the car outside of the network, that won’t affect its eligibility; it’s just the time and mileage limits that apply.

The RZ’s battery warranty of eight years/100,000 miles can be extended to ten years or 600,000 miles, which is unmatched in the EV world. 

Servicing

Electric cars have fewer moving parts to maintain, so logic dictates that service costs should be cheaper when compared with combustion-engined models. That formula can be applied to the Lexus RZ, and the company’s fixed-price service plan costs just over £20 a month, which is around £15 a month less than a similar plan for the NX petrol hybrid SUV. However, that still means you need to budget around £700 for three years of maintenance costs when some rivals offer free servicing.

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.

Lexus RZ 450e Takumi long-term test

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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.