Lexus RZ 450e: Hands-On With the First All-Electric Lexus!!!
The RZ 450e may be the sleekest Lexus crossover yet, but will customers miss leather seating and optional F Sport elements?
Before we begin… Lexus RZ 450e driving impressions remain embargoed until March 13, so consider this a first-look review of its features and amenities. Make sure to come back on the 13th to learn more about what it’s like to drive the first all-electric Lexus as well as the first steering-by-wire Lexus.
Lexus and Toyota may have pioneered electriFIED — aka hybrid — vehicles. But the company has taken a more conservative approach towards battery-electric vehicles or BEVs. And so, as the first he first all-electric Lexus finally debuts, the question remains…
Will the Lexus RZ stand out amidst a growing field of luxury all-electric crossovers?
The Basics
The RZ 450e is the first Lexus to debut on the new e-TNGA global platform, following the Toyota bZ4x and Subaru Solterra. And although they all share the same 71.4 kWh battery and 150 kW front motor, the RZ isn’t just a fancy re-badge.
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The RZ delivers more power, thanks to the Lexus-exclusive DIRECT4 rear e-Axle. It’s also stiffer, courtesy of additional structural bracing front and rear. And Lexus says the engineers developed the RZ around the Lexus Signature Driving Experience. Refined. Capable. Tuned for stability. At first glance, one might be forgiven for assuming the RZ is simply an electric RX, since they share the same 112.2-inch wheelbase. But place the siblings together, and the differences are more obvious.
The RZ sits lower to the ground overall with a shorter, swooping nose, unique aero, and more dramatic body lines. Up front, the infamous spindle grille is all but gone in a move that appears both on-brand and surprisingly subtle. Around back, one’s eyes are drawn to the thinner, angular taillights as well as the twin roof-mounted fins Lexus engineers call vortex generators.
What are vortex generators, you ask? To oversimplify, Lexus sculpted the entire roofline to direct air downward over the rear glass which adds downforce and removes the need for a rear wiper. In other words, they act a bit like a spoiler on a sports car, but don’t suffer ill effects from crosswinds. The net result is a more stable vehicle in every scenario, improved aerodynamics, and some weight savings to boot.
Speaking of stability, the RZ is the first Lexus crossover to feature a staggered wheel and tire setup. (Its rear wheels and tires are wider than the fronts.) This decision was made to help the vehicle feel more stable during development.
Pricing & Availability
When the RZ 450e begins production later this year, Lexus will offer two trim levels: Premium and Luxury.
Premium pricing starts under $60,000 with the 18″ wheels. Luxury models start in the mid-60s. On our press tour, Lexus had a couple of Premium models under $61,000 as well as a few priced around $63,000. On the Luxury side, most of the available testers came in around $67,300 with one caveat…
Lexus has yet to announce pricing and availability for the optional Steer By Wire system (more on this below) on the Luxury trim. So we very well could see $70,000 models when all is said and done.
Produced alongside the Lexus LC at its Motomachi Plant, Lexus expects to deliver 4,900 RZs to the United States during the first model year. Lexus plans to prioritize high-volume dealers, naturally, with more allocations heading toward states with stricter emissions laws. That said, despite limited availability, at least one Lexus RZ will be available at every single Lexus USA dealership in all 50 states.
RZ 450e Power & Range
The RZ features dual electric motors / e-axles. Up front, the 150 kW front e-axle produces 201 horsepower and 196.4 ft.-lbs. of instant torque. Out back, the 80 kW DIRECT4 e-axle produces an additional 101 horsepower and 123.4 ft.-lbs. of torque. With 308 total system horsepower, Lexus claims a 5.0-second 0-60mph run time in all trims, making it 0.9 seconds faster than the RX 500h F Sport Performance. (Both times measured with a 1-foot rollout.)
The Premium trim weighs 4,564 pounds with the standard 18-inch wheels and has an EPA-estimated range of 220 miles. Add 20-inch wheels to the Premium and weight rises to 4,586 pounds while range drops to 196 miles. Luxury models come standard with 20-inch wheels and share the same 196-mile range. It’s also the portliest at 4,619 pounds.
To get the best mileage — and perhaps exceed these EPA estimates — Lexus added a new drive mode called Range, which does two things. First, it uses only the rear DIRECT4 e-axle for propulsion (unless more power is needed). And second, it turns off the HVAC system (a major source of battery drain, and yes, it can be turned back on).
Hooked up to a DC Fast Charger producing 150 kW, Lexus claims the RZ will recharge from 0% to 80% in about 30 minutes. At home with 240V Level 2 Chargers, expect a 0% to 100% charge to take 9.5 hours. Most BEV charging takes place in the latter scenario. Drive in the day; plug in overnight.
For those looking to do an occasional road trip and afraid of using the current (mediocre at best) EV charging infrastructure, Lexus also includes 30 days of free Lexus vehicle rentals with the purchase of any new RZ.
(NOTE: Auto manufacturers don’t recommend using fast chargers above 80% because charging rates slow dramatically to protect the battery, which makes fast charging past that point cost prohibitive. )
Interior & Amenities
In the name of sustainability, you won’t find any leather or real-wood surfaces inside a Lexus RZ. Premium models wrap seats in (the convincing) NuLuxe faux leather, while Luxury models upgrade to the sportier Ultrasuede. The results — available in Dapple Gray, Palomino, Thunderstorm and Macadamia — resemble more basic Lexus models, lacking a certain amount of refinement and elegance. There’s also no F-Sport model or package, which means no adaptive suspension components or well-bolstered front bucket seats.
This more basic design carries over onto the door panels, which lack the intricate stitching and design patterns found on most Lexus vehicles. The goal, apparently, was to reduce materials and create a calming, simple environment. To make up for the missing elements, at least at night, designers added Shadow Illumination, which projects Lexus patterns onto the door panels with an LED light. (Premium models in white; Luxury models allow custom ambient lighting.)
Despite being shorter (in height) compared to the RX, the all-electric RZ actually features more passenger space. There’s an inch or more of legroom front and back. And two extra inches of headspace thanks to the dual-pane glass roof’s lack of a physical, motorized shade. (More weight savings.) Upgrade to a Luxury model with the optional Dynamic Sky moonroof and the glass panel will turn a milky-white opaque at the press of a button (and or any time the car powers down.)
Lexus also added new knee-level radiant heaters on the Luxury trim for both front passengers. Radiant heaters pull warmth directly from the battery’s cooling system and, if engaged, should warm front passengers saving energy versus running the conventional heater (which remains intact, just to be clear.)
However, despite a few missing premium elements, the RZ’s interior boasts the larger 14″ Lexus Interface infotainment screen as standard. (Luxury models add a head-up display as well as a Mark Levinson sound system.)
Steer By Wire AKA The Lexus Yoke
Not available when the RZ launches this year, the optional steer-by-wire system is radically different from the standard system. There’s no steering shaft. No mechanical backups. Everything is motorized with multiple redundancies, even a bespoke third battery tucked under the dash to ensure the steering works even if everything else fails.
Then there’s the variable steering ratio, the physical yoke-style steering wheel, and the revised gauge cluster location.
Variable steering ratios — which alter the amount of steering input based on vehicle speed — aren’t new. But rarely are they so dramatic. For the RZ, at parking lot speeds, turning the wheel roughly 100 degrees to the right or left achieves full lock. In a conventional system, the same hard turn requires one and a half full wheel-turns or 540 degrees. Yet, when cruising down country roads or on the highway, the yoke acts like a normal steering wheel.
The yoke itself is comfortable in the hand with its soft, supple faux leather. Lexus rearranged the standard wheel’s buttons — and somehow they’re even less ergonomic — while adding some dials for headlights and windshield wiper motors.
Most surprising in the whole system is that, without a circular wheel to navigate eye lines, Lexus designers pushed the gauge cluster away from the driver and upward. This results in a gauge cluster that’s much closer to the center of one’s vision, making checking things like mileage or speed easier and safer than the standard cluster.
Exterior & Design
Looking at the Lexus RZ, it might share a wheelbase with the new RX, but the RZ’s exterior dimensions are actually closer to the smaller NX. The RZ also benefits from more dramatic body lines that swoop backward from the front wheels. And the whole nose area is less bulbous than the RX, which some have started calling “the dolphin nose.”
In short, the RZ 450e may be the most attractive Lexus crossover on the market, subjectively speaking. Although I do wish the wheel arches were available in body color.
Speaking of colors, the RZ offers seven different paint options —
- Caviar
- Iridium
- Cloudburst Gray
- Cloudburst Gray + Oxford Black Bi-Tone
- Eminent White Pearl
- Ether
- Ether + Oxford Black Bi-Tone
Both bi-tone color schemes feature black on the hood and roof, and silver or blue on the sides. I applaud the effort, but am not sure this crossover has the visuals to pull off something more commonly seen in sports and supercars. Otherwise, the colors are all pretty muted and there are no standouts like the RX’s new Copper Crest.
From left to right: 18″ Premium wheel, 20″ optional Premium / standard Luxury wheel, 20″ optional Luxury wheel
Wheel nerds will get to pick from three different wheel options. The Premium’s base wheel is a gray and polished 18-incher. Premium models can also upgrade to the standard Luxury 20-inch wheels. And Luxury models offer a secondary 20-inch multi-spoke wheel design that’s similar to other Lexus Luxury wheels.
RZ 450e Pros & Cons
Pros
- Stylish design
- Lots of standard tech
- Comfortable, roomy interior
- Quickest Lexus crossover ever (to 60 mph)
- Pricing in line with the RX
Cons
- Limited range (compared to a Model Y or Mustang Mach-E), especially with 20″ wheels
- Lacking premium design elements like leather seating
- Plain interior
- No F-Sport option or adaptive suspension
- No shade for the glass roof
Should You Order One?
The Lexus RZ 450e is more than the sum of its spec sheet and press photos. Priced like a more premium RX, the RZ lacks a bit of interior flair and refinement. On the outside, it’s rather handsome as crossovers go, evoking an almost coupe-like appearance and more style than most Lexus crossovers. And yet it’s down on range compared to some of the competition, which could be especially concerning for anyone who sees long winter months.
In short, the first all-electric Lexus is for urban and suburban homeowners with limited commutes (say 100 miles per day or less) with access to at-home charging. In that sense, as a daily driver, it feels very much like a Lexus crossover. Practical. Roomy. Ergonomic. In fact, given how quiet Lexus vehicles typically are already, most folks might not even know it’s an EV. Nor will you won’t have to worry about going to the gas station every week or getting oil changes every few thousand miles.
I don’t think it’s going to set the market on fire, but it achieves most of what Lexus is setting out to do.
Lexus RZ 450e Quick Specs
- Dual motors (150 kW front; 80 kW rear)
- Battery: 71.4 kWh
- Level 2 (240v) Charging (0-100%) – 9.5 hours
- Level 3 150kW DC Fast Charging (0-80%) – 30 minutes
- Power: 308HP (230kw)
- Torque: 320 ft.lbs
- Trim Levels: Premium & Luxury
- Range: 220 miles with 18″ wheels; 196 miles with 20″ wheels]
- 0-60 mph: 5.0 (with a 1-ft rollout)
- Top Speed: 99mph (limited)
- Wheelbase: 112.2 inches (same as RX)
- Curb Weight: Premium (4,564 lbs); Premium w 20s (4,586 lbs); Luxury (4,619 lbs)
Photographs by Michael S. Palmer
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