Late but luxurious – is the all-new Lexus RZ electric SUV worth the wait? The RZ450e is Lexus’s first luxury electric vehicle, and it boasts a spacious and luxurious interior, a relatively efficient powertrain, and a cossetting ride. However, at a starting price of $123,000 for the RZ450e Luxury and $135,000 for the RZ450e Sports Luxury, it’s also rather expensive, and there’s nothing particularly innovative to distinguish it from other luxury SUV EVs.
In fact, the RZ enters a crowded market that already includes the likes of the Tesla Model X, the Jaguar I-Pace, the Audi E-Tron, BMW’s iX and iX3, the Mercedes-Benz EQC and the Genesis GV60. However, as the saying goes, it’s better to be late than never, and the RZ does have some unique features that could entice luxury-minded EV buyers, such as vegan-friendly interior materials, large double-pane sunroof, and access to Lexus’s Encore Electrified Platinum owner program.
Once inside, the RZ’s spaciousness is immediately noticeable, and there’s plenty of legroom and headroom, particularly in the back seat, although footroom is a little tight due to the various machinery underneath to heat and cool the front seats. The rear seats fold down manually to increase cargo space, and the boot is generous but lacks under-bonnet storage. The dashboard is slim, but a glovebox has been deleted, which could be a deal-breaker for some buyers.
The RZ also features a 14.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with good graphics and logical menus, although it’s not without some glitches. The Sports Luxury variant gets a head-up display and vegan-friendly UltraSuede seats with heating options, but there are no climate controls for the second-row passengers.
Overall, the Lexus RZ represents a solid if not particularly innovative entry into the luxury SUV EV market. It’s spacious, comfortable, and luxurious, but it is also rather expensive, lacks some features, and faces stiff competition from established rivals. However, for those who want a reliable and prestigious EV with a genuinely ground-up EV design, the RZ could be worth the wait.
