Lexus RZ450e review

The Lexus RZ450e is the second electric car from the Japanese luxury brand. However, whereas the UX300e was adapted from an internal combustion engine architecture, the RZ450e was designed from the ground up as an EV.

It’s also larger and more spacious than the UX, providing some EV competition to the likes of the BMW iX3, Audi e-Tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC.

Value

The RZ450e is available in two models: Luxury and Sports Luxury, each of which is connected via the phone network to allow over-the-air software updates.

The RZ Luxury is priced from $123,000 plus on-road costs and includes 18-inch wheels, fake leather trim, surround view camera, heated front seats, dual-zone ventilation, wireless phone charging, smart key entry and a 14-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay.

It also comes with two charging cables, allowing slow charging from a regular powerpoint as well as a Type 2 to Type 2 charger for public charging stations that aren’t fitted with a cable.

The RZ450e also includes three years of charging on the Chargefox network (which has had its fair share of outages). Plus you get access to Lexus on Demand, which allows owners to borrow vehicles from a fleet of Lexus models at airports across the country. Buyers get eight days’ access up to four times during the first three years of ownership.

The $135,000 Sports Luxury picks up some features that arguably should be fitted to all models. We’re thinking memory buttons for the seats and a head-up display.

The Sports Luxury also gets 20-inch alloys, double glazed side windows, suede-look trim, adjustable ambient lighting, sunroof, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, head-up display, roof rails and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. Plus, there’s a radiant seat heating system that sends heat out from the lower dashboard to keep legs toasty.

Two-tone paint is available on the Sports Luxury for another $4200 and by late 2024 Lexus hopes to be offering the much-hyped yoke-style steering wheel.

The RZ is covered by a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with a separate eight-year, 160,000km warranty on the battery.

Inside

The RZ’s cabin is a mixed bag, especially in Luxury guise. Everything fits beautifully in the cabin but the base Sports doesn’t have the tactile and elegant materials we’ve come to know from Lexus. The plastics atop the doors could easily be found in a Toyota or a Mazda and the sizeable slab of fake leather isn’t at the levels Lexus has been known for.

The Sports Luxury has a much more upmarket feel. A wood-like grain in the centre console and textured trim where the glovebox should be is the start. The fake suede is also a big step up, especially on the door trims. The two-piece glass roof is also a classy addition. Press a button and it changes from a view of the sky to an opaque white.

No issues with space, which takes advantage of the flat floor that makes rear legroom generous. But the floor is relatively high, so taller folk will have their knees up higher. There are also an extra two USB-C outlets and central rear air vents.

Those up front are also well catered for and there’s a sizeable storage binnacle beneath the floating centre console (it partially makes up for the lack of a glovebox).

In either model the digital instrument cluster only utilises about half the space allocated, with warning lights (and a trip computer in the Luxury) sprouting up either side.

The 14-inch central screen is a lot more convincing, tilted towards the driver and with circular dials integrate in the screen to adjust the temperature on either side.

The boot does without a spare tyre (as with all rivals) but has a decent size space along with split-folding seats for bulky items.

Performance and efficiency

The Lexus RZ450e gets two electric motors for all-wheel drive. Unusually, the motor up front is bigger and more powerful than the one at the rear. It makes 150kW and 266Nm while the one out back has just 80kW/169Nm.

Combined, the output is 230kW and 435Nm, which is healthy but not spectacular by dual motor EV standards.

No qualms with acceleration, though. It pulls strongly from a standstill and the motors are respectably quiet.

There are also various drive modes that subtly adjust the steering and throttle response, although changing those modes is harder than it needs to be; instead of an easily accessible buttons it’s multiple presses of the touchscreen.

The claimed range is 400km according to the WLTP standard (Lexus is marketing the less relevant NEDC future, which yields 470km). Either way, our brief experience suggests something like 350km.

Charging

The RZ450e gets a 71.4kWh battery. It’ll accept up to 11kW of AC charge for a full fill in about seven hours. With the 7kW charger installed at home when you buy the car it’s more like 11 hours of charge time.

The maximum DC charge power is 150kW, which Lexus says can translate to a 10-80 percent charge – about 280km of WLTP range – in as little as 30 minutes.

Ride and handling

The RZ450e is claimed to deliver an electric take on the “Lexus driving signature”.

Perhaps the strongest attribute to back that up is the way it disposes of bumps. The Lexus RZ is nicely controlled and also soaks up road uglies with ease. It makes for a comfortable ride and one unflustered by repeated imperfections.

In Luxury guise some road surfaces lead to a fair bit of noise from the tyres, perhaps exacerbated by the near-silence of the drivetrain. Sports Luxury models don’t experience that as much due to double glazed side glass.

Another thing that upsets the silence is the beeper in reverse. Surely there are better ways to inform the driver they are about to go backwards…

Through corners the RZ450e is competent and happy to get along with some pace onboard. With either the 18-inch or 20-inch tyres there’s ample grip.

Less endearing is the dull feel in the steering, which takes the edge off the dynamic talent. The RZ also leans on its nose when you’re pushing on.

Talking point

The RZ does without a glovebox in part because of the radiant heating system that keeps legs warm. That means the owner’s manual ends up in the boot, in case anyone bothers to thumb through them these days.

But Lexus also points to the sizeable central binnacle that’ll easily look after small bags and other paraphernalia.

Safety

The RZ450e comes with a healthy dose of active safety gear, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot warning and safe exit assist, which can temporarily delay the opening of the doors if it detects a vehicle approaching from behind.

There’s also front and rear cross traffic alert to warn of vehicles approaching from the side when parking.

The driver monitor can get a tad over-eager in monitoring you and providing warnings and the lane keep assist system is also a long way from perfect.

Verdict

Lexus claims the RZ450e encompasses two decades of battery and hybrid technology expertise. Yet other than its distinctive design it doesn’t stand out at the luxury end of the EV crowd. That’s an issue considering its lofty price point.

The RZ is inoffensive and competent but not the beacon Lexus could really do with, especially given its tardiness to the BEV party.

Sure, the all-electric RZ is more convincing than the UX300e, but it remains an EV likely to appeal to traditional Lexus buyers who want to transition from hybrid rather than one likely to set a new benchmark.

Arguably the biggest appeal is the after-sales tempters, including temporary access to a fleet on non-EV models when you’re travelling.

Lexus RZ450e specifications

Price: $123,000 plus on-road costs (RZ450e Luxury), $135,000 plus on-road costs (Sports Luxury)

Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, car type (SUV), AWD

Range: 400km (WLTP)

Battery capacity: 71.4kWh

Battery warranty: 8 years/160,000km (guarantee of 70% of original capacity)

Energy consumption: 15.2kWh/100km

Motors: 1 front 150kW/266Nm and 1 rear 80kW/169Nm, combined output 230kW/435Nm

AC charging: 11kW, Type 2 plug

DC charging: 150kW, CCS combo plug

0-100km/h: 5.3 seconds