Lexus RZ

We tested Lexus’ new electric SUV, which faces tough competition in a crowded segment. It may appeal to loyal Lexus fans, but it may need more bold choices to attract others.

Lexus leads the way in hybrid cars that use both gas and electric power. It has made this option available for all its models. It has done a good job with hybrid technology. But what about electric cars? Lexus (and its parent company Toyota) are behind on this front. They didn’t need to make their engines more efficient like other car makers did to meet Europe’s tough environmental rules.

So Lexus went from being a top player in clean cars to being slow and late. The RZ we tested recently is only its second electric car after the UX300e. And it’s their first one using Toyota’s new e-TNGA platform for electric vehicles which also powers bZ4X. Other brands have many more choices: Genesis and Audi have three electric models each; BMW has six; Mercedes has eight.

Toyota says electricity is not enough for green cars in the future. They think hybrids and hydrogen cars will still be important while others plan to go fully electric soon. The Japanese have a different vision for how cars will run in years to come.

Design and interior

The RZ looks like a coupe with its low roofline, closed front grille shaped like an hourglass, and slim rear lights. It has a striking design but not very original.

The cabin is similar to other Lexus models and has a traditional style. There is a big center console and a touch screen (“14) that runs most of the car’s functions, plus buttons for sound and temperature. The screen has clear Hebrew text and responds quickly, but you have to dig through menus to find driving modes. The digital dashboard is small (“8) and shows lots of information but you can’t customize it.

The doors have hidden switches to open them electrically, but they are not as good as handles that slide in and out and improve aerodynamics. You also need to use a special switch to open them from inside, which we don’t like. The driver’s seat has good support and visibility, and high-quality materials like Alcantara-like upholstery in the top version. There is no glove box, just a small space with a fabric “door” under the console. The RZ has the same wheelbase as the RX (285 cm), so rear legroom is similar, but it’s lower (163.5 cm) and shorter (480.5 cm), which makes its trunk smaller by 90 liters (522 liters). It doesn’t have an extra trunk in front like some electric cars do.

The base model (Starting at 59,650 in the U.S) has many features like cameras around the car, faux leather seats with heat and power, electric trunk door, and sunroof. The next model in line has cooled front seats and heated back seats. The top model has Alcantara seats, Mark Levinson speakers, and a sunroof that dims. The car has safety features like braking by itself (even for cross traffic), staying in lane (and changing lanes or steering away from obstacles), cruise control that adjusts speed, blind spot alert (and door opening alert), and face scanning camera for driver attention.

Engine and performance

The Lexus RZ has two electric motors that produce a combined power of 313 hp. The front motor (204 hp) is stronger than the rear one (109 hp), which is uncommon in this industry. The car can go from zero to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds, which is faster than other Lexus hybrid SUVs but slower than its Genesis competitor. It has four modes of regenerative braking that can be adjusted with levers on the steering wheel, but they are not very different and none of them allows driving with only one pedal like some other electric vehicles do.

The car’s battery capacity is on the lower end of its category (71.4 kWh) and it can travel up to 436 km on a full charge (404 km for models with “20 wheels). This is slightly less than Genesis GV70e and BMW iX3, but more than Mercedes EQC.

There is a Range mode that can save battery by turning off the air conditioner and limiting speed to 100 km/h, which can add about 10% more range, but most customers may not use it unless they have to. The car can be fast-charged from 10% to 80% in half an hour, which is similar to German models but longer than Korean ones. Lexus also offers an option to pay extra for extending the battery warranty from eight years or 160 thousand km to ten years or one million km, but there are no exact details yet.

Confort and Behavior

The Lexus RZ offers a comfortable and smooth ride for its target market, with better performance on smaller wheels. It has excellent noise reduction features, such as a double sunroof and speakers that cancel out unwanted sounds. It also has an advantage over its rivals in terms of weight, as it uses a smaller battery for its electric motor. This makes it more agile and responsive on the road. However, it could improve on its steering and braking feedback, which are not very satisfying. The car also has an innovative steering system that can change its angle according to speed. It resembles an airplane’s joystick and can turn 150 degrees from side to side. This sounds cool but it does not work well in practice. It tends to oversteer or understeer easily and requires constant adjustments to keep it on track. Lexus will have to fine-tune this system before launching it commercially.

Conclusion

The RZ is a comfortable and roomy electric car, but it lacks some features that make it stand out from its competitors. It does not have great performance, charging options or driver interface. It also does not make full use of its unique platform, unlike some other models that are more innovative and affordable. Lexus may appeal to its loyal customers who want a safe and familiar electric car, but it will need to be more decisive and bold if it wants to keep up with the changing market. It seems that Lexus is still unsure about its electric future.