Lexus

RZ

The Lexus RZ is the Japanese manufacturer’s first dedicated fully electric vehicle. It’s a five-door luxury model that is beautifully refined and packed with high-end tech. In addition, it will soon feature the option of an innovative steer-by-wire system which is very futuristic thanks to its tiny butterfly-shaped steering wheel similar to that found in a race car.

The good

Styling, handling and refinement

The bad

Range is better on some rivals

Tech Specs

Price from

£62,600

Combined Fuel up to

Up to 272 miles range

0-62 from

5.3 seconds

max speed up to

99mph

co2 from

0g/km

Test Drive

Lexus RZ 450e – First Drive (2023)

Lexus has just unleashed its very first dedicated battery electric vehicle and it has certainly been worth the wait.

It’s called the RZ and brings a whole host of new innovations to the mix, including knee heaters and a dimming panoramic roof. There will even be a butterfly-shaped steer-by-wire system available from 2025 which is similar to those found in aircraft cockpits.

The RZ is available in trim levels called Premium which is likely to account for 20 per cent of sales, mid-trim Premium Plus, as tested, which is expected to scoop 45 per cent of sales and range-topping Takumi with 35 per cent of purchases. Prices are £62,600, £66,600 and £72,100, respectively.

All models feature a very clever Direct4 all-wheel drive system. The e-Axles consist electric motors on both axles constantly reacting to drive the wheels according to need. The process takes milliseconds to react and, as a result, the RZ can switch between front wheel-drive, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive – it simply depends where the most traction is required.

Whichever RZ you choose one thing is guaranteed – a truly strong road presence. Boasting dynamic, muscular styling, the RZ is built on the company’s e-TNGA platform. It has a low centre of gravity, aided by the positioning of the battery pack beneath the cabin and slim headlights with the Lexus ‘L’ motif in the daytime running lights.

As there is no engine to cool, the conventional spindle grille has been modified and is deeply integrated into the front of the car to deliver a strong 3D effect. Designers have also been able to lower the bonnet for a sportier appearance.

At the rear, there is a spoiler, plus smart light clusters with an LED light bar stretching the width of the car. The look is completed by 18 or 20-inch alloys and a choice of paintwork colours, including dazzling Sonic Copper and Graphite Black.

Moving inside, the clean, modern and spacious cabin is totally driver-focused with the 14-inch touchscreen system angled for ease of use. The Tahara synthetic leather seats on our test car were power-adjusted and could be heated or ventilated, while the steering wheel was also powered and could be warmed to fend off the winter blues.

The Radiant heaters, found on the top two trims, are positioned at knee level in front of the driver and front passenger. Unlike convection heating, they use infrared radiation to heat solid objects and use far less energy than the air con system. They work in conjunction with the seat heaters and feel like a warm blanket has been placed over your knees.

Another feature worth mentioning that is very subtle, but very eye-catching is the In-ei LED cabin illumination. This can be seen most clearly in the door panels when the car is powering down.

Although our main test car was mid-trim, we did drive the Takumi version and must mention the dimming panoramic roof. This heat-shielding feature keeps the heat out on hot summer days while keeping heat in during winter. It turns from opaque to clear and back again at the press of a button and this dispenses with the need of a shade. It is also more efficient than air conditioning and has no impact on passenger head room, unlike models with sun shades.

Back to our Premium Plus model which was generously equipped with bundles of on-board tech, such as the Lexus Link multimedia system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connection, a 10-speaker sound system, ‘Hey Lexus’ voice assistant, a reversing camera, Bluetooth and practical physical controls to alter the temperature settings.

And when it comes to performance, the RZ 450e has handling to perfectly match the dynamic styling. A 71.4kWh battery drives the front and rear e-Axles to deliver all-wheel drive. The front e-Axle has 150kW while the rear one offers 80kW. This results in a total output of 230kw or 309bhp with 435Nm of torque.

The acceleration out the starting blocks is rapid with the RZ sprinting from 0-62mph in just 5.3 seconds and onto a top speed of 99mph. Under WLTP testing the official driving range between charges is 272 miles (18-inch wheels) or 252 miles (20-inch wheels). And charging the battery takes 10 hours via a 7kW wallbox, 6.5 hours from an 11kW charger or 30 minutes if using a fast charger.

Like all Lexus cars, the RZ is beautifully refined with barely a sound filtering into the cabin and the excellent suspension set-up does a very worthy job of smoothing out bumps and dips in the road. That said; we were driving the car in France on beautifully maintained roads. Say no more!

It’s a very accomplished motorway cruiser sitting effortlessly at 70mph and whenever you need a sharp burst of pace there is ample power on tap at all times. Through twisting lanes, the RZ is perfectly balanced thanks to that lowered centre of gravity and all-wheel drive. There is no sign of body movement even when driven hard through tight bends and the grip is exceptional.

There are four drive modes to select called Eco, Sport, Custom and Range. Choose Range and the speed is limited to 62mph, there is less power output and the air con is deactivated.

In addition, steering wheel paddles allow the driver to alter the levels of regenerative braking with four settings. The strongest is ideal in busier town centres with lots of stop, start driving. The good all-round visibility is another plus factor here too with pedestrians, cyclists and cars appearing from all angles.

We also had a run in the RZ fitted with the One Motion steer-by-wire system which is still under development and is expected to be available in a couple of years’ time. There is no traditional steering column, instead the driver’s steering input is electronically communicated to the wheels. The result is instant response. It does take a little getting used to initially as the full lock is achieved by turning the wheel just 90 degrees either way.

But it does offer an insight into the future and would easily be absorbed into day-to-day life with more time behind the wheel … literally.

When it comes to practicality, the RZ stretches 4.8 metres in length, is 1.9 metres wide and 1.6 metres tall with a wheelbase of 2.85 metres. Back seat passengers benefit from plenty of legroom even with the front seats pushed well back and there is room for three adults to sit comfortably.

The boot has a powered tailgate, upgraded to hands-free with a kick sensor on Takumi versions, and the capacity is 522 litres. This increases to 1,451 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat.

In addition there are a number of practical storage options throughout the car, including a large compartment beneath the centre console with flaps covering any contents, a deep cubby box, door bins, seat back pockets, trays, a wireless charging pad and four USB-C ports to stay connected on the move.

There is no glovebox as the designers wanted to free up extra space for the front passenger and it’s that area that is warmed by the Radiant heaters.

The rear doors open nice and wide offering easy access to any child seats and there are Isofix fittings to the outer rear seats.

The RZ is packed to bursting with safety tech and driver assistance aids. One of the numerous features is the e-Latch with safe exit system that prevents doors from being opened into the path of a cyclist or another car.

And it’s also worth mentioning the superb Lexus warranty package which can be extended free of charge to 10 years or 100,000 miles provided the car is serviced at an authorised Lexus workshop.

All in all, the Lexus RZ makes a real statement to its rivals. It’s modern, stylish, packed with equipment, excellent to drive and adopts futuristic technology with ease.