Lexus is known for exceptionally smooth and quiet luxury vehicles. Electric vehicles (EVs) are known for exceptional acceleration, serene quiet, and smooth power.
Can you imagine what the first Lexus electric vehicle will be like? You don’t need to imagine it. It’s here.
Our test driver says the 2023 Lexus RZ is “exceptionally and effortlessly quick” with the kind of opulent interior you expect from Lexus.
The RZ is a compact SUV built on the same platform as the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra but with the unique design touch Lexus craftspeople bring to their jobs. It slots between the compact NX and the midsize RX and offers up to 220 miles of range between charges.
Lexus builds the RZ in Premium (starting at $59,650) and Luxury ($65,150) trim levels. The 2023 RZ 450e Luxury is at the top of the lineup. It’s complete enough that dealers offer few ways to upgrade it. But buyers can add a cold weather package, a panoramic glass roof, an illuminated front badge, and a digital rearview mirror.
Let’s explore what Lexus offers on the 2023 Lexus RZ 450e Luxury.
308 Horsepower, 196 Miles of Range
The RZ gets 308 horsepower from a pair of electric motors, one on each axle. That gives it all-wheel drive (AWD) grip, but it’s not a simple AWD system. Test driver Colin Ryan explains, “Power can be distributed between the front and rear wheels according to the conditions and demands. For example, at the exit of a corner, it’s the rears that gain 80 percent for maximum traction and efficient acceleration. Other times, most of the work is done by the front wheels for optimum efficiency. The driver doesn’t really feel all this going on. Transitions are seamless.”
The instant power of electric cars combined with flexible grip makes the RZ 450e feel athletic. Ryan says, “It’ll do 0-60 mph in a scant 5.0 seconds without breaking a sweat or waking the neighbors.”
The Luxury edition gets slightly less range than the Premium because it rides on 20-inch wheels instead of 18-inch models.
Expressive colors inside and out
We examine every car on the American market in detail, so we have to report on one unfortunate trend — car color has grown boring in 2023. Exteriors tend to be gray; interiors are black or beige.
Lexus designers are some of the few getting more creative. The RZ450e is available in interesting two-tone color schemes outside, gorgeous interior combinations like denim blue (Lexus calls it Thunderstorm), creamy Macadamia Ultrasuede faux leather, and elegant charcoal trim. Palamino and gray Ultrasuede has tasteful depth.
Mark Levinson audio system
Most luxury cars include exceptional audio systems, but our editors consistently find Lexus systems among the best. The 13-speaker Mark Levinson system in the RZ 450e is excellent, putting out a full 1,800 watts of power — a lot for a compact vehicle.
Well-thought-out ergonomics
There’s a term used in automotive engineering and furniture design but not outside of it: “H-point.” It refers to the relative height of the hips and explains much of the appeal of the modern SUV. Many Americans buy larger vehicles for their higher H-points, which lets the driver see over traffic and avoid feeling crowded by more oversized vehicles.
The RZ 450e is not a huge SUV. Lexus kept it small enough to be easily maneuverable in urban settings. But designers gave it a high H-point to make you feel in command even between a Ford Expedition and Cadillac Escalade at the traffic light.
Lexus engineers say they studied tazuna — the reins favored by traditional Japanese equestrians — when designing the steering wheel and the controls that power the head-up display.
Advanced parking assist
The RZ Luxury edition handles steering, braking, and acceleration to maneuver itself into and out of tight parking spaces — forward, backward, or parallel.
Longer warranty than many rivals
Some alternatives offer a 3-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Lexus outdoes that with four years or 50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and six years or 70,000 miles of powertrain coverage. The battery has a separate policy good for eight years or 80,000 miles.
More Lexus RZ
Read our full review or build and price your own Lexus RZ. If you’re ready to take action, check out the Lexus RZ models for sale near you.
