Lexus’ first ground-up EV offers over 250 miles of range and seeks to rival the Tesla Model Y
- Over 250 miles of range
- Optional ‘yoke’ steering wheel
- On sale later this year
Lexus has unveiled its first-ever ground-up EV: the new Lexus RZ 450e. This new SUV will sit parallel to the full-size Lexus RX SUV in the brand’s range and will share many of its parts with the forthcoming Toyota bZ4X.
Pricing for the RZ 450e is yet to be revealed, but we expect it to start from over £50,000 when it goes on sale later this year. Electric SUVs are one of the most popular segments at the moment, with the RZ set to face strong pre-established rivals such as the Audi Q4 e-tron and Ford Mustang Mach-E.
2022 Lexus RZ 450e: design
In contrast with its rather convoluted name, the exterior of the new RZ 450e is much simpler than Lexus’ combustion-engined models. In place of the brand's trademark ‘spindle’ grille, the RZ instead gets a similarly shaped trim piece to aid aerodynamics. This is flanked by subtle vents which channel air through the wheel arches in order to further boost efficiency.
Speaking of the wheel arches, these are enhanced by plastic cladding in order to give off a more rugged appearance. At the rear, the RZ gets a sloping roofline and small ‘winglets’ in order to make the car as slippery through the air as possible. There is also a full width light bar, which is similar to the one used on the smaller Lexus NX crossover.
Elsewhere, the Lexus RZ 450e utilises a gloss black panel on the C-pillar to create the illusion that the roof is floating. Entry-level models will sit on a set of 18-inch alloy wheels, while higher-spec cars feature 20-inch alloys.
Interior and technology
German rivals have historically had the edge over Lexus in terms of technology, but the new Lexus RZ 450e gets the brand’s latest infotainment system which ditches the old touchpad setup in favour of a slick 14-inch touchscreen. This boasts digitised, physical climate controls and is supplemented by a fully-digital instrument cluster for the driver.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the RZ’s interior is the optional ‘yoke’ steering wheel. Similar to that found in the latest-generation Tesla Model X, this butterfly-shaped wheel offers a more driver-focused experience and comes as part of the ONE MOTION GRIP system. This steer-by-wire setup allows for sharper turns at lower speeds with minimal steering input – only a 150-degree turn of the wheel is needed to go from straight to full lock – as well as offering more precise steering at high speeds. Of course, if you prefer a more traditional steering wheel, a circular one is available without the drive-by-wire technology.
Elsewhere in the cabin, the RZ 450e also gets extensive ambient lighting and a dimmable panoramic sunroof that can block infra-red radiation. A novel addition are the ‘radiant’ heaters mounted at knee-level in front of the driver and passenger, which work in tandem with the sunroof to use recycled warmth to heat the interior, boosting efficiency by reducing the need for the traditional, electrically-powered heater.
Overall, the Lexus’ interior design is very similar to its mainstream sibling, the Toyota bZ4X, as well as the mechanically-identical Subaru Solterra. Thankfully, a smattering of sumptuous leathers and other premium materials should help justify the RZ’s inevitable price premium over those two cars.
Powertrain and range
As mentioned, the Lexus RZ 450e shares its underpinnings with the Toyota bZ4X. Just like the Toyota, the Lexus is powered by a dual-electric motor setup mated to a 71kWh battery. However, for the RZ the power is raised from 215bhp to 308bhp, which in combination with the four-wheel drive traction allows the car to accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds.
Official range and charging figures are yet to be released, but Lexus claims the RZ 450e will have a range that will “be able to cover more than 400 km (249 miles) in the combined WLTP cycle”. To achieve this, the RZ’s all-wheel-drive system can shut off the rear electric motor to save battery and a selectable ‘Range’ driving mode will take things a step further by limiting the car’s top speed and turning off the climate controls.
If relaxation is more of a concern than range, RZ drivers can make use of the extensive Lexus Safety System +. This includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, automatic headlamp high beam and a pre-collision warning. The system is also bolstered by a driver fatigue sensor and an enhanced blind spot monitoring system, which can prevent passengers from opening the door into a passing cyclist or pedestrian.
What does this mean for car buyers?
At face value, the new Lexus RZ 450e seems like a strong contender, with rivals such as the Mercedes EQC and BMW iX3 offering similar range figures. However, look closer and you’ll realise that these models are actually based on pre-existing combustion engined cars. If you compare the Lexus to similarly bespoke EV machines such as the Tesla Model Y and Skoda Enyaq iV, you’ll see that these cars offer a much greater range of over 300 miles.
We can expect the RZ 450e to be priced from over £50,000, despite the Toyota on which it’s based costing from just over £41,000. This, alongside somewhat mediocre range figures means that, on paper, the Lexus appears to lag behind the competition, despite being significantly late to the EV party. As a result, Lexus will be hoping the car’s design and driving experience will offset its disappointing numbers, while competitive finance deals and a low company car Benefit in-Kind rating will no doubt be required to further boost its appeal.
Keyword: New Lexus RZ 450e is a stylish electric SUV