Lexus RZ300e review: two-wheel-drive option puts refinement to the fore

October 1, 2024 Matt Allan

We find out if a new front-wheel-drive version of Lexus’s flagship EV is the one to go for

Electric power has always felt like an obvious fit for Lexus. It delivers the sort of smooth, silent and easy power that matches its image of refined luxury.

But the brand’s first attempt – the UX – felt compromised by its shared ICE/EV platform.

What was really needed was a bespoke EV, built on its own dedicated platform. And that’s where the RZ comes in.

Sitting between the NX and RX hybrid models, the RZ is larger than models such as the BMW iX3, Jaguar I-Pace and Audi Q4 e-tron but smaller than the Q8 e-tron or BMW iX. And after launching with a powerful all-wheel-drive version, Lexus has now expanded the line-up with a more accessible single-motor option.

Design, interior and technology

The RZ clearly fits into the Lexus SUV family, with its angular lines and smoothed-off version of the trademark spindle grille bringing a refreshing alternative to aggressive European rivals. The EV platform has allowed Lexus to play about with the dimensions slightly, so the RZ has a low, stretched bonnet that’s echoed in the long, gently angled roofline. It’s a touch more modern than the rest of the Lexus stable but without being so different that it will put off existing Lexus customers.

The interior is a similar story, where the RZ updates the basic Lexus approach for a slightly sharper, more futuristic feel. The centre of the dashboard is dominated by a smoothly integrated 14-inch screen running the latest Lexus infotainment system, which is leagues ahead of what came before. The screen is sharp, rapid to respond and features large icons that mean it’s easy to operate, even with a lot of features to navigate through. For those who prefer an Android or Apple interface, there’s mirroring for both.

Away from the screen, there are plenty of buttons for key functions and blessedly large and simple heater dials, although the digital instrument panel feels a little basic compared with rivals’.

As you would expect from Lexus, the cabin materials are exemplary and the car has hewn-from-rock levels of build quality. In going its own way, Lexus has avoided the now ubiquitous use of ‘premium’ gloss black and shiny silver and has, instead, gone for an attractive gunmetal grey finish to many of the surfaces, complemented by blue-grey woodgrain effect on the broad centre console.

Although it shares its underpinnings with the Toyota BZ4X, Lexus has done a brilliant job of making the RZ feel like its own car. That ranges from the remarkable refinement – which is brought about by additional structural strengthening and sound insulation – to the generous cabin space. The RZ offers substantially more room all round for passengers, meaning there’s plenty of space for four adults to travel in comfort, and a 522-litre boot.

Battery, motor and performance

The RZ launched in March 2023 in RZ450e form with a 309bhp four-wheel-drive powertrain. For 2024, Lexus has added a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive variant that costs less and promises improved range over the two-motor version.

The RZ300e uses the same front motor as the 450e and simply ditches the second drive unit at the rear. That means power drops to 201bhp and performance takes a hit. The 0-62mph run now takes a relaxed 8 seconds rather than a rapid 5.3 seconds.

That’s still decent enough and at lower speeds there’s still the immediate pick-up from the motor. It’s only on faster roads that the RZ300e starts to feel a little breathless under hard acceleration.

Frankly, high-speed performance isn’t what the RZ is about anyway. The marketing material talks about Lexus Driving Signature as if it’s a thoroughbred racing machine but the true Lexus ‘signature’ is an unruffled and relaxed approach, which the RZ300e gets perfectly.

The steering is accurate but not particularly quick or communicative and you’ll get on far better taking things a little more sedately, which is when the RZ’s hugely composed ride and impressive levels of refinement come to the fore. Like virtually every Lexus before it, the RZ majors on being smooth, silent and undemanding.

A more chilled-out driving style also gives the best chance to get the most from the 71.4kWh battery. The RZ300e offers an official maximum range of 297 miles, in contrast to the 450e’s 272. On the bigger wheels, that drops to 268 for the RZ300e, with consumption of 3.8m/kWh. My relatively short run over country roads returned around 3.5m/kWh – on a par with most similar sized SUVs I’ve driven recently.

Worth noting is Lexus’s battery warranty. Battery health continues to be a worry for some drivers but Lexus is so confident in its technology that it offers an unprecedented 10-year, 620,000-mile warranty. And unlike some that guarantee 70 or 80% of the original capacity, Lexus guarantees at least 90% usable capacity after a decade.

Price and specification

Along with the new entry-level powertrain, Lexus has added a more affordable Urban trim level to the RZ range. This is offered with both 300e and 450e setups and costs from £49,995 for the two-wheel-drive car.

Even at the entry point, the RZ comes with 18-inch alloys, auto-dipping LED lights, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, a 10-speaker sound system, keyless entry, parking sensors and a reversing camera. It also gets smart functions like the e-latch that stops you opening the door into approaching traffic/cyclists, lane change assistance, and a heat pump.

Above that the Premium spec added heated seats, a powered tailgate, panoramic roof, and synthetic leather upholstery, while my Premium Plus car (£55,495) also got a head-up display, cooled seats and front radiant heaters – knee-level panels which heat the cabin using less energy than the air conditioning system. Top-grade Takumi brings luxury features such as a Mark Levinson sound system, and sportier suspension, and a £61,095 price tag if you opt for the bi-tone paint.

Verdict

The RZ is exactly what you’d expect from an electric Lexus. It’s smooth, super-refined and beautifully engineered, but a little lacking in the dynamic stakes.

It’s also spacious, packed with well considered technology and keenly priced as a leftfield alternative to European options.

The two-wheel-drive 300e definitely suffers in the performance stakes and feels slightly pedestrian but brings better efficiency and range, plus a more accessible price for those who don’t need the full-on performance of the all-wheel-drive.