Lexus has been slow to jump on the EV bandwagon, and that hesitation is on obvious display with its RZ 450e crossover (starting at $59,650). On the one hand, we like its eye-catching design and hallmark Lexus features, including an elegant interior and a planted on-road feel. But on the other, its underwhelming range, finicky gearshift, and so-so infotainment system give us considerable pause. This Lexus might still appeal to luxury shoppers who don’t like the minimalist leanings of the Tesla Model Y (starting at $43,990), but the latter remains our Editors’ Choice winner for electric CUVs thanks to its longer range, more modern interfaces, lower cost, and federal EV tax credit eligibility.
Disappointing Range
The Lexus RZ 450e is available in either a Premium or Luxury trim. Both employ a 150-kilowatt (kW) electric motor at the front axle and an 80kW motor at the rear axle for all-wheel drive (AWD). The dual-motor setup produces 308 horsepower and 321lb-ft of torque, which it channels through a single-speed gearbox.
(Credit: Doug Newcomb)Its 71.4kWh battery is small for the segment, so it's not surprising that the vehicle's range suffers. Per EPA estimates, the Premium version with 18-inch wheels gets 220 miles of range, while the Luxury edition with 20-inch wheels gets 196 miles. EPA-estimated fuel economy (or MPGe) is also a paltry 115 city/98 highway/107 combined for the Premium tier and 102/87/95 for the Luxury model. For comparison, Tesla's AWD Model Y Long Range with 19-inch wheels gets 330 miles of range and has a combined MPGe of 122, while the Genesis GV60 Advanced (starting at $59,290) gets 248 miles per charge with a combined MPGe of 95.
According to Lexus, it takes approximately 30 minutes to charge the vehicle's battery from 0 to 80% at a 150kW Level 3 DC fast charger. Meanwhile, going from 0 to 100% respectively requires 9.5 hours with a 240V Level 2 charger or 50 hours with a 120V Level 1 charger. In testing, it took about 25 minutes to charge the battery from about 15% to 80% at a 150kW Level 3 DC fast charger, while charging overnight for about 8 hours at a 240V Level 2 charger easily topped off the battery from about 45% to almost 100%.
(Credit: Emily Dreibelbis)Lexus is one of the many major EV brands that's switching its vehicles from Combined Charging System (CCS) ports to Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) starting in 2025. Models made before that change will be able to use Tesla's Supercharging network via an adapter once the switch is made.
Two Trim Options With Pricey Add-Ons
The Premium trim starts at $59,650 and comes with a 10-speaker audio system, adjustable front seats with driver’s seat memory settings, all-season tires, a dual-zone climate system with rear seat controls, five UCB-C ports, a Google-based infotainment system with a 14-inch touch screen, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, imitation leather upholstery, LED exterior lighting, single-color ambient lighting, and a two-panel panoramic glass roof.
(Credit: Doug Newcomb)The Luxury trim I tested has a base price of $65,150. It adds a 13-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound audio system, acoustic side glass, automated parallel and perpendicular parking, a digital key, a heads-up display, heated outer rear seats, multicolor ambient lighting, radiant floorboard heating for front-row occupants, summer tires, and Ultrasuede upholstery and door panel trim.
My test car also came with the Cold Weather Area package option ($200), which includes a windshield wiper deicer and a heavy-duty heater. Additional options included carpeted cargo mats ($140), an electrochromic panoramic glass roof ($550), an illuminated front badge ($200), key gloves ($25), Lexus logo puddle lamps ($325), mudguards ($150), and premium paint ($500). With a $1,150 delivery, processing, and handling fee, the final price for my test unit came to $68,390. The Lexus is not eligible for the federal EV tax credit.
Sharply Angled Sheet Metal
Historically, Lexus has gone with slightly boring, boxy car designs, but the bold, sharply angled RZ 450e is a stark departure. The prominent, black-outlined wheel well arches, mostly grille-less front, and severely truncated rear make it look like no other car on the road—except for its Toyota bZ4X EV corporate cousin. The Tesla Model Y looks dated by comparison, while rival luxury EVs such as the Volvo C40 Recharge (starting at $53,600) take a more conservative design approach.
(Credit: Doug Newcomb)Ultra-plush, whisper-quiet interiors are a large part of the Lexus appeal, and the RZ 450e doesn’t disappoint in either regard. The Ultrasuede interior upholstery looks and feels luxurious, while passenger space in the front and rear is generous. There's no frunk, but a rear cargo area with 35 cubic feet of space outclasses the Tesla Model Y’s 30 cubic feet, the Genesis GV60’s 24 cubic feet, and the Volvo C40 Recharge’s 15 cubic feet.
(Credit: Doug Newcomb)The RZ 450e's cabin offers a few unique features. For example, the optional electroluminescent glass roof can go from opaque to clear with the touch of a button, while fish scale backlighting on the doors and dash adds a distinctive look. That said, I'm not a fan of the dial-style shifter because its shift-by-wire operation isn't intuitive. The recessed interior door handles are also tedious to use since they require two pushes to open. Finally, the built-in wireless device charger audibly buzzes when it cycles, which interrupts the otherwise quiet interior.
Slightly Outdated Tech, But Helpful Driver Assists
The RZ 450e’s 14-inch touch-screen infotainment interface is fairly easy to use but borrows heavily from older models. Its minimalist instrument panel looks nice but is of the traditional variety. Competitors such as BMW, Hyundai, and Mercedes have shifted to slicker, dual-screen setups, with identically sized and adjacent infotainment and instrument cluster displays that show more information and provide readier access to features. The good news is that both wired and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are on board.
(Credit: Doug Newcomb)A subscription-based in-cabin Wi-Fi service supports up to five simultaneous devices as well as enables direct connections to the Apple Music and Amazon Music streaming services. Lexus' Enform Remote subscription service is also available. It enables you to remotely lock or unlock your doors, start your vehicle, adjust the climate control settings, find a charging station, check your vehicle's charging status, start or stop charging, and tweak charging schedules via the Lexus mobile app (available for Android and iOS).
The RZ 450e includes a comprehensive array of safety features. Aside from the basics like front-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and lane centering, there's also a safe exit assist that can detect a vehicle or bicycle approaching from the rear. In testing, however, I found the driver-monitor camera system to be overly nagging because it issued a warning when I simply glanced around or looked down quickly to operate the infotainment system. Other systems I’ve tested aren’t nearly as sensitive.
(Credit: Emily Dreibelbis)The 10-inch heads-up display is one of the best in the segment and I like that you can adjust its size directly via steering wheel buttons. Moreover, you can choose between three levels of detail for the display.
Built for Comfort, Not Speed
The RZ 450e doesn’t provide the instant throttle of other EVs, but its 308 horsepower still allows for impressive acceleration in Sport mode. Eco (substantially decreases acceleration), Normal (feels sluggish), and Range (increases maximum range) round out the other drive modes, while a customizable fifth option allows for driver adjustments.
Brake regeneration is minimal, and one-pedal driving isn't available like it is on many other EVs. The battery’s weight gives the crossover a low center of gravity and plants it on the road for a stable feel. But Lexus tunes the suspension more for comfort than performance, so the vehicle feels more wobbly through corners and twisty roads than many other high-end EVs I've tested.
(Credit: Doug Newcomb)A Tepid First Try
The debut EV from Lexus is unsurprisingly a mixed bag given the company's slow embrace of a gas-free future. A classy interior, eye-catching exterior, and flexible heads-up display are all points in its favor. But limited battery range and some driving experience quirks prevent it from competing in the all-electric luxury crossover segment. Legacy Lexus drivers might prefer the upscale, distinctive stylings of the RZ 450e to rivals, but Tesla's Model Y retains our Editors' Choice award because it takes you further on a charge and costs less.