The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Clean, refined interior
- Lexus’s first BEV
- Sized like the NX, as roomy as RX
- Smooth, quiet ride
- Good standard features
Dislikes
- Range falls short of rivals
- Charge times come up short, too
- That grille
- $60,000 feels high
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2024 Lexus RZ now comes in two models and two propulsions systems, but it’s still a fringe player in the EV segment.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Lexus RZ? What does it compare to?
The 2024 Lexus RZ electric crossover shares a platform with the Toyota bZ4X and seats five. It competes with other premium electric vehicles such as the Volvo C40, Genesis Electrified GV70, Cadillac Lyriq, and the bestselling Tesla Model Y.
Is the 2024 Lexus RZ a good SUV?
Addressing one of the RZ’s biggest shortcomings, Lexus improved the potential range in the second year of sales of the brand’s only electric car, and in so doing it also dropped the price. The EV technology still feels like a limited test case, as if testing what Lexus fans want in the marketplace. That limits the upside of its quiet, controlled ride, and its good standard feature set. It earns a TCC Rating of 8.0 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Lexus RZ?
Lexus adds a new model and new propulsion system to the RZ family for 2024. The new RZ 300e is a single-motor front-wheel-drive model with a 266-mile range. It joins the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive RZ 450e that has a 220-mile range, but the optional 20-inch wheels trim at least 24 miles of estimated range on either model.
The styling sets it apart from the related Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra. It stays in the Lexus family with a solid take on its bold spindle grille, and its floating roof and smooth body sides keep it on the sophisticated side of the crossover SUV spectrum. It’s sized between the Lexus NX and Lexus RX, yet rides lower and comes up shorter than the RX midsize crossover even though they have the same wheelbase.
That leads to an open floor plan under its panoramic sunroof for up to five passengers. Wood trim and two-tone leather upholstery splash the interior, and the standard 14.0-inch touchscreen reflects the brand’s embrace of more modern and seamless technology. The raked rear windshield cuts out some cargo room, but 23.7 cubic feet satisfies most weekend errands.
Though both models use permanent-magnet synchronous motors, the RZ 450e dual-motor model relies on a 71.4-kwh battery pack from Panasonic. The two motors make 308 hp, and provide peppy acceleration. The RZ 300e switches to a 72.8-kwh battery pack from CATL, and its single 201-hp motor on the front axle focuses more on extending range than packing a punch. We’ll update this review when we drive the 300e.
With MacPherson struts up front and an independent rear suspension, the RZ relies on its lower center of gravity and weight, as well as its varying torque distribution, to cover its handling needs instead of using adaptive damping. The RZ leans on the Lexus reputation for comfort, and it delivers. The brand’s steer-by-wire system offered in other markets would provide a welcome injection of engagement, however.
The RZ 450e earned highest honors from the IIHS, with a Top Safety Pick+ rating. It comes standard with driver-assist tech that includes blind-spot monitors, automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and adaptive cruise control.
How much does the 2024 Lexus RZ cost?
The new RZ 300e Premium costs $55,150, including a $1,150 destination fee. The RZ 450e Premium costs $59,850.
Swapping out 18-inch wheels for 20-inch wheels adds $1,240 on either model and cuts range significantly. It doesn’t qualify for any of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
Lexus equips it with plenty of standard equipment, including a 14.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, five USB ports, a satellite radio trial, an eight-way power driver seat, heated and cooled front seats as well as a heated steering wheel.
The top Luxury model costs $4,700 more on both grades, with the RZ 450e Luxury topping out at $65,580. It has a 13-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system, heated rear outboard seats, a 10.0-inch head-up display, parking sensors, acoustic glass, and a dimming panoramic sunroof.
Where is the 2024 Lexus RZ made?
In Toyota City, Japan.
2024 Lexus RZ Styling
A clean interior calms the busy exterior of the 2024 Lexus RZ.
Is the Lexus RZ a good-looking SUV?
Derivative but not a departure, the 2024 Lexus RZ embraces the brand’s modern angularity and big hourglass fascia on the outside, but simplifies the interior in what used to be a mishmash of buttons, dials, switches, pads, and overlapping dash elements. That earns it a point to a 6.
With a wheelbase as long as the Lexus RZ but about five inches shorter on either end, the RZ strikes an athletic pose, especially on available 20-inch wheels. Its squat greenhouse almost gives it the profile of a touring wagon as much as a crossover SUV, and Lexus wisely skips all the black cladding gumming up other SUVs, including the related bZ4X. In back, its floating rear roof sports twin wings instead of a traditional spoiler.
Inside, the RZ looks more like the Lexus NX than the Toyota bZ4X, and that’s a good thing. The instrument cluster sits closer to the steering wheel than the windshield, and the cluster arcs a standard 14.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Climate dials separated by a volume knob underscore the touchscreen. It’s a clean, uncluttered look, which is a nice about-face for Lexus.
2024 Lexus RZ Performance
Two powertrains let 2024 Lexus RZ buyers opt for power or efficiency.
The 2024 Lexus RZ comes in a 300e model with a single motor driving the front wheels or the 450e with dual motors and all-wheel drive. They each earn a point for spirited enough acceleration, and the planted handling complements the quiet ride to earn another point. It’s a 7.
Is the Lexus RZ 4WD?
New for 2024, the Lexus RZ 300e presents a more affordable and longer range single-motor model into the family. It uses a 72.8-kwh battery pack that feeds the 201-hp front motor for front wheel drive. We haven’t driven it yet, but will update this review when we do.
The 2024 Lexus RZ 450e carries over with dual-motor all-wheel drive. Lexus adopts permanent magnet synchronous motors in either application, and uses the same 150-kw front motor as the 300e, but the 450e adds an 80-kw rear motor. It also swaps in a 71.4-kwh battery pack that enables slightly quicker DC fast-charging times.
How fast is the Lexus RZ?
When it comes to quickness off the line, however, steer toward the 450e. Its dual motors make 308 hp and an estimated 320 lb-ft of torque. It doesn’t leap off the line like other electric crossovers, keeping more in line with a Lexus sedan than a sports car, but it smoothly hustles to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds.
In the 450e, the five drive modes vary the throttle response and torque distribution between the axles, but in most cases the system defaults to a 60:40 front-axle driving bias. Into turns, the bias shifts forward to manage understeer, and out of turns, torque shifts rearwards for better traction and acceleration. The 300e is all front-axle power all the time, and it reaches 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, according to Lexus.
Normal, Eco, Sport, and Custom modes are accessible only through three touches of the touchscreen; a toggle or console switch would be better.
The 450e’s fifth mode, Range, adds a more pronounced efficiency setting than Eco. It turns the throttle to mush, cancels climate control, and relies solely on the rear motor. There’s less power and less traction, but if you overcome your range anxiety, it will automatically switch to Eco mode at speeds above 62 mph. By our math, it was good around town for about a 5% to 10% boost in range compared to Eco mode.
Four regen braking settings via paddle shifters can also allay range anxiety, and the RZ ditches the old familiar B setting on the gear dial that’s ubiquitous in other electrified Toyota models. There’s no one-pedal brake setting, compelling drivers to use the actual brake pedal to finish the stop. Even in the strongest setting, it’s more smooth than it is grabby.
The RZ uses a conventional rack and pinion steering setup with electric assist that distances the driver from the road and is duller than the Lexus steer-by-wire system offered in other markets with a yoke for a steering wheel. The traditional steering wheel is narrower in diameter than most steering wheels, but that doesn’t make up for its numb feeling.
How does the Lexus RZ handle?
Lexus skips adaptive damping for reactive dampers on the multilink rear suspension to help soften the ride, and a rigid upper structure borrowed from the LC sports coupe limits vibrations and sway. In our testing, the RZ leans into turns like other crossovers, though it feels more planted than either the NX or RX, thanks in part to its lower ride height and its 4,619-pound curb weight suspended in the floor between the axles. The 300e weighs 4,332 pounds.
Like Willie Dixon sang, the RZ is built for comfort, it ain’t built for speed. Its quiet composure gets upset when pushed into rocking and rolling.
2024 Lexus RZ Comfort & Quality
The RZ’s creature comforts prove Lexus hasn’t forsaken what got it here.
Sized between the Lexus RX midsize crossover and the NX compact crossover, the 2024 Lexus RZ five-seater takes advantage of its open floor plan so it feels as roomy if not roomier than the RX. It shares the same 112.2-inch wheelbase, but it’s about three inches shorter in height and length. The driver sits a couple inches lower, however, but the headroom and legroom front and rear is slightly better than the RX. Despite the proportions, the RZ feels narrower than the RX, especially if trying to seat three people in back.
The RZ upholds the brand’s reputation for solid build quality, a mostly quiet ride, and a refined cabin; the wood trim on the dash looks and feels even better with two-tone upholstery. Comfy front seats with standard power adjustments and heating and cooling, as well as roomy rear seats, decent enough cargo space, and a warm fit and finish, each earn a point to a 9 here.
Rear-seat passengers may need to negotiate with front occupants. With the front seats in their lowest position, it squeezes the toeroom for those in back. Bigfoot rides shotgun by default. The rear seats recline a bit, but the latch on the seat top is used mostly for folding down the 60:40 split rear seats to expand the cargo space from a middling 23.7 cubic feet to 55.6 cubic feet. There’s no front trunk, but a subfloor in the hatch stows the charging cord. The raked rear windshield eats up vertical cargo space, but there have been worse sacrifices in the name of fashion.
2024 Lexus RZ Safety
The 2024 Lexus RZ earns a Top Safety Pick+.
How safe is the Lexus RZ?
By all measures, it’s safe. The 2024 Lexus RZ earned a Top Safety Pick+ award, the highest safety honor from the IIHS, but the NHTSA hasn’t gotten around to evaluating it.
Lexus equips it with standard driver-assist tech such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, adaptive headlights, adaptive cruise control, and a safe exit system that detects oncoming pedestrians or cyclists when opening a door. A standard driver-monitor camera reads the driver’s eyes so well that drivers may want to shut off the notifications buried in the touchscreen.
The monitor enables a limited hands-free driving system with the optional Traffic Jam Assist. On limited-access highways such as an interstate, the system keeps the vehicle in its lane and maintains its distance in stop-and-go traffic up to 25 mph.
2024 Lexus RZ Features
Good standard features and a new lower-priced 300e model make the 2024 Lexus RZ a relative value.
The well-equipped base content, good options, and much-improved infotainment system each earn a point here, but its 4-year/50,000-mile warranty misses a point for including only 1 year or 10,000 miles of complimentary maintenance. It’s an 8.
Which Lexus RZ should I buy?
The new single-motor RZ 300e costs $55,150, including a $1,150 destination fee for the base Premium and its 18-inch wheels. The dual-motor RZ 450e costs $59,850.
We’d sacrifice power for range with the RZ 300e. The Premium comes with a 14.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, five USB ports, a satellite radio trial, an eight-way power driver seat, as well as heated and cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel. Additional features include a digital key, a panoramic glass roof, a surround-view camera system, and a power tailgate.
How much is a fully loaded Lexus RZ?
The 2024 RZ 450e Luxury costs $65,580, and comes with synthetic suede-like upholstery, 50-color ambient lighting, a 13-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, a front knee heater, heated rear outboard seats, a 10.0-inch head-up display, parking sensors, and acoustic glass. The panoramic sunroof has a dimmer switch to filter out rays and turn the sun red.
2024 Lexus RZ Fuel Economy
The new single-motor RZ 300e has a range of 266 miles.
Is the Lexus RZ good on energy?
The range is shorter than most rivals, but the RZ uses its energy efficiently. Wheel and tire sizes make a big difference, however. With the standard 18-inch wheels, the new Lexus RZ 300e with a single motor has a range of 266 miles and an EPA rating of 125 MPGe. It gets about 3.5 miles per kwh. That’s a 10 on our scale. Slap on 20-inch wheels and those specs drop to 224 miles of range and 105 MPGe.
The Lexus RZ 450e has dual-motor all-wheel drive, a range of 220 miles, and an EPA-rated 107 MPGe. That translates to 3.1 miles per kwh.
The 20-inch wheels lower the range to 196 miles, and 95 MPGe combined. That’s about 2.8 miles per kwh.
How long does it take to charge the Lexus RZ?
A 7.0-kw onboard charger can be plugged into a 240-volt connection at 32 amps at home to charge either RZ battery to full in 9.5 hours. If you’re looking for an installer, Lexus has partnered with Qmerit to install ChargePoint 240-volt chargers in homes.
