Quality and reliability—the two go hand in hand and are often interchangeable when it comes to Lexus. Having mastered hybrid powertrains, Lexus’ path toward full electrification is an unexpected journey, still unfolding with many more chapters yet to be written.

The new RZ crosses into new disciplines, resulting in Lexus’s first fully electric SUV. But has Lexus mastered the art of silence, or do they still need a few more science lessons? A bad pun, I know—but let us begin.

The Exterior

If you decry the era of generic-looking SUVs, the Lexus RZ EV breaks the trend with its original, I would say origami-inspired design language. When a design simply looks good, there really isn’t much else to add without succumbing to superfluous “design language” talk.

Entry-level RZ models start at £50,145, rising to £66,845 for the top-of-the-range variants. There are two power variants: the 201 bhp FWD 300e and the 313 bhp AWD dual-motor 450e. There are 12 trim levels on offer, along with plenty of paint options and additional optional extras and packs.

The midspec FWD RZ 300e is powered by a 150 kW electric motor, equivalent to 204 bhp and 266 Nm of torque, paired with a 71 kWh battery pack.

The Interior

Opening the door, you immediately notice the solid heft; it shuts like a bank vault, sealing you off from the outside world. Once seated in the driver’s seat, a sense of serenity sets in—the cabin is trimmed in Lexus’s Ultrasuede upholstery and trim finish, soft-touch surfaces abound throughout; the fit and finish feel a cut above.

This is premium luxury exactly as it should be. Although it’s not quite true luxury, as the lower surfaces are untrimmed, you rarely interact with those exposed plastic areas, such as the centre console side tunnel and lower door panels.

The dashboard is traditionally presented and incorporates a 14-inch infotainment screen and a digital driver’s display that are integrated into the dash—no protruding screens here.

Buttons are minimal, limited to the volume knob, heating controls, dials, and a rotatable dial for the gear selector.

Passenger space is generous, front and rear. Rear passengers sit slightly elevated; legroom is ample, though shuffling feet under the front seats for extra comfort can be a bit tight.

Boot space is respectable: 522 litres with the rear seats upright, 1,451 litres with them folded flat. Storage under the floor of the boot is minimal but sufficient for charging cables or a few laptop cases.

The Infotainment System

The 14-inch infotainment system is neatly presented, with the usual numerous sub-menus that you’ll rarely interact with. The screen resolution is sharp, and the touchscreen response time is swift.

Other than a web browser, I couldn’t find any third-party apps like Spotify or Google Maps, so most owners will likely switch to using wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The RZ 300e on test came fully loaded with equipment. Highlights include Lexus Safety System+, which includes Lane Change Assist, Driver Monitor, and a Blind Spot Monitor.

Creature comforts include heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear passenger seats, a heated steering wheel, a dimmable panoramic sunroof, and a premium Mark Levinson sound system. Options included a head-up display—and the list goes on.

The Drive

The FWD RZ 300e’s 201 bhp/266 Nm electric motor may seem underpowered on paper, but in practice, it performs better than the stats suggest. Zero to 62 mph in 8.0 seconds is spritely and more than adequate for everyday needs.

Instant torque gives EVs a playful and accessible power delivery that traditional combustion engines can’t match. Driving the RZ 300e feels almost like having a V6 or V8 under the hood—power is delivered effortlessly and effects are felt immediately.

Long motorway drives are serene: the seats are comfortable, and road and tyre noise are well suppressed. One-pedal braking is smooth, with a seamless transition to the disc brakes—brake regen levels is controlled via steering-mounted paddles, a subtle detail that elevates the driving experience.

Lexus engineers have clearly worked hard to ensure the braking system is smooth and uninterrupted, whereas in most cases, EV brakes from other brands I have driven tend to be jerky in low-speed scenarios.

Ride and Handling

The RZ 300e exhibits a neutral balance, maintaining its composure even when tackling challenging, twisty B-road corners with vigour. It’s one of the very few SUVs of any kind that I’ve driven with genuine enthusiasm on a B-road jaunt.

The RZ never feels as though it’s about to launch you into the hedgerow at any moment. Of course, overly enthusiastic driving will induce a slight amount of understeer— most SUVs tend to understeer heavily when pushed, the RZ intuitively gives you time to back off and dial back the enthusiasm.

The RZ 300e rides on 20-inch alloy wheels and features performance dampers at both the front and rear. At normal driving speeds, the ride feels flat and composed, with good steering feedback despite the use of wireless steering technology.

Like most modern cars, it offers a selection of drive modes, and—as with all modern cars—I usually leave it in either Eco or Standard, as these feel the most natural. If I were nitpicking, the suspension rebound could use a bit of fine-tuning, but overall, the RZ glides over most road surfaces with ease.

Efficiency

The 71.4 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack is relatively modest for a vehicle just under two tonnes in weight, so one assumes the RZ will be highly efficient.

Lexus quotes an electric range of 297 miles. However, in real-world testing, in mild weather, I observed around 3.5 miles/kWh in urban driving and 3.3 miles/kWh on the motorway, equating to roughly 225 miles. Using the heater immediately reduces range by about 8 miles, while the electric seat and steering wheel heaters have no impact. The RZ uses a heat pump, so it shouldn’t be losing range when the heater is switched on.

Although range is somewhat limited, it’s less of a problem than it would have been a few years ago, thanks to a more reliable and widespread public charging network. The RZ 300e is also compatible with Tesla’s Supercharger network.

Using a 150 kW supercharger will take the battery from 20 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes, while an 11 kW AC home charger takes about 6.5 hours.

While real-world range isn’t exactly class-leading, around 80 percent of EV owners charge at home anyway. And if you are travelling long distances, the UK’s supercharger network is no longer the wild, wild west it once was.

Still, for efficiency to truly compete with Tesla Model Y, Polestar 3, and the Xpeng G6, Lexus will need to find further efficiency gains. They don’t need me to tell them that, the stats tell the story.

Epilogue

The Lexus RZ 300e delivers everything you expect from a Lexus: effortless premium luxury in terms of comfort and engineering. Personally, I prefer EV powertrains over combustion engines and hybrid systems—they’re more engaging to drive, and the instant power torque delivery reminds me of old school V8 engines, but with far better accessibility and driveability.

The RZ EV, as a luxury vehicle, has few rivals in its class, but you’ll have to pay for it. As for efficiency and overall range, it is beaten by rivals. In its current iteration, the RZ will always be one more stop at the supercharger station than its EV peers. So overall, it’s a compelling offer if you can live with the range and are willing to pay a premium for the luxury.