LIKES
- Familiar interior
- Lexus’s first BEV
- Larger proportions than NX
DISLIKES
- A lot of unknowns
- Range falls short of some AWD rivals
- Busy front end
BUYING TIP
- Pricing and other details will be announced late in 2022.
The 2023 Lexus RZ adds a premium touch to Toyota’s nascent electric vehicle portfolio.
What kind of vehicle is the 2023 Lexus RZ? What does it compare to?
The RZ is the brand’s first dedicated electric vehicle with no gas-powered counterpart. Sharing a platform with the Toyota BZ4X, the electric compact crossover will compete in a growing premium segment, from the Volvo C40 and related Polestar 2 to the Tesla Model Y and forthcoming Cadillac Lyriq.
Is the 2023 Lexus RZ a good SUV?
We won’t know until we drive it later this year, but the dual-motor all-wheel-drive RZ will be sold with only one variant to start, a 450e model.
What's new for the 2023 Lexus RZ?
The Lexus RZ is new for 2023, but it shares technology with the redesigned 2022 Lexus NX and a 71.4-kwh battery pack from the BZ4X and Subaru Solterra.
Inside, the RZ looks more like the Lexus NX than the BZ4X, and that’s a good thing. A 14.0-inch touchscreen dominates the dash but cants toward the driver to feel more integrated with the instrument cluster. Vents run above and away from the brain center, and the seats could be upholstered in a type of suede made partially from sustainable materials. Lexus showed images of a yoke steering wheel though U.S. models will get a traditional circular wheel at launch. Aside from that potential option, there’s nothing too daring or deviant from the Lexus lineup. That should appeal to Lexus fans considering electric but hesitant to jump into anything too far off from the layouts of current gas models.
Gas and its emissions will be far off in the RZ 450e. Lexus estimates a below-average range of 225 miles on its standard dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. A 71.4-kwh battery supplies the juice, but Lexus didn’t confirm the total output from the 150-kw motor up front and the 80-kw motor in back. The front motor is nearly double the size of the BZ4X that makes 214 hp and 248 lb-ft, so expect it to be more powerful and quicker.
Lexus says its all-wheel-drive system automatically adjusts the torque going to each axle based on several inputs, and it can shut off power to an axle when cruising to improve efficiency. At turn in, torque shifts up to a 60/40 split toward the front wheels for better steering response, and on exit the torque shifts by the same ratio to the rear wheels for better traction. Lexus didn’t disclose if its regenerative braking system will have a one-pedal braking option. MacPherson struts up front and double wishbones in back should provide familiar Lexus handling, and Lexus said acoustic glass and other noise-canceling features should eliminate much road and wind noise.
The Lexus RZ is larger than the Lexus NX in most metrics except height, suggesting better aero and perhaps a sportier ride. At 189 inches, it’s 5.5 inches longer than the NX, an inch wider, and has a wheelbase that’s 6.3 inches longer, promising a roomier cabin for up to five passengers. An available panoramic sunroof may eat into some head room, but Lexus won’t disclose exact specs such as leg room and cargo volume until later in the year when it goes on sale.
It will come loaded with standard driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and adaptive cruise control.
How much does the 2023 Lexus RZ cost?
We won’t know the trim levels or cost until late this year when the RZ goes on sale.
In Japan.
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