The all-electric 2023 Lexus RZ 450e is the uptown cousin of the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra. But while the three have similar dimensions and share many mechanical and electric powertrain parts, the two-row, five-passenger Lexus RZ luxury crossover is very much its own creature. It offers more power, better handling and a quieter and more comfortable ride than the “Toybaru” twins, and has its own strikingly sporty exterior and luxurious modern interior as well.

The RZ is available in Premium and Luxury trims as Lexus’s first try at an EV as it moves toward an all-electric lineup. There’s nothing new about its basic electric powertrain, but the RZ uses an electronic all-wheel drive system that’s new to Lexus. It sports the brand’s first rotary shifter and introduces radiant heating for front-row occupants’ lower extremities (at the expense of a glove box). Lexus will use the RZ Luxury trim to launch a steer-by-wire system, likely in 2024.

The small electric SUV category is a pretty big one, but the competition thins out at the luxury level, where the RZ’s most likely competitors are the all-wheel drive versions of the Mercedes-Benz EQB, Tesla Model Y and Volvo C40 Recharge. Lexus doesn’t think so, but the Genesis GV60 could be a tough competitor as well. The RZ is a bit pricier than the Volvo and the Model Y Long Range and suffers from a range deficit versus all of its competitors. It is fairly roomy inside, though, trailing only the GV60 in front legroom, leading in rear headroom and bested only by the Model Y in cargo capacity.

The RZ looks quick even when standing still, and the base Premium trim with 18-inch wheels, as pictured, boasts the same 5-second zero-to-60 time as the top trim, while offering more range at an EPA-estimated 220 miles per charge.   John O’Dell

At 308 horsepower, the 2023 Lexus RZ 450e has plenty of oomph—5 seconds to 60 mph from a standing start, according to Lexus—and its low center of gravity and all-wheel drive system with torque splitting to maximize traction helps it stick to the asphalt. Among competitors only the Mercedes-Benz EQB has less horsepower and slower sprint times. The base Premium and Luxury trims start at $59,650 and $65,150 (a $1,150 destination charge included), respectively. The upper trim offers a more upscale interior and audio appointments along with range-reducing 20-inch wheels. Premium’s 18-inchers can be upgraded to 20 for $1,250.

As a first effort, the RZ is an EV that’s worth the Lexus name for the high level and quality of its content and features, especially with a stable of standard tech and safety features. Its interior is more luxurious than either the Model Y or the Mercedes EQB, and at 189.2 inches from nose-to-tail it is longer than its competitors. But it can’t match the segment-leading Model Y in overall cabin roominess or cargo capacity.

The RZ also loses in a horsepower contest to both the Tesla and the Volvo C40 Recharge. Worse, it  trails all competitors in range. The class-leading Model Y Long Range boasts 50% more range than the base RZ Premium’s 220 miles. Style-wise, the RZ is the sportiest of the competitive set, although the Genesis comes close and the RZ’s gigantic grille may be off-putting to some. The $59,650 base Premium trim is the best value for features, range and cost.

An optional steer-by-wire system with an aircraft-style yoke (see gallery for an image) instead of a steering wheel will be offered as a Luxury trim option, likely for 2024. A panoramic glass roof is standard and the coating eliminates the need for a sunshade, increasing headroom. The 14-inch infotainment screen dominates the RZ’s dash and the absence of a glovebox means more knee room for the front passenger.  John O’Dell

Performance: 13/15

The 2023 Lexus RZ 450e comes with a single powertrain setup: a dual-moor, electronic all-wheel drive system. It offers 308 peak horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. The AWD system—Direct4 in Lexus’ parlance—is biased to supply rear drive when cruising and deliver torque to each wheel individually when all-wheel drive is needed.

That, plus a nicely tuned suspension, gives the RZ great road manners. It uses a 71.4 kWh battery mounted under the floor for a stability-boosting low center of gravity. The RZ’s 7.8 inches of ground clearance is the most in its set, but it delivers a firm but comfortable ride when cruising and exhibits little roll on curves or while cornering.  

We tested both the Premium trim with 18-inch wheels and the Luxury trim with 20-inchers and found the main difference to be a stiffer ride with the larger rollers. In both cases, steering was responsive and braking firm and linear.

To preserve range, the RZ isn’t rated for towing in the U.S. while European models get a 1,600-pound rating. Its AWD system and ground clearance give the RZ decent capability on fire roads and other occasionally groomed dirt or gravel tracks.

Range, Energy Use & Charging: 8/15

EPA ratings for the 2023 RZ 450e are an estimated 220 miles of range with 18-inch wheels and 196 miles with 20-inch wheels. That’s the worst in its set, where the 330-mile Tesla Model Y Long Range rules.

The RZ uses its electrons efficiently, though, trailing only the Model Y in fuel economy. The Lexus is rated at 115 miles per gallon-equivalent in combined city and highway driving for the base Premium and 102 MPGe for the 20-inch wheel Premium and Luxury versions. The Model Y 122 MPGe rating is the segment’s best, the Volvo C40 Recharge is worst at 86.

To ease the range deficit and anticipated range anxiety, especially for longer trips, Lexus is providing RZ buyers 30 days of free rentals of other (gas-powered) Lexus models over the first three years.

For charging, the RZ needs 9.5 hours for a full Level 2 (240 volt) home charge and can handle DC fast charging at up to 150 kW, for a 30-minute recharge to 80% of capacity from 10%. Most competitors’ charging times are close, but the C40 can refill at home in as little as 8 hours, while the Genesis GV60 can handle DC charging at up to 350 kW for a 10% to 80% recharge in 18 minutes.  

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 10/15 

The 2023 Lexus RZ hasn’t been crash tested by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That hurts it in our scoring system.

However, 2023 models of its Toyota and Subaru platform mates did very well in IIHS crash testing. The Subaru earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating and the Toyota aced all the crash tests and all but one safety system evaluation, receiving a “poor” rating for headlight performance at its base trim level. We expect that the Lexus will earn similar high marks when it is tested.

The Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite of advanced driver assist and safety tech is standard on the RZ. It includes full-range adaptive cruise control with curve speed management, forward collision warning and mitigation with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping and lane centering assist, intersection turn assistance with oncoming traffic and pedestrian detection, evasive steering assist, automatic high beams and traffic sign recognition. The RZ also gets blind spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring and parking assist with rear pedestrian detection. 

The Luxury trim adds lane change assist, front cross-traffic alert and, with a free three-year trial, traffic jam assist.

Rear passengers get class-leading headroom and lots of legroom, thanks to the nicely scooped front seat backs. The rear row also gets its own climate system vents and controls and a pair of USB-C ports.   John O’Dell

Comfort & Room: 13/15

In the Lexus family, the RZ 450e is closest in size to the NX crossover and in its competitive set, with 42.1 inches of front legroom, it’s a mere two-tenths of an inch behind the segment leading Genesis GV80. Its 37.5 inches of rear legroom can accommodate all but the tallest passengers but trails the Model Y, EQB and, by a scant tenth of an inch, the GV60.   

Still, the RZ is roomy inside. Headroom is plentiful in both rows, with the second row leading the class at 39.7 inches. The RZ’s 39.8 inches of front headroom is second behind the Model Y’s 41.8 inches. 

Up front, the glove box was removed to provide an under-dash surface for the innovative radiant heat system that warms front occupants’ lower extremities. The front seat backs are scooped to increase knee room for rear passengers. The power adjustable seats are heated and ventilated front and back and covered in faux leather in the Premium and with Ultrasuede material in the Luxury trim. Seats in both trims are comfortable and supportive, and door openings are large enough for easy ingress and exits, especially with a car seat. 

Infotainment: 15/15

The RZ gets an easy-to-use 14-inch touchscreen with Google-based voice control—the same system is used on the recently redesigned Lexus NX.  While a lot of controls are relegated to the infotainment system, it doesn’t require a lot of searching to find them. There are physical knobs for audio volume and temperature control and an ambient lighting system that aids interior visibility at night.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are Apple and Amazon music streaming compatibility. There’s a wireless phone charging pad and five USB-C ports—two for rear passengers and three up front. Cloud-based navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot are subscription-based, but come with free trial periods (three years for navigation).

The Premium trim gets a 10-speaker Lexus Premium Audio sound system while the Luxury trim is outfitted with a 13-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system.  

The driver gets a large digital gauge cluster and there’s a 10-inch color head-up-display that’s standard on the Luxury trim and available for the Premium trim as part of a $1,425 technology package. That pack includes a digital key and Advanced Park—an automated parallel and perpendicular parking system.

The RZ doesn’t lead its class in cargo space, but there’s plenty of it, with enough room behind the front seats for as many as seven carry-ons or 20 bags of groceries. Rear seat backs with a 60/40 split can fold down almost completely flat to increase room and provide cargo loading flexibility.  John O’Dell

Cargo Space & Storage: 12/15

Although it is longer than its competitors, that doesn’t translate to extra cargo capacity for the RZ. With 23.7 cubic-feet behind the rear seats and 55.6 cubic-feet with those seat backs folded flat, there’s loads of room. But the RZ falls behind both the Model Y (30 cubes) and Genesis GV60 (24.7) in cargo bay capacity. With the rear seat folded, it trails the Model Y (68 cubes) and Mercedes EQB (57 ) in total capacity.

At first glance there seems to be plenty of interior storage in the RZ, including a large open bin under the center console—but without a glove box the manuals and paperwork usually carried there likely will wind up consuming space in the console’s covered cubby.

The cargo deficit increases with the lack of a front trunk area, or frunk, which both the Model Y and Volvo C40 offer, the absence of roof rails (which won’t work with the glass roof that’s standard) and the lack of a tow rating. Competitors from Genesis and Volvo can tow up to a ton and the Model Y can pull 3,500 pounds.

Style & Design: 8/10

An aggressive stance, low, curving roofline, sculpted sides, thin body-width rear light bar and split airfoils atop a steeply canted rear window give the Lexus RZ a sporty look that’s hard to beat—although the Genesis GV60 comes close.

The overall good looks may be spoiled for some by the RZ’s big, flat grille, which devours much of the front-end real estate. It is flanked by two large faux air intakes topped by narrow LED headlamps.  

As expected of a Lexus, build quality is great inside and out, and the interior is refreshingly clean and modern, with enough premium touches—including Ultrasuede seat and door panel inserts and a wood-grain treatment on the console and lower dash in the Luxury trim – to keep the upscale brand’s fans happy.

In a lineup, the RZ and GV60 would likely win top design awards over the aging and slightly hump-backed Model Y, boxy Mercedes EQB and coupe-wannabe C40 Recharge.

Lexus gave the RZ a muscular look with nicely sculpted sheet metal and smoothed out the grille, losing the usual chrome and integrating it nicely into the bodywork. Models with the optional two-tone paint get a glossy black hood and grille while the “black eyes” under the mono-tone models’ lights are body colored.  John O’Dell

Is the 2023 Lexus RZ 450e Worth it? Which RZ is the Best Value? 

There’s no difference in mechanicals or design between the Lexus RZ trim levels: the $59,650 Premium and the $65,150 Luxury ($1,150 destination charge included). But the upper trim offers more upscale interior and audio appointments along with striking—and range-reducing—20-inch wheels. The base Premium with 18-inch wheels provides 12% more range and a high level of Lexus luxury for a lot less, though. It’s our pick for best value.

There’s also the Premium variant with 20-inch wheels for a $1,250 upcharge. The Luxury trim’s radiant heating system can be added to either Premium for $175.

Compared with its likeliest competitors, the RZ does well in looks and features and is close in pre-incentive pricing on a trim-level basis. Neither the EQB nor the Model Y are as nicely appointed inside, the EQB isn’t as powerful, and the C40 can’t match the RZ’s cargo capacity.

In other comparisons, the RZ is mid-pack. And it trails the field in the critical category of range. The GV60 Advanced, with 248 miles of range, may offer the segment’s best combination of features, comfort and performance, but the Model Y, which has federal tax credit eligibility, remains the segment’s best deal.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2023 Lexus RZ?

The 2023 Lexus RZ is a new car but it should cost as much to insure as similar SUVs. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium up to $3,000, though this averages all 50 states. Similar EVs fall within a certain price range. A Mercedes-Benz EQB owner might pay $2,600 and higher per year, while the Tesla Model Y is $3,145 and the Volvo C40 Recharge starts around $2,125. For a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.