5 Thoughts About the 2024 Lexus RZ

Author: Sean Tucker.

Toyota built more cars than any other company on Earth last year. They know how to build cars. But electric cars are something new, and even the old pros are still figuring out how to build them. That goes for Lexus, Toyota’s luxury division, too. The 2024 Lexus RZ is the brand’s first attempt at a mass-market electric vehicle (EV) for the U.S. market. Lexus builds America’s best-selling luxury car, the RX. They know better than anyone else how to build a sumptuous car that will meet the needs of many Americans. Can they do the same thing without an engine? I spent a week in the 2024 Lexus RZ to find out. My test model was the RZ 450e, an all-wheel-drive version boasting 308 horsepower.

How much will the RZ cost?

The base model RZ 300e Premium starts at $55,150.

What is the difference between Lexus RZ 300e and 450e?

The 300e uses a single motor driving the front wheels, making 201 hp. The 450e uses a motor on each axle for a total of 308.

What is the mileage range of the RZ?

Range changes based on the number of motors and the total feature load (because some features add weight). The longest-range RZ travels up to 266 miles between charges. The shortest-range version makes it 196.

How long does it take to charge a Lexus RZ450e?

Charging times vary based on the type of charger. Lexus says the RZ450e can charge from 0% to 80% of its battery capacity in 30 minutes at a DC fast charger. The 300e does the same in 35 minutes. But you’ll likely charge at slower Level 2 chargers more often.

1. It Drives Like Butter

If Lexus is known for one thing, it’s smoothness. Every luxury automaker is good at most things. But they emphasize different traits. A BMW can usually out-corner a Lexus, and a Lexus will get you through traffic with more grace. That hasn’t changed in the electric era. The RZ450e accelerates, brakes, and turns with the same buttery smoothness as an ES or RX. It’s a little quicker when you punch the throttle – a characteristic of almost all electric cars. But it cocoons you from traffic chaos like the rest of its brethren. Lexus went electric and kept its character.

2. It Has a Strange Lack of Storage Space for an EV

Most EVs have more storage space than their non-electric counterparts. With the battery and most of the working bits under the cabin floor, there’s usually room for a frunk (front trunk). There is also no need for a transmission tunnel down the center of the floor, so there are usually many storage cubbies. Weirdly, this is not true of the RZ. Electrical components take up the frunk space. There’s not even a glovebox in the dashboard. The center console storage is probably enough for most people. But this feels like a missed opportunity.

3. The Electrochromic Roof Is a Cool Gadget

My tester had a huge panoramic glass roof, but no need for a shade that covered it to keep the cabin cool. At the touch of a button, it simply went opaque. Necessary? No. Cool? Absolutely.

4. NuLuxe May Be the Best Fake Leather

Fewer luxury cars use real leather every year. Manufacturers keep telling journalists they can build a higher-quality upholstery with synthetic materials. Most of them are lying. The fake leather in many 2024 luxury cars feels waxy and unconvincing. It may wear better over time, but it starts out feeling ersatz. The artificial leather in the RZ – Lexus calls it NuLuxe – is actually convincing. The steering wheel feels soft and supple in your hands, like the real thing. But Lexus says NuLuxe will look and feel better in year seven than leather, and they may be right.

5. Its Range Isn’t Great. But It’s Surprisingly Honest About It

The RZ’s biggest weakness is its limited range. My tester had an advertised range of just 196 miles. In truth, this is more than enough for most buyers. The U.S. Department of Transportation says the average American drives 39.7 miles daily. But it’s easy to find an EV that can outlast the RZ. The car’s battery has one thing going for it, though — it doesn’t exaggerate its range. I took this one on more multi-hour drives than normal, and every time, the onboard range display was pretty much accurate. Sad to say, but that’s rare. Most EVs I’ve tested exaggerate their range. With this one, you get what it says on the screen.

The Wrap — A Very Good First Draft

I think most people who live in an area with sufficient charging infrastructure would enjoy owning the 2024 Lexus RZ. It’s buttery smooth, sporty when you want it to be, and people like the look — more than one stranger stopped me to compliment my tester’s gorgeous two-tone black-and-copper color scheme. But aspects of this car feel like a first draft. The odd lack of storage space and limited range seem like things Lexus engineers are sure to solve quickly as they get used to designing EVs. If you’re looking for a mid-priced luxury car to commute and run errands in, the RZ will do the job with panache. But it has quirky limitations. This feels like a very good first draft. Lexus engineers are so good that their first drafts are readable. But with a little more experience and editing, this could make the best-seller list. I can’t shake the feeling that the second generation of the Lexus RZ will be the true electric equivalent of that wildly successful RX. Related: 2024 Lexus RZ: Choosing the Right Trim.

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