Read Caroline’s Lexus RZ review for everything you need to know about buying the new electric crossover in Ireland.
Lexus Ireland has just introduced the Lexus RZ to the market, a new electric crossover that will be sold here alongside its range of cars and SUVs.
Over the years, Lexus has built a strong presence in Ireland with luxury hybrid vehicles; it was the first premium car brand to being a hybrid to market in 2004.
The RZ has been on sale in other markets for a while now and arrives at a time when EV sales are starting to bounce back from a slump in 2024.
Let’s take a closer look.
Design
The RZ shares a platform and battery with the co-developed Subaru Solterra and Toyota BZ4X – but it looks nothing like those cars. It’s very distinct and really stands out for its sharp styling. Though it’s also easy to recognise as a Lexus and fits nicely in the range between the NX and RX.
It’s quite a considerable car – a little over 4.9 metres long. At the front, it gets an interpretation of the brand’s classic spindle grille framed by sharp LED lighting that gives it a high-tech appearance. It’s a beautiful, striking car with a tasteful addition of cladding to qualify for its crossover credentials.
There is just one trim level for Ireland and it includes 18-inch alloy wheels and rear privacy glass. The aerodynamic design includes a small active front grille with shutters that close automatically when cooling air flow into the motor compartment is not required. It has a slightly wider track at the rear of the car that contributes to its smart stance.
Lexus RZ Interior
Inside the RZ feels every inch the luxury car with excellent build quality and plenty of high-end features including black leather upholstery and soft-close doors with a button release. The design is also very well-resolved with an intuitive layout and driver-focused feel.
In Ireland, the RZ comes in just one trim level called Executive. But it has a good specification list including 10-speaker sound system, wireless smartphone charging, heated steering wheel, heated front seats with power adjustment and lumbar support, and lots of safety features.
There’s also a full digital driver display and 14-inch touchscreen with navigation and Hey Lexus voice assistant. It’s not too complicated to use and the touch sensitive buttons for the ventilation and heated seats are always present in the lower half of the screen, as well as two dials to adjust the temperature of the climate system.
Practicality
The RZ is built on a bespoke electric vehicle platform and so offers plenty of passenger space, with generous amounts of legroom. The floor is a bit higher to accommodate the battery underneath so you might need to stretch out a little to get comfortable. A double glass roof comes as standard. Other amenities including an armrest with cupholders and a couple of USB-C ports. There’s no through loading but the rear seats do split fold 60:40.
There’s a generous 522 litres of boot space and a handy hatchback-style opening. The sill is also low and flat, with some underfloor storage to stow away the charging cables for instance. The parcel shelf can also be removed easily, folded in half and stored there too. A powered tailgate comes as standard.
What is the range of the Lexus RZ 300e?
The RZ range is very simple in Ireland; at the moment it’s just offered as one version called the RZ 300e. It’s front wheel drive and uses a 71.4kWh lithium ion battery (64kWh usable). The range is quoted up to 475 kilometres (WLTP).
In other markets, there’s also the RZ 450e, which adds another electric motor to the rear axle for four wheel drive and more power.
Driving the RZ
The RZ is built upon a dedicated platform for battery electric vehicles It’s called the e-TNGA platform and is shared with the Subaru Solterra and Toyota BZ4X. However, Lexus has tweaked the RZ to make it better to drive and more premium. For a start the wider track at the rear improves handling. It stays very flat and balanced through bends, and feels natural and engaging to drive.
There’s also more insulation, acoustic glass and Active Sound Control to improve the refinement, the latter which feeds noise cancelling frequencies through the speakers. It’s definitely quieter on the road, with just a touch of road noise at very high speeds on the motorway.
It’s smooth and comfortable to drive, particularly out on the motorway, though it does feel firmer should you hit any bumps or lumps in the tarmac.
The RZ 300e has a 204hp motor sending power to the front wheels and 266Nm of torque. 0-100 is 8 seconds and acceleration is at its most lively in the Sport mode. Other drive modes include Normal, Eco, Range and Custom, though the menu to toggle between these is buried in the touchscreen. There’s also four different levels of regenerative braking, which can be adjusted from paddles behind the steering wheel.
Lexus rates efficiency at 15.1kWh per 100 kilometres and during my test I averaged a reasonable 19.5 kWh per 100 kilometres. Based on the 64kWh battery, this translates to a real world range in the region of 328 kilometres. A heat pump is included as standard for more efficient heating of the cabin.
Charging
There is 11kW AC charging as standard, while DC charging is up to 150kW for a 5-80% charge in about 31 minutes.
Pricing
The new RZ 300e is available from €65,150.
Verdict
The RZ is a great addition to the Lexus range in Ireland, offering a full electric model that’s both stylish and practical, with decent range and efficiency. It excels for its build quality and driver-focused feel, while the comfort and refinement it offers does make it feel a cut above the rest. The battery size is relatively modest these days for a large crossover, and that does translate to the real world range particularly if you spend a lot of time on the motorway. Yet for Lexus fans, the RZ is a stylish and interesting step to full electrification.
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Written by Caroline Kidd
Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year
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