Lexus RZ 450e test: the not-so-obvious option for those looking for an electric SUV

The Lexus RZ 450e is one of those tests that makes me curious since before I got in the car. And it is that, although the brand already has an electric car in its range, this is the first that has been created from scratch and based on the e-TNGA platform.

It makes me curious, especially because I want to find out how they have done in Shinoyama, where the car has been developed, and how it performs in a segment in which the greats have been present for some time.

But coming from the last does not have to be bad: Volkswagen arrived more than late to play in the SUV segment and the Tiguan overwhelmed everyone present for a couple of generations without almost breaking a sweat.

Returning to the Japanese electric SUV, the brand assures that they have arrived at the right time. Not for the market, but for themselves, since they have been able to create a model that lives up to the expectations of the brand itself.

design and interior

It is not lost on anyone that the RZ 450e that I am about to drive has its roots in another somewhat more mundane model: the Toyota bZ4x, from which the Subaru Solterra also drinks. But that doesn’t have to be bad.

In Lexus they do not shy away from that origin: “although it is a similar car, it is very different.” Apart from the external image (it does remember vaguely, but it maintains the essence of the brand), they have retouched things that are not seen to make it better.

Hence, it comes with a reinforced chassis that uses high-strength aluminum and steel that saves a lot of weight. The 71.4 kW (64 net kilowatts) battery is anchored there, so greater structural rigidity is also achieved.

In addition, they have worked in the section on NVH values ​​(which measure vibrations and interior noise), especially those that affect the rear area, which is usually the great forgotten area.

As soon as I enter, an air of “Japanese premium” surrounds me. There’s no denying that it’s a very Lexus-esque feel that is inevitably reminiscent of the RX large SUV. Precisely between this and the NX is where the RZ sits.

The seats are comfortable and perfectly fit the body. The atmosphere is also very pleasant, and I’m about to try the cheapest Lexus RZ 450e, the Business finish, which you can distinguish above all by having slightly smaller wheels: 18 inches instead of 20.

As for the central screen, it is no less than 14″ and has integrated physical rotary controls for the air conditioning and volume; the rest will have to be controlled from the screen, although the management logic and access to the functions is not very complicated. .

In the rear seats you have more than enough space at all levels. If you put three adults in you will not have too many problems, since the central square is not particularly narrow and you also save the transmission tunnel, since although it is 4×4 (in Lexus they call it Direct4), it manages it with two engines.

engine and performance

One of the advantages of electric cars like the RZ 450e is that they can be all-wheel drive without adding too much weight (they don’t need a heavy system with differentials and complicated transmissions) and also responding immediately to the needs of the road.

In the case of the protagonist of this test, when you start the system it is prepared to send 60% of the torque to the front wheels and 40 to the rear, although it could reach 20-80% if necessary.

However, in stable driving (contained speed) on the highway, for example, or on roads without complications, the distribution is established at 70-30 to improve linear stability and improve efficiency.

Electronics also allows some watermarks. In this case, in curved areas, the brain of the car sends more torque to the front to avoid any scares (75/25%), although in the case of determined driving, it could deliver up to 80% of the force to the rear wheels. .

But apart from all the traction distributions, the Direct4 has other advantages like that it reduces the longitudinal movements of the body, which is great for the passengers.

The Lexus RZ 450e in this test is a powerful car, there is no doubt about that: the two engines generate a combined 313 hp (204 in front and 108 in the rear), but that does not mean that it is a sports car. In fact, although it is the second fastest car of the brand, only behind the beautiful Lexus LC, you don’t feel it as such.

And how is it going with the One Motion Grip wheel?

The elephant in the china shop. The truth is that we are still going to take a couple of years to be able to enjoy it, although I was able to try a version very close to the production one.

What I liked the most is that, far from “Tesla’s invention” of offering a controller with a normal direction, the Japanese have been concerned not only with offering image, but also usability. You have a 150-degree turn between locks, which makes you feel like you’re driving a Formula 1 car because you’re not going to drive.

But the sensations are very natural. Turn ratio ranges from 1:1 (one degree of steering wheel, one degree of turn) to 1:12 or even 1:16 depending on tires and speed.

Leaving a parking lot it seems that you are driving a kart, since the turn is almost immediate and very fast. At highway speeds, however, the jitter isn’t going to stand out to you, which is great.

The system has no physical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels and its main objective is to help you avoid crossing your arms when manoeuvring.

I have to admit that after testing the Lexus RZ 450e with the One Motion Grip wheel, I think they’ve got (and are refining) some very good-feeling steering. Maybe the steering wheel is like a racing car or a round one is something that could be discussed…

On going

I don’t notice that as soon as I hit the road. At the wheel of the new Lexus RZ I am about to enjoy a beautiful route through the French Provence, although I also have a motorway on the menu.

What strikes me the most as soon as I start is the smooth running. I tend to like Lexus quite a bit, but I always get off hybrid models as a kind of bittersweet taste. “Too bad it’s the CVT-like transmission that ruins the driving experience.”

Here, as you avoid hearing (and feeling) the engine, the feeling of serenity is superior. Also, everything works well and the car’s overall set-up is firm without being uncomfortable.

At contained speeds it offers a great ride quality and with the 18-inch wheels I find myself a very progressive car, which treads very well and filters the potholes harmoniously despite weighing at least 2,055 kilos.

In addition, in curves it steers flat and with aplomb thanks to the low center of gravity that the battery gives it and when you brake you realize how useful it is that the traction system with two motors eliminates pitching when braking in curved areas.

And since I mention the brake, at Lexus they assure that they have worked to give regenerative braking a more natural feeling. The truth is that when you step on the pedal you have the typical “weird” sensation, but it soon passes because it is very manageable.

Price and rivals: buying factors

The Lexus RZ 450e that I have been testing is the cheapest in the range, which is not to say that it is exactly cheap. And yet, the brand assures me that it will be the least sold finish (5%), behind Luxury (25%) and Executive (60%). Here are the three finishes and their prices with discounts:

• Lexus RZ 450e Business: 77,000 euros
• Lexus RZ 450e Executive: 82,500 euros
• Lexus RZ 450e Luxury: 89,400 euros

And where do I put the Lexus RZ 450e I just tested against the competition? Undoubtedly at the same level as the Audi Q8 e-Tron, which measures 10 cm more and is perhaps somewhat softer in general, as is the case with the peculiar BMW iX or the Mercedes EQE SUV. Perhaps the least obvious rival could be the Jaguar i-Pace, although it is much more powerful and dynamic.

One of the most interesting aspects of the car is the warranty: 10 years or 1,000,000 km if you follow the maintenance is something to make you raise your eyebrow… Although that is if you follow the official maintenance to the letter: once a year or every 15,000 km…

Conclusion: it arrives late, but it arrives well

During the test I can’t stop thinking about that idea that left me a little higher than arriving at the right time instead of being the first. In addition, at Lexus they are very confident in this model, of which sales expectations are adjusting, it is already enjoying good success at first.

At Lexus they have taken things easy and have managed to get a RZ 450e with great quality and without apparent weaknesses from Motomachi, the factory where the Lexus LFA also came from.