2025 Lexus RZ 450e Luxury: 5 Cool Issues

Text by Tom Appel

2024 Lexus RZ 450e Luxury AWD

Specs

Class: Premium Compact Crossover

Country of Manufacture: Japan

Color: Copper Crest

Miles pushed: 171

Battery capability: 72.8 kWh

EPA-estimate MPGe: 95 metropolis/102 hwy/87 mixed

EPA-estimated driving vary: 196 miles

Consumer Guide vary estimate (best circumstances): 225 miles

Charge Port Location: Front driver-side fender

Snow Performance: N/A

Base worth: $64,430 (not together with $1150 vacation spot cost)

Options on check automobile: Cold Area Package ($200), 20-inch dark-finish wheels ($200), illuminate grille badge ($550), panoramic glass room ($1295), puddle lamps ($325), illuminated cargo sills ($360), mats (140)

Price as examined: $68,650

Pros and Cons

The nice: Modern look, elegant cabin

The good: Excellent experience, sporty character, quiet

The not so good: Limited vary, stiff costs (2024)

Review

If you’ve seen a RZ on the street, and puzzled what the rakish Lexus compact crossover was prefer to drive, we have now excellent news, and we even have a whole lot of lot of future information.

First, the excellent news: The RZ is a completely fashionable compact crossover boasting thrilling exterior design, an open and luxuriously completed cabin, and Lexus-typical driving dynamics.

Now, the long run information: The 2025 RZ enjoys two new entry trim ranges, successfully reducing the price of entry—plus, current trim ranges have come down in worth. And for 2026, the RZ is handled to an influence bump, and a much-needed enhance in battery vary. A high-performance Sport trim stage can also be a part of the 2026 replace. More 2026 information to comply with quickly.

Though Consumer Guide lately hung out in a 2024 RZ—the electrical Lexus is unchanged mechanically for 2025–so we’re together with costs and trim-level data for the later mannequin 12 months. Note that specs and costs reported above are for our precise check automobile.

For 2025, the RZ is obtainable in six trim ranges:

• Base RZ 300e: $43,975 (new for 2025)
• RZ 300e Premium: $48,175 (down $12,730)
• RZ 300e Luxury: $53,095 (down $11,700)
• Base RZ 450e $48,675 (new for 2025)
• RZ 450e Premium $52,875 (down $7000)
• RZ 450e Luxury $58,605 (down $7000)

Note that RZ 300e fashions function a single 201-horsepower motor, front-wheel drive, and between 224 and 266 miles of vary. RZ 450e fashions include two electrical motors which mix for 308 horsepower, AWD, and between 196 and 220 miles of driving vary.

Though the RZ retains its luxurious credentials, the newly adjusted costs make the RZ price aggressive with such like-size well-liked mainstream EV choices because the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6.

Consumer Guide lately hung out with a 2024 version of the RZ, on this case the AWD, RZ 450e in top-trim Luxury trim. All instructed, our Copper Crest crossover got here to $68,650, together with vacation spot cost. A like-equipped 2025 RZ, because of the Lexus worth changes, would price simply over $60,000.

You can learn out full overview of the RZ 450e right here. Today we’re sharing 5 cool issues concerning the 2024 and 2025 RZ. Have a glance:

Vegan Cabin (Almost)

In different markets, together with Australia, the Lexus RZ enjoys the tag, “vegan.” This imply that the cabin is freed from animal hides of any sort. Oddly, although completed with elegant Ultrasuede upholstery, the U.S.-market RZ is provided with a regular heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel. And, if you happen to’re asking, swapping steering wheels isn’t as straightforward because it was.

Better than Tesla

No, the RZ isn’t faster or longer-range than, say, a Tesla Model Y, however it’s a lot, significantly better screwed collectively, and with a lot nicer stuff. Lexus is known for its construct high quality, and the RZ doesn’t disappoint. The cabin is opulent, refined, and seemingly assembled by critically devoted craftsmen.

Almost Sporty

There’s simply sufficient jauntiness constructed into the RZ chassis to maintain the commute fascinating. Handling is fast and certain sufficient, and there may be truly a little bit of steering really feel—all of which contributes to a drive expertise that’s simply participating sufficient.

It’s Efficient

While Tesla will get credit score for constructing energy-efficient autos, the RZ is definitely no much less stingy with a kilowatt. The front-drive RZ 300e returns an EPA-estimated 125 MPGe, beating each instance of the Tesla mannequin Y, whereas the AWD RZ 450e is nice for 107 MPGe on the usual 18-inch wheels—which is roughly the identical as AWD examples of the mannequin Y. Moving as much as 20-inch wheels, on both the RZ or Model Y, will decrease the automobile’s MPGe score.

It’s Modern

From the obtainable Copper Crest shade (seen right here) to the clear and open cabin, the RZ seems and feels leading edge. And, fortunately, the RZ’s infotainment-system controls are very very like these present in gas-powered Lexus fashions, which is an efficient factor. We’ve discovered some EV’s—and particularly their digital interfaces—are only a bit too fashionable.

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2024 Lexus RZ 450e Luxury Pictures

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