Lexus RZ review

Overview

The original RZ asks a clear question: would you choose a quieter, more relaxing electric SUV if you had to plan charging stops a little more carefully? This review is for the UK 2023–2024 RZ 450e Premium Pack on 18-inch wheels. A 450e with 20-inch wheels has a different range claim, and the later revised RZ range uses different powertrains and charging specifications. We have not driven a test car. Our assessment uses the launch-era Lexus UK documents and original UK reviews, including one of this wheel size and trim. It is a sensible used option for drivers who can charge where they park and know the longer journeys they need to cover.

Exterior and interior

The RZ is broad enough to take seriously before you order a charger for a narrow driveway. Lexus gives a body width of 1,895 mm, without using that as the width across mirrors. Its tapered nose and roof hide the size better from outside than from a tight parking space. Inside, the tall central display is conspicuous but the cabin's main appeal is a quiet, enclosed driving environment. The standard glass roof and the more elaborate dimming roof are not the same piece of equipment. Check the driver's view past the screen, test the liftgate in your usual parking height and inspect the wheels and lower body before relying on a seller's presentation photographs.

Practicality

Lexus gives the original RZ a 522-litre VDA boot with the back seats upright and a 1,451-litre figure with them folded. This is a five-seater, so that bigger figure is not available with a full complement of passengers. Look at where the charging cables can live without making a muddy lead or an emergency top-up hard to reach. Carry your regular luggage to the viewing and test the length of the boot and the position of the tailgate over the bumper. Rear occupants should try it as well: shoulder room, door openings and the position of feet relative to the seat cushion matter more over an hour than they do in a quick sit.

Driving experience

The 18-inch car makes a stronger case for the original RZ than its least efficient specification. Contemporary UK reports describe a quiet power delivery and a ride that is better suited to everyday travel than to pretending the car is a sports SUV. It can be quick without feeling like it asks you to drive quickly. On the test route, try the brake and regeneration response, a coarse road surface and the kind of junction where you need to see a cyclist. A faster stretch should tell you whether you like the ride and the assistance calibration. Test the wheel size you intend to buy, not a showroom demonstrator in a different pack.

Performance

The original 450e has two motors driving both axles, with Lexus quoting 230 kW, or 309 bhp, in total and a 5.3-second 0–62 mph time. Treat that as a manufacturer claim rather than a measured 0–60 sprint. The launch battery is labelled 71.4 kWh by Lexus; we do not use that as a confirmed usable capacity. The dual-motor setup gives quick responses on a merge but does not override the limits of tyres or road conditions. Test gentle starts and normal overtakes instead of trying to recreate an acceleration figure. Check that both the indicated range and warnings behave plausibly as the car warms up and that it accepts a charge.

Fuel economy

Lexus quotes 272 miles combined WLTP and 3.7 miles per kWh for the 18-inch car at minimum specified weight, versus 252 miles and 3.4 miles per kWh for the 20-inch configuration. Those are official test figures, not cold-weather motorway promises. Lexus lists a peak of 150 kW DC, not a speed sustained throughout a charging stop; battery temperature, state of charge and the equipment at the charger matter. The car also supports up to 11 kW AC on a suitable supply, not automatically at every home wallbox. When planning a long trip, include a margin and a second charger option instead of assuming the first stop will charge at the headline rate.

Reliability

We have not used a representative failure-rate dataset for the original UK 450e, so confidence is limited. A battery report from a qualified workshop, evidence of service history and the seller's ability to demonstrate charging are more useful than the dashboard's current range estimate. Confirm what the car can do at an AC point, check for charging or powertrain warnings and ask how any previous collision or underside damage was inspected. These are ownership checks, not claims that these systems regularly fail. Ask Lexus for VIN-specific cover and battery terms, including the servicing conditions. The long-term financial exposure is different from a conventional petrol car, even if ordinary energy use is cheap at home.

Safety

Euro NCAP assessed a left-hand-drive RZ Executive with the original electric battery specification in 2023. This is relevant generation evidence, not an independent UK Premium Pack retest. Lexus's UK launch equipment table describes active systems including blind-spot monitoring, and its press material explains radar cruise and pre-collision support. Check the real car for camera, restraint or radar warnings and ask for calibration details after windscreen or front-end repairs. Demonstrate driver aids safely rather than relying on them during a test drive. Use the GOV.UK service to look for open recalls and ask Lexus to check the VIN. Check the handbook and physical fit for any child restraint you expect to use.

Technology and features

The UK Premium Pack already includes heated front seats, a reversing camera, and smartphone integration with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. Radar cruise and the associated assistance are not a substitute for checking your surroundings. A rear camera is also different from the multi-view systems offered elsewhere in the range; do not assume both come with the same badge. Bring your own phone and lead and try it with the car parked, then check climate settings, tailgate operation and whether the driver display is easy to read. Before taking delivery, confirm that previous users' device and app links are removed and check the pairing procedure for your own account.

Running costs

Use £24,500–£39,000 as an editorial November 2026 shopping allowance, not a live valuation. At 8,000 miles, an assumed 3.1 miles per kWh, a 10% electricity overhead and 27p per kWh, the charging budget is about £770. The same energy at 70p would cost about £1,990. Add a rounded £250 for tax and £630–£1,130 for routine servicing, MOT and wear to reach £1,650–£2,150 using the home tariff, before insurance, finance, depreciation and major repairs. Verify the actual tax for the registration and any applicable supplement; the used purchase price is not the original list price. Budget separately for charger installation if you do not already have it.

Advantages and disadvantages