Lexus RZ

Flagship electric SUV gets a bigger battery, more power and a 'yoke' steering wheel On sale Spring 2026 Price from £53,000 (est)

- LAWRENCE CHEUNG [e-mail]

IN THE SATIRICAL TV show Parks and Recreation, Treat Yo' Self Day is an occasional chance to spend money on lavish and luxurious goods as a form of self-care. And the Lexus RZ has always felt like it fits with this celebration, because beneath the skin it's closely related to a pair of much cheaper electric SUVs.

Yes, the RZ shares its underpinnings with the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X, but it's slightly longer and plusher inside, in keeping with its higher price tag. Now, though, as if to further justify its elevated status, the RZ has been polished up, with an updated version available to order at the end of this year and the first deliveries due soon after.

Significantly, every RZ now has a longer range than before. With total battery capacity up from 64kWh to 77kWh, the entry-level model (on 18in wheels) can now officially take you 353 miles on a full charge (up from 297 miles). This beats the bZ4X (up to 317 miles), Genesis GV60 (up to 348 miles) and Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive (311 miles).

The RZ's peak charging rate is unchanged at 150kW, but a new preconditioning function should help you achieve it more often, even in colder weather. Even so, the RZ's 10-80% charging time of around 30 minutes is off the pace, with the Audi Q6 e-tron and GV60 taking as little as 20 minutes.