Lexus RZ 450e+ Takumi Bi-tone

Greater stamina and a lower price would have enhanced our opinion of this upmarket electric SUV

- Chris Haining

AT THE TIME of writing, an annual season ticket to take me from my nearest station (Mistley, Essex) to What Car?'s headquarters in Twickenham works out at more than £700 per month. Meanwhile, a Lexus RZ 450e Takumi like mine costs £450 per month on PCP finance via our free New Car Deals service.

Granted, that excludes the 15% deposit you have to put down first, but taking the deal means you get an entire car to use whenever you want, on any road you want to explore. And, of course, you can park on your doorstep, rather than walking half a mile to catch a train.

I looked forward to boarding the Lexus, rather than standing on a drizzly platform awaiting a crowded commuter service. But to fully meet my needs, the RZ also needed to prove suitable for rural exploration.