Lexus RZ review

The RZ is certainly quick. Its two electric motors pump out a combined 308bhp, meaning it can comfortably out-accelerate a BMW iX3. True, you don't get the neck-jarring G-force you can experience in a Tesla Model Y or Genesis Electrified GV70 – but then, who really needs that from a family SUV?

At moderate speeds, the RZ is generally a pleasure on a sweeping country road. There's loads of grip from tyres, and the steering wheel gives a reasonable sense of connection with the front wheels, with weight building reassuringly as you apply lock on the way into a corner. If you up the pace, though, or encounter an undulating section, the RZ loses some of its composure; there's more body lean than in some rivals, including the iX3, and the RZ doesn't feel very well tied down when tackling crests and troughs in rapid succession.

A feature that will appear later is what Lexus calls One Motion Grip, which replaces the regular (round) steering wheel with the version that appears in our pictures –  looking a bit like something you’d find in an aeroplane. This feature won’t be available in Europe until at least 2025, and the ‘wheel’ doesn’t have a physical connection with the front wheels. Instead, your inputs are sent by wire to a motor on the steering rack, which in turn moves the wheels.

There’s a backup controller in the unlikely event the first one fails, and the system does bring some advantages. For one thing, you only need to apply 150 degrees of steering angle to go from the wheels pointing straight ahead to full lock, so you never need to take your hands off the wheel or feed it through your hands. The steering ratio is incredibly quick below 10mph – something that takes a bit of getting used to because tiny inputs have a big say on the direction of the car. The response calms down significantly at faster speeds.

We’re not entirely sure the benefits will be worth whatever premium Lexus decides to charge for the system. The electronics will be fine-tuned over the next couple of years before One Motion Grip is offered in Europe, so we’ll reserve final judgement until then.

The range of the RZ between charges depends on whether you go for the 18in alloys fitted to the entry-level Premium Pack car or the 20in wheels on all other models. Officially, 18in wheels give a range of 273 miles, which drops to 245 miles on the bigger alloys.

Even the higher figure isn’t quite a match for the iX3 or GV70 – let alone the slightly smaller and cheaper Tesla Model Y – although that’s hardly surprising given that the RZ has a relatively small 64kWh (usable capacity) battery. On the plus side, Lexus says the RZ is more efficient than its direct rivals, which should translate to lower electricity bills.