2023 Lexus RZ450e

Base Price: $59,650

63.4 kWh Dual Motor

308 HP / 320 TQ

Real World as Tested Range: 180 Miles

0-60: 4.6 Seconds

—

Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi

Welcome to the first ever Lexus EV, the RZ450e! Yes, you read that right. In a world where everyone has had an EV out in the market for years, the ToMoCo juggernaut was hedging their bets on Hybrids instead. Unfortunately, even with all the issues that full EVs have (infrastructure, real world range, real world charge times, reliability etc), the world seems to pivoting straight to full electrification. That left Lexus without a real choice…either stick with what actually works in the real world or get left behind in the winds of their consumer’s newfound sentiment.

That gives us this RZ450e and hopefully the above can put some of its shortcomings into context for you. First, let’s get this straight, the RZ is not bad vehicle overall. Heck if this was a ‘sportback’ version of the RX using the RX’s hybrid drivetrain, this thing would be excellent! The drive, ride, interior, comfort, infotainment and handling are fantastic!

The RZ though, is an EV, so while the above attributes are still important, the electron only drivetrain forces us to add a few more items to that list…and in an EV, those items can make or break it. Those are:

Items like the

• Real world range

• Real world charge times and capabilities

• Charging infrastructure and accessbility as a whole

This is where the RZ gets lost.

Let’s break it down for you: