Lexus RZ 450e (RZ450e): electric crossover review and new RZ 350e, 500e, 550e range

Lexus RZ 450e (often also written as RZ450e) is the first Lexus EV designed as an electric vehicle from the ground up, rather than converted from a gasoline model. The crossover was unveiled in 2022, European sales began in early 2023, and over two and a half years it became Lexus’s main battery-electric model. At the end of 2025, the model received a major update: a 77 kWh battery appeared, a steering system without a mechanical connection to the wheels, and new name indices. Let’s break down what the RZ 450e is, what its specs are, where this name disappeared to in Europe, and what the new RZ 350e, RZ 500e, and RZ 550e F SPORT range gained.

Contents

• Lexus RZ 450e at a glance
• RZ 450e, 500e or 550e: how the names changed
• Technical specifications of the RZ 450e and the new range
• What changed after the update: battery, charging, steer-by-wire
• Design, interior and equipment
• Lexus RZ in Ukraine
• Accessories for the Lexus RZ

Lexus RZ 450e at a glance

• A fully electric mid-size crossover on the e-TNGA platform—the same one used by the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra.
• Two electric motors: 150 kW at the front and 80 kW at the rear, 230 kW combined (313 hp), brand’s DIRECT4 all-wheel drive.
• 71.4 kWh battery, WLTP range is about 435 km on 18-inch wheels and about 395 km on 20-inch wheels.
• 0–100 km/h acceleration: 5.6 s, top speed limited to 160 km/h.
• Length 4,805 mm, wheelbase 2,850 mm, trunk 522 L (1,451 L with the second row folded).
• Assembled in Japan, at the Motomachi plant in Toyota City.

RZ 450e, 500e or 550e: how the names changed

At first, the RZ was sold in a single version—the all-wheel-drive RZ 450e. At the end of 2023, Europe got a simpler front-wheel-drive RZ 300e with a single 150 kW motor (204 hp) and the same battery; we wrote about it in the Lexus RZ 300e review.

Lexus unveiled the updated RZ on March 12, 2025, and in Europe it went on sale at the end of 2025. Along with more powerful motors, the indices changed as well: in Europe and Ukraine the all-wheel-drive RZ 450e gave way to the RZ 500e (280 kW, 380 hp), the front-wheel-drive RZ 300e was replaced by the RZ 350e (165 kW, 224 hp), and the top of the lineup became the first “hot” version, the RZ 550e F SPORT with 300 kW (408 hp). So if you are looking for a new “RZ 450e” at a European dealer, its successor is effectively the RZ 500e.

In the US, the RZ 450e name remained: there the all-wheel-drive 2026 model year version received a new battery and an EPA range of about 261–264 miles (approximately 420–425 km), but it is sold under the old index alongside the RZ 350e and the RZ 550e F SPORT. So a 2026 model year car from the US with an RZ 450e badge is already the updated vehicle, not the old one.

Technical specifications of the RZ 450e and the new range

The body did not change after the update: 4,805 × 1,895 × 1,635 mm, wheelbase 2,850 mm, drag coefficient 0.28. For the new range, Lexus specifies a minimum ground clearance of 200 mm and a trunk of 522/1,451 L according to the VDA method, including the underfloor compartment. Tires are staggered: on 18-inch wheels, 235/60 R18 front and 255/55 R18 rear; on 20-inch wheels—235/50 R20 and 255/45 R20.

What changed after the update: battery, charging, steer-by-wire

Battery and efficiency

Capacity increased from 71.4 to 77 kWh, and the inverters switched to silicon carbide semiconductors with lower losses. For the front-wheel-drive version, Lexus promises around 20% more range than its predecessor. The on-board AC charger became 22 kW: from a three-phase 32 A supply the battery charges from 10 to 100% in about 3.5 hours. For winter, battery pre-heating before fast charging was added: at −10 °C, the 10 to 80% time drops from about 55 to 30 minutes.

Steer-by-wire and a “virtual gearbox”

Lexus announced steering without a mechanical connection to the wheels for the first RZ and promised it for 2025, and it appeared in production именно with the update. Commands from the yoke-style steering wheel go to the wheels via electrical signals, the steering ratio changes depending on speed, and total travel is only ±200°—no need to перекладывать your hands during U-turns. In case of a malfunction, there is a backup system. In Europe, this setup is standard on the RZ 550e F SPORT and available as an option on the RZ 500e Luxury.

The RZ 550e F SPORT also received the Interactive Manual Drive function: paddles behind the steering wheel shift eight simulated gears, and the electric motors reproduce jolts and sound like a car with a manual transmission. Torque distribution between axles in DIRECT4 varies across a wide range—from 60:40 to fully rear (0:100) during acceleration, and in economy mode it stays around 50:50.

Design, interior and equipment

From the outside, the RZ is easy to recognize: instead of a classic Lexus spindle grille, it uses the so-called spindle body shape—a smooth panel with a pattern that flows into the bumper, since an EV does not need a large opening for cooling. The silhouette is a crossover with a coupe-like roofline, and at the rear the lamps are united by a continuous LED light bar. Wheels are 18 or 20 inches depending on trim.

Inside there is a 14-inch Lexus Link Pro touchscreen multimedia display, a digital instrument cluster, and a head-up display. Depending on the version, a 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, a panoramic roof with electric dimming (after the update—with a bluish tint to the glass), a digital rearview mirror, adaptive high beam, and 360-degree cameras are available. An interesting detail for cold climates is the radiant heaters at the knee level of the driver and front passenger: they warm the legs without spending much energy heating the entire cabin. The Lexus Safety System+ suite includes adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, and lane keeping.

For more on the most powerful version, read the Lexus RZ 550e F SPORT review.

Lexus RZ in Ukraine

The updated RZ is officially sold in Ukraine. On the Lexus Ukraine website, the range includes the all-wheel-drive RZ 500e and the RZ 550e F SPORT; the price as of the end of September 2026 starts from ₴3,472,650. For the RZ 550e F SPORT, the same site lists steer-by-wire as standard, and a traction battery warranty of up to 10 years. Earlier RZ 450e cars on the used market appear with both European and US specifications; before buying, it is worth checking the battery condition via diagnostics and the type of charging connector: US-spec 2026 model year cars have an NACS connector rather than the European CCS2.

Accessories for the Lexus RZ

We do not yet have parts developed specifically for the Lexus RZ in our catalog. Universal items with the Lexus logo are a good fit for it: badges for car mats, a stainless-steel license plate frame, door sill plates, and a key fob. The rest of the brand’s accessories are collected in the Lexus tuning section.

We ship via Nova Poshta across Ukraine; orders from ₴15,000 are delivered free of charge by our own transport.