Lexus RZ 350e review: Premium electric SUV offers luxury, range and value in growing EV market

Lexus strips back the futuristic quirks to deliver a refined, comfortable and competitively priced premium electric SUV

The Lexus RZ 350e offers premium electric SUV comfort, strong range, luxury styling and competitive pricing against European rivals.

LEXUS RZ 350E
Rating	★★★★☆
Price	€64,780 as tested
Power	The smallest of the RZ range’s drivetrain options with 224bhp
Range	Claimed to be 500 km+, but you will certainly get 440 or thereabouts
The Spec	Well up to the standard Lexus sets itself
Verdict	It may be the lesser of the RZ models, but it is certainly going to be the bestseller

Fitted with unusual stuff such as the ‘yoke’ steering wheel — something like what you might have originally seen on a Second World War fighter plane — a butterfly shaped apparatus which replaces the actual steering wheel, it has a very new-age feel.

This yoke, as it were, controls a drive-by-wire steering system, whereby there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steered front wheels. Not alone does the combination of these two things seem weird, but they are also concepts which are hard for the brain to comprehend.

Oddly, both work very well and Toyota’s luxury brand has not only pulled off a unique first for itself, but it also set the ball rolling for others — Mercedes included — to follow suit, but it set a template for itself and its customers as the purveyors of otherworldly automotive tech.

Not alone does the RZ 500e set a high bar for others to follow, it represents an excellent value for money proposition by comparison with others in a very upmarket segment.

This week we try the more normal version of that car, the RZ 350e which, by comparison, is very regular and yet even more affordable option in the luxury SUV marketplace.

It comes with — yay — an actual steering wheel and one which is actually mechanically connected to the steered front wheels; so, no midnight sweats dreaming about a large vehicle careening down a twisty mountain pass road when the steer-by-wire system fails and you crash through the Armco into an endless fresh air spiral.

No, none of that. Instead, what you get here is a rock-solid, beautifully appointed EV machine which has very acceptable performance and decent range.

The truth of the matter is that much of the technology advances made with the RZ 500e, the lesser version is quite the conservative thing, albeit having been given a thorough exterior makeover. The design of the new version is quite similar to what preceded it, what with a rakish light design, large wheels, and a somewhat coupe-like vibe about the roofline.

The Lexus RZ 350e is a more affordable option in the luxury SUV marketplace.

It might seem a tad churlish to highlight the small flipper-esque elements of the rear wing on either side of the hatchback rear door, especially given that they are essentially a small element of the smooth aero package, but they are neat and add a stylish touch to the overall look of the car.

On the inside too, not much has changed apart from a few tweaks here and there, but the entirety of the look and feel on offer here is quite luxurious and the quality of the materials used is top notch. This is a car which, when you sit in, will make you feel very good about yourself and the choice you’ve made in buying it.

A lot of the real design and engineering legwork here is buried deep under the skin of the RZ 350e, what with both the battery pack and electric motors having been upgraded — in tandem, it has to be said — with those made to the lower-grade Toyota bZ4X BEV.

It might just be that this is something of a transitional car as Toyota and Lexus move together into the world of EVs, having traditionally relied thus far on hybrid technology. Indeed, one of the stated aims of this car is said by Shinya Ito, the chief RZ design guru, is “to build anticipation” for lies ahead for Lexus.

Ito-san’s judgement suggests there’s a lot more to come in this area from the Japanese automotive powerhouse and that might just cause a few sleepless nights in places as far apart as, say, Munich and Shanghai, or even Stuttgart and Beijing.

New cooling and battery pack developments, as well as advances to the eAxle design, are aimed at reducing energy loss while you’re in motion and upgraded soundproofing is aimed at making the driving experience more sophisticated.

Range too has been boosted. Wheel size is actually a critical element of the efficiency of any such car and it is notable that those fitted with 20in wheels will cover a claimed 500km, while those with 18in will achieve nearly 570. Potential buyers will be faced with a trade off between looks and proficiency. The claimed range is reasonably accurate too, and even if you’re a heavy-footed driver, you can expect to see roughly 80% of what the manufacturer says you’ll get.

The Lexus RZ 350e is a more affordable option in the luxury SUV marketplace.

Somewhat oddly, this version of the car is the most efficient of the RZ range; it generates 224 bhp from the single motor layout which drives the front wheels and will cover the 0-100 km/h sprint in a very decent 7.5 seconds. It is certainly not as quick as its bigger brother, but not alarmingly so. Charging performance has also been improved by the adoption of a more powerful 22kW onboard charger, replacing the previous 11kW system. Lexus admits that this anticipates the wider availability of public fast-charging infrastructure, so Irish punters will have to wait a while for that to become a reality.

While the 500e is all-singing and all-dancing in many respects, the 350e version fits into the ‘perfectly adequate’ category in that it will meet the performance and range needs of pretty much everyone, while offering pretty sumptuous surroundings while doing so.

For all its snappy looks, the car is a tad anodyne to drive, but it rides and handles very well and will withstand a bit of chucking about — but not too much. It’s not a car designed really for that sort of thing, more for a touch of waspish sophistication. The airy cabin will impress anyone and the standard panoramic roof makes things brighter for those in the cabin, although this one does not self-tint when it is sunny. Seating is exceptionally comfortable and the curved roof does not impinge too much on those in the rear. Boot space is commodious.

Undoubtedly this car is not quite as interesting — or challenging as its big brother — and especially those versions with the steer-by-wire system. It is largely a conventional design —with some nice touches, it has to be said — but then, so are those offerings from others in the premium marketplace.

That it is cheaper than many of its European rivals will also appeal to those not consumed by badge engineering. It has all the Lexus (and Toyota, to be fair) trademarks of bombproof reliability, demonstrates reasonably efficiency and performance, has oodles of space inside and in the boot and is remarkably well put together.

I have no doubts that this will be the bestseller in the RZ range, even if it does not have some of the quirky engineering and design elements of the 500e. It is desirable and good looking and will therefore be a welcome adornment in anyone’s driveway.