Quick acceleration
Nice cabin materials
Pleasant road manners
F Sport's dynamic challenges
Slow charging
Poor range
Lexus continues to offer the RZ, its first-ever EV, for the 2027 model year after significant revisions for 2026. Even with those upgrades, it still trails its segment due to compromised range and charging technology.
Other compact luxury SUVs to consider include the Genesis GV60, Volvo EX60, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class.
What's New
The 2027 Lexus RZ is a complete carryover for the new model year. Last year, Lexus improved the RZ's battery architecture for longer range and faster charging. It also installed a standard NACS port. Lexus updated the chassis tuning for improved handling and ride comfort, swapping more powerful motors into RZ350e and RZ450e variants.
A high-performance RZ550e F Sport also joined the lineup. Other changes included a standard steer-by-wire system, additional sound deadening, and fresh interior finishings.
What We Think
Lexus needed to make up ground compared to rivals in the compact luxury SUV space when it updated the RZ for the 2026 model year. From its debut, the RZ suffered from poorer range and charging than the competition without the benefit of superior driving dynamics or gobsmacking power. The updates helped Lexus close the gap between the RZ and other compact luxury SUVs, but there are still areas that need improvement.
Of course, the Lexus RZ isn't without its merits. All models are quick, especially the RZ550e F Sport that joined the lineup for 2026. Materials inside the cabin are typical Lexus fare, which is to say they feel expensive and nicely put together. Overall daily drivability of the RZ is pleasant, as well. This is a quiet and comfortable means of getting around town.
Its shortcomings should prompt some shoppers to consider other options. Only the base RZ can drive over 300 miles per charge, and that's only when it's rolling on 18-inch wheels. All other variants are rated between 200 and 300 miles of range, which trails the capability of segment leaders.
Charging speeds are still wanting, peaking at a Lexus-reported 150 kW. There's no one-pedal driving mode, which is common in other EVs. A puny, low-resolution digital instrument cluster display rounds out our complaints.
If your driving needs are limited to scooting around a suburb or city, the Lexus RZ is the smooth and relaxed ride you might want. Still, the latest luxury EVs eclipse the RZ in terms of tech and refinement. Unless you're a Lexus loyalist, check out top-ranked competitors before committing to the RZ.
Top-Ranked Competitors:
MotorTrend Tested
Lexus offers the 2027 RZ in a trio of configurations: the 350e, 450e, and 550e F Sport. The front-wheel-drive RZ350e is the base model, with just one motor developing 221 hp.
Lexus claims a 0–60-mph time of 7.1 seconds, but based on our test figures, we expect the RZ350e to be much quicker. Its predecessor, the 201-hp RZ300e, accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds. Figure this one is good for a time of about 6.4 seconds thanks to its extra output.
The RZ450e has all-wheel-drive capability and performance. Its dual-motor powertrain develops a total of 308 hp and should get from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, just as it did in our testing, before its last refresh. A dealer-installed accessory performance upgrade brings output up to 375 hp. That should bring its launch time down to 4.3 seconds.
At the top of the model range is the 2027 Lexus RZ550e F Sport. This performance-tuned variant develops a combined 402 hp from its dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain. In our First Test review, the RZ550e F Sport launched from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds.
EV Range and Charging
The 2027 Lexus RZ carries over into the new model year with a standard 74.7-kWh battery for the RZ350e and RZ450e. RZ550e F Sport models get a slightly bigger 77.0-kWh battery. Both batteries fast-charge at a rate up to 150 kW, trailing the likes of the Genesis GV60, which maxes out at 240 kW.
Using Level 2 home charging, the RZ charges at 11 kW. Other charging-related features include a standard NACS port for native use with the Tesla Supercharger network.
Driving range varies by powertrain and wheel size. The base 2027 Lexus RZ350e is good for 301 miles of range with 18-inch wheels and 284 miles with 20-inch wheels. Dual-motor RZ450e models are capable of driving 260 miles of range with 18-inch wheels and 257 miles with 20-inch wheels.
RZ550e F Sport SUVs get just 229 miles of range and are standard with 20-inch wheels, so there isn't a variant that better blends performance and efficiency.
Generally, the 2027 Genesis GV60 lineup is more efficient. The single-motor RWD model is rated at 306 miles of range. Dual-motor AWD variants get 282 miles of range on 19-inch wheels and 267 miles on 20-inch wheels. The high-performance GV60 Magma, which is more powerful than the RZ550e F Sport with 641 hp, gets just 222 miles of range.
Safety Ratings and Features
NHTSA awards five stars overall to the 2027 Lexus RZ450e but has yet to issue safety ratings to RZ models with other powertrains. Every 2027 Lexus RZ gets the Lexus Safety System 3.0+ as standard equipment.
Standard Features
Lexus outfits all 2027 RZ SUVs with receive adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assistance, lane following assistance, road sign assistance, and automatic high-beams.
The Lexus RZ also has the automaker's proactive driving assistance, which provides gentle steering and braking support. Finally, the RZ is standard with blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
Available Features
Other driver assistance features available on the 2027 Lexus RZ include e-automatic braking, lane change assistance, front cross-traffic alert, traffic jam assistance, and remote parking.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
The interior of the 2027 Lexus RZ is about as spacious for passengers, but overall cargo space is on the small side even if volume behind the second row is excellent.
Technology
Infotainment
Every 2027 Lexus RZ gets a 14.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It's contrasted by a small, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, which we've criticized for being low-resolution. A wireless phone charger and five USB-C ports are standard.
Sound System
Most RZ trims come standard with a 10-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. The Luxury model comes with a 13-speaker Mark Levinson setup. That upgraded stereo is also available on the RZ550e F Sport as part of the Luxury package.
Available Upgrades
Lexus offers plenty of additional technology for the 2027 RZ. Some of the notable items on offer include a head-up display, a 360-degree camera view, a kick sensor for the trunk hatch, and a digital key.
Value
Standard Features
Lexus equips the entry-level 2027 RZ350e with single-motor front-wheel drive, a 74.7-kW battery, and a NACS charging port. It rolls on 18-inch wheels with a dark gray metallic machined finish.
Inside the cabin, Lexus outfits the RZ350e with synthetic NuLuxe seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated seats. There's a 14.0-inch infotainment display, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and a Wi-Fi hotspot with subscription-based 4G connectivity. Pricing starts just over $47,000.
Recommended Trim
For 2027, Lexus offers the RZ at six trim levels: RZ350e, RZ350e Premium, RZ450e, RZ450e Premium, RZ450e Luxury, and RZ550e F Sport.
Of these, we think the RZ350e Premium is the best of the bunch. It retains 301 miles of range with its 18-inch wheels but builds on the base RZ350e with a panoramic glass roof, a kick sensor for the rear trunk, ambient lighting, and a 360-degree camera. Lexus also equips its upgraded parking assistance system with automatic braking.
The 2027 Lexus RZ350e begins at just under $50,000.
2027 Lexus RZ550e F Sport: Complete With a Fake Transmission
Beyond being the most powerful model in the Lexus RZ range, the RZ550e F Sport gets an enthusiast-baiting feature that isn't available across the rest of the lineup. The RZ550e has a mode called Manual Drive with simulated gearshifts you can control with paddles on the steering wheel.
It's combined with a synthetic engine sound we've described as "an angry, 10,000-rpm vacuum cleaner." Unlike Lexus' other F Sport models, the RZ550e F Sport doesn't get any chassis upgrades to make it handle better than its more pedestrian stablemates.