Lexus RZ500e Review: DoneDeal Cars

The RZ500e looks unmistakably like a Lexus, which is both its strength and, depending on your taste, its limitation. The Spindle Body design language wraps the entire lower section of the car in a single sweeping form, giving it a planted, wide-hipped stance that reads as genuinely premium at a glance. At 4,805 mm long and 1,895 mm wide, it sits firmly in the large premium SUV class.

Up front, the sealed spindle grille panel — there is no conventional grille opening on an EV — houses the charging port centrally and frames narrow LED headlights that give the face a focused, almost predatory expression. From the side, the coupe-like roofline sacrifices some rear headroom in favour of a silhouette that flatters the car considerably. The rear features a full-width LED light bar and a subtle integrated spoiler. Colour options stretch to fourteen, including the stunning Sonic Copper and Flare Yellow metallics that make the most of the sculpted bodywork.

Step inside and the gap between the RZ500e and most of its electric rivals becomes immediately apparent. The dashboard is a clean, horizontally layered design with Lexus's 14-inch touchscreen centrally mounted and angled toward the driver. Physical shortcut buttons flank the screen — a sensible concession to usability that many pure-digital rivals have abandoned and owners quietly regret. The instrument panel is crisp, the head-up display is large and well-calibrated, and the available panoramic roof floods the cabin with light.

Material quality is outstanding. Semi-aniline leather, open-pore wood trim, and soft-touch surfaces cover virtually every touchpoint. Ambient lighting is subtle and well-integrated rather than the garish ring-lit effect that plagues some competitors. Front seats are deeply bolstered and heated and ventilated as standard on the tested F Sport specification.

The honest caveat for family buyers: the coupe roofline means rear headroom is noticeably tighter than in a conventional SUV, and at 522 litres the boot is smaller than a Volkswagen ID.4. For a car at this price, buyers expecting maximum practicality should look elsewhere. For those who prioritise quality of experience over cubic capacity, the RZ500e more than delivers.

This is where the RZ One Motion separates itself decisively from the premium EV crowd, and the steer-by-wire yoke is central to that story. With no mechanical link between the yoke and the front wheels, the system controls steering angle electronically, allowing the engineers to tune the feel independently of geometry. The result is steering that is exceptionally precise: light and effortless at parking speeds, progressively weighted on country roads, and reassuringly stable at motorway pace. The yoke operates through just 200 degrees of rotation lock to lock — less than a full turn — which takes adjustment but ultimately makes urban manoeuvring more intuitive than a conventional wheel.

The dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain produces 380hp and 537Nm of torque. The 0–100 km/h time of around 4.5 seconds is impressive for a car of this size, but the more relevant quality is the in-gear response: smooth, seamless, and seemingly inexhaustible for motorway overtaking. Body roll is tightly managed without sacrificing ride quality — on typical Irish road surfaces, the RZ stays composed and comfortable.

Annual motor tax is €120, the lowest band available. The SEAI purchase grant of €3,500 reduces the effective purchase price of the RZ One Motion to approximately €77,990 — subject to current scheme eligibility. No VRT surcharge applies to zero-emission vehicles priced below €50,000 in base form; buyers should confirm current VRT liability at point of order given the RZ One Motion's price point.

WLTP-certified range is 457 km on a full charge; real-world mixed driving in Irish conditions is likely to return 330–370 km, with motorway-heavy routes at the lower end. The 150 kW DC rapid charge capability, combined with 22 kW AC on-board charging, means a meaningful top-up is possible during a standard lunch stop. Service intervals are 12 months or 15,000 km. The ten-year/unlimited kilometre powertrain warranty represents a significant ownership safety net, particularly for a model entering a new technology era with steer-by-wire.

Lexus quotes a WLTP range of 457 km for the RZ500e's 74.7 kWh battery which is a meaningful improvement over the outgoing model. Real-world Irish driving, as tested by other Irish reviewers, is likely to deliver 330–370 km in mixed conditions. Cold motorway driving in January could bring that figure closer to 280 km; mild urban use on a dry day can approach the quoted figure comfortably.

For the vast majority of Irish family journeys and daily commutes, that real-world range is more than sufficient. Where the RZ500e earns extra credit is rapid charging: at 150 kW DC, the 10–80 per cent top-up takes approximately 30 minutes, making a Cork-to-Dublin run manageable with a single stop. The 22 kW AC charging rate — double that of the previous model — is also genuinely useful for overnight charging at home or at a destination charger. For regular long-distance motorway driving, charge-stop planning remains advisable.

The most obvious rival is the BMW iX xDrive50, which offers comparable performance and a longer real-world range — though it starts at a similar price and lacks the RZ's interior distinctiveness. The Mercedes EQS SUV 450 4MATIC goes further on a charge but sacrifices driving engagement entirely. Closer on price, the Genesis GV70 Electrified offers strong specification at a lower outlay, though it cannot match the Lexus for refinement or the sheer novelty of the steer-by-wire experience. For buyers who want more range and a conventional steering wheel, Lexus's own RZ Executive (RZ350e) at €66,280 is the rational choice.

Irish Prices

Lexus RZ range and pricing (2026):

• RZ Executive (RZ350e) — €66,280; €120 annual motor tax
• RZ One Motion (RZ500e, tested) — €81,490 (€77,990 after SEAI grant*); €120 annual motor tax

*SEAI grant subject to current scheme availability and eligibility.