Is the Lexus RZ450e Too Expensive, or Just Right?

Worth the Cost?

The 2023 Lexus RZ450e is a very important vehicle, as it's the very first mass produced, global EV from the luxury brand that aims to go fully electric in the coming years. As one might imagine, it's a very nice attempt, one filled with luxurious features and cool tech, though slightly underwhelming in certain ways. Now that Lexus has announced the RZ's MSRP of $59,650, it's worth asking - is it worth the money?

Photos: Lexus

Elephant in the Room

The elephant in the room, of course, is Tesla and its Model Y, which has long been the best-selling EV crossover on the market. And when we compare the two, things become even more interesting. Tesla just dropped the price of the Model Y considerably, with the Long Range currently costing $54,990 and the Performance model featuring an MSRP of $58,490.

Photos: Lexus

Big Gap

The problem with that particular comparison is that Tesla offers far more in terms of range and performance than the RZ, which is capable of traveling 220 miles of range on a single charge thanks to a 71.4 kWh battery pack. A pair of electric motors generate 313 horsepower, propelling the EV crossover from 0-60 in 5.0 seconds.

Photos: Lexus

Other Considerations

The Model Y Long Range, on the other hand, can go 330 miles on a charge and do 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, while the Performance has a 303-mile range and 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds. These are obviously huge gaps when compared to the RZ, but the Lexus also has quite a few things going for it that the Tesla twins do not.

Photos: Lexus

More Luxurious

For starters, while Tesla's Model Y has a rather spartan cabin that's full of tech via a single screen, the RZ is more of a traditional luxury vehicle with plenty of nice surfaces and physical controls. There's an instrument cluster - which the Model Y doesn't have - as well as a 14-inch infotainment screen, NuLuxe upholstery, and eight-way power front seats with heating and ventilation, to name just a few.

Photos: Lexus

Typical Lexus

Throw in niceties like a 10-speaker audio system, wireless charging pad, ambient lighting, and a host of safety tech, and the RZ is a lot like the ICE Lexus lineup in many ways, which is a good thing. Then there's the exterior styling, which is a bit more conventional than the Model Y, which is appealing to some folks.

Photos: Lexus

Finding Its Niche

While the RZ seems like a massive underdog on paper, it's worth noting that not everyone is looking for a fast EV with a huge range number - some shoppers prefer a more traditional vehicle with physical controls and luxurious features. Others may not want to endure being a Tesla owner either, as simply driving one seemingly makes them a rolling stereotype. For those reasons and more, the RZ might just carve out its own niche in the market, in spite of its obvious disadvantages.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the Lexus RX450e right here at ClubLexus.com.

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