Should you buy one?

As the premium version of the Toyota bZ4X the RZ works. It’s palpably more luxurious inside and is built as well as petrol-powered Lexus models are. The problem is just that, though. The bZ4x is a perfectly pleasant EV in its own right, but it’s far from a class-leading product, with plenty of more capable alternatives out there.

However, we can’t recommend one. Factor in the Lexus price premium, and all the luxury and serenity of the drive isn’t really going to compensate for the donor car’s inadequecies. If you’re in the market for an Audi Q4 E-Tron or Mercedes-Benz EQA, the RZ is a capable and intriguing alternative, which is good to drive and will stand out from the crowd, but unless you’re wedded to the brand, this is a tough sell.

But ultimately the battery tech and charging can’t compete with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Tesla Model Y. Whether you should opt for one or not is largely dependent on how far you drive. If you really don’t need a range of more than 200-ish (non-motorway) miles, it could be worth it. But if you regularly travel further than that, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

What we like

The interior manages to be modern and full of nice touches, while maintaining the solidity that Lexus buyers love. The ride is fantastically pliant at motorway speeds too.

What we don’t like

The range simply isn’t good enough, limiting its appeal to those who don’t actually drive that much. And it’s too expensive to be considered as a second car for most people. The infotainment is fiddly and the safety systems incredibly irritating.