I prefer certain vehicles and vehicle brands for certain things. I associate them with very particular driving characteristics. And with Lexus, I almost exclusively expect comfort and refinement, a touch of genteel, soft-spoken and minimalist luxury.
Viewed in those terms, the Lexus RZ450e delivers in spades. Comfort and refinement are what you would expect, then taken to a higher level of luxurious ease thanks to the absence of noise from an internal combustion engine and the effortless torque accorded by its twin-motor setup, delivering a substantial 313hp and 435 Newton-Meters of torque. It rides well, even on massive 20-inch wheels and tires all around, and you feel safe and secure thanks to the solid e-TNGA platform, along with all the electronic active and passive safety features (10 airbags, ABS-EBD brakes, traction / stability control, pre-collision, lane-tracing assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and more). 
The main issue, as with most EVs, is the lack of range. While some are better than others, the RZ450e taps the bottom on this aspect. The 71.4-kwh battery (already small in itself) can only use 64kwh of capacity, giving it an advertised range of 470km. The reality though which I observed is closer to 350km. The iX3 did closer to 390km, the larger Q8 E-Tron also gives a greater mid 400s theoretical range from real-world driving experience (though both Germans have larger batteries, the BMW at 80kwh and the Q8 at a massive 114kwh). Ultimately, most EV owners will be looking at absolute real-world range versus efficiency or km covered per kw as energy cost is still far lower than ICE.
The other key concern is driving dynamics, or lack thereof. Though a Lexus isn’t the sharpest knife in the shed for such a job, it always handles well, confident and predictably on the limit with its soft suspension and sometimes vague steering. The RZ450e is noticeably under-damped, prone to bottoming out the faster you go, and lacks sufficient suspension stroke. It becomes apparent above 100kmh on provincial highways and winding but bumpy and undulating country roads. Coupled with steering that’s light and desensitized, it makes for an unsatisfying experience when you yearn for a spirited drive. It is the perfect car though, if you just need to press on with your day in serenity and comfort. Effortlessness has always been a very strong Lexus suit.
Thankfully, on the smooth expressway, the RZ450e drives like a dream. Keep it in the city, or on the straight and wide, super-smooth toll roads. The RZ450e also has 522 liters of cargo space, so it’s decent for a crossover of this size but unfortunately a considerable amount of that space is occupied by a large donut spare wheel and tire. Space grows to 1,451 liters with the rear seats down, and there’s even a 58-liter underfloor space for the charger, tools and other equipment. Enough space then for a weekend getaway, but not enough for a week’s worth of road tripping.
With that out of the way, one can really geek out at all the intricate and useful details in the interior. From the massive LCD infotainment screen that has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the 5 USB Type-C plugs front and back, to the 10-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system, the 4-zone climate control, the combination leather and suede with light grey stitching on the seats and door sidings, the matte aluminum trim in the center console, the list goes on and on. There is so much tactility on the touch points, feeling and stroking the interior is quite overwhelming, in a very pleasant and positive way. If you simply desire a non-pretentious yet luxurious, supremely comfortable and refined cross-over electric vehicle with rich interior furnishings and intricate design details, all in a sleek package below for the princely sum of P5,228,000 -the RZ450e is for you!
