2026 Lexus RZ: Luxury Goes Electric (and into Outer Space)

Staff writer Sam Gomez talks about the 2026 Lexus RZ, their new electric vehicle, and it’s pros and cons! Check it out below.

For those of you wanting electric luxury yet want to avoid Tesla, a good option for checking all the boxes just may be the 2026 Lexus RZ.

This is a compact / midsized all splash-and-flash EV that is a little cramped for our demographic but comes with all the luxury of the executive suites at a fine hotel. 

Synthetic leather upholstery. Heated steering wheel. 18-inch alloy wheels. 14-inch touchscreen……

And an overall sense that you don’t want to spill your Nachos Navidad from Taco Johns anywhere inside this gem.

This cutie is built and assembled in Aichi, Japan. It has been described by U.S. News and World Report as having “spaceship styling”. There is a lot going for it, and compared to its peers in the class, the starting price of just over $47K US seems reasonable.

(Its more affordable electric siblings are the Toyota bZ and Subaru Solterra, which use the same platform.)

The driving is very smooth and elegant to be sure, but you should expect that from Lexus. 

The base 350e trim has a range of 301 miles, which is okay, average IMHO. 

The 2026 model now has the North American Charging Standard plug, which means you don’t need an adapter for any charging station in the colonies, including Tesla stations. 

I tested the top-tier RZ 550e F-Sport with All-Wheel Drive (seen here), which starts at just over $58K US. The Toyota / Lexus F-Sport branding indicates that this is a high-powered machine, so on top of 402 horsepower and being able to go from 0 to 60 in 4.1 seconds, you will get some very cool looking badging that, well, looks great IMHO. And dark.

Oddly, however, the top-tier 550e has a driving range of only 229 miles, which, for 2026, is truly unsatisfactory. EVs today can generally get at least 300 miles per charge and often more; depending on use, however, that number will vary wildly. 

Still, this year’s RZ is an electric vehicle worth considering if you are truly in the market for one.  As always, make sure you can shelter it and charge it properly every night.  And please get inside to see how you fit: many of us even have trouble with big roomy trucks, so let’s not adjust ourselves just to make the car more attractive.

Again, I would recommend this vehicle for anyone who really likes the design and feel of a Tesla yet wants to avoid all the baggage that comes with that brand. Now that the Cybertruck will no longer be produced, you may want to check out the RZ and see if it meets your needs.

You will definitely have more room inside.  

And your reputation will remain intact.