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New entry-level Lexus RZ 300e brings front-wheel drive and more range for under £50k

The mid-size premium EV is available to order now in 300e guise

Lexus RZ 300e - front action

A cheaper version of the Lexus RZ has arrived, called the 300e. It not only undercuts the existing RZ 450e by almost £8,000, but brings greater range, thanks to a new front-wheel drive format. 

It’s not the first time we’ve seen the powertrain in action. The sister car from Toyota, the bZ4X uses the same setup - although the other member of the family, Subaru’s Solterra, is offered only with an all-wheel drive, dual-motor configuration. In the RZ 300e, range sits at 297 miles compared to the 450e’s 271 miles. 

A 71.4kWh battery sends power to a single electric motor with 201bhp and 266Nm of torque on the front axle, resulting in a 0-62mph time of eight seconds. It’s the same battery as the RZ 450e uses so charging times remain the same with a zero to 80 per cent top up taking 30 minutes. 

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Starting at £49,995, the RZ 300e mirrors the 450e’s trim level line up with Urban, Premium, Premium Plus and Takumi. The entry-level 300e Urban looks identical to the 450e Urban and comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with automatic high beam, keyless entry and front and rear parking sensors. The interior is equipped with dual-zone air conditioning, a heated steering wheel and a wireless smartphone charger. 

Lexus’ 14-inch touchscreen appears on all RZ models with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto connectivity. There’s also a suite of safety kit as standard, including blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and safe exit assist.  

Stepping up to the £52,295 Premium, you’ll get eight-way powered front seats upholstered in ‘Tahara’ synthetic leather, a hands-free bootlid, tinted rear windows and a panoramic roof. 18-inch wheels come standard or for an extra £900 you can have 20-inch rims. 

The Premium Plus version costs from £54,595 and adds a panoramic view monitor, ventilated front seats and a memory setting for the driver’s seat. For an extra £1,100 you can option Lexus’ ‘bi-tone’ paint finish on the Premium Plus. 

The plush Takumi trim starts at £59,995 and comes with Lexus’ ‘Ultrasuede’ upholstery, 64-colour ambient lighting, a 13-speaker sound system and a dimmable panoramic roof. 20-inch wheels come as standard, as do the adaptive high-beam LED headlights, LED front fog and cornering lights and gloss black wheel arches. Front and rear performance dampers are added, too. 

Click here for our list of the best electric SUVs...

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Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

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