Lexus RZ review - Interior, design & technology
Interior quality is up to the traditional Lexus standards, while the infotainment screen and air-con controls are easy to use
There are six exterior shades to choose from. The complimentary colours are black, or a rather smart-looking Aether Blue – although the fetching Sonic Copper is a mere £250 extra. You can pick between three interior colours: black, grey, or hazel. This choice of interior colours is a step up from the Subaru Soltera and Toyota bZ4X upon which the RZ is based, because both are only available in a gloomy black hue.
The dash design doesn’t quite have the wow factor of the latest Lexus NX or Lexus RX hybrid SUVs. However, it improves upon the usability of the Solterra and bZ4X because its more conventional layout allows you to look through the wheel, rather than above it, to see the driver’s instrument cluster. The RZ also retains physical dials for temperature and stereo volume controls that are easy to use while on the move.
You can’t fault the material quality in the RZ because all the surfaces you regularly look at and touch are soft. The digital dash could be a little more sophisticated because it doesn’t have the customisation of the Virtual Cockpit found in the Audi Q8 e-tron, and it makes the head-up display from the Premium Plus Pack version worth having. Going for that version also adds the natty infrared heaters behind the lower portion of the dash in front of the driver and front passenger knees. It’s a low-energy consumption alternative to cranking up the heating on a cold day, and it feels like putting a blanket over your legs.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
The RZ deviates from its Solterra/bZ4X siblings by using a larger 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system that looks great with its bright screen and sharp graphics. We found it responded quickly to our inputs, and it has an easy-to-program sat-nav system, although highlighting the route in white and using a light background for the map can make it a little hard to read at a glance.
If you want to use a navigation app from your phone, Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay are standard. The only major gaff we found with the Lexus infotainment system was the need for a home screen button.
All versions come with two USB-C charging points in the front and the back, which should give everyone enough charging locations on longer drives.
