The original Lexus RZ was a perfectly fine luxury electric SUV, but it put comfort ahead of any sense of fun. It was quiet and refined to be sure, yet it was short on the kind of performance and character that today’s premium EV buyers want. With the 2026 model year, Lexus has put those deficiencies to rest. The new RZ 550e F Sport is a far more engaging crossover while retaining the brand’s trademark polish.
The dual-motor AWD setup now makes 402 hp, enough to propel the RZ 550e to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. That is proper performance EV territory and you can feel it right away. Merging onto the highway or making a move at a stoplight is done with effortless power.
And for an EV of this caliber, the RZ 550e is an unexpected pleasure on a twisty road. The chassis is well composed through corners, body roll is kept in check and the steering has precision to spare. It is not putting on airs of being a sports car, but it is worlds apart from the old RZ in terms of involvement.
Then there is the new M Mode. In much the same way the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N does with its simulated transmission, Lexus has concocted an eight-speed automatic illusion. You can use the paddles behind the wheel to select your gear and be treated to some synthetic engine noise and a bit of interruption in the acceleration to sell the effect. Where other systems will upshift on their own, M Mode holds its ground until you make a change. It is clever engineering and a good parlor trick for passengers, though we tended to leave it off for our daily commute and errands; the smooth, instant torque of an EV is simply better for that sort of thing. But it is there when you want to zoom down a back road and do something different.
None of this comes at the expense of the RZ’s luxury bona fides. The cabin is as hushed as ever, with wind and road noise all but absent. The ride soaks up imperfections in the pavement without being soft, making for a comfortable time whether you are in city traffic or on a long haul. Inside, the fit and finish are excellent and the materials speak of quality. A 14-inch touchscreen is the centerpiece of the dash, offering a modern interface that is intuitive and not overbearing. There is ample room for adults in front and back, too.
Lexus has also seen fit to future-proof the RZ with a NACS port, so owners can plug into Tesla’s Superchargers directly where available.
There are tradeoffs to the added performance, however. The RZ 550e is the least efficient of the bunch with a 229-mile range. If that is your priority, the 301-mile RZ 350e is the wiser buy, though even then the RZ lags some of the competition. DC fast charging tops out at 150 kW for a 10-80 percent fill in roughly half an hour; it is fine, but newer luxury EVs are considerably quicker about it. We would also like to see a genuine one-pedal driving mode in an update. The regenerative braking settings here will slow you down but won’t bring you to a full stop, which is a feature many have come to rely on.
We have some reservations about the driver assistance suite as well. It can be overly protective at times. The monitoring system was quick to issue warnings for a mere glance at the blind spot or looking away from the road for a second, which felt more intrusive than helpful.
At $58,395 and up, the 2026 RZ 550e F Sport puts to rest a lot of what was said about the first generation. It is faster, more fun and has some novelty with M Mode, all while delivering the interior serenity Lexus is known for. The average charging and limited range keep it from topping the segment, but it is a compelling proposition.
