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Lexus is one of the most popular luxury automakers in the world, and like many other automakers, Lexus is preparing to electrify its lineup. The luxury Japanese automaker is doing that sooner than later, and next year, Lexus will debut the RZ, which will be the luxury automaker’s first fully-electric vehicle. While there are still some details that are unknown about the upcoming Lexus RZ, there is one big reason why it won’t be able to compete with Tesla.

The front end of a 2023 Lexus RZ
The 2023 Lexus RZ | Lexus

What is known about the upcoming Lexus RZ so far

Off the bat, since Lexus is owned by Toyota, the RZ is being built on the same platform that Toyota’s and Subaru’s EVs are being built on. As such, the Lexus EV will have a lot of similarities with the Toyota bZ4X, which is a compact crossover SUV, just like the RZ. Lexus gave the RZ a more powerful powertrain than Toyota gave the bZ4X though.

The Lexus EV starts with two electric motors, and they get 312 hp combined. One motor is in the front and the other is in the rear, and this also means that the RZ has all-wheel drive as standard. According to Lexus, this powertrain will allow the RZ to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds.

Like with many other Lexus cars, the interior is where the RZ shines. It has some high-tech features, such as a 14-inch touchscreen, a digital gauge cluster display, and a head-up display. The Japanese automaker also invested in making the car’s heating system more efficient, and this should help during the winter. 

The Lexus RZ has a disappointing amount of range

In terms of range, Lexus gave the RZ a 71.4-kWh battery pack, which is similar to what’s on the bZ4X. This allows it to get 220 miles with 18-inch wheels, and 196 miles with 20-inch wheels. The Lexus EV is capable of 150 kW DC fast charging, but overall, its range estimate is the most disappointing aspect of the car. 

Lexus hasn’t released any pricing details yet, but the RZ should easily start at well over $50,000. If Lexus adds a long-range battery option, then the price tag will likely climb even more. All said and done, the RZ joins a short list of luxury EVs that cost a lot of money but have a mediocre range.

There are many cheaper EVs, such as the Chevy Bolt, that cost far less than this Lexus does, yet will provide more range.

Range is king, and the Lexus won’t be able to compete with Tesla because of it

Of course, an EV’s range can always be improved with small efficiency gains or simply giving the car a bigger battery. Until Lexus does that for the RZ, it will not compete with Tesla in earnest.

This is because Tesla is not only the most well-known EV automaker, but its EVs often have a huge amount of range. There are few other EVs that are in the same ballpark as Tesla.

The actual range numbers of a Tesla will vary depending on the configuration, but many Teslas on the road today likely have a range number that’s past 300 miles. Some of the more expensive Teslas even hit 400 miles of range.

As a result of this disparity, it’s going to be tough for the RZ to compete against Tesla since range is such a big deal for EV owners. Some owners may feel differently, but most drivers don’t want to feel anxious about running out of battery. And currently, the RZ seems poised to give a lot of drivers range anxiety.

RELATED: Tests Show the Tesla Model Y Loses More Range in Summer Than in Winter

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