Lexus RZ450e Long Term Review

Can't handle it?

One of the things you expect when buying a Lexus is long list of high tech gadgets. The RZ has plenty you'll want to show off to your friends, like a rear camera with its own little washer jet and a glass roof which turns opaque at the press of a button - both inventions inspired by public lavatories in Japan.

Something else which leaves passengers flushed are the door handles. On the outside the push-button arrangement is unusual but doesn't confuse anyone. Once inside though, the exit procedure needs explaining to anyone who hasn't been in the car before. You need to wait for the car to be stopped and in 'P'. Then the handle needs to be pressed, not pulled. You can pull it too, but it's meant for emergencies and you need to tug it twice before it will open. Confused? Me too.

I did think this was all pointless but then I swapped cars with Ginny and found myself begrudging having to pull a handle. Which is, weird. Even I’m not THAT lazy. 

While we are taking about doors, I managed to break something, which is quite an achievement on a Lexus. As car parking spaces are too small for modern cars, I squeezed into a spot at Tesco and them had to squeeze myself out of the gap without bumping the car next to me. In doing so, I dislodged the door seal rubber. It's not just a case of pushing it back on either as there are some complicated clips, but it doesn't seem to have caused any issues. 

PANIC! 

I need to talk about the safety systems too. Now I know these are a legal requirement, and generally the RZ’s warnings are pretty well judged and not too intrusive. It takes a few prods to turn off the inevitable bongs and bings, but generally you just get used to them.

The emergency braking, however, can send you into a panic. It slams on in parking spots which is bad enough, but on roads with parked cars it will also jam on the anchors as you approach them.

Other than that the technology works well. The issue I had with the Car Play and voice activation in the bZ4X seems to have been fixed in the Lexus, and the screens are just about the right size. There’s a really nice mix of buttons and touchscreen too. I also love the charge pad that actually works and holds you pjhone in place when you go around corners. That sounds like a basic, but its not something other makers seem to manage.

The instruments on front of youi are pretty basic, but everything you need to know is in the head up display.

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