2026 Lexus RZ First Look

Lexus is refreshing the battery-electric RZ model lineup with improved range and performance for 2026.

Austin Lott | 

May 23, 2025 | 3 min read

Lexus

The Lexus RZ is getting a significant mechanical refresh for 2026. The updated model, which shares a platform with battery-electric Toyota vehicles including the bZ, bZ Woodland, and new C-HR, comes with a new larger battery and more powerful electric motors.

Additionally, Lexus is adding a sporty trim to the top of the RZ lineup and tweaking the design for a minimalist luxury experience.

Lexus

2026 Lexus RZ Gets More Range, More Power, and Faster Charging

The biggest changes for the 2026 Lexus RZ aren't immediately visible. The updated RZ gets two larger batteries: a 74.7-kilowatt-hour (kWh) unit, which is shared with the Toyota bZ, and a 76.7-kWh unit in the RZ 550e F Sport AWD. The new batteries bring range up to an EPA-estimated 300 miles for the FWD 350e trim, though maximum range is lower on the AWD trims (260 miles for the 450e and 225 for the sporty 550e). This is an improvement from the outgoing 2025 models, which topped out at 266 miles of EPA-estimated range.

Along with bigger batteries, improved electric motors produce more power and add efficiency. The 350e makes 20 extra horsepower over the 300e it replaces, for a total of 221 horsepower. Meanwhile, the 450e, the middle child of the lineup, stays the same at 308 horsepower. The new 550e offers 402 horsepower.

The Lexus also adopts the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug. Charging speeds have been improved, with Lexus claiming a 10% to 80% charge time of 30 minutes in optimal conditions. For drivers trying to charge on the road, it's worth noting that the vehicle can use Level 3 charging stations, including Tesla's Supercharger network.

Lexus

A Sporty New Trim for the RZ

Lexus is adding a new range-topping trim with front and rear motors for 2026: the RZ 550e F Sport AWD. The 550e is the line's most powerful model, sending 402 horsepower to all four wheels. Its increased power and larger wheel options — up to 20 inches — make for a more sporty vehicle but also cut into driving range. When equipped with the extra horsepower and larger wheels, the vehicle's range estimate drops to 225 miles under ideal conditions.

Lexus

The 2026 Lexus RZ Gets Mild Interior and Exterior Changes

On the design front, exterior changes are most noticeable on the 550e, which gets a new color — a metallic gray called Wind — and black trim pieces. Inside, a range of ambient lighting options, laser-cut suede-like door panels, and a micro-patterned console modernize the RZ.

Lexus said it intends to make the 2026 RZ available later this year, with pricing expected to be announced closer to the sale date. For reference, the 2025 RZ starts at just under $44,000 for the 300e base trim.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Austin Lott

Austin has been in the automotive industry since 2014. Before joining Capital One, he got his start at Motor Trend magazine in his native Southern California. Since then, he's written for publications such as Edmunds, The Drive, Super Street, Automobile, Hagerty, and Diesel Power. In his free time, Austin works on older cars and enjoys interesting experiences — once he even got to operate a 1948 GE diesel-electric locomotive.