Lexus has expanded its electric vehicle lineup with the reveal of the all-new TZ, a three-row all-electric SUV. The Lexus TZ battery electric vehicle (BEV) is an SUV designed around the car brand’s Driving Lounge concept, which aims to “seamlessly blend a relaxing cabin environment with the dynamic driving performance characteristic of Lexus.”
Built on the car brand’s TNGA platform, the Lexus TZ BEV combines driving enjoyment with refined comfort and electric performance. The Japanese automaker said the TZ aims to deliver a quiet, relaxing cabin experience while maintaining the driving dynamics expected of a Lexus vehicle.
The Lexus TZ is powered by dual electric motors that generate a combined power output of 402 horsepower. Its 95.82 kWh battery provides up to 530 kilometers (WLTP) of pure electric range on a single charge. The TZ can then go from zero to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds, and it comes with an all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard.
Design-wise, it has a bold and commanding exterior, expected of an SUV. This is seen in the front fascia, as it is fitted with an angular bumper and sharp-looking Twin-L signature lamps that combine L-shaped daytime running lights and turn signals, while the black trims add character to the TZ’s front end. Meanwhile, the side profile is characterized by crisp lines that can be seen on the fender flares, as well as throughout the length of the vehicle. It also comes with semi-flush door handles, aluminum roof rails, and black cladding to give the TZ a rugged look.
The rear, on the other hand, equally comes with an aggressive and sharp design. The slim taillights and the illuminated Lexus emblem are hard to miss, while the sloping roofline comes with a spoiler for aerodynamics. Lexus’ first three-row electric SUV can come equipped with either 20- or 22-inch tires, and the car brand said that the tires balance low rolling resistance with ride comfort and acoustic quietness, providing a more pleasing drive.
Inside, the Lexus TZ has a modern-looking cabin, which comes with a clutter-free dashboard design that’s integrated with a massive infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It features a spacious three-row seat layout with second-row captain seats.
Lexus shared that the seats are designed and crafted for comfort, which follows its Driving Lounge concept. The front seats balance style and support, while the front passenger and second-row seats offer ventilation and power ottomans. The third-row seats are said to provide sofa-like cushioning.
The TZ BEV also comes with a panoramic sunroof that’s designed to give passengers an awesome and uninterrupted view of the surroundings. Lexus also made it a point to use sustainable materials, such as forged bamboo interior trim and bio-based UltraSuede materials, as part of its environmental efforts. It also has a Mark Levinson 21-speaker audio system.
Lexus is advancing safety technology development with the ultimate goal of achieving “zero traffic accidents.” As such, the TZ BEV is equipped with the latest Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 (LSS+ 4.0), which is the brand’s version of the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
It has the following safety tech: front pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, risk avoidance emergency steer assist, full-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing assist, and lane departure alert with steering assist, among others.
Autocar’s Take
Lexus is showing that it is committed to embracing electrification as one of the future powertrains of mobility with the introduction of the TZ, which is Lexus’ first-ever three-row electric SUV. With the TZ, Lexus designed an electric SUV that combines driving enjoyment with refined comfort and electric performance.
The exterior of the TZ looks commanding and has a bold presence. Although we’re seeing a bit of resemblance with the overall design of the all-new RAV4 HEV Adventure trim. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not saying that it looks perfectly the same, the TZ just sort of reminds us of the said Toyota HEV.
