“I really want a 3-row car for extra space,” my wife Elise has been telling me for a while. “But I want to go electric since we can charge at home. And of course, I want a Lexus.” This wish-list has, unfortunately, left us in a pickle. We’ve looked at three-row offerings from other brands, but Elise — a longtime Lexus fangirl — either doesn’t connect with them or they’re too expensive. We then thought about trading for the Lexus RZ, figuring maybe we don’t really need three rows. Then the Toyota Highlander EV came out, and I suggested it. Elise wasn’t sold on the vehicle’s looks, but now the Lexus variant, the TZ, is out, and it’s sharp.
Let the record state that I have nothing against minivans or minivan styling. I happen to own a minivan, and I happen to be a fan of the Lucid Gravity, though even I had to admit that I worried the minivan styling would hold that car back. So I get why my wife isn’t a huge fan of the new Highlander. It does look a bit minivan-ish:
I just sent the new TZ photos to Elise, and she replied with:
“Wow! How much ???? When will this depreciate?”
That’s the right question to ask, because the beauty of EVs is that, even though they cost a lot upfront, they tend to lose their value quickly, so there are deals to be had on used models. Even brands known for holding value cannot stop their EV residuals from plummeting.
There are a lot of factors that play into this, but a big one is the fact that the market for EVs is more limited than the market for gas cars, at least currently in the U.S. There just aren’t as many customers for a $70,000 Lexus TZ (we don’t know pricing yet; I’m guessing) as there are for, say, a $60,000 Lexus TZ hybrid. EV technology rapidly improving, infrastructure remaining problematic, and (largely unfair) concerns about battery longevity all play into the the EV depreciation problem.
In any case, buying a brand new EV is not the move, at least not yet. And it’s certainly not the move for me, as I am quite cheap. So I’m hoping this Lexus TZ sees some significant depreciation in the first three to four years so Elise and I can buy it. Because it looks great!
Let’s get to the specs.
Four-wheel drive is standard, max range is 300 miles from the 95.82 kWh battery, though a smaller 76.96 kWh option is available. 0-60 happens in just over 5 seconds as the over-400 horsepower works to get that nearly 6,000 pounds underway. Max charging speed is 150 kW, yielding 10% to 80% SOC in about 35 minutes.
The figures are not particularly impressive, if I’m honest, but I’m not sure they have to be. Toyota’s MO has never been about being at the forefront of innovation; Toyota (and its luxury brand, Lexus) have been about offering vehicles that just work. They ooze competence, even if other brands offer better tech. They’re iPhone in a world of Google Pixels and Samsung Galaxies, so to speak.
So as long as this TZ is reliable and well engineered, Elise will by happy with it, even if maybe a Rivian or Lucid or even Kia can offer a bit more range or better handling in the corners. That’s the privilege that Toyota and Lexus have earned over decades in the U.S.
Other things worth noting are the one pedal driving capability (not available on the RZ), an interior that Lexus says is the quietest of all its SUVs, available rear steering that reduces turning radius by nearly two feet, heated and cooled second row seats (which appear to only be captains chairs; I think Elise would prefer a bench), and “sustainable” interior materials like suede, bamboo, and recycled aluminum. 
Toyota is a trusted brand, and, at least on some level, people will buy whatever they offer. I’m hoping this handsome TZ and the Highlander will get more Americans driving electric — not just for environmental reasons, but because, as an EV owner, I just think they’re amazing cars to drive, particularly as commuters. I’m absolutely certain that when Elise gets a chance to finally go electric, she’ll never go back.
Now let’s hope her 2017 Lexus RX350 lasts another four years. I’m sure it will.
All Images: Lexus
I’d really like to see Lexus gussy up a Prius Prime.
Maybe it’s a great vehicle, but it looks like an XL Kia tribute to Robocop.
Looks like someone is finally taking cues from Kia rather than the other way around.
Is Lexus ever going to move away from the Predator mouth spindle grille?
saw a really mint mint mint 2002 RX 300 in blue with low miles and no rust whatsoever…. by the time i was trying to get an anser form the listing it was sold…. that is the real Lexus
Truer words rarely spoken! 🙂
is it just me getting old? i am turning 39 this year and been a car guy for my whole life…. i cannot tell anymore without looking at the rear badge wtf model this is…. I used to know brand,model, heck even year and such by silhouette in the dark…now holy shit…I feel like a grandpa
You can now yell at clouds like the rest of us.
Wait til your back starts hurting for no reason. 😉
Yup, happened in my ’30s too. At some point I stopped paying attention and just never started again. Now get off my lawn.
The Toyota looks better on the outside.
It’s less ugly than other Lexus SUVs, but that’s faint praise.
Toyota and Lexus are coasting on reliability stats from like 25 years ago. I refuse to believe anyone bought a new Toyota product in the last 15 years for its styling.
And too bad that their quality is nothing special anymore. But all the parrots out there continue to repeat that BS.
I ordered a GR Corolla because I love the way it looks, in addition to how it drives. I also own a FK8 Civic Type R so my visual judgement may be slightly skewed.
new camry, rav4 and prius are beautiful. soooo……….