Lexus has taken the wraps off the new TZ, its first fully electric three-row SUV. And in typical modern EV fashion, the reveal arrived with surprisingly little drama. No lasers, no smoke machines, just a fairly calm announcement for what is actually a rather important car for the brand.
The TZ is effectively Lexus’ luxury take on Toyota’s new electric Highlander formula. Which also means it is aimed squarely at families who want three rows, silent running, and enough charging ports to support an entire road trip's worth of devices.
Underneath, the TZ shares much with its Toyota sibling, though Lexus has added a few touches to justify the badge. Battery options include a 77 kWh pack and a larger 96 kWh unit available on higher trims. Lexus claims the bigger battery can deliver over 480 km of range.
All Wheel Drive comes standard, managed by Lexus’ Direct4 system, which can vary torque distribution between the front and rear motors. In theory, it can send all available power to the rear axle. In reality, this is more about software intelligence and stability than turning a three-row SUV into a drift car.
Lexus will also offer rear-wheel steering as an option, which should make manoeuvring this large vehicle slightly less stressful in tight parking lots and city traffic. Toyota, interestingly, is not expected to offer that feature on its version.
Inside, the focus is clearly on comfort. The second row gets powered ottomans, along with heated and ventilated seats, because apparently even school runs now deserve business-class treatment. Lexus also mentions new forged bamboo trim finishes, though thankfully the company stopped short of describing the cabin as a “zen sanctuary”.
The TZ will sit alongside the TX in Lexus’ lineup rather than replace it. That means buyers will soon have hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric three-row options within the same showroom.
Pricing has not been announced yet, but the TZ is expected to go on sale later this year. Whether it becomes a breakthrough EV for Lexus or simply the quiet achiever of the range remains to be seen. Either way, the brand has now officially entered the large electric family SUV game.
