New & Used 2026 Lexus RZ for SaleNationwide

Is the 2026 Lexus RZ a good car?

The 2026 Lexus RZ earns an 5/10 expert rating, and the standout strength is Safety at 8/10. Lexus’s own updates for this model year make it more competitive, with a new battery, improved motors, more estimated range, and shorter charge times. It also adds the RZ 550e F Sport, which brings more horsepower, new M Mode manual shifting technology, and sporty styling. For you, that means the RZ is best viewed as a well-equipped electric SUV for Lexus loyalists who want a distinctive package rather than a class-leading EV.

The trade-offs are clear: the RZ still isn’t a ground-breaking electric vehicle, and the expert notes call out unimpressive electric range, uncomfortable seats, and poor ergonomic design. The steering-wheel controls are especially distracting, and the cabin mixes modern displays with frustratingly minimalist touch controls. Even so, the lineup’s appealing price range, cargo space, and safety tech help it stay relevant. 27.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals, which suggests there’s at least some market support for shoppers who want to negotiate.

Is the 2026 Lexus RZ reliable?

The 2026 Lexus RZ is positioned as a Lexus product with the brand’s reputation for reliability, and the model-year updates focus on improving the battery, motors, range, and charging speed rather than introducing a radically new design. The expert notes also point to a revised cooling system, upgraded charging hardware, and structural fortifications, all of which support day-to-day durability and refinement.

On the ownership side, Lexus includes two free scheduled maintenance visits through Lexus Care, along with complimentary connected services and loaner vehicles when necessary. That helps reduce early ownership friction. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that this is still a newer EV with evolving hardware, so you should pay close attention to battery condition, charging behavior, and whether the car has been maintained and used consistently.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Lexus RZ?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 100% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

Even with clean inventory, you should still run a history report and verify that the car’s equipment matches the listing. A pre-purchase inspection should focus on the battery, charging system, tires, brakes, and any signs of uneven wear or prior bodywork. Because the RZ is an EV, you should also pay attention to how it has been charged and whether the battery appears to be holding range consistently.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The lineup includes the RZ 350e in base and Premium trims, the RZ 450e in base, Premium, and Luxury trims, and the RZ 550e in F Sport trim. The base trims are the simplest way into the lineup, while the higher trims add more comfort and convenience equipment.
• Powertrain: The RZ 350e uses a single-motor, front-wheel-drive setup with the most range and the least power. The RZ 450e uses a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, and the RZ 550e adds a more powerful AWD powertrain with 402 hp. The 550e is the quickest and most performance-focused version, but it also gives up some efficiency.
• Safety package: Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 is standard and includes adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, high-beam assist, Proactive Driving Assist, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, and a surround-view camera system with a transparent vehicle view. Luxury-package models add Traffic Jam Assist, Advanced Park, front cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assist.
• Infotainment: The standard touchscreen measures 14 inches, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, and the system supports over-the-air connected services. Wireless smartphone charging and a 10-speaker premium sound system are also standard.
• Range & charging: Range estimates run from 229 to 301 miles, depending on the model. Lexus says DC fast charging takes about 30 minutes from 10% to 80%, and the onboard AC charger is 11 kW for faster home charging.
• Battery health: For a used EV, you should ask for battery state-of-health information, confirm typical charging habits, and check whether the car has spent most of its life on home charging or frequent DC fast charging. Also verify how much of the battery warranty remains so you know how much coverage you still have if capacity drops over time.

Which 2026 Lexus RZ trim should I buy?

The 2026 Lexus RZ is offered in 6 trim levels: RZ 350e base, RZ 350e Premium, RZ 450e base, RZ 450e Premium, RZ 450e Luxury, and RZ 550e F Sport.

Here's the short version:

• RZ 350e base: This is the entry point if you want the longest range and the lowest power output. It makes the most sense if you care more about efficiency and price than acceleration or extra luxury features.
• RZ 350e Premium: This is the better-value choice if you want the 350e’s efficiency but prefer a more upscale equipment mix than the base trim.
• RZ 450e base: Choose this if you want standard dual-motor AWD and stronger performance without moving up to the more expensive luxury-oriented trims.
• RZ 450e Premium: This is the balanced middle ground for shoppers who want AWD, more equipment, and a more polished daily-driver setup.
• RZ 450e Luxury: This is the trim to target if you want the most comfort and convenience features in the 450e lineup, especially if you value the added safety and parking tech available with the Luxury Package.
• RZ 550e F Sport: This is the performance-oriented pick. It adds 402 hp, sporty styling, and M Mode, but the expert notes suggest it is more show than go, so it suits you best if you want the most aggressive-looking and quickest RZ rather than the most refined one.

The safety package is standard across the lineup, but the Luxury Package adds extra driver-assistance and parking features that make the higher trims easier to live with.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Lexus RZ?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find room to negotiate.

• Deal availability: 27.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 55 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 100.0% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2026 Lexus RZ safe?

The 2026 Lexus RZ earns a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, and it received “Good” ratings from IIHS in the small overlap frontal-impact and updated side-impact tests, plus a “Good” rating for standard front crash prevention technology.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 is standard, and it includes adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, high-beam assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. Every RZ also gets blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, and a surround-view camera system with a transparent vehicle view.

Higher trims with the Luxury Package add Traffic Jam Assist, Advanced Park, front cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assist. The main caveat is that the RZ 350e and RZ 550e did not have an overall NHTSA rating at the time of writing because they had not been assessed for rollover resistance, even though both earned five-star frontal-impact and side-impact protection ratings.

Should I buy a 2026 Lexus RZ or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2026 if:

• 27.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 100% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• This year brings a new battery, improved motors, more estimated range, shorter charge times, and the new RZ 550e F Sport.

The bottom line: If you want the most updated RZ, the 2026 is the one to target because it improves range, charging, and performance while adding the new F Sport variant. If you’re more price-sensitive, you can still shop the used market carefully and focus on the trim that best matches your priorities, especially if you value efficiency and comfort over the 550e’s extra speed.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.