RZ

The 500e models claim 460km on the WLTP cycle; the heavier, more powerful 550e F Sport claims 437km despite its larger battery. The 500e pair draw on a 74.7kWh battery, the F Sport a 77kWh pack. Those are respectable real-world figures for city and suburban use, but they sit below a premium-EV class where BMW's incoming iX3 quotes around 804km and the Mercedes GLC EV promises 713km. If most of your driving is urban and you charge at home, the RZ's range is a non-issue; if you road-trip regularly, it is the first thing to weigh.

On a DC fast charger the RZ peaks at 150kW, taking about 28 minutes for a 10-80 per cent top-up. That is competent rather than quick, several rivals now accept 200kW or more. The bigger everyday gain is AC charging, doubled to 22kW for this update, which fully replenishes the battery in around 3.5 hours where a three-phase supply is available. For home charging on a typical wallbox you will still count on an overnight fill, but the faster onboard charger helps at destination and workplace AC points.

The 550e F Sport swaps the wheel for a yoke tied to a steer-by-wire system, the first sold in Australia, plus fake-gear Interactive Manual Drive. Reviewers found the yoke a genuine acquired taste, sharp and fun at low speed, awkward to rest your hands on over a long drive, and the fake gears unconvincing. It is only two-tenths quicker to 100km/h than the cheaper 500e and gives up range to get there. Treat it as a try-before-you-buy proposition; the 500e delivers the same calm luxury without the compromise.

Value was the RZ's original weakness, and the 2026 update targets it. The 500e Luxury opens at $84,500 before on-road costs, tens of thousands below the car it replaces. Both 500e grades now sit under the fuel-efficient luxury car tax threshold, which also makes them eligible for the FBT exemption on novated leases, a saving that can be worth thousands a year to salary-packaging buyers. Add a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty and capped servicing at $1,975 over five years, and the ownership case is finally competitive rather than a hurdle.

The RZ holds a five-star ANCAP rating awarded in 2023, and ANCAP confirms it applies across all variants and carries over to this 2026 update. The sub-scores are strong: 87 per cent adult occupant protection, 89 per cent child occupant, and 84 per cent for both vulnerable road users and safety assist. Every grade comes standard with the full Lexus Safety Sense+ suite, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane-trace assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a driver monitor, plus 10 airbags and a 360-degree camera.