Compare the2024 Lexus RZVS 2023 Toyota bZ4X

Both the RZ and the bZ4X have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RZ its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The bZ4X has not been fully tested, yet.

The RZ comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The bZ4X’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RZ 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the bZ4X. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the bZ4X ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The RZ’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the bZ4X’s (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Toyota is ranked second.

The RZ 450e’s optional electric motors produces 94 more horsepower (308 vs. 214) and 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (321 vs. 248) than the bZ4X’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the RZ 450e electric motors is faster than the Toyota bZ4X electric motors:

	RZ	bZ4X
Zero to 60 MPH	4.6 sec	6.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	13.8 sec	18.5 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5.7 sec	6.4 sec
Quarter Mile	13.5 sec	14.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	92 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the RZ gets better mileage than the bZ4X:

			MPGe
RZ
	FWD	300e w/18" Wheels Electric Motor	112 city/125 hwy
	AWD	450e w/18" Wheels Electric Motors	115 city/98 hwy
bZ4X
	FWD	Limited Electric Motor	125 city/103 hwy
	AWD	XLE Electric Motors	114 city/94 hwy
		Limited Electric Motors	112 city/92 hwy

The RZ can travel longer on a full charge than the bZ4X on a full charge:

			Miles
RZ
	FWD	300e w/18" Wheels Electric Motor	266 miles
bZ4X
	FWD	XLE Electric Motor	252 miles
		Limited Electric Motor	242 miles

The RZ has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The bZ4X doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The RZ stops much shorter than the bZ4X:

	RZ	bZ4X
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction and acceleration, the RZ has larger rear tires than the bZ4X (255/55R18 vs. 235/60R18).

The RZ’s standard 255/55R18 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the bZ4X XLE’s standard 60 series tires. The RZ’s optional 255/45R20 rear tires have a lower 45 series profile than the bZ4X Limited’s 50 series tires.

The RZ 450e Premium handles at .83 G’s, while the bZ4X Limited AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The RZ 450e Luxury executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the bZ4X Limited (25.9 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the RZ’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the bZ4X’s (36.8 feet vs. 40 feet).

The front grille of the RZ uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The bZ4X doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The RZ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The bZ4X doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The RZ has .3 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and 7 inches more rear hip room than the bZ4X.

The RZ has a much larger cargo volume than the bZ4X with its rear seat up (34.9 vs. 27.7 cubic feet).

The RZ’s cargo area is larger than the bZ4X’s in almost every dimension:

	RZ	bZ4X
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.5”/73.5”	38.8”/72.6”
Max Width	59”	56.1”
Min Width	39.5”	38.1”
Height	30.5”	29.8”

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 49% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

When three different drivers share the RZ, the memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The bZ4X doesn’t offer a memory system.

The RZ’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The bZ4X doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The RZ offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The bZ4X doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The RZ’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The bZ4X’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RZ offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The bZ4X doesn’t offer headlight washers.

When the RZ is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The bZ4X’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The RZ’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The bZ4X has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The RZ has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the bZ4X.

The RZ has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The bZ4X doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The RZ’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The bZ4X doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus RZ, based on reliability, safety and performance.