Lexus has revealed TZ: its first-ever three-row electric SUV, which will take on the likes of the Volvo EX90 and Cadillac Vistiq when it launches in the US in late 2026.
The Lexus TZ is claimed to be able to travel up to 300 miles (482 km) on a charge with a twin-motor all-wheel drive system as standard, and will serve as the electric alternative to the North American-exclusive three-row Lexus TX – much like the relationship between the Lexus RX and RZ sold in Australia.
As expected, it’s basically the Lexus cousin of the Toyota Highlander EV unveiled earlier this year, meaning it’s built on the TNGA platform, shares batteries and is similar in size. So it is also a cousin of the three-row Subaru Getaway.
Unlike these two US-built models, the TZ will also reportedly be built and launched in Japan this year, meaning it’s possible it will be produced in right-hand drive, opening the door for an Australian launch.
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Furthermore, when asked whether the TZ would be brought to Australia, a Lexus spokesperson said the door was wide open.
“Lexus Australia welcomes the unveiling of the new TZ, which marks an exciting evolution and next chapter in the Lexus design story,” the spokesperson said.
“Lexus Australia is continually exploring opportunities to improve our local offering and is currently assessing the TZ for potential introduction.”
Full specifications have yet to be confirmed, although Lexus has announced that it will be available with two lithium-ion batteries – with a capacity of 76.96 kWh or 95.82 kWh – identical to what is offered in the Toyota Highlander EV.
These batteries both offer preconditioning to optimize battery temperature before charging and while driving, plus an intelligent charging schedule suggestion feature based on driver habits.
However, unlike the Highlander, the TZ will only be available with dual-motor all-wheel drive. Therefore, the TZ will probably be more in line with the Subaru Getaway in terms of performance than the Toyota Highlander.
The Getaway, which is also all-wheel drive only, offers up to 313kW of power – eclipsing the Highlander AWD’s 252kW – in models fitted with the 95.82kWh battery option, with Subaru claiming it can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in ‘less than five seconds’.
Subaru and Lexus both claim a maximum driving range of 300 miles, and the Lexus will come equipped with a handful of features already detailed for other Subaru EVs, like the Uncharted. The ‘DIRECT4’ all-wheel drive system is said to dynamically distribute torque during cornering, ranging from 60:40 (front:rear) to 0:100, to optimize handling.
Naturally, there are some bespoke Lexus features. It features standard driving modes such as Normal, Sport and Eco, but also adds Range and Rear Comfort modes – the latter of which is claimed to coordinate ‘dynamic rear steering, braking force optimization and drive force distribution to minimize body roll and sideways movement’ to prioritize passenger comfort.
The TZ’s four-wheel steering system allows the rear wheels to steer up to four degrees in coordination with the front wheels. This has not been seen on any other Toyota EV and is even very rare on the brand’s modern combustion models.
There will also be five levels of regenerative braking, controlled via steering wheel-mounted paddles. It’s unclear if it will include a single-pedal driving mode.
Inside, the TZ is said to be one of the most luxuriously equipped Lexus models to date. The brand says the front passenger and second-row captain’s chairs offer ventilation and, in a first for a Lexus SUV, power-adjustable footstools. The third-row seats “provide bench-like cushioning,” while all seats in the cabin are heated.
There’s also a center console between the second-row seats with a two-tier drawer system, which can be removed for easier access between the second and third rows.
Up front is the “next-generation Lexus Interface” infotainment system (likely a 14-inch unit, as in the Highlander), which includes customizable widgets on the home screen, an improved “Hey Lexus” voice assistant, EV charging management with a range map, Spotify integration and wireless smartphone mirroring, among other features.
Naturally, this is supplemented with a 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.
There’s also a new digital instrument display that can display satellite navigation, a new steering wheel with the ‘LEXUS’ wordmark in place of the brand’s emblem, and what appears to be a host of touch-sensitive buttons on the dashboard.
Lexus says it has integrated “social responsibility into the TZ” by using a range of sustainable materials. This includes ‘forged bamboo’ surfaces in the cabin made from Shikoku bamboo, ‘bio-based UltraSuede’ plant-based upholstery and recycled aluminum elements inside and out.
Externally, the design of the TZ resembles that of the Lexus GX and clearly distinguishes it from the Highlander. The grille and headlights have GX-like shapes, while the hood looks almost identical.
It also features a full-width LED light bar at the rear that again incorporates the ‘LEXUS’ wordmark, while the sleek taillight profile is reminiscent of the GX. Compared to the Highlander, the TZ’s wheel arches also appear much more pronounced.
There’s a panoramic glass roof and the TZ will be available with 20-inch or 22-inch alloy wheels, depending on the variant.
In terms of model range, the visible ‘TZ450e’ badge in Lexus’ images matches a trademark filed in Europe in mid-2023, also indicating that a higher-spec ‘TZ550e’ will be introduced. This has yet to be formally confirmed by Lexus.
All models will ride on the same 120.1-inch (3,050 mm) wheelbase as the Highlander and Getaway, although the TZ’s body is the longest. It is 5100mm long (50mm more than the Highlander), 1989mm wide and 1704mm high.
Cargo capacity is 390 liters (13.8 cubic feet), likely with all three rows upright, and Lexus says it can tow up to 1587 kg (3500 pounds), matching the Getaway.
A range of safety technologies will also be available, including emergency steering assistance, intersection assistance, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, traffic sign recognition, lane change assistance and rear pedestrian detection. A head-up display will be available in certain versions.
The unveiling of the TZ completes the second Toyota/Subaru/Lexus EV trio, the first of which are the bZ4X, Solterra and RZ.
If Lexus brings it to Australia, it will be the first three-row electric SUV from any of these three brands to be sold locally. Since the TX isn’t sold here, it would be an EV alternative to the three-row LX, although it’s hard to predict whether it will be as expensive.
The LX starts at $164,200 before it goes on road, which is well above the EVs the TZ would compete with. These include the Volvo EX90, which starts at $124,990 in Australia, excluding on-road costs; the Cadillac Vistiq, priced from $116,000 before it hits roads; and the Kia EV9, which costs $129,250 before hitting the road in GT guise.
An ‘affordable’ three-row Lexus EV isn’t that far out of the question, however, as Lexus Australia last month dropped the starting price of the RZ by $36,559, to $84,500-plus on-roads.
Full US specs and pricing will be revealed later in 2026.
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