The new Lexus TZ 3-row electric SUV debuts

Lexus is finally getting serious about big electric cars. The luxury brand revealed its first SUV with three rows of seats that runs only on batteries - the Lexus TZ. This new vehicle will compete with other popular EVs like the Rivian R1S and the Volvo EX90. It looks sleek and fits right in with the rest of the Lexus family. A lot of people have been waiting for a luxury electric car that can carry the whole family, and the TZ will fill that spot perfectly when it arrives at dealerships later this year.

The Lexus TZ shares its mechanical parts with the Toyota Highlander BEV. It uses the same dedicated frame built just for electric cars. Buyers can choose between two different battery sizes when they pick their car. The smaller battery is 76.96 kWh, and the larger one is 95.82 kWh. Lexus says the bigger battery will let the car drive about 300 miles on a single charge.

Every version of the 2027 Lexus TZ comes with the all-wheel drive DIRECT4 system. It helps the car stay steady when turning corners and helps it speed up quickly from a stop. The electric motors produce a total of 420 horsepower - more than enough for a family hauler. It should make the SUV feel fast even when it is full of people and gear. Drivers can also pick from different modes like Sport, Eco, or Range to change how the car feels on the road. There is even a "Rear Comfort" mode to keep the kids in the back from bouncing around too much.

While the power is good, the towing capacity is a bit lower than some people might expect from a large SUV. The Lexus TZ can pull a trailer weighing up to 3,501 lb. If you look at its rivals, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 can tow up to 5,000 lb. That is a big difference if you need to pull a heavy boat or a large trailer. It seems Lexus focused more on luxury and smooth driving than on heavy lifting. Still, 3,501 lb is enough for a small camper or a couple of jet skis for a weekend at the lake.

Lexus spent a lot of time making the inside of the TZ feel like a plush living room. They call the interior design a "Driving Lounge." The goal is to make everyone feel relaxed, even the people sitting in the very back row. The car uses new materials to block out wind and tire noise. Lexus claims this is the quietest SUV they have ever made. If the silence is too much for you, there is a Mark Levinson sound system with 21 speakers that probably sounds like a private concert hall inside the cabin.

The seats are where things get really serious for an electric car. For the first time in a Lexus SUV, the front passenger and the middle row seats have power footrests. These seats also have fans to keep you cool on hot days. If you miss the sound of a gas engine, Lexus added a feature called Active Sound Control. It makes noises that sound like a regular car shifting gears. Trying to act like something it is not is a first for Lexus, but some drivers might find it fun to hear something other than electric humming.

The 2027 Lexus TZ is 16.7 ft long and 6.53 ft wide. It stands 5.6 ft tall. The distance between the front and back wheels is 10.01 ft. This size makes it almost exactly the same as the Volvo EX90. It is a large car that will take up a good amount of space in a garage. Because it is so big, there is plenty of room for three rows of people to sit comfortably without bumping knees.

When it comes to carrying gear, the TZ has 0.39 cubic meters of space behind the third row of seats. That is not a huge amount, but you can fold the second and third rows flat into the floor with the touch of a button. This creates a big, flat area for hauling large boxes. However, there is one strange thing about this car - it does not have a front trunk, or a "frunk." Most electric cars use the space where an engine used to be for extra storage, but Lexus left that space empty or blocked it off.

Charging the Lexus TZ is fairly simple but not too fast. It can use charging stations that provide up to 150 kW of power. This allows the battery to go from 10 percent to 80 percent in a leisurely 35 minutes. One great feature is the new NACS port. This means Lexus owners can use Tesla Superchargers without needing a special adapter. It also has a unique 2-in-1 port that puts two different types of plugs side by side. This should make it much easier to plug in at different types of charging stations when you are away from home.

Safety is always a big deal for family EVs. The TZ comes with the Lexus Safety System+ 4.0. This includes tools that help the driver stay in their lane and stop the car if it thinks a crash might happen. It can even spot people walking near the car and help the driver steer away from danger. As for the price, Lexus has not given a final number yet, but we think it will start well over $60,000 when it arrives in the US. That makes it much cheaper than the Lucid Gravity but very close to the Hyundai IONIQ 9. It will officially go on sale near the end of 2026.

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