Toyota’s been catching plenty of flak for dragging its feet on EVs, and Lexus has been wearing the same heat by association. So now that the parent company finally has its three-row Highlander EV ready to roll, it was only a matter of time before Lexus showed up with the upmarket version.
Enter the 2027 TZ. It’s the brand’s first three-row electric SUV, and a car somehow built around two completely contradictory ideas at once.
Mandalorian on School Run Duty
Park the TZ next to the Toyota Highlander EV it shares a wheelbase with, and you’d struggle to call them siblings. Lexus stretched the body two inches longer (200.8″ overall), gave it a totally different roofline, and bolted on the kind of blocky, segmented bodywork that looks like the GX got run through a sci-fi filter.
You get a closed-off spindle grille, twin-L LED light signatures, and your choice of either 20- or 22-inch wheels depending on trim. And Lexus is definitely leaning into the bulky, boxy body look. It’s outfitted with pronounced fenders, a wide stance, and a tapering rear cabin with a full-width light bar.
The Driving Lounge, On Mute
Inside, Lexus is calling the whole concept a “Driving Lounge.” Every TZ is a six-seater with second-row captain’s chairs, and both front rows get heating, ventilation, and power ottomans (which is first for Lexus).
The third row has heated seats with enough headroom for adults, and a panoramic roof stretches all the way back over row three.Lexus also says the TZ has the quietest cabin of any SUV it’s ever built, flagship LX included. Thicker glass, redesigned mirrors, and reinforced sound insulation get the credit.
Material highlights include forged Shikoku bamboo trim, bio-based UltraSuede upholstery, and a 21-speaker Mark Levinson system that can tune itself specifically for rear-seat passengers. There’s also a slim instrument panel with hidden touch switches that only illuminate when your hand passes over them.
Until It’s Time to Cosplay an LFA
After spending years building the quietest cabin in the Lexus lineup, the engineers turned around and added an Active Sound Control system that pipes in fake engine noise on demand, including the V10 wail of the LFA.
There are also “musical chord sequence” modes for when you want your family hauler to sound like a meditation app instead. Cheesy? Absolutely. But we think the target demo will appreciate it.
Underneath the soundtrack, the TZ runs dual motors making 402 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, hitting 62 mph in 5.4 seconds with 3,500 pounds of towing capacity.
AWD via Lexus’s DIRECT4 system is standard, with optional rear-wheel steering that turns up to four degrees for a turning radius smaller than some compact crossovers.
Buyers pick between a 76.96 kWh or 95.82 kWh battery, with the larger pack good for an estimated 300 miles of range. Charging tops out at 150 kW (35 minutes from 10 to 80 percent), and the US-spec model ships with a NACS port for Tesla Supercharger access right out of the gate.
Spec Sheet
Model: 2027 Lexus TZ
Powertrain: Dual-motor electric, DIRECT4 AWD
Power: 402 hp / 369 lb-ft
0-62 MPH: 5.4 seconds
Battery: 76.96 kWh or 95.82 kWh
Range: Up to 300 miles (EPA est., larger pack)
Charging: 150 kW DC fast charge (10-80% in ~35 min)
Charge Port: NACS (US-spec)
Length: 200.8 in
Wheelbase: 120.1 in
Towing Capacity: 3,500 lbs
Seating: 6 (three rows, second-row captain’s chairs)
Wheels: 20- or 22-inch
Pricing & Availability
The 2027 Lexus TZ goes on sale in the US near the end of 2026, with European, Japanese, and Chinese markets following in early 2027. Full pricing will land closer to launch, though early industry estimates peg the starting figure around $60,000.
Recap
2027 Lexus TZ
Lexus’s first three-row electric SUV packs 402 horsepower, up to 300 miles of range, and the quietest cabin the brand has ever built. At least until you tell it to sound like an LFA.
