A battery electric three-row SUV may be on the way sporting the Lexus TZ nameplate, possibly related to the also-rumoured Toyota bZ5X (which may end up with the name Toyota Highlander EV). Both vehicles would enter segments that are still sparse on options and would compete directly with the Kia EV9, Rivian R1S, and Tesla Model X. There’s been no official announcement yet from the automaker about the Lexus TZ as of this writing. So, how do we know the Lexus TZ is coming? Toyota of Europe filed trademarks for the terms “Lexus TZ450e” and “Lexus TZ550e” early in 2023.
Here’s everything we know so far about the 2026 Lexus TZ. Be sure to bookmark this page: we’ll update it as we receive more information.
2026 Lexus TZ in Canada: What we know so far
- 2026 Lexus TZ styling
- 2026 Lexus TZ interior design and practicality
- 2026 Lexus TZ engines, motors and drive
- 2026 Lexus TZ price and release date
2026 Lexus TZ styling
We have no official photographs, prototypes, or even concept vehicles to use as a guide for styling on the Lexus TZ. There’s a chance it could look like an inflated version of the two-row Lexus RZ EV (pictured above), or it could look more like a Lexus-styled version of the Toyota Highlander with EV-specific details. It could also end up being something entirely different. Only time will tell on this point.
2026 Lexus TZ interior design and practicality
Other than the fact that the Lexus TZ will be a three-row electric SUV, we have no confirmed information on its interior. It may end up sharing a dedicated electric vehicle platform with the Toyota bZ5X/Toyota Highlander EV. This makes it likely the TZ will have a flat load floor and some form of V2L (Vehicle to Load) system that would allow small household appliances to run off the vehicle’s battery. We expect the TZ would come with the latest large-screen version of the Lexus infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a built-in subscription-based voice-activated assistant.
2026 Lexus TZ engines, motors and drive
Nothing official has been released on the Lexus TZ’s drivetrains. However, we do know Toyota applied for two trademarks: TZ450e and TZ550e. From this, we infer the TZ450e may have a similar powertrain to the two-row RZ450e that’s already on sale. The latter vehicle has a 71.4 kWh battery, a total system output rating of 308 hp, and an estimated range between 315 and 354 kilometres. The Lexus RZ uses the brand’s Direct4 all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, and we expect the Lexus TZ will be offered with the same. The TZ550e trademark suggests a higher-powered version would also be available. We expect both powertrains will be available with multiple tiers of feature packaging.
2026 Lexus TZ price and release date
Any guesses at pricing and release date for the Lexus TZ are purely speculative at this point. On the pricing side, the news is better for American drivers than Canadians. Toyota has announced plans to build three-row electric SUVs at its assembly plants in Indiana and Kentucky, and it’s a safe bet the TZ will be assigned to one of these two facilities. This means the Lexus TZ would qualify for U.S. tax credits since it will be assembled domestically.
For Canada, though, we expect the TZ will be priced starting in the $80,000 to $90,000 range, which would be too expensive to qualify for existing rebate programs as of this writing. If the Lexus TZ is ready for production as a 2026 model, expect to see more details in late 2024 to early 2025 and dealership arrivals sometime in the latter half of 2025.