See All 21 Photos Until we drove the updated 2026 RZ, the thought of that electric Lexus replacing a Tesla Model Y in someone’s garage sounded far-fetched. Now, the Lexus is more enticing for the buyer who is on the fence for the Model Y, one of the most popular vehicles on the planet. AI Quick Summary The 2026 Lexus RZ challenges the Tesla Model Y with improved range, faster home charging, and a sportier RZ550e model. While Tesla offers quicker acceleration, more range, and spaciousness, Lexus excels in luxury, tech features, and dealership service. Value is subjective. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article. Read Next Driving Experience The Tesla can’t exactly be called sporty, but it’s always leaned in that direction with a suspension that provides plenty of feedback—sometimes too much—and quick steering that makes it feel tossable in corners. The Model Y’s suspension before 2025 was way too harsh, but the automaker has made improvements recently. With the Lexus, the driving experience was never where the RZ fell behind the competition. The RZ350e and RZ450e deliver a competent experience that’s not especially sporty but is very serene. Above those models, however, the new RZ550e has a sportier suspension tuning as well as 408 hp. That kind of power in an SUV as small as the 2026 RZ is tons of fun in straight-line acceleration, but the U.S.-spec model doesn’t get a fancy steer-by-wire system or a Tesla-like steering yoke like the one seen above, which we experienced recently in Europe. Speaking of the full 2026 RZ lineup, every RZ is slower than its Model Y counterpart. The single-motor RZ350e base model is slower than the single-motor Model Y, though the Lexus isn’t slow when compared to the general car population. It’s perfectly reasonable for those who never explore the bottom half of their car’s accelerator pedal and will still provide a moment of electric zoom when they step on it. The same is true with the dual-motor RZ450e and the long-range Model Y—the Tesla is quicker—and we expect the pattern will hold if the new Model Y Performance is as quick as the old one. Both the Lexus and Tesla are said to have become quieter, which is a plus we’re always in favor of outside the sports car segment, though the Lexus was already the quieter of the two. One key Tesla advantage: It offers full one-pedal driving. Not everyone likes this EV feature, which works by slowing the car using the motors (recapturing energy otherwise lost to braking) when a driver lifts their foot off the accelerator pedal—all the way to a stop without needing to hit the brake pedal. If we were daily-driving an electric car for the first time, we’d want to have the option. Advantage: Tesla for the updated Juniper model and Lexus when compared to the pre-Juniper Model Y and its too-harsh suspension. See All 21 Photos