The first prototype of the Lexus TZ has been spotted testing under full camouflage, confirming what Toyota's platform strategy already implied: the upcoming three-row electric flagship shares its fundamental proportions and much of its exterior structure with the Toyota Highlander EV. The silhouette, door skins, side window profile, and door handles closely match the Highlander. The differences are in the details.
The Highlander EV tops out at 320 miles with a 95.8 kWh battery. Both the Ioniq 9 and EX90 carry 110+ kWh packs. If the TZ wears Lexus pricing, it needs Lexus range.
What the Prototype Shows
The front end is the clearest departure from the Highlander. Split headlights and a cleaner, less complicated bumper design separate the TZ from its sibling at a glance. The wheel arches are slightly more squared off, and the wheels themselves appear to be unique to the Lexus. The rear end remains too heavily disguised for firm conclusions, though the taillight shape suggests a similar layout to the Highlander's, possibly extending further down the sides.
Expected dimensions follow the Highlander's footprint: approximately 198.8 in (5,046 mm) long, 78.3 in (1,989 mm) wide, 67.3 in (1,709 mm) tall, on a 120.1-in (3,050 mm) wheelbase. That positions it directly against the Hyundai Ioniq 9, Kia EV9, and Volvo EX90, three-row electric SUVs that have already established the segment's reference points.
The Powertrain Question
No powertrain details have been confirmed. The most straightforward assumption is that Lexus starts with Toyota's existing Highlander EV hardware: a base 77 kWh single-motor setup producing 221 hp and 198 lb-ft (268 Nm), and an AWD variant with 95.8 kWh, 338 hp, and a claimed 320-mile (515 km) range.
Those figures would be acceptable for a Lexus in isolation. Against direct competition they are not. The Volvo EX90 carries 111 kWh and the Hyundai Ioniq 9 uses 110.3 kWh. A larger battery for the TZ is more likely than not if Lexus intends to compete on range rather than concede that metric to Korean and Swedish rivals.
The TZ is expected to debut in late 2026 or early 2027. Production is reported to be either at Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky plant alongside the Highlander EV, or in Japan for global export.