Luxury and comfort go together like peanut butter and jelly. Most of us have experienced cold legs during a drive and wished there was an easy way to warm our legs. Now, there is. The new Lexus RZ 450e has a Radiant Knee Heater to warm your lower extremities directly. With this new heater, you’ll feel like you’re wrapped in a warm blanket while riding in this Lexus EV SUV.

How does the Lexus RZ 450e Radiant Knee Heater work?

Lexus added a set of infrared heating panels beneath the steering column and passenger side dashboard to warm your legs. The function for this feature is part of the heated seat system and is represented by a pair of curved lines. You can adjust the intensity of this feature in the Lexus RZ 450e, giving you the desired warmth.

Why did Lexus add this feature to the new EV SUV?

Almost every conversation around electric vehicles comes down to the driving range. In all EVs, the driving range is a result of energy consumption. Lexus found it more efficient to directly heat occupants rather than the air inside the cabin. When people feel warmer, they turn down the climate control system, saving energy.

This new Lexus RZ 450e Radiant Knee Heater reduces energy consumption by nearly eight percent, reducing this EV’s cold-weather factor.

Do all Lexus RZ 450e models come with this feature?

The radiant knee heater is a standard feature for the top trim RZ 450e Luxury model. It’s an optional feature for the entry-level Premium version, adding $175 to the price. This affordable feature can keep your legs warm and toasty on those cold mornings, but it does mean you’ll have to live without a glove box in your electric Lexus SUV.

What is the driving range of the Lexus RZ 450e?

This new luxury electric SUV will use the same 65.6-kWh battery pack as the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra. This battery should give the new Lexus up to 220 miles of driving range when equipped with 18-inch wheels and 196 miles with 20-inch wheels. This driving range is pretty low compared to many other electric SUVs already offered.

How much horsepower does a Lexus RZ 450e have?

Although this new Lexus EV SUV shared its platform with the Toyota and Subaru models, it delivers more horsepower than the others. The RZ 450e brings 308 horsepower to your drive. This power comes from the standard dual-motor setup of this new luxury SUV. The Toyota and Subaru models make 215 horsepower and start with a single-motor layout.

How much will the Lexus RZ 450e cost?

This new Lexus EV SUV comes in two trim levels: Premium and Luxury. The base Premium trim starts at $59,650 and includes AWD and a set of 18-inch wheels to offer the best driving range. Add the 20-inch wheels to the Premium model, and you’ll pay $60,890. If you step into the Luxury trim, the price starts at $65,150.

The new Lexus RZ 450e Radiant Knee Heater is a pretty smart addition to this new Lexus EV SUV. Is the added comfort enough to make this the electric SUV you want to drive?