When Toyota launched its Lexus luxurious model in 1989, it appeared like a reasonably good play: Lexus would provide all of the high-end cues drivers needed, however with the Toyota-like ranges of reliability that the same old suspects — imported or home — could not match.
Flash ahead just a few many years, and Lexus has certainly develop into a pacesetter within the luxurious area, however that features being a pacesetter for dropping worth — on this case “led” by the Lexus RZ. The RZ EV SUV is by far the Lexus with the worst depreciation charges. The oldsters at CarEdge, for instance, reported {that a} typical 2025 RZ is predicted to shed almost 55% of its worth over the primary 5 years on the highway. Chalk that as much as the RZ going through the double whammy of depreciation, being not solely an expensive SUV however standing out for its all-electric powertrain.
Simply check out our latest record of automobiles with the worst depreciation: 9 of the ten rides on the record are luxurious automobiles, and the one one which’s from a mainstream model is an EV. And zeroing in on EVs, some electrical automobiles have been caught dropping worth at a wallet-draining price of greater than $600 per day.
A Lexus dropping worth is a win for customers
That stated, depreciation is a two-edged sword. Reducing down a automotive’s resale worth is dangerous information for the present proprietor, nevertheless it’s a serious profit if you happen to’re trying to purchase one in all Lexus’ first-ever EVs on the used-car market. Positive, critics had some points with the RZ when it first went on sale, particularly when it comes to vary. However a 2023 Lexus RZ 450e Luxurious mannequin that was some $65K when new can now be had for roughly $30,000 off as a used SUV, based on Edmunds.
For that cash, you get a buttoned-down Lexus inside with spectacular consideration to element, amazingly comfy climate-controlled seats, radiant heating, 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio, a glass roof, wi-fi Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a 14-inch touchscreen, a premium suspension, 308 horsepower, and loads of high-tech security methods. It is all wrapped in an eye catching exterior design that — say what you’ll about it — actually is not uninteresting. Even with a sub-200-mile vary with its 20-inch wheels, this can be a fashionable and refined machine that appears like a real Lexus.
Lexus’ most beneficial participant helps put the brakes on depreciation
Sure, the Lexus RZ is No. 179 on the CarEdge record of luxurious automobiles that lose probably the most worth. However actually, that is not as dangerous as you might suppose. There are 38 automobiles which have worse depreciation charges on the record, and Land Rover’s Vary Rover brings up the rear by retaining solely 24.4% of its worth.
The actual backside line is that — once more per CarEdge — Lexus has the second-highest retained worth ranking amongst all luxurious manufacturers, with the Lexus RX SUV rating as No. 1 total on the premium aspect of the ledger. The RX holds onto roughly 70% of its authentic worth after 5 years in service and stays one of the common luxurious automobiles of any sort within the U.S. at present. It goes to point out simply how a lot car appreciation will help decelerate car depreciation.
