Compare the2024 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2024 Lexus RZ

The ID.4’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RZ doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the ID.4 and RZ have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The ID.4 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The RZ’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Both the ID.4 and the RZ have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ID.4 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 131 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RZ has not been fully tested, yet.

Volkswagen’s powertrain warranty covers the ID.4 2 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the RZ. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the RZ ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The ID.4’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the RZ’s (7 vs. 6 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the ID.4 for 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RZ (2/20,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 3 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the ID.4’s warranty.

The ID.4 has more powerful engines than the RZ:

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the RZ:

The ID.4 can travel longer on a full charge than the RZ on a full charge:

For better stopping power the ID.4’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the RZ:

The ID.4 stops shorter than the RZ:

The ID.4 Standard’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RZ’s standard 60 series front tires. The ID.4 Pro S Plus’ 235/45R21 front and 255/40R21 rear tires have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile than the RZ’s optional 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ID.4 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the RZ. The ID.4 Pro S Plus’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the RZ.

The ID.4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (47% to 53%) than the RZ’s (54.2% to 45.8%). This gives the ID.4 more stable handling and braking.

The ID.4 handles at .85 G’s, while the RZ 450e Premium pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 5.3 feet tighter than the RZ’s (31.5 feet vs. 36.8 feet). The ID.4 AWD’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the RZ’s (36.42 feet vs. 36.8 feet).

The ID.4 is 8.7 inches shorter than the RZ, making the ID.4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The ID.4 has 2 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the RZ.

The ID.4 has a 2200 lbs. towing capacity. The RZ has no towing capacity.

Standard trailer stability control on the ID.4 uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The RZ doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

A Service Interval Display is standard on the ID.4 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for vehicle inspections, vehicle inspection based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Lexus doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the RZ.

The power windows standard on both the ID.4 and the RZ have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the ID.4 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The RZ prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the ID.4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the RZ can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the ID.4 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The RZ doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the ID.4 has a standard rear wiper. The RZ doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The ID.4’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the RZ’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the ID.4 S/S Plus has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RZ doesn’t offer cornering lights. The ID.4 S/S Plus also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The ID.4 S/S Plus has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RZ.

The Volkswagen ID.4 outsold the Lexus RZ by over seven to one during 2023.