Compare the2024 Lexus RZVS 2024 Nissan Leaf

The RZ has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Leaf doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The RZ 450e has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Leaf doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the RZ and Leaf have rear cross-traffic warning, but the RZ has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Leaf’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the RZ and the Leaf have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Lexus RZ is safer than the Leaf:

	RZ	Leaf
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	124	211
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	1.14 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	825 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	82	158
Neck Tension	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.24 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	112 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.38 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	469 lbs.	937 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Lexus RZ achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Leaf is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

The RZ comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Leaf’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RZ 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Leaf. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Leaf ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The RZ’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Leaf’s (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 17th.

The RZ 300e’s standard electric motor produces 54 more horsepower (201 vs. 147) than the Leaf’s standard electric motor. The RZ 450e’s optional electric motors produces 94 more horsepower (308 vs. 214) and 71 lbs.-ft. more torque (321 vs. 250) than the Leaf PLUS’ standard electric motor.

As tested in Car and Driver the RZ 450e electric motors is faster than the Leaf PLUS:

	RZ	Leaf
Zero to 60 MPH	4.6 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.5 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	91 MPH
Top Speed	103 MPH	101 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the RZ gets better mileage than the Leaf:

			MPGe
RZ
	FWD	300e w/18" Wheels Electric Motor	112 city/125 hwy
Leaf
	FWD	Electric Motor	123 city/99 hwy
		SV PLUS Electric Motor	121 city/98 hwy

The RZ can travel longer on a full charge than the Leaf on a full charge:

			Miles
RZ
	FWD	300e w/18" Wheels Electric Motor	266 miles
		300e w/20" Wheels Electric Motor	224 miles
	AWD	450e w/18" Wheels Electric Motors	220 miles
		450e w/20" Wheels Electric Motors	196 miles
Leaf
	FWD	SV PLUS Electric Motor	212 miles
		Electric Motor	149 miles

For better stopping power the RZ’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Leaf:

	RZ	Leaf
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	11.1 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	11.5 inches

The RZ stops much shorter than the Leaf:

	RZ	Leaf
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the RZ has larger tires than the Leaf (F:235/60R18 & R:255/55R18 vs. 205/55R16). The RZ’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Leaf (F:235/60R18 & R:255/55R18 vs. 215/50R17).

The RZ’s optional 255/45R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Leaf SV PLUS’ 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RZ has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Leaf S. The RZ’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Leaf SV PLUS.

For superior ride and handling, the Lexus RZ has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Nissan Leaf has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The RZ has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Leaf’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RZ’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the Leaf (112.2 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RZ is 3 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Leaf.

The RZ 450e Luxury handles at .86 G’s, while the Leaf pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The front grille of the RZ uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Leaf doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The RZ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Leaf doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The RZ has 3 inches more front hip room, 2.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 4 inches more rear legroom, 1.8 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Leaf.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the RZ’s rear seats recline. The Leaf’s rear seats don’t recline.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the RZ’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Leaf doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 48% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 18th.

When three different drivers share the RZ, the memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The Leaf doesn’t offer a memory system.

The RZ’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Leaf doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The RZ offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Leaf doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The RZ’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Leaf’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The RZ’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Leaf’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

On a hot day the RZ’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Leaf can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RZ’s standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Intelligent Key standard on the Leaf doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To lock it, the door handles on the Leaf must be held while closing the door. On the RZ you just lock the door and close it, which makes it easier to lock up, especially when your hands are full.

The RZ’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Leaf’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The RZ’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Leaf’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The RZ’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Leaf S’ standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RZ offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Leaf doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The RZ’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Leaf SV PLUS.

When the RZ is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Leaf’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The RZ’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Leaf offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The RZ has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Leaf SV PLUS. The RZ Luxury also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Leaf.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the RZ keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Leaf doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The RZ has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Leaf SV PLUS.

The RZ has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Leaf doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The RZ’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Leaf doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the RZ has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Leaf doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lexus RZ has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Leaf doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The RZ has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Leaf doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The RZ’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Leaf doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus RZ, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Nissan Leaf isn't recommended.