Car companies appear to be slowly and cautiously shifting to electric vehicles. Toyota, however, remains mostly focused on expanding its selection of hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
There’s currently one exception: The bZ4X.
Toyota and its upscale Lexus division can be considered the industry leader in electrification, based on the plethora of models each brand offers. You might recall this is the automaker that led the market with the Prius hybrid more than two decades ago.
Compared with the Toyota RAV4, the five-passenger bZ4X is slightly larger and lower. It’s dimensionally identical to the 2023 Subaru Solterra EV, which is understandable since they share platforms and are built at the same factory in Japan.
The bZ4X is notable for its blank-slate nose that Toyota says is designed to cheat the wind. A functional lower air intake helps cool the front brakes. The hood, fender and doors are attractively sculpted, as is the rear deck with its full-width taillights.
The dark cladding attached to the fender openings, rocker panels and bumpers seem somewhat superfluous considering the bZ4X is likely not destined for rocks and tall-grass gallivanting. Toyota states that the bZ4X is capable of “light off-roading,” which is not particularly specific.
Opening the wide liftgate reveals a low load floor with plenty of space for stowing larger objects, whether the rear seat is in use or folded flat.
The body panels are attached to Toyota’s e-TNGA platform that will eventually underpin future Toyota and Lexus EVs.
Interior styling is referred to by Toyota as “open concept,” with a large touchscreen dominating an otherwise clutter-free dashboard. A glove box is noticeably absent but there are two good-sized storage bins — one with a sliding cover — located between the front seats.
Toyota’s Drive Connect will be available to bZ4X buyers. The subscription service comes with a real-time navigation system that, among its benefits, includes driving range, traffic and charging station info plus parking-space availability.
Front-wheel-drive models get a 150-kilowatt motor with 201 horsepower and 196 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel-drive (AWD) versions get front and rear motors that collectively produce 214 horsepower and 248 pound-feet. A single-speed controller (transmission) is standard with both, but all-wheel-drive models come with a drive mode select system with a Snow/Dirt, Deep Snow/Mud and Grip Control settings.
Both drive systems are supported by 71.4-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery packs positioned beneath the floor. According to Toyota, the front-wheel-drive (FWD) model hits 60 mph (96 km-h) from rest in 8.2 seconds. That drops to 7.5 seconds for the AWD variant.
For the FWD model, maximum range is rated at 406 kilometres. That decreases to 367 kilometres for the AWD version. Both ratings are significantly lower than competitive EVs from other automakers. Including Hyundai and Kia.
To aid efficiency, the bZ4X uses a heat-pump system for warming and cooling the passenger compartment.
The front-wheel-drive LE starts at $51,900 including the destination fee. It comes with dual-zone climate control, heated front seats with foot and leg warmers, heated steering wheel, auto-leveling headlights and rain-sensing wipers.
The all-wheel-drive XLE ($57,000) gets premium seat coverings, heated and ventilated front seats, auto-dimming rearview mirror with garage door opener, phone charger and a 360-degree surround-view camera.
Both prices exclude possible provincial and federal government rebates.
The XLE can be optioned with ambient floor lighting, power-adjustable front seats, 360-degree panoramic-view monitor, power liftgate, nine-speaker JBL audio system and 20-inch wheels.
Toyota’s Safety Sense driver-assist suite is standard with both trims. Along with the usual collision-avoidance features it includes low-light cyclist detection and guardrail detection.
As an initial late-to-the-electric-party effort, the Toyota bZ4X has a lot going for it, including good looks, spacious interior reasonably athletic performance and competitive pricing. As for future EVs in the pipeline, Toyota is readying two follow-up bZ-series models that reportedly will begin arriving sometime in 2025.
