Toyota’s bZ4X mid-size electric SUV might lack some of the superstar, headline-baiting power of some of its rivals, but it’s an electric vehicle (EV) that’s quietly been building up a head of success around the world.
Although it’s been criticised in the past for not offering enough real-world range, especially in very cold conditions, customers have liked it, and it’s become a strong seller, especially in Europe.
Now, Toyota is answering the bZ4X’s critics, with a bigger battery and efficiency improvements that are designed to give it more range, and reduced energy consumption, as well as tidying up the styling inside and out.
The latter now brings the bZ4X into line with other, newer Toyota EVs including the C-HR+ small SUV and the closely related bZ4X Touring. It gets the ‘Hammerhead’ styling of those cars at the front, with a cleaner line to the nose, and wrap-over C-shaped LED lights.
Down the sides and around the back, the bZ4X is basically the same as before, but small detail tweaks to the rear spoiler and the underbody aero package make the bZ4X more slippery than before, with a drag coefficient of 0.27Cd – compared to 0.29 previously.
We tested the upgraded bZ4X in Europe, ahead of its Australian release in 2026.
How much does the Toyota bZ4X cost?
Toyota Australia hasn’t confirmed pricing for the new bZ4X as yet, but given Subaru has slashed thousands off the updated version of its closely related Solterra despite the tech advancements, Toyota may do similar.
Currently, the outgoing bZ4X range starts from $66,000 for the front-wheel drive 2WD and $74,900 for the AWD – all prices exclude on-road costs. Meanwhile, the pre-facelift Solterra – sold here only in dual-motor AWD form – docked $6000 from its starting price (to $63,990) and $7000 off the flagship grade (to $69,990).
A similar repositioning from the Big T could see the single-motor bZ4X’s entry point start with a ‘5’, putting the Japanese giant right in the mix against a litany of rivals including the Tesla Model Y (from $58,900) and BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990), as well as the Skoda Enyaq (from $54,990 drive-away).
To see how the Toyota bZ4X lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
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What is the Toyota bZ4X like on the inside?
As with the bZ4X’s exterior, the interior looks familiar, but Toyota’s design team has made tweaks such as a more horizontal style for the dashboard, and the addition of a new 14-inch infotainment touchscreen.
Thankfully that screen gets a few physical controls – neat rotary dials for cabin temperature, and a physical volume knob for the excellent, if optional JBL stereo – but while the on-screen graphics look quite slick, as with so many big touchscreens the menus can be too deep and too confusing to use safely on the move.
The 7.0-inch instrument screen is simpler – indeed, it’s a bit disappointing there’s really no option to customise its layout nor design – and it’s mounted up high and far away, at the base of the windscreen.
This means Toyota doesn’t have to fit a separate projected head-up display to keep the instruments in your direct line of sight. The small steering wheel – which comes with plenty of buttons, and which is now heated too – sits almost in your lap.
There’s plenty of adjustment in the driving position, but the front seats feel over-stuffed (although they’ll likely yield with a bit of use).
Storage space is bit limited up front. There’s no conventional glovebox, and neither the open storage area under the centre console nor the storage box under the armrest are quite big enough. The door bins are OK, though, and you do get two wireless phone chargers now.
Overall quality feels excellent, with that typical sense of Toyota solidity.
Space in the back seats is huge, with acres of legroom for even the tallest of passengers, and decent headroom too. The floor isn’t quite flat – there’s what seems to be a faint ghost of a transmission tunnel – but the rear seats are comfortable, and the backrest feels nicely laid-back. The centre rear seat is a little narrow, but it’s just about useable.
The penalty for all that rear seat space comes in the boot, which is really quite small. At 452 litres, it is considerably smaller than you’d find in most of the bZ4X’s competition.
To see how the Toyota bZ4X lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
The primary model in the bZ4X lineup is the front-wheel drive version, which gets an updated electric motor – Toyota calls this an ‘e-Axle’ – producing up to 165kW of power and 268Nm of torque, and improved efficiency too.
| Specifications | bZ4X 2WD | bZ4X AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electric | Dual-motor electric |
| Battery | 69kWh li-ion – net | 69kWh li-ion – net |
| Power | 165kW | 252kW |
| Torque | – | – |
| Drive type | FWD | AWD |
| Weight | – | – |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 7.1 seconds | 5.1 seconds |
| Energy consumption (claimed) | 13.9kWh/100km | – |
| Energy consumption (as tested) | 15.5kWh/100km | 19.0kWh/100km |
| Claimed range | 569km | 468km |
| Max AC charge rate | 22kW | 22kW |
| Max DC charge rate | 150kW | 150kW |
There’s an on-paper 7.1-second 0-100km/h time, but the front-drive bZ4X feels livelier than that on the road, with solid performance. Of course, you van upgrade to the all-wheel drive variant with 252kW and an extra 169Nm of torque from its rear-mounted motor, which cuts the claimed 0-100km/h time to just 5.1 seconds, but there’s a considerable penalty in terms of range.
Mind you, if you’re venturing off the tarmac much, the AWD bZ4X comes with a useful off-road driving mode, developed by Toyota’s partner on the bZ project, Subaru, which makes it far more capable than you might expect.
The battery has also been updated, growing to a 73kWh (gross) or 69kWh (net) capacity, as there are more battery modules in the same space as before. It’s what allows Toyota to quote a much-improved one-charge range of up to 569km for the front-drive version, and energy consumption of 13.9kWh/100km.
Charging is now possible at 150kW using a suitable DC fast-charger, or up to 22kW via a three-phase AC outlet. Showing impressive confidence in its battery, Toyota even includes a live battery health display in the instrument panel.
To see how the Toyota bZ4X lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How does the Toyota bZ4X drive?
That new front-mounted ‘e-Axle’ motor delivers balanced performance, as the 2WD bZ4X manages to avoid that too-sudden acceleration feeling of many EVs. The speed feels more evenly parceled out than that, but it certainly never feels slow, with a handy dump of mid-range torque for easy overtaking.
Obviously, the AWD version with its considerably higher power and torque figures feels more vigorous, but the all-wheel drive bZ4X is also packing a tweaked handling setup that allows it to alter the torque balance between the four wheels, making it feel pointer and more agile in corners.
It’s not that the front-drive version feels dead in comparison or anything, but there is a noticeable gap between the two when it comes to fun – keen drivers, take note.
Both versions share steering that feels almost surprisingly heavy and firm, compared to the over-assisted setups of most of the bZ4X’s rivals. Neither offers especially good road-feel but, overall, the bZ4X feels confidence-inspiring and grippy as you attack a series of tight, mountainous roads.
Body control when cornering is excellent, and the inherent understeer can be cured by backing off or dabbing the brakes – which also feel firmer and more responsive than is the norm for this class of car.
However, the price for that body control is a ride that’s too firm at times, and which can make the bZ4X lurch over really large bumps. It doesn’t seem to matter much whether you have the 18-inch alloy wheels or the optional 20-inch items.
What’s impressive is the refinement at cruising speed. Thanks to sound-absorbing glass, and more noise-deadening panels, the bZ4X is seriously refined on a long journey.
Which you’ll now be able to do – that improved range of 569km for the front-drive version feels broadly realistic, and going by our brief test on Spanish roads, around 450km feels like a doable figure in day-to-day driving.
There’s also a heat-pump heating system to take the strain off the battery in colder conditions, and a new battery conditioning feature to speed things up when you need to fast-charge.
The AWD version will, of course, not go quite so far, but around 400km should be achievable by most drivers. What’s really impressive about the all-paw bZ4X is just how capable it is off-road.
Using the Subaru-designed X-Mode system, Toyota was content to let us roam, solo, along a surprisingly gnarly stretch of mountain track with some very rough surfaces, steep climbs and descents. The bZ4X coped admirably.
To see how the Toyota bZ4X lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What do you get?
Full pricing and specifications for the Australian market haven’t been announced yet, but vehicles sold overseas provide an indication of what to expect.
Equipment equipment highlights overseas include:
- 14.0-inch touchscreen
- Smartphone mirroring
- LED headlights and tail-lights
- Digital instrument panel
- Heat-pump
- Dual zone climate control
- Adaptive cruise control
- 9-speaker stereo
- Heated front seats and steering wheel
- Dual wireless phone chargers
To see how the Toyota bZ4X lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Is the Toyota bZ4X safe?
Yes, the bZ4X is safe, getting a five-star ANCAP safety rating back in 2022 when the model was first launched, and Toyota has improved the car’s safety systems since then.
| Category | Toyota bZ4X |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 88 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 88 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 79 per cent |
| Safety assist | 93 per cent |
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Forward collision warning
- Speed limit warning
- Lane centring
- Traffic sign recognition
- Rear parking sensors
- Reversing camera
- Drive attention warning
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Safe exit assist
To see how the Toyota bZ4X lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How much does the Toyota bZ4X cost to run?
All new Toyotas come with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty in Australia, which is par for the course, but much better is that if you keep your bZ4X serviced annually at a Toyota dealer the battery warranty will be stretched to a massive 10 years and unlimited kilometres.
| Servicing and Warranty | MAKE MODEL VARIANT |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres – vehicle Up to 10 years – EV battery, conditional |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years – standard Up to 7 years – service activated |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years or 75,000km |
| Average annual service cost | TBC |
| Total capped-price service cost | TBC |
That’s considerably more battery cover than is offered by almost any other EV maker and just shows how confident Toyota is in the long-term life of its batteries.
If you’re able to get a good night-time charging price of 16c per kWh, then a full charge of the bZ4X is going to cost around $11 a go, which for a real-world 450km seems like solid value.
Obviously, public fast-charging is going to be considerably more expensive, but that’s true for all EVs.
To see how the Toyota bZ4X lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the Toyota bZ4X
This is a solid update of a solid EV.
The bZ4X had already been a success for Toyota globally – 150,000 have been sold around the world – but the improvements to battery range and efficiency have made it a much more useable day-to-day car, especially for long-haul drivers.
The off-road ability of the all-wheel drive version is the icing on this sensible, but tasty, cake.
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