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To date, Toyota has sold over 70 million electrified vehicles, but they've virtually all been hybrids. This bZ4X mid-sized SUV was the brand's first purpose-built EV. Since its engineering draws on over two decades of electrified automotive experience, you'd expect it to be a very complete product indeed. You shouldn't be disappointed.
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Background
What kind of purpose-built EV might the world's biggest car maker bring us? Here's the answer - the bZ4X. Silly name perhaps, but this car has a very serious remit. At launch, it was Toyota's first all-new Battery Electric Vehicle. The less-than-catchy name references the size of car ('4' designates the brand's mid-sized models) - and the vehicle type (in this case 'X' for Crossover/SUV).
We certainly waited long enough for this contender. Given that Toyota's been making electrified vehicles for over a quarter of a century and experimented with a full-electric concept version of the RAV4 as long ago as 1997, it was surprising that this bZ4X took so long to arrive. It didn't actually go on sale here until the end of 2022, the launch delayed by a detaching wheel hub scandal that the brand took months to fix. A Touring estate version was announced in Spring 2025.
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Range data
| Min | Max |
| Price | 42995 | 51545 |
| Max Speed (mph) | 99 | 99 |
| 0-62 mph (s) | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| Electric WLTP-Rated Driving Range (miles) | 318 | 318 |
| Min | Max |
| Length (mm) | 4690 | 4690 |
| Width (mm) | 1860 | 1860 |
| Height (mm) | 1650 | 1650 |
| Boot Capacity (l) | 452 | 600 |
| Power (ps) | 201 | 381 |
Driving experience
There are various powertrains available. For the SUV body shape, things kick off with an entry-level front-driven variant, which has a single motor with 201hp and which gets to 62mph in 8.4s. This variant now uses a 73.1kWh battery pack and offers up to 318 miles of EV range.
The SUV model Toyota wants to talk about though, is the dual motor derivative with the four-wheel-drive system the brand has developed with Subaru. That set-up is called X-MODE and is supposed to give the bZ4X what the brand calls 'class leading off roading driving capability'; which is presumably what Subaru felt they needed for their version of this car, the Solterra. Having motors driving each axle boosts the power output of the AWD version of this bZ4X, but not by as much as you'd think. Total output rises to 218hp, which takes seven tenths of a second off the 0-62mph sprint time.
The Touring model has a slightly different powertrain set-up, with a choice of two variants using a slightly larger 74.4kWh battery pack. A 224hp single motor version will suit most. Or there's the option of a 381hp dual motor AWD model - the most powerful EV Toyota has yet offered.
With either body shape, the dual motor versions have 'X-MODE' branded 'Snow/Dirt' or 'Deep Snow/Mud' drive settings that give this EV an unusual level of capability on the slippery stuff. Possibly a more useful selectable drive setting for all bZ4X models though, is that for 'Regeneration Boost', which slows your off-throttle progress by up to 0.15g, in the process harvesting more energy to recharge the battery as you drive. This Toyota needs that, given that its mileage range figures are hardly class-leading, but in terms of refinement and ride quality, it's up with the class leaders.
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Design and build
There are two bZ4X body shapes; most will want the standard SUV version, but you can also talk to your dealer about a Touring estate variant which adds 140mm in length, 20mm in height and a selection of rugged elements. Even the standard SUV body shape is quite striking, the front-end exchanging a conventional grille for what's called a 'hammerhead' look with beady LED headlamp 'eyes'. A conventional lower grille channels cooling air to the battery when needed. It's pretty revolutionary beneath the skin too; this bZ4X gave the first outing to Toyota's e-TNGA electric vehicle platform, shared with Subaru and used by that competing brand's rival Solterra model.
Inside the bZ4X, there's a compact instrument pack behind the wheel with a 7-inch screen. And the usual large wide infotainment monitor at the top of the centre stack. It's all very modern and feels particularly light and airy with the twin sunroof arrangement fitted. But what's most impressive about this cabin is the amount of space you get in the back, thanks to this design's particularly long wheelbase. Toyota says legroom here is comparable to the 900mm figure you'd get in a top Lexus LS boardroom-level limo.
The boot capacity isn't quite as eye-catching as that, but in the SUV model there's 452-litres of it with the three-person rear bench in place. The Touring version increases that figure to 600-litres.
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Market and model
The asking figures start from around £46,000 and range up to around £56,000. The base price gets you the entry-level front-driven 'Pure' derivative, but most customers will want the mid-range 'Motion' model, which prices from around £46,000 and offers the option of X-MODE AWD for an extra £2,500. The plushest trim level is 'Vision', which has the same choice of front wheel drive or all-wheel drive. To begin with, Toyota will also offer a top 'Premier Edition' variant at the top of the range in AWD form only.
All versions are well equipped. Even the base 'Pure' model gets 18-inch alloy wheels, a multimedia system with an 8-inch display, a 7-inch digital Combimeter screen in the instrument binnacle, a reversing camera, smart keyless entry and a climate control system with a remote operation function that lets owners warm up or cool their car ahead of a making a journey. Options include roof rails and a towing pack. If you want more, mid-range 'Motion' spec gets you a powered tailgate, privacy glass, parking sensors and electrically adjustable heated front seats. Top 'Vision' trim includes 20-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, Remote Control Parking Assist and a heated steering wheel.
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Cost of ownership
We gave you the driving range figure for this car in our 'Driving Experience' section - up to 318 miles, depending on the version you choose. This car can offer an 11kW three-phase on-board charger and will accept fast charging at up to 150kW, which will get you a 10-80% fill in 32 minutes. As for AC charging from home, well your 7.4kW garage wallbox will need 12 hours 45 minutes for a full charge.
The brand says that the battery will hold 90% of its range for the first ten years of its life, aided by water cooling for the cells (something Toyota has never done before), with active thermal management of the battery further aiding durability and range. That range is optimised courtesy of an on-board solar charging system that aims to minimise the effect of cold weather on usability.
Plus, as with all Toyotas, the bZ4X is covered by a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, which owners can extend at no cost through the 'Toyota Relax' programme simply by having their vehicle serviced at an authorised Toyota centre, gaining an extra year and 10,000 miles of cover up to a limit of the vehicle reaching 10 years and/or 100,000 miles.
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Summary
There are lots of questions to ask when developing a full-EV. Does it make sense to have a big heavy battery that gives lots of range but costs more to buy and impedes agile handling? What about recycling? And carbon neutrality over the full production cycle? With this bZ4X, there's evidence that Toyota has carefully considered each of these issues. And produced a carefully considered result.
Future automotive history may well show us that the Japanese brand was wise to wait a little before bringing us its first bespoke EV. The engineering here is certainly complete enough to make some other mid-sized full-electric crossover rivals feel a bit 'first generation'. In the future with Toyota, we'll see more extreme electric vehicles than this. But for the slowly evolving target market, right here, right now, we think this bZ4X will work just fine.
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