Toyota bZ4X Review 2026

Toyota spent decades establishing itself as a leader in hybrid cars, which perhaps explains why it was slightly behind the curve in introducing its first battery-electric vehicle, the Toyota bZ4X. The car competes in a fiercely contested marketplace, pitched against rivals such as the desirable Ford Mustang Mach-E, appealing Kia EV6 and practical Skoda Enyaq iV. Find out how it fares in our Toyota bZ4X review.

For its first assault on the electric SUV market, Toyota chose not to go it alone. Instead, it formed a partnership with Subaru. Along with being used for the Toyota bZ4X, this EV architecture also underpins the Subaru Solterra and Lexus RZ.

Predictably given the nature of motoring's future, the Toyota bZ4X was the first model in a wide a range of all-electric models from the brand. The ‘4’ part of the name explains that the Toyota bZ4X is similar in size to the more conventional Toyota RAV4, while the ‘X’ denotes it as an SUV.

That generous size equates to a pretty generous amount of interior space, meaning that four tall adults will have sufficient room to travel comfortably, and a fifth person can travel without ruining it for everyone. But while passenger space in generous, boot space is rather more limited, so many rival mid-size electric SUVs are generally more practical as a result.

Interior quality is also a bit of a mixed bag. Some parts look posh and lustrous, while others look distinctly flimsy and unsubstantial. At least all versions come reasonably well equipped. Precise equipment specifications have varied over time due to various updates and facelifts, but no version feels short of kit or technology.

There's been a similar level of change in the area of powertrains, too, which means figures for power, pace and range have fluctuated accordingly. We'll go through these changes in detail in due course, but as a general overview, know that the bZ4X is neither the fastest nor the longest-range EV on the market, but it should be adequate in both areas for the right buyer.

The driving experience generally is a pleasant one, with a comfy ride, good refinement, and stable and secure - if not all that exciting - handling. Both front-wheel-drive- and all-wheel-drive variants are available.

Safety is good, too, with lots of standard safety tech and a five-star Euro NCAP rating. Toyota's brilliant warranty also helps make this a sensible purchase, with the three-year, 60,000-mile standard cover extended automatically by a year or 10,000 miles whenever you get your car serviced at a Toyota dealer, up to a maximum of ten years, 100,000 miles.

Toyota bZ4X: Range and charging times

Look at the table above, and you might (justifiably) wonder why there's a distinct disparity in range figures of early examples of the Toyota bZ4X. Well, that's because one set of predicted figures were given when the car was first announced in late 2021, but when the car was actually homologated in early 2022, the range figures in official tests actually turned out to be better than expected.

That was by no means the end of the story, though, not by a long shot. You see, when the car was first launched, many automotive journalists worldwide found it impossible to get anywhere close to these new claimed range figures.

This was made worse in cold conditions, with Scandinavian journalists seeing the all-wheel-drive version show a range readout of just 190 miles, rather than the 286 miles it should have been capable of.

Following this, Toyota launched a series of over-the-air software updates, designed to reduce the artificial ‘buffer’ shown when the car was running low on charge.

Previously, even when the instrument display showed zero charge remaining, the Toyota bZ4X actually had around 30 miles of range available. Updates also included changing how the Toyota bZ4X predicted battery range when using the climate control air-con. Early cars would show a drop in range of between 40 to 60 miles simply from turning the heating on.

As a result, these same early cars were soon given the ability to show more accurate real-world range prediction. The impact of cold weather on the range is still hard to ignore, although this is the case on pretty much all battery-electric cars.

At the end of 2025, a comprehensive facelift of the bZ4x brought some fundamental changes to the powertrain line-up. The previous 71.4kWh battery pack was increased in capacity to 73.1kWh, while the power outputs of both the front-wheel-drive version and the 4WD version were increased: the former from 204PS to 224PS, and the latter from 218PS to 343PS. As well as that, a new entry-level version was introduced, pairing a smaller 57.7kWh battery pack with a single 167PS electric motor. The range ramifications of all these new specifications can be found in the table above.

The car is capable of taking on AC charge at up to 11kW (or up to 22kW on certain grades after the 2025 facelift), which is why an AC charging time of just under five hours is quoted. However, to get charging speeds like this at home, your home will need to have three-phase electrics, which the vast majority of UK homes don't. The single-phase electrics in the majority of UK residences allow a maximum AC charging speed of around 7kW, and on this type of connection, expect an empty-to-full juice-up in around eight or nine hours.

DC rapid charging can happen at a rate of up to 150kW, delivering a 10%-to-80% top-up in around 30 minutes.

This being an electric SUV, most Toyota bZ4X buyers will likely prioritise a comfortable ride over handling and driver engagement, but the fact is that the car does a pretty good job in both areas.

The Toyota bZ4X has a suspension that works well to absorb most bumps in the road very effectively, keeping life comfortable at all speeds. And yet, with a low centre of gravity and taut cornering manners, the car moves along meandering roads with impressive poise and control.

While the steering lacks much in the way of feedback, it is nicely weighted and quick to respond. It offers a sense of agility that belies the car's hefty 2000kg kerbweight.

It is surprisingly capable off-road as well, with a wading depth of up to 500mm. In all-wheel-drive format, it comes with a Subaru-developed X-Mode off-roading system, which can adapt to suit snowy or muddy conditions.

Toyota also has plans to add a steer-by-wire function in future. This will use an aircraft-style yoke in place of a traditional steering wheel, with full lock requiring just 150 degrees of rotation.

For the first portion of its life, the Toyota bZ4X was offered in two power outputs, both making use of the same 71.4kWh battery pack.

Kicking off the range was the front-wheel-drive version, powered by a 204PS motor. This could accelerate from 0-62mph in a brisk 7.5 seconds. As a family SUV, this is more than adequate, especially given the instant effect of the electric motor's torque, given at 266Nm.

Moving to the all-wheel-drive version results in a dual-motor setup, with a pair of separate 109PS electric motors driving one axle each.

This powertrain delivers a combined 218PS and 337Nm of torque, but this has only a small effect on outright performance, with the 0-62mph time falling to 6.9 seconds.

The AWD Toyota bZ4X is less about speed, and more about all-wheel-drive grip and traction, and the potential for off-road action.

A brake-by-wire system has been fitted to the Toyota bZ4X, supported by a mechanical back-up. Despite the lack of a physical connection in normal use, the car's braking effort is very easy to judge.

There's also regenerative braking, but this is less pronounced than in other electric SUVs in normal use. A ‘Boost Mode’ button can increase the effectiveness, but the brake pedal still needs to be pressed to bring the car to a complete stop.

During the 2025 facelift, several changes were made to the powertrain line-up. The 71.4kWh battery pack was increased in capacity to 73.1kWh, while the power of the front-wheel-drive version was hiked a little to 224PS, and the output of the 4WD version was hiked a lot to a stonking 343PS. This results in 0-62mph sprint figures of 7.4 seconds and 5.1 seconds, respectively. The top speed is pegged at 99mph in both cases.

On top of those changes, a new entry-level version was introduced pairing a smaller 57.7kWh battery pack with a single 167PS electric motor for a 0-62mph sprint time of 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 86mph.

We haven't yet had the opportunity to try any of the new or revised powertrains, but we'll update this review as soon as we do.

Toyota will certainly be pleased with how its electric SUV performed when evaluated by Euro NCAP. In crash tests, it received the maximum five-star rating in 2022, repeating the feat when the facelifted version was re-tested in 2025.

This is aided by a long list of standard safety equipment, including intelligent adaptive cruise control, road sign detection and a speed limiter, lane-keeping assistance and pedestrian pre-collision warning.

The Toyota bZ4X is available to order from the factory with a choice of two tow bars. With either fitted, it can tow braked and unbraked trailers weighing up to 750kg. That's not very good, but such poor towing capability is not uncommon among EVs. The one exception to that rule is the AWD version from after the 2025 facelift, which can pull up to 1500kg.

Measuring 4690mm in length and 1860mm in width, the Toyota bZ4X is mid-sized in SUV terms. Being on a similar scale to the familiar Toyota RAV4, this all-electric alternative is decently practical.

Space in the front is generous, helped by seats that offer plenty of adjustment. There is lots of headroom, even with the optional panoramic sunroof fitted, and there are also numerous storage cubbies available (although no glovebox, annoyingly).

Rear legroom is more than competitive with key rivals such as the Skoda Enyaq iV, thanks to a relatively long wheelbase. Headroom is slightly tighter, due to the car’s curving roofline, but only the tallest adults will be likely to have any cause for complaint.

Luggage capacity is where the Toyota bZ4X falls behind its rivals, with 452 litres of boot space. A Skoda Enyaq iV offers a more substantial 585 litres, with 543 litres found inside the Volkswagen ID.4.

Unlike some electric SUVs, the Toyota bZ4X does not have a ‘frunk’ storage area beneath its bonnet. However, there is an area below the boot floor where you can store charging cables.

The interiors of Toyota cars tend to be solid in construction, if not particularly exciting in design. However, when it comes to the Toyota bZ4X, the opposite appears to be true.

Some of the detailing found on the upper half of the cabin looks premium, with fabric on the dashboard and imitation leather elements.

But, the large slab of piano black trim on the centre console - which will inevitably attract fingerprints - feels a little flimsy, while the door handles and plastics lower down in the cabin feel cheaper again.

Initially, the entry-level Toyota bZ4X Pure came with an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen, mounted high up on the dashboard. This was placed within the same housing as the larger 12.3-inch screen that came as standard on higher-spec versions, making it very obvious that you’re driving the cheaper model.

Despite the difference in size, the features included in the two multimedia displays are virtually identical, as is the way they are operated. Satellite navigation is standard across the range, along with numerous USB ports and voice recognition. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity is also included, with higher-grade models gaining wireless smartphone charging.

A digital instrument panel is fitted on all models, although it looks pretty rudimentary for such a modern EV.

Toyota has drastically improved its infotainment offerings in recent years, and the Toyota bZ4X shows promise, with decent ease-of-use. However, at times it can still be slow to use, feeling laggy when responding to inputs.

There are no physical buttons to operate the multimedia, although on earlier examples of the bZ4X, there was a separate panel of touch-sensitive icons with which to operate the climate control air-con, so at least you didn't have to go rooting through touchscreen menus.

With the 2025 facelift, a new larger 14.0-inch touchscreen was rolled out across the range, and those climate controls just mentioned became incorporated into the touchscreen to make room for the new twin smartphone wireless chargers. We haven't sampled the new system yet, so we can't yet comment on its ease-of -use.

Prices for the bZ4X start at around £40,000, but that's for the entry-level version introduced in late 2025 for the 2026 model year, with the smaller 57.7kWh battery and 274-mile range.

If you want a car with the larger 73.1kWh battery, you'll be looking at around £46,000. That'll get you the Design version with the longest range of 352 miles. Upgrading to the higher-spec Excel version will hike the price to around £49,000 and drop the range to 319 miles, while upgrading further to the four-wheel-drive bZ4X will cost around £52,000 and drop your range to just below 300 miles.

This isn't a cheap car, then, and some key EV SUV rivals can be had for less. However, pricing certainly isn't crazy, and generous specification levels do go some way towards justifying the cost.

As always, you can spend a lot less if you're prepared to shop on the used car market instead. Examples from 2024 in Pure trim, with between 10,000 miles and 20,000 miles on the dial, can be had for around £21,000. And that super-duper warranty, along with Toyota's amazing reliability record, means that you can be especially confident when buying used.

The pricing of the bZ4X is such that only the entry-level version, with the smaller 57.7kWh battery pack, is exempt from the 'luxury car surcharge' for VED road tax. So, while buyers of that entry-level version will pay only the £195-per-year flat rate (provided that no optional extras have been added, that is...), owners of all other versions will have to pay an additional £425 per year between years two and six of the car's life. That adds up to quite a bit over the years.

Insurance groupings for the various versions of the bZ4X range from group 32 (out of 50) at the bottom end of the scale to group 41 at the top, so no version will be sheap to insure, and some will be quite steep on premiums.

The cost to charge your car will obviously depend on which battery you have. The quoted battery sizes are actually gross capacities, and as always, the usable capacity of each battery is a bit less (all batteries keep some cells dormant in order to preserve battery life). The older 71.4kWh battery pack actually has a usable capacity of 64kWh, so assuming that your domestic electricity is charged at the UK's national average rate, then a full charge at home will cost around £18.

The newer entry-level 57.7kWh battery has a usable capacity of 54kWh, equating to a full charge cost of around £15, while the 73.1kWh battery, with its 69kWh usable capacity, will cost around £19 to fill up.

However, it's very easy to trim your home charging costs down to just a third of that, or maybe even less. Simply get your home onto a variable power tariff that charges less (much, much less) for off-peak power, and charge your car overnight (which you probably will anyway).

By contrast, those figures can easily be trebled when you use a DC public rapid charger, because that power that comes out of these is way more expensive. As a result, only use such chargers in emergencies.

When it first went on sale, the The Toyota bZ4X was sold in regular trim levels known as Pure, Motion and Vision, although a Premiere Edition was also offered initially at the very top of the range that came with pretty much everything as standard

The Toyota bZ4X Pure kicked off the range with an already impressive amount of standard equipment, including:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• black lower front grille
• LED headlights with automatic high beam
• leather steering wheel
• rear armrest
• dual-zone climate control
• automatically dimming rear-view mirror
• front seats with manual height adjustment
• heat pump
• UV light-filtering window glass
• reversing camera
• intelligent cruise control
• downhill assist control
• lane-departure warning
• autonomous emergency braking
• 8.0-inch multimedia display
• DAB radio
• Bluetooth connectivity
• four USB-C ports
• voice recognition
• six speakers
• satellite navigation
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Moving up the range, the Toyota bZ4X Motion added:

• a rear spoiler
• privacy glass
• driver monitoring camera
• adaptive high beam control
• black fabric and synthetic leather upholstery
• power adjustment for the driver’s seat
• white ambient lighting
• surround-view camera
• all-round parking sensors
• extended blind-spot monitoring
• front- and rear cross-traffic assistance
• Wireless mobile phone charging
• 12.3-inch multimedia display

At the top of the regular range was the Toyota bZ4X Vision, which came with:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• digital smart key
• washer fluid level warning
• advanced parking assist
• black or grey synthetic leather upholstery
• heated steering wheel
• driver’s seat and side mirrors with memory feature
• ventilated front seats
• rear parking sensors with automatic braking

The limited-run Toyota bZ4X Premiere Edition, meanwhile, added: 

• JBL nine-speaker premium sound system
• panoramic sunroof

In late 2025, a fairly extensive facelift brought with it a new trim level structure, now incorporating Icon, Design and Excel grades. 

The Toyota bZ4X Icon kicks off the revamped range with an extensively enhanced specification, including:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• privacy glass
• rear spolier
• rain-sensing wipers
• power tailgate
• power-adjusting and heated door mirrors
• keyless entry
• ambient lighting
• adaptive cruise control
• heated front seats
• powered driver's seat adjustment
• UV light-filtering window glass
• heat pump
• blind spot monitor
• road sign assist
• safe exit assist
• driver monitoring system
• front- and rear cross-traffic alert
• 14.0-inch infotainment screen with navigation
• Bluetooth
• DAB radio
• voice recognition
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• reversing camera

Since the facelift, most of the additional features you previously got with mid-range Motion trim have now been made standard on the entry-level Icon, so the main thing you're gaining with the upgrade to Design trim - the new mid-range option - is the more powerful two-wheel-drive powertrain and larger battery. That said, the Toyota bZ4X Design does add:

• a windscreen de-icer
• 360-degree cameras

The range-topping Toyota bZ4X Excel variant gives creature comforts including: 

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• memory function for door mirrors and driver's seat
• ventilated front seats
• heated rear seats
• powered front passenger seat adjustment
• front radiant foot heater
• digital rear-view mirror
• lane departure alert
• lane trace assist
• lane change assist
• self-parking function