BEV Review: Toyota bZ4X

Photo Credits: Slashgear.com, cars.com, alexautos

Take Charge of the Future

Overview

Performance: Single motor, 201 horsepower; Dual motors, 214 horsepower

Mileage estimate: 114-119 MPGe; 102-104 MPGe

Price estimate: $42,100 to $48,800

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Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 5 years/50,000 miles

Roadside Assistance: 2 years/unlimited

Corrosion Warranty: 5 years/unlimited

Battery Warranty: 8 years/100,000 miles

2023 Toyota bZ4X SUV Review

Intro

While there are many aspects of the new 2023 Toyota bZ4X to admire, the odd name is not one of them. Neither is the way it stacks up against some stiff electric SUV competitors.

Among Toyota’s class rivals are the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Nissan Ariya, and Kia EV6. At a starting price of around $66,000, only the Tesla Model Y is not comparable to the bZ4X sticker price of approximately $42,100. And only the Ioniq 5 has modest acceleration similar to the Toyota SUV. All the rest have far-superior speed and most offer more range as well.

Regarding the name, the bZ4X derives from Toyota creating a bZ (beyond zero) series of zero-emission vehicles, while the 4X designates it as a compact crossover SUV. We like some things about the new SUV, but we hate the name!

Toyota has been criticized for taking so long to produce a mass-market electric vehicle. And in some circles, the bZ4X wasn’t worth the wait. Some critics have suggested the similar-sized RAVA Prime plug-in hybrid is a cheaper and smarter SUV selection.

Exterior Style

Another criticism is the bZ4X is it’s too closely related to the Subaru Solterra, its virtual twin. Subaru and Toyota created a partnership in developing the bZ4X and the Solterra. The two electric SUVs share the same platform, powertrain, and styling. The similarities will make choosing between the bZ4X and Solterra difficult.

The bZ4X offers an above-average ride for a non-luxury SUV and has created an interesting and comfortable interior that many should enjoy. It offers two electric motors and a choice of all-wheel drive. A nice perk is Toyota offers a year of free charging at EVgo stations.

Depending on what motor one selects, the bZ4X gets between 222 miles and 252 miles before a charge is required. Several of its rivals exceed 300 miles in range and the Tesla leads the pack with 330 miles.

Battery and Charging

The bZ4X has a choice of a 63.4-kWh battery pack in the single-motor version and a 65.5-kWh pack in the dual-motor model. The charging takes about around 9 hours on a standard 240-volt home charger and can reach 80 percent in about an hour at a DC Fast-Charging station.

Performance and Speed

The standard bZ4X model is front-wheel drive with a single motor that delivers 201 horsepower with 196 pound-feet of torque. It goes 0-60 mph in a modest 7.1 seconds. Because it employs two motors, one would expect much better performance from the optional all-wheel drive SUV. Yet it only produces 214 horsepower with 248 pound-feet of torque, going 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds. The front-wheel drive version is slightly better at 114-119 MPGe.

Regardless of the motor choices, the bZ4X is slower and not as fun to drive as other EVs, especially in mountainous driving where some extra power is appreciated.

Despite the mediocre performance, the bZ4X does provide good steering and handling. Even though it doesn’t feel particularly agile, it can maneuver well in tight spaces and doesn’t feel choppy when driving over bumps in the road. The SUV has several drive modes (Normal, Eco, Snow, Boost).

The bZ4X does come with regenerative braking, yet it doesn’t have the one-pedal driving that most people enjoy. I also find it odd that it has no rear window wiper, which is often needed during the winter months.

Features

Standard advanced driver safety aids include a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping system, automatic emergency braking, and traffic sign assist.

Interior Space 

Toyota did a nice job of creating a comfortable, modern cabin with high-quality materials and a smart layout. It’s not overly tech-heavy but certainly has employed enough that it will satisfy most owners. Still, it’s not as cool or tech-savvy as the interiors of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV6.

A 12.3-inch touchscreen is a big screen that is sharp and responsive. Not everything is tied to the touchscreen, and we’re happy about that. There are still actual buttons for some of the controls rather than making everything a touchscreen task. Besides the large touchscreen, other standard features include a six-speaker stereo, five USB ports, wireless device charging, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

Even though the interior is not as spacious as several rivals, there’s no lack of space overall, even for taller passengers. The bZ4X front seats are nicely padded and provide good head and leg room. The back bench is well padded and can accommodate three people without much of a squeeze. The Cargo area is solid with 38.8 cubic feet of space behind the rear row and 56.1 cubes with the seats folded down.

Conclusion

Considering the stiff competition, which includes the very similar Subaru Solterra, it could be an uphill climb for the new 2023 bZ4X in terms of sales. It’s a mediocre all-electric EV that resides among some outstanding rivals.

– J.W.

Media Video Review: Toyota bZ4X