2024 Toyota bZ4X

For commuting and normal everyday duties, an all-electric SUV built by Toyota sounds ideal. And yes, there are many upsides, such as the comprehensive array of safety equipment, the roomy and noise-insulated cabin, and optional features like a self-parking function. The bZ4X is also quite new, having debuted just last year. Toyota is a huge company with incredible resources and smart engineers. Which might have resulted in high expectations for the bZ4X. So we wonder why the company didn’t install batteries with bigger capacities to enable better ranges. Or a system that could charge faster. A joint project with Subaru (the Solterra is the other side of this coin), the bZ4X is a good first attempt from Toyota, but far from the class best.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of electric SUVs, including the Toyota bZ4X.

A dual-voltage charging cable for 120-volt (Level 1) and 240-volt (Level 2) applications becomes standard. The instrument cluster is updated to show various aspects of the charging process (including charge time estimates). And battery temperature control is improved to allow faster DC charging in cold conditions. The XLE trim also gains an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a powered tailgate, while the top Limited model receives a self-parking function that works for both parallel and perpendicular spaces.

Looking at some rival EVs, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 starts at $41.8K, the Kia EV6 at $42.6K, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E at $43.5K. The Volkswagen ID.4 begins in the low 40s, while the Subaru Solterra (with two motors and all-wheel drive as standard) is in the $45K region. The Tesla Model Y kicks off around $44K.

Before buying a new bZ4X electric SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are tracking about typical for the segment. Recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

The all-wheel-drive version of the bZ4X, with 214 horsepower in the stable, can gallop from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. That’s breezy rather than blistering. Stop-light drag races are not usually a big consideration for buyers of electric vehicles — but for the thrill-seekers, an equivalent Ford Mustang Mach-E is 1.5 seconds quicker, and a similar Tesla Model Y a fraction faster than that.

Placing the battery pack under the floor contributes to a nice low center of gravity, enhancing the feelings of agility and stability alike. But that’s pretty much the same layout as every other electric vehicle, so this Toyota SUV isn’t any different from the competition. But like its rivals, the bZ4X rides smoothly and handles corners with competence.

One thing the bZ4X does not have is a one-pedal driving function, a common asset with electric vehicles. Brake energy regeneration is not strong enough to slow the bZ4X sufficiently just by easing off the accelerator pedal.

Range and Charging

Range figures go from 222 miles (Limited with all-wheel drive) to 252 miles (XLE with front-wheel drive). Ordinarily, we would think 222 miles was on the low side, but most buyers go for the Limited AWD, so they must consider this adequate for their needs. Should anyone prefer the ability to travel a bit further between recharges, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has a maximum of 303 miles, while a version with all-wheel drive is capable of 260 miles. A Tesla Model Y with all-wheel drive and a long-range battery is rated at 310 miles. We’ll save our main criticism, though, for the bZ4X’s charging times. When connected to a DC fast charger, the all-wheel-drive version’s battery needs about an hour to go from 10% to 80% capacity. An Ioniq 5 would get the job done in about 20 to 25 minutes.

The bZ4X packs plenty of interior space within its compact SUV footprint. Up front, the dashboard is covered with fabric, which makes a pleasant change from the usual plastic. And it hosts a good-sized 12.3-inch infotainment display as standard. The cabin is especially airy, thanks to a fixed panoramic glass roof (with a powered shade) that’s also part of the deal.

Rear legroom measures 35.3 inches, perhaps just enough for adults of average size. If a full complement of passengers is going to be a regular occurrence, though, keep in mind that the Ioniq 5 has 41.7 inches of rear legroom. The bZ4X’s luggage area tops out a generous 27.7 cubic feet (the same as the Kia EV6 and a little more than the Hyundai Ioniq 5).

With this bZ4X and the new generation of Prius, it seems Toyota is embarking on an era of cool designs. We think the bZ4X looks futuristic and aerodynamic, while remaining a practical SUV. Most people are probably familiar with the approximate size of the current Toyota RAV4 compact SUV. The bZ4X is a tad larger, measuring 3.5 inches longer and about 2 inches higher.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Standard in both trims, the ability to integrate phones into the infotainment system without using a cable is wonderfully convenient.

Toyota Safety Sense
This set of advanced safety features is standard in every bZ4X electric SUV. It includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, plus the ability to detect not only pedestrians, but also cyclists (in low light conditions), motorcyclists (in daylight) and guardrails. Blind-spot monitoring is also standard.

Heat pump
Granted, this is not the most exciting aspect of EV ownership, but every bZ4X has a heat pump as standard, scavenging thermal energy created by the drivetrain and sending it into the cabin as required. It means the battery can devote more energy to range.

Hey, Toyota
Luxury German cars have had this kind of thing for years, but the bZ4X comes with a digital assistant summoned by saying, “Hey, Toyota.” Then a command given in natural speech — like “lower the cabin temperature by five degrees” — is obeyed.

Digital Key
This comes with the higher Limited trim. It allows owners to share their bZ4X with up to seven others, each able to access and start the car with their phones.

X-Mode
Although the bZ4X electric SUV is no off-road specialist, all-wheel-drive versions have an X-Mode feature with settings for Snow/Dirt and Snow/Mud to help cope with slippery conditions.

The front-drive version of the bZ4X has a slightly smaller battery than its all-wheel-drive counterpart: 71.4 kilowatt-hour (kWh) as opposed to 72.8 kWh. Not much difference, and both batteries are at the lower end of the class in terms of capacity. The popular Limited AWD version achieves 102 MPGe in combined city/highway driving. An equivalent Ioniq 5 is rated at 99 MPGe combined, while a Tesla Model Y with all-wheel drive manages 123 MPGe combined.

3-year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Toyota’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. These are typical among mainstream manufacturers, but not as good as Hyundai and Kia. The lithium-ion battery has an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty. Toyota also provides free scheduled maintenance for the first two years or 25,000 miles, plus three years of roadside assistance (unlimited mileage).

Safety Ratings

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the bZ4X a maximum 5-Star overall score. The bZ4X has yet to be crash-tested fully by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but earned top scores of Good in four impact scenarios. The virtually identical Subaru Solterra was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the institute.