Toyota bZ4X 2024 review

It’s November, 2023, and Toyota still hasn’t released any bZ4X pricing or specification details for Australia.

However, Toyota boss Sean Hanley has said ‘very competitive’ vehicle leasing packages will be announced shortly through the brand’s finance arm. Stay tuned.

The bZ4X name, by the way, refers to “beyond Zero-emissions 4 X-over”, with the ‘4’ and ‘X’ referencing it as a RAV4-sized medium SUV.

Key crossover rivals are expected to be the BYD Atto 3 from $48,011 (all prices are before on-road costs, unless otherwise stated), Hyundai Kona EV from $55,000, Hyundai Ioniq 5 from about $65,000, Kia Niro Electric from about $66,000, Tesla Model Y from about $66,000, Kia EV6 from about $73,000, and Subaru Solterra AWD and BMW iX1 each from under $80,000 apiece.

Toyota still hasn’t released any bZ4X pricing or specification details for Australia.

We should also throw in lower-riding hatchbacks such as the Cupra Born from $60,000 and Polestar 2 from about $68,000.

That’s quite a mix of EVs, and we’re expecting the bZ4X to slot somewhere between the base Ioniq 5 and EV6, so from about $70,000.

Of course, it all depends on how Toyota specifies it.

Features? Abroad, there’s a choice of an 8.0-inch in base grades, or an expansive 12.3-inch central touchscreen for the multimedia system, as well as a 7.0-inch digital instrumentation screen ahead of the driver.

The bZ4X name refers to “beyond Zero-emissions 4 X-over.”

Expect a long list of driver-assist safety tech, such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB), full stop-go adaptive cruise, lane keep alert/assist and blind-spot alert/assist systems, along with powered driver’s seat, heated front seats, a powered tailgate and 18-inch alloy wheels all as standard.

Whether we get to see the solar panel roof, up-spec audio system, synthetic leather upholstery, steer-by-wire yoke steering wheel, and heat pump offered in overseas versions remains to be seen.

More info will be revealed closer to the bZ4X’s February release in Australia, so stay tuned.

There’s a choice of an 8.0-inch in base grades, or an expansive 12.3-inch central touchscreen for the multimedia system.

At first greeting, it is clear that the bZ4X is both traditional-Toyota and something unique for the brand.

As such, we’re looking at a progressively-designed, handsomely proportioned five-seater, with wide doors providing easy entry/egress, inside a cabin that is spacious and airy, despite having a wide and highly-set bi-level centre console bisecting driver and front passenger.

Interesting textures and high-quality material and trim finishes in our JDM example further distinguish the EV SUV.

In our brief time behind the wheel, we noticed that only a momentary glance at the switchgear and controls was required before we knew what most items did, so there isn’t the intimidating sensory overload that some more-out-there EVs suffer from.

Inside the bZ4X are interesting textures and high-quality material and trim finishes.

Most of the vehicle’s functions are easily within reach, as are the many storage receptacles.

Comfy seats and an easy, confident driving position are further bonuses. While the digital instrumentation and centre multimedia screen were in Japanese, it's obvious the info and data on offer can be easily seen and deciphered.

And ventilation is typically-Toyota effective, as witnessed during our humid day’s drive around the 4x4 course.

Negative points include big blind spots caused by the thick windscreen posts and large exterior mirrors, as well as poor over-shoulder vision as a result of the wide rear pillars and shallow rear screen. Thankfully the surround-view camera on our high-series version helped.

Back seat passengers in the bZ4X have access to amenities such as ventilation outlets, a centre armrest with cupholders and access to USB ports.

A brief jaunt in the very spacious back row with its flat floor revealed plenty of room for legs and knees, a reasonably comfortable (reclining) backrest and cushion, and most if not all of the amenities you’d expect in a medium-sized SUV – including ventilation outlets, a centre armrest with cupholders and access to USB ports.

Further back than that, the cargo area offers a two-level deck area with an underfloor space that’s good for the charging cable(s) and even the luggage cover.

On the surface it all seems a little small, but combined, there is a reasonable 452 litres (VDA) of capacity. That’s about 90L short of a RAV4.

The Toyota bZ4X uses an AC permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, transaxle and inverter. On all-wheel-drive versions, there’s one on each axle.

As we’ve already said, no info for Australia has been confirmed, but the European-market FWD version – which should be similar to ours – offers 150kW of power and 266Nm of torque.

Meanwhile, the AWD car we’re driving here in Japan offers 160kW and 337Nm, spread across two axle-sited 80kW motors.

The Toyota bZ4X uses an AC permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, transaxle and inverter.

That should be good for a 0-100 time of 6.9 seconds, against the front-driver’s 7.5s. A one-pedal regenerative-braking mode means up to 80 per cent of speed can be washed off thanks to 0.15g of resistance.

The lightest bZ4X FWD in Europe weighs 1895kg kerb, stretching to 1980kg, while the AWD version ranges from 1985kg to 2065kg. Suspension consists of struts up front and a double-wishbone rear-end arrangement.

Developed with Subaru – which offers the slightly restyled Solterra that is about to beat it to market in Australia ­– the AWD version is said to offer “genuine, class-leading off-road driving capability – a market first for an all-electric SUV”.

The AWD bZ4X we’re driving here in Japan offers 160kW and 337Nm.

Dubbed 'X-MODE', which should be familiar to Subaru XV, Crosstrek, Forester and Outback owners, it offers a trio of settings: 'light snow/mud', 'deep snow' and 'deep mud'.

There’s also a hill-descent/hill-ascent control system, as well as traction-control over level ground.

For the record, ground clearance is 177mm, approach angle is 17.7 degrees, departure angle 25.4 degrees and wading depth is 500mm.

Towing capacity is limited to just 750kg.

As with its Lexus RZ fraternal twin, a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack is placed low and centrally within the wheelbase. Toyota says it has an ambient temperature operating range of between minus 30 degrees Celsius and 60 degrees C. 

In EU-spec bZ4Xs, going FWD means up to 516km of range, with an efficiency rating of 14.3kWh/100km, while the heavier AWD promises around 470km of range and 15.8kWh/km of efficiency. Not bad.

Switch to optional 20s instead of the standard 18-inch wheel set-up, though, and range tumbles to 436km and 411km, respectively.

In EU-spec bZ4Xs, going FWD means an efficiency rating of 14.3kWh/100km.

AC charging is via a Type 2 port with an 11kW capacity, while a DC fast charging uses a CCS2 port and can handle up to 150kW. To help top up the battery pack, regenerative braking is available using several levels of single-pedal deceleration.

Plugging it in a power point at home would require about 33 hours to replenish the battery from empty to full based on EU data, or 10.5hr with an optional 7.0kW Wallbox, while using a common 50kW DC fast-charger takes a little over an hour to get the battery from 10-80 per cent capacity, or half that time if you manage to find a 150kW super-fast charger.

AC charging is via a Type 2 port with an 11kW capacity.

Back in late 2022, EuroNCAP awarded the bZ4X a maximum five stars. While scoring good marks for vulnerable road users, it did especially well in adult occupant and child occupant protection as well as for safety assist systems.

The latter includes AEB (functional from 5.0km/h and featuring pedestrian and cyclist detection day or night), as part of 'Toyota Safety System' tech, as well as lane-support systems (operational from 50km/h), rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitor and low-speed driving assist with traffic-jam support for the adaptive cruise control.

Eight airbags are fitted: front, knee and side for driver and front passenger, and front and rear outboard-passenger curtain airbags.

Back in late 2022, EuroNCAP awarded the bZ4X a maximum five stars.

Whether all grades get 'Side Exit Assist' that prevents doors opening onto cyclists, pedestrians and other vehicles passing by is not yet known.

By the way, many of these can be upgraded via over-the-air tech, keeping them current.

More info pertaining to Australian-market models will be revealed closer to the bZ4X’s on-sale date.