Toyota took its time transferring its hybrid vehicle know-how to fully electric cars, but the vehicle with the curiously titled Toyota bZ4X was well worth the wait.
This was when Toyota entered the electric intelligent pants market with its striking style and humorous moniker. The bZ4X transforms the company’s impressive hybrid experiment into a fully battery-powered car. The bZ4X equals class favourites like the Skoda Enyaq iV and newcomers like the Nissan Ariya. It is distinctive inside and out but is rooted in solid practicality and typically sound engineering. It boasts good off-road performance in all-wheel-drive form, substantial range, and drivability across the board, and each Token variant comes well-equipped for the price.
In terms of costs, even with higher energy costs, there are potential savings in running an electric vehicle like the bZ4X compared to petrol or diesel.
Traditionally, electric vehicles have been more expensive than comparable petrol, diesel, or plug-in hybrid versions. Still, the market is becoming increasingly competitive, and the bZ4X equals money for the RAV4 plug-in variant.
Compared to rivals like the VW ID.4, Skoda Enyaq iV, Kia EV6, and Hyundai Ioniq 5, it also appears to be a decent value. Even with increased energy prices, operating an electric car like the bZ4X may still be cheaper than a gasoline or diesel vehicle, especially if you have a method to plug in at home.
To accomplish this, Toyota provides a free British Gas charging station and a six-month subscription to its extensive network of public chargers via a particular app.
Toyota offers a variety of strategies for the bZ4X, including a versatile and complete rental option that entails a single monthly payment for all expenses. Although other more conventional financing options are available, including one for business users, it is a good idea to make it easier for drivers to switch to electric vehicles.
The technology that powers the bZ4X is all new, but the brand’s reputation for engineering excellence is at the core of its DNA
Toyota’s historically strong reliability rankings have slightly declined recently, and the bZ4X’s technology is brand-new. However, the brand’s reputation for engineering excellence remains a fundamental part of who it is.
Additionally, if you maintain regular battery health checks, you’ll be assured at least 70% performance retention for ten years or 1 million km (620,000 mi), whichever comes first. Toyota has been perfecting electrified powertrains for 25 years (and has sold 20 million hybrids in that time!).
The Pure base tire isn’t without blind spot alerts and parking sensors.
The bZ4X has an impressive array of safety features housed in Toyota’s recognizable T-Mate body. A standout feature is a sophisticated automated emergency braking system that intervenes if it anticipates that you’re about to veer into oncoming traffic or onto a side road where there may be cyclists or pedestrians who aren’t visible.
The best part is that the technology usually appears hidden, except for the annoying Driver Signal alert that chastises you for even looking at the climate control setting.
However, it’s important to note that the Pure trim lacks features like parking sensors and blind spot alerts, which we’d consider necessary in a vehicle of this kind yet are offered as standard in the rest of the lineup. However, a reverse camera is still provided.
Lower bonnet and lower instrument panel height to improve forward visibility
It’s astonishing how quickly the industry landed on a standard model, the bZ4X, give or take, compared to its competitors here, given how amazing electric SUVs still are.
The driver and front-seat passenger have enough headroom, and the driver in the back has plenty of legroom, so we welcomed the lower hood, which reduces the dashboard height to better forward sight. Anyone seated in the middle had plenty of legroom thanks to the flat floor, although headroom was somewhat restricted due to the panoramic top.
The trunk doesn’t quite measure up to the ID.4, Enyaq, or Ioniq 5, but it does offer a low-loading lip and a helpful under-floor storage compartment for your charging wire.
Ride comfort is also noticeably improved, especially on vibrant city streets, where huge wheels like those on our top-of-the-line test car can frequently be harsh. The steering is slightly heavier than usual but feels more precise, and it doesn’t bog down on winding roads. The absence of engine sound likely contributed to the fact that the only thing we had to put up with on the highway was a little tire noise.
We liked the interior design, as the fabric top on the dashboard enhances the ambience.
We loved the interior, even though it paled compared to some funnier interior options manufacturers like Volkswagen and Skoda provided. The fabric top to the dash lifts the mood, and the spacious storage bin located between the front seats has plenty of options for storing your belongings. Toyota, like Peugeot, mounts the instrument panel above a little steering wheel, which we had to rest on our laps to view the speedometer.
The enormous central screen handles your infotainment demands in the meantime, and the clear visuals and straightforward menus are a commendable vast upgrade over comparable systems in other Toyotas. To do the bZ4X credit, we’d suggest upgrading at least one notch to the Motion trim, as the Pure decoration lacks this and many of the comfort and aid features in the rest of the range.
Only the front-wheel drive models on smaller wheels have more than 300 miles on a charge.
In some areas of the world of electric vehicles, there’s something akin to a horse-drawn arms race. Still, we commend Toyota for choosing not to muck around and concentrating instead on optimizing range and providing enough performance to last rather than more than you can use. The bZ4X is available with either a single engine with front-wheel drive or two wheels with four-wheel drive, with a meagre 218 horsepower. Thanks to the regenerative braking, commendably smooth throttle response, and seamless acceleration, this feels more than adequate on the road.
The Toyota offers a straightforward on/off switch that leaves the car to figure out independently, unlike other vehicles like the Kia that provide a dizzying assortment of settings. Even though it’s not a simple one-pedal system, it works well at charging when the accelerator is lifted at intersections or turns. Only front-wheel-drive vehicles with smaller wheels can travel more than 300 miles on a single charge. Still, the bZ4X is agile when using its battery power, and our experience suggests Toyota was cautious in making these claims. One thing to keep in mind is that while subsequent forthcoming vehicles will be able to charge at 11kW, the bZ4X will initially launch with 6.6kW onboard charging. Which can significantly alter how long it takes to charge the battery.
