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Pros: Comfortable, well-equipped, fun to drive.
Cons: So-so range, raised rear floor.
Toyota bZ4X Design
The bZ4X is the first of a range of new ‘beyond zero’ electric vehicles from Toyota expected to reach these shores over the next few years. It’s a roughly RAV4-sized electric crossover powered by a 71kWh battery (64kWh usable), with an official range in the region of 500 kilometres. So far, so good, for Toyota’s electric crossover when you consider the bZ4X finds itself up against bestsellers such as the Volkswagen ID.4, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and the Skoda Enyaq. With its futuristic design inspired by Toyota’s new ‘hammerhead’ design á la the latest Prius and C-HR, the bZ4X won’t be mistaken for any of its rivals. It’s not conventionally pretty, but it is distinct and carries fashionable crossover design cues like an extra generous serving of plastic cladding around the wheel arches to enhance the SUV look. At the rear it is particularly stylish with a sloping coupé-crossover roof line, split rear spoiler, and full width light bar. There’s no rear wiper, which enhances the clean, aero look - but leaves and grime have a tendency to stick. 18-inch alloy wheels come as standard with a chunky design that suits the car well.
Toyota bZ4X Interior
The cabin is quite different to other Toyotas like the Corolla and Camry, with a snug and driver-focused feel. There’s a prominent high centre console to separate you from your passenger, finished in gloss black with a delightfully tactile rotary dial to select the drive mode and a unique hidden compartment for wireless smartphone charging. There are plenty of soft touch materials to make the cabin feel lush and comfortable, like the woven fabric in the dash and half cloth/synthetic leather seats. Sport models are the sweet spot of the range, getting the best complement of equipment including Toyota’s impressive 12-inch touchscreen with over-the-air updates, voice control and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated steering wheel, heated front seats and power seat adjustment for the driver.
Getting a good driving position requires a little bit of patience as the driver instrument display is set above the compact steering wheel – be prepared to set your seat higher than normal or the steering wheel lower to see all the relevant information. It’s worth noting there’s no glovebox either. But the generous space beneath the centre console goes some way to make up for it, as does the cubby between the front seats and large door bins.
There’s loads of legroom for rear seat passengers but the high floor means there’s a lack of thigh support for adults for comfort on long journeys. There are plenty of amenities however like a centre armrest, USB-C ports, air vents and good-sized door bins. The boot is not the biggest in the class but at 452 litres it should be more than adequate for most. It’s got a wide opening and low, flat loading sill with a small bit of underfloor storage for the charging cables. Sport models get a powered tailgate as standard too.
Toyota bZ4X Performance & Drive
The bZ4X is built on a new Toyota platform dedicated to EVs. It was co-developed with Subaru, who lent their all-wheel drive expertise to the project and offer an almost identical vehicle called the Solterra. Single motor versions are front wheel drive, with 204hp for sprightly performance. Dual motor, all wheel versions offer a little more power and torque, though hardly necessary unless you need more capability on tricky terrain or in winter driving.
The front wheel drive bZ4X is the best for range – up to 505 kilometres (WLTP) for the Sport model on 18-inch wheels. Yet the efficiency can vary quite a bit in real world driving, with closer to 360 kilometres achieved during our test drive. Still, the bZ4X impresses with how well it handles the road. It feels incredibly stable, agile and responsive with quick, precise steering. It’s also very comfortable for an electric crossover over mixed Irish tarmac. There’s little wind or electric motor noise, but there is some persistent road noise from the tyres so it feels a little way off the best in class for refinement. Drivers can switch between a standard and Eco driving mode that dulls the accelerator response to encourage gentler driving. There’s also a button to increase regenerative braking but it stops short of offering one pedal driving.
DC fast charging is possible up to 150kW, while there’s a standard 11kW onboard AC charger.
Toyota bZ4X Pricing
The Toyota bZ4X Sport is available from €50,075.
Carzone Verdict
The Toyota bZ4x is a compelling alternative to some of the bestsellers in the mid-sized electric crossover class. Beyond the quirky looks, the bZ4x offers the same familiarity and solidness that makes Toyota so popular in Ireland and it is surprisingly good to drive too. It has a few weaknesses but overall, it’s a likeable and impressive electric crossover.