The new Toyota bZ4X is not technically the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle: that distinction belongs to the RAV4 EV, which had limited availability in the 1990s. A second generation followed in the previous decade, using Tesla technology. However, it is the first to be based on a dedicated EV platform and built in high volumes.
Toyota has shown considerable reluctance towards battery-electric cars. Its president, Akio Toyoda, has been especially outspoken about what he sees as this rapid, imposed transition, despite Toyota having been among the first manufacturers to electrify the car on a mass scale with the Prius in 1997.
Yet the new battery-electric bZ family - beyond Zero - is intended to bring Toyota level with the rest of the industry. By 2025, it plans to introduce 15 battery-electric vehicles, with seven belonging to the bZ range.
bZ4X, the first
The first of these is the bZ4X, an SUV with external dimensions close to those of the RAV4. Its e-TNGA electric architecture, jointly developed with Subaru, nevertheless gives it a different set of proportions.
The bZ4X has shorter front and rear overhangs, thanks to a wheelbase that is 160 mm longer than the RAV4’s, at 2850 mm overall, despite its length being only 90 mm greater, at 4690 mm. It is also 85 mm lower than the RAV4, measuring 1600 mm in height.
Another benefit of the e-TNGA platform, which “stores” the battery pack beneath the floor, is the generous space it is expected to provide for all five occupants.
Toyota says rear-seat legroom in the bZ4X is comparable with that of the spacious Lexus LS, the Japanese brand’s largest saloon. The boot, meanwhile, offers a respectable 452 l capacity and an adjustable floor.
Inside, Toyota has aimed to create a lounge-like atmosphere, achieved through soft-touch textures and finishes alongside satin-look details.
The instrument panel is digital, using a 7-inch TFT display, and sits lower than usual to improve visibility and create a greater sense of space. The bZ4X will also feature a new infotainment system that supports over-the-air updates.
Toyota bZ4X range: more than 450 km
The Toyota bZ4X uses a 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery which, Toyota says, should deliver more than 450 km of range. This figure remains provisional pending certification.
The battery itself is also claimed to be dependable and long-lasting. Toyota has a quarter-century of experience in developing high-capacity batteries, and the Japanese manufacturer anticipates only a 10% reduction in performance after 10 years or 240,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.
Thermal management is particularly important in electric vehicles, and the bZ4X is no exception. It will be Toyota’s first electrified model to use liquid cooling, while a heat pump will also be fitted as standard. According to the company, these features should make range losses in sub-zero temperatures more modest than in certain rivals.
The new bZ4X will also support 150 kW CCS2 rapid charging without compromising battery safety or longevity. A 0–80% charge takes 30 minutes.
In Portugal, front-wheel drive only
The new Toyota bZ4X will arrive in two versions: one with front-wheel drive and another with all-wheel drive, simply called AWD.
The former has a front-mounted electric motor producing 150 kW (204 cv) and 265 Nm. It enables the bZ4X to reach 100 km/h in 8.4s and a limited top speed of 160 km/h.
The AWD variant has two electric motors, one on each axle. Each produces 80 kW (109 cv), for combined maximum output of 218 cv and 336 Nm of torque. Its 0–100 km/h time falls to 7.7s, while its top speed remains unchanged.
Its four-wheel-drive system offers greater versatility through XMODE, allowing different driving modes to be selected according to the surface, such as snow and mud. It also provides access to Grip Control for more demanding off-road routes at speeds below 10 km/h.
Like the range figure, the stated performance figures remain provisional. What can already be confirmed, however, is that Portugal will initially receive only the front-wheel-drive bZ4X.
Pricing has not yet been announced, although it will be possible to pre-reserve the new Toyota bZ4X a few days after its European presentation on 2 December.
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