The all-new Toyota bZ4X is the first model in our beyond Zero family of zero-emission battery electric vehicles. Displayed here in production-ready form, this spacious and comfortable SUV will launch across Europe in 2022.
Its arrival will also introduce a new leasing programme designed to cover the principal aspects of ownership – a one-stop concept that is designed to provide peace of mind for people acquiring their first BEV.
Toyota bZ4X: What are its exterior design features?
The exterior design is sleek, powerful and uncluttered, led by a distinctive hammerhead frontal shape. When viewed in profile, the bZ4X has a low roof and slender A-pillars, while the combination of thick sills and large wheels (up to 20-inch in diameter) express the car’s authentic SUV character. At the rear, the design similarly emphasises the corners, with a distinctive tail light that spans the width of the vehicle.
The design also incorporates aerodynamic elements that manage airflow and contribute to the driving range. These include apertures in the front bumper corners that create smooth air curtains; a full underbody cover; a split roof spoiler and rear ducktail lip spoiler; rear diffuser; and a precisely angled rear screen. The slim lower grille has a shutter that adjusts to channel cooling airflow to the battery and helps reduce wind resistance.
Beneath the surface, the bZ4X is the first Toyota to be built on our new, dedicated BEV platform. Known as e-TNGA, it incorporates the battery as a structural member of the chassis – a feature that creates high body rigidity, a low centre of gravity, and excellent front/rear weight distribution.
What’s it like inside bZ4X?
The long wheelbase has helped us create a spacious, open and comfortable five-seat cabin that has the welcoming ambience of a living room. There is class-leading leg room for all, with a one-metre distance between the front and rear hip points, while the load area offers 452 litres of storage with the rear seats in place.
Adding to the sense of openness and outward visibility is the slim and low-set instrument panel, which allows the seven-inch instrument and information display to sit above the line of the steering wheel, directly in the driver’s forward eye line.
Passenger comfort is assured by an energy efficient heating system that maximises driving range. Rather than a standard air conditioning system, the bZ4X uses a heat pump to warm the car by drawing heat from the external air.
What will the multimedia system be like?
The centrally mounted multimedia platform is our latest and most powerful system, offering a 12-inch touchscreen that gives access to cloud-based navigation. It also provides BEV-specific features such as driving range, driving support and charging station details. The driver can interact with the vehicle by sight, touch and voice, while over-the-air updates provide seamless software upgrades and new services.
Toyota bZ4X: What are its performance credentials?
There are both front- and all-wheel drive versions of the bZ4X. The front-wheel drive model is powered by a 150kW electric motor which produces 201bhp and 265Nm of torque; it offers 0-62mph acceleration in 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 100mph. The all-wheel drive model is powered by two 80kW electric motors – one for each axle – that produce a total of 214.5bhp and 336Nm of torque. Top speed is unchanged but the dash to 62mph is reduced to 6.9 seconds.
We have drawn on almost 25 years of experience in battery technology to ensure the new lithium-ion unit has world-leading quality, durability and reliability. Our confidence in the technology is reflected in an extended care programme that guarantees the battery will still operate to 70% of its original capacity after up to ten years of ownership or one million kilometres (620,000 miles) driven, subject to the customer taking their vehicle to an authorised Toyota service centre for an annual health check.
This is made possible because multiple systems have been put in place to monitor the voltage, current and temperature of each individual battery cell. In a Toyota first, the battery is water cooled, while there are safeguards in the manufacturing process to prevent foreign matter from entering the battery, and further countermeasures to mitigate any material degradation when in use.
What is the the driving range and how quickly will bZ4X charge?
Thanks to efficient motors and energy management, official WLTP data shows that the front-wheel drive Pure model can achieve a driving range of 317 miles (4.3 miles per kWh) from its 71.4kWh battery. For the all-wheel drive bZ4X Motion, the official range is 285 miles (3.9 miles per kWh).
An 80% charge can be achieved in around 30 minutes using a 150kW fast-charging system (CCS2), while an 11kW three-phase on-board charger will be available from the fourth quarter of 2022 to further improve charging performance.
Toyota will operate a programme of rebuilding, reusing and recycling for the battery, ensuring the lifecycle of its components and materials is maximised.
What will the all-electric Toyota bZ4X be like to drive?
The bZ4X is the first production Toyota to offer a steer-by-wire system, though this will be introduced in Europe at a later date. Known as One Motion Grip, it dispenses with the mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and front wheels, instead using electronic means to adjust the front wheel angle according to the driver’s intention.
With no physical connection in the system, not only is legroom improved but unwanted vibration from the tyres is not transmitted through the steering. However, the driver still experiences valuable feedback through independent control of the steering torque, with different drive modes programmed with unique steering characteristics to suit prevailing conditions.
Similarly, the throttle is controlled through a wired rather than mechanical connection. It offers the option of single pedal driving using boosted braking energy recuperation to let the driver accelerate and slow the vehicle using only the throttle pedal.
How capable will the Toyota bZ4X be off-road?
Toyota worked with its development partner Subaru in engineering a new, class-leading BEV all-wheel drive system that draws on the great AWD heritage of both companies. The system uses separate 80kW motors to drive the front and rear axles. X MODE allows the driver to select a drive mode to suit the conditions, with settings for snow/mud; deep snow and mud (below 13mph); and Grip Control for tougher off-road driving (below 6mph). These segment-leading capabilities will help the bZ4X tackle the route ahead with confidence, irrespective of where it leads.
How safe is the new Toyota bZ4X?
The bZ4X is equipped with advanced Toyota T-Mate systems for active safety and driver assistance.
The third generation of Toyota Safety Sense brings new and improved functions to help guard against an even wider range of accident risks. The latest developments strengthen its capabilities as a partner to the driver, progressing closer to the ultimate mobility society goal of zero fatalities and injuries in traffic accidents.
Thanks to upgraded front camera and radar, as well front side radars, the detection range has been expanded and the car’s ability to recognise hazards and obstacles in even more driving scenarios is further improved.
- The Pre-Collision System can detect oncoming vehicles and motorcycles.
- The Intersection Turn Assistance can now identify approaching traffic across two neighbouring lanes instead of just one, as well as detect traffic approaching from the side at an intersection.
- The Emergency Steering Assist system provides additional mild braking to help keep the car within its traffic lane when the driver moves to avoid a hazard such as a pedestrian, cyclist or parked car.
- The Front Cross Traffic Alert system warns of vehicles approaching from either side at a junction.
- The new Safe Exit Assist can help to avoid a collision between an opened door or exiting occupants with vehicles or cyclists approaching from the rear.
Toyota Safety Sense also checks the driver’s well-being with an internal monitor that records their usual driving position and triggers a warning if it detects any deviation that might signal dangerous distraction or the driver being unwell or falling asleep.
What is this new vehicle leasing programme?
Our all-new BEV will be introduced with a completely new approach to vehicle purchasing and the customer’s ownership experience. It is our hope the majority of European sales will be via a new, all-inclusive leasing contract that covers the vehicle, maintenance, wall box charger and access to connected services, including one of Europe’s largest vehicle charging networks.
If customers wish, Toyota insurance can also be included, along with roadside assistance and vehicle accessories.
Charging and roadside assistance
In order to ensure that bZ4X ownership is as stress-free as possible, Toyota is providing all new customers with a complimentary package of benefits.
The first round of benefits cover charging needs. These include a British Gas Centrica EV home charger with standard installation and six months of access to the Toyota Public Charging Network. This network consists of more than 12,000 charging points, all of which are accessible through the MyToyota app.
The second primary benefit is three years of AA Roadside Assistance. This is provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, throughout the UK and across 44 European countries.
Information correct at time of publishing
Toyota bZ4X: technical specifications
| POWERTRAIN | FWD | AWD |
| Type | AC synchronous electric motor-generator | |
| Total output (bhp/DIN hp/kW) | 201/204/150 | 214.5/217.5/160 |
| Front motor output (bhp/DIN hp/kW) | 201/204/150 | 108/109/80 |
| Rear motor output (bhp/DIN hp/Kw) | – | 108/109/80 |
| Torque (Nm) | 265 | 336 |
| EV SYSTEM | FWD | AWD |
| Hybrid battery | Lithium-ion | |
| Number of cells | 96 | |
| Rated voltage | 355 | |
| Battery capacity (kWh) | 71.4 | |
| PERFORMANCE | FWD | AWD |
| Max. speed (mph | 100 | 100 |
| 0-62mph acceleration (sec) | 7.5 | 6.9 |
| ENERGY CONSUMPTION | FWD | AWD |
| WTLP combined cycle (miles/kWh) | 4.3 miles/kWh | 3.9 miles/kWh |
| Driving range (miles) | 317 (Pure) | 285 (Motion) |
| EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS | ||
| Overall length (mm) | 4,690 | |
| Overall width (mm) | 1,860 | |
| Overall height (mm, inc. antenna) | 1,650 | |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,850 | |
| INTERIOR DIMENSIONS | ||
| Interior length (mm) | 1,940 | |
| Interior width (mm) | 1,515 | |
| Interior height (mm) | 1,160 (1,145 with panoramic roof) | |
| Load space volume, including beneath deckboard (l, VDA) | 452 | |
| WEIGHTS | ||
| Towing capacity- unbraked (kg) | 750 |
NB: Details were correct at the time and date of publication
How can I add secondary driver to bz4x to enable customised car for each driver?
Hi Simona
Please provide your vehicle registration so we can look into this for you.
Thanks.
Hello, so I cannot add secondary driver by myself on bz4x? We could only add one MYT account and one driver to the bz4x.
If I call Toyota Customer Service, can they help adding secondary driver? I don’t want to share my reg number public here. Thank you in advance.
Hi Simona, thanks for your question.
Our Customer Service Team should be able to assist with this. Alternatively, you can contact the Toyota Insurance Team on 0333 103 9950.
Thanks.
Hello again,
I want to add secondary driver into car bz4x infotainment system not into insurance policy. Cna you please advise?
Hi Simona, thanks for your question.
Please contact our Toyota Insurance Team regarding this on 0333 103 9950.
Thanks.
Many thanks for the comprehensive answer Dave, I feel much happier. I did note on the ‘click bait’ tests that they ran the cars to an indicate zero. My current non EV still has a fair amount of range when the guide says zero so this is not really a useful or empirical measure. Thanks again.
Yes, a lot of these range tests are meaningless. That’s why the standardised WLTP numbers are the best comparator, even if they overestimate practical EV range. WLTP tests use the whole available battery – run to when car stops- so there is no hidden buffer. Toyota have said that they keep around 8% as a buffer below zero, which in practice would be about 20-30 miles. This is very conservative compared to other EVs where zero actually means empty battery. Some of the more professional EV range testers use a standardised route and set speeds but there are so many other variables such as temperature, wind speed etc. that even these results cannot be relied on. The tech guys doing the tests are aware of these limitations for sure, but they obviously do not want to undermine their own numbers.
For Rob Cherry- sorry missed your message.
I’ve been using the ECO setting for A/C in the car. Yes, this does knock the range, but actually it ‘recovers’ some range for the next journey. I found the ECO setting absolutely fine (especially the seat heating- amazing!) even in the very cold weather last month but I don’t use the full A/C. Occasionally need to de-mist with the front/rear screen heater on longer journeys.
The bZ4X range indicator is clearly an optimistic estimate- maybe in summer it will be a bit closer to reality. Like you, I see a large drop from the initial range (usually starts at around 285 miles at 100% in my Motion FWD). It seems most EV range ‘guessometers’ are like this so Toyota is no exception. You can see the battery % on the MyT app which is best indication , but no real-time exact % when driving, just the battery indicator with no proper scale. If you want to push it further you could always confirm if the supposed 20-30 miles of ‘reserve’ battery below 0 miles is available! I’ve gone as low as 7 miles range remaining but never ‘beyond zero’ – maybe this is where the bZ comes from…
Thanks David. I wonder how Rob is getting on, he posed some useful questions and gave out some helpful info.
As suggested to me by the forum’s response, I have sent a comprehensive and detailed feedback report to my dealer about Range ‘shortfall’ and HVAC ‘settings’. I asked for it to be forwarded to Toyota.
Over the weekend I watched two very recent You Tube reviews (not UK), both of them expressed being baffled by the excessive range drop in heating settings. Then I saw this TG report; also saying the same thing.
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/toyota-bz4x-ota-update-will-unlock-precious-miles-electric-range-once-batterys
It seems though that Toyota may have taken the issues on board and I hope they can confirm to us that an OTA update will result that will release some of the (over conservative) buffer.
As explained it won’t increase overall (WLTA ) range but will recalibrate some of the buffer to better reflect indicated miles against real miles. It also suggested a ‘% battery remaining’ indication in the car, although I prefer to keep miles, especially if the miles indicated do in fact match more closely the real miles, then I can more easily balance those miles against the actual distance left to travel. Perhaps we’ll get a setting to offer miles or %?
On the up-side the rest of the car is great and I hope these changes do come to fruition and make it even better. At the moment though I am struggling to get more than 2.4 miles/kWh!
Hi Rob, thanks for your comment.
We highly value any customer feedback and are putting our utmost attention to the concern on the bZ4X range and consumption performance.
Actual real-life range is a result of multiple factors. Next to battery capacity and battery recharging generated from deceleration while driving, also usage of the HVAC system, as well as external factors such as outside temperature will influence the energy consumption and available range.
The HVAC impact on range is much bigger in cold conditions (typically the winter) than in the summer. We have set-up the system by default to provide quick interior temperature comfort. However, we also developed an HVAC ECO mode that will reduce the electric consumption by some 5%. We have also developed very efficient body heating systems, the seat heater and steering wheel heater that use much less energy. We also recommend utilising cabin pre-heating while the car is plugged-in during charging, which would reduce the initial high energy consumption to heat the cabin.
We appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear that you are otherwise happy with your bZ4X.
Many thanks.
I’ve had a BZ4X in order since April 2022. The MY Toyota App says the car is still not built. My Toyota dealer tell me that Toyota tell them nothing and they have no way of contacting Toyota directly. They’ve told me that the car will just appear on their order sheet without warning. My order is for FWD so cannot understand why it’s not on its way yet. I’m beginning to lose hope of ever getting it to be honest. Toyota did say they would prioritise orders placed before the wheel bolt problem came to light. Are our orders now not a priority?
Hi Peter, thanks for your question.
We are sorry to hear this and apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.
We would recommend contacting our Customer Relations Team regarding this. You can find them on 0344 701 6202 or https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre#/iframe/https%3A%2F%2Fforms.toyota.co.uk%2Fcontact-us.
Thanks.
Thank you, I’ll do that
Wasn’t helpful. Website has only forecasted questions, none of which were mine and phone line only for issues that have nothing to do with my question. It’s not the wait as such because people have long waits for other brands, it’s the total lack of information that gets to me.
Hi Peter,
We are sorry to hear that you were dissatisfied with this experience.
Did you try filling in our Customer Relations Team form: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre#/iframe/https%3A%2F%2Fforms.toyota.co.uk%2Fcontact-us.
Thanks.
Spoke to my Toyota dealer this afternoon and they still have no information except that they have been told to stop taking orders for the BZ4 again! Supply problems being the reason. Skoda and Kia lead times for EVs are not anywhere near this long. I suspect that there is feet dragging at Toyota because of their commitment to hybrid and hydrogen and lukewarm attitude to EVs. for the record we have two Toyota hybrids and were hoping to replace one of them with the BZ4X. Ho hum!
Hi Peter, my dealer is still saying March (when I ordered it way back when, we were looking at September 2022). Having said that, I was looking at the EV6 at the same time and, even without any problems, the Kia dealer was saying Spring 2023 at the earliest.
I ordered my BZ4X in June 2022 just before I believe the bolt issue froze orders. I was told I would have a car allocated on December 14. A week ago I was told that no orders would be processed until April 2023. I think it’s a bit more than a nuts and bolts issue. Anyway I’ve had to cancel my order and instead have just purchased a Tesla in their extraordinary sale launched last week. A pity as the BZ4X vision looked like a nice SUV.
Hi George, thanks for your comment.
We are sorry to hear this and apologise for the inconvenience the lead times caused.
Due to the global semi-conductor shortage, the lead times on our vehicles are much longer than usual.
We hope to see you back at Toyota in the future.
Many thanks.
Mine was ordered pre-wheel bolt issue, was given date in September, then December, then early Jan. Just had an update & been told 28th April – Won’t hold my breath!
Hi Andy, thanks for your message.
We appreciate your patience and apologise for the inconvenience.
if you would like to discuss this further, please contact our Customer Relations Team. You can find them here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre#/iframe/https%3A%2F%2Fforms.toyota.co.uk%2Fcontact-us.
Thanks.
How can we suggest our experiences with bZ4X and new feature requests? Such as: adding current charging power at the MYT application? Or automatic release charging cable when car is full.
Hi Vardar,
Thank you for your suggestions.
You can raise this with our Multimedia team directly.
You can find them here – https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/connectivity.
Thanks.
I had order my BZ4 AWD last May, I am picking the vehicle up from the dealer on Monday, it’s going to be interesting to see what the actual range is. I was under the impression when I place the order last year Toyota were offering 6 months free charging, but the dealer did not think this was the case or was, I mistaken, I thought there was a time limit on it mind you but given the hub issues I thought this may have been extended.
Hi Joe, thanks for your order of the bZ4X.
You may be referring to the Public Charging Network. Access to the network is free for the first six months for the bZ4X. After this period, the cost is £4.95 per month.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
I note that Toyota are to issue an OTA which may help with range , and the loss of range when using heating etc.
My concern is that in my bz4x Premier which is AWD it should have a range at 100% of 285 miles. I have a home charger and leave it overnight. The charger shows charging completed but the mileage shown is 223 some 20% less than the maximum.
I appreciate that on a fast charger the maximum is only 80% because the next 20% needs to much slower, but I would have expected my slower home charger should result in a range much nearer the quoted maximum.
Will the OTA do anything to correct this. I have put it to my dealer that Toyota are giving false information and this is unacceptable. Hopefully this will be resolved in the near future
Is there any info as to when the OTA will be carried out.
Hi Grahame, thanks for your feedback.
Currently, we do not have any information on when the OTA update will be carried out.
Please contact our Customer Relations Team if you wish to discuss this further. You can find them here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre#/iframe/https%3A%2F%2Fforms.toyota.co.uk%2Fcontact-us.
Thanks.
What is Toyota recommendation for AC home charging % battery? There is no advice in the bZ4X car manual. Some EV users say charge to 80% and don’t ever charge to 100%. Others say occasionally charging to 100% is useful for balancing the battery cells, but the car should be used within a few hours or the battery might get damaged. Does Toyota have an official advice about this? Or maybe the % charge is not important and we should just charge to whatever % is convenient?
Thanks in anticipation of advice from the technical team.
Hi Dave, thanks for your comment.
Our Technical Team have advised that you can recharge fully as much as you wish on AC charging. Battery balancing is carried out during AC charging, when the battery nears a full charge. The only restriction is the amount of DC charges within a certain time period.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
I have to agree with Grahame Jackson and Rob Cherry about poor EV range, having picked up my Premier Edition AWD last month 2.4miles per KW would be a good figure to use, summertime may be slightly higher. My T Toyota app shows the following at 97% charge the mileage range is showing 225 mile on the app but when you start the car this changes straight away from 225 to 172 mile range on the car screen Can you explain this difference and the reason pls.
Hi Henry, thanks for your question.
When the vehicle is started its systems become active, such as the HVAC system, which affects the vehicle’s range.
However, currently, the impact of the selected HVAC mode on predicted range can be over-estimated in some circumstances. The update aims to improve the prediction making it more in-line with actual conditions and therefore showing higher useable remaining range.
We hope this helps. If you have any further questions regarding your vehicle’s operation and charging characteristics, we would recommend speaking to your Toyota Centre.
Many thanks.
I have had confirmation directly from Toyota Technical that the update, as mentioned in the reply to you, is planned for MAY and will apply to our existing cars. It will release some of the buffer and also as stated in the reply, bring the predictions more in line with real miles. They also confirmed a battery ‘% remaining’ in the display.
My car is a Vision FWD, 20” wheels. I recently needed to do an exact 180 miles round trip. So it was an excellent opportunity for a range test. 8C, dry (at first), 70% m’way. Plan A was to do a 2+ hour top up at my destination but the charger (7kW) didn’t work. (it was in very remote Worcestershire).
I decided to try to get home without top up, but having crawled on the M42 for 40 minutes in the rain, I had to turn off the Climate to save energy. (Apparently EV’s are very INefficient at low speeds partly because there is very little opportunity for regen). The last 40 miles were uncomfortably cold and not without some anxiety. I got home with 6 miles to spare. (when you’ve already lost 40 minutes, your mind is telling you to take the risk, rather than a stop to charge, especially as I knew that at ZERO miles I still had the buffer). So the experience, in a positive light, achieved 180 miles but it was with a significant amount of time without any heat on. It was a cold and quite difficult journey home. But it has given me confidence that I can use the predictions BUT (until the update) if you want to be comfortable at this time of year you need to deduct about 10-15% from the ‘A/C on’ prediction to get a realistic range. I am also confident now that when we get the update and temperatures get in the twenty C’s, we’ll hopefully get 220+ and about 160ish in winter. By the way Toyota also told me the optimal battery temperature is 22 – 24C.
So we can all look forward to the update.
And on a footnote, you have probably found like me that charge rates at 5C get no better than 25 Kwh on a fast charger. I would be interested to know if you achieve better. Toyota says this is normal, to protect the battery. I am personally very happy with my car and it will get better, I have faith in Toyota.
I will be doing that 180 trip over the summer. I am really looking forward to achieving it with no top up and no anxiety.
Many thanks Rob. When I get my AWD (I now have a registration but not a confirmed date) I was hoping to get a reliable 200 miles as I got the impression Toyota were more confident about their published ranges than anybody else. It is looking as if that was the usual puffing and I may well be disappointed. I understand the slow charging is to protect and preserve the battery and appreciate the trade off – may help with residuals in the future? I understand heated seats are a better option than AC for longer journeys – did you use these at all or was the range anxiety getting overwhelming? Glad you’re happy overall. With our last five cars being three Toyotas and two Lexus, we also have faith in Toyota. Thanks again.
In personal hindsight I wish I had gone for AWD, (my home charging cost would work out at about half a penny a mile extra, for possibly 20 miles less range). Although I wouldn’t expect to use the AWD off road, just the stability (and thrill) of accelerating off a roundabout would be enough. The torque in my FWD is amazing, even in ECO mode. I think you will absolutely love your AWD.
Regarding the range criticisms, Toyota are partly addressing it with the May update. Also I found that the EVdatabase website rates the AWD with the same range as the FWD at 205 miles average. So if we get about 10-15 miles extra usable battery after the update, even your AWD will average around 215 ‘real’ miles even when using some climate heating/ventilation. Without any climate use we might get 250?
And yes that trip was a great experience, as unexpected additional adverse conditions arose. If the top up had worked it would have been perfect and comfortable but in the event I had to ‘manage’ the situation. So no, I didn’t feel any great range anxiety. What it did do was give me absolute confidence in the range limit, given those conditions.
Yes, I use heated seats/steering wheel in ECO Auto mode. The car is comfortable at 20C setting but obviously that is currently giving the 20% range reduction against no heat, but after the update Toyota say that the differential between the indicated miles will more accurately relate to real miles.
I think you are correct in thinking future residuals will be good, especially because the wheel recall was nailed early on, and Toyota are now addressing the range issues that I feel are masking a great car.
We also have had many Toyota and Lexus and I am sure you will find the AWD absolutely brilliant.