It has become easier to warm to the Toyota bZ4X, thanks to a broader choice of batteries and power outputs, a longer driving range, and a lower entry price point.
When the Toyota bZ4X debuted in 2022, it carried the air of a not-quite-wanted child. It started with the name: who thought it was a good idea to give a car a badge that could easily belong to a robot from the Star Wars saga?
At the same time, it was no secret that the Japanese industrial giant had long viewed fully electric propulsion with scepticism, only arriving comparatively late to the BEV world (unlike hybrid technology, which is now close to 30 years old) - and it did so precisely with this mid-size electric SUV.
However, just like most car makers are being forced to broaden their electric line-ups - it has promised an onslaught of dozens of new EVs by 2035 - and to sharpen their know-how, Toyota has refreshed and expanded its EV. This includes the addition of an estate-like bZ4X derivative called Touring, due next spring.
That urgency is heightened by ever-stronger competition, represented by models such as the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq and Ford Mustang Mach-E, and this update is genuinely needed.
More power and more choice
The technical foundation of the bZ4X 2026 remains the e-TNGA platform, but meaningful changes have been made to the powertrain. Output from the electric motors has increased thanks to revisions to the rotors and stators that allow higher rotational speeds, while energy losses have also been reduced. It also introduces silicon carbide inverters, which are more efficient, smaller and lighter than conventional units.
Instead of the single battery previously offered (71,4 kWh), there are now two capacities:
- 57,7 kWh - front-wheel drive; output of 123 kW (167 cv); top speed of 140 km/h; range of 442 km;
- 73,1 kWh - front-wheel drive; output of 165 kW (224 cv); top speed of 160 km/h; range of 569 km;
- 73,1 kWh - four-wheel drive; output of 252 kW (343 cv); top speed of 160 km/h; range of 506 km.
Faster charging
Charging performance (particularly in cold conditions) has also been revisited, with improvements to the heating system and the adoption of a new thermal pre-conditioning set-up.
One of the headline updates on the Toyota bZ4X 2026 is that, unlike some German premium brands such as Porsche or Audi, it now supports 22 kW AC charging from the mid-range versions upwards (the entry model stays at 11 kW), halving the charging time (from 10% to 100%). DC charging remains capped at a maximum of 150 kW, which does not place Toyota especially strongly against key rivals (10% to 80% in 30 minutes).
Four levels of regenerative braking are available, and can now be selected via steering-wheel paddles - something that was not possible before.
Dynamically competent
The front-wheel-drive version with the larger battery feels well judged, as we were able to confirm during a driving session in a pre-production car that was still lightly camouflaged.
It reaches 100 km/h in 7,4s, which is brisk enough. The suspension on the two-tonne bZ4X is tuned primarily for comfort and filters out most road imperfections for occupants, although it cannot prevent noticeable body roll if you pick up the pace through bends, roundabouts or other lateral-load situations.
The body/chassis integrity deserves praise, with this electric variant of TNGA (e-TNGA) becoming stiffer still thanks to the battery installation attached to the chassis.
Adaptive cruise control works flawlessly, easing off as soon as it detects a vehicle ahead. If another vehicle closes in from behind, an on-screen warning appears. An interior camera continuously monitors the driver and prompts them the moment their eyes leave the road - even briefly.
This electric SUV also shows some ability away from tarmac. Generous axle articulation, a substantial ground clearance (21 cm) and a wading depth of 500 mm help the bZ4X clear moderately challenging obstacles without breaking a sweat.
The most powerful Toyota in Europe
The range-topping bZ4X 2026, with four-wheel drive and 252 kW (343 cv), also becomes the most powerful series-production Toyota on sale in Europe - if we leave the limited Supra A90 Final Edition out of the equation. A sign of the times…
We were able to drive it briefly - it is not expected to come to Portugal - and its performance is not just impressive on paper. It delivers a strong punch off the line (5,1s from 0-100 km/h) and continues pulling convincingly beyond 120 km/h. The ESP can be fully switched off, which can lead to entertaining slides or even long, easily controlled drifts (in suitable environments and ideally with low grip).
It does not turn this heavy SUV into a GR Yaris, but it does make its handling clearly more agile.
Back on the road, braking proved highly capable, including the left pedal’s progression - often an "Achilles' heel" for many electric cars. The small steering wheel also helps make driving the bZ4X genuinely involving, if that is what you are after.
In our test, we recorded an average consumption of 15,2 kWh/100 km, a respectable figure and only slightly above the certified consumption of the previous generation’s entry version (14,4 kWh/100 km).
Plenty of space, but the boot could be bigger
There are no changes here for the Toyota bZ4X 2026: the long wheelbase (2,85 m, 16 cm more than the RAV4) translates into a very roomy cabin, something that becomes clear when you sit in the second row. Headroom is generous, accommodating rear passengers up to 1,90 m tall without restriction.
Boot capacity is 452 litres (including the space beneath the floor), which is below what almost all direct competitors offer, such as the Mustang Mach-E (502 litres) or the Volkswagen ID.4 (543 litres). It does not help that there is no frunk (front boot), unlike some rivals.
The rear seatbacks fold in symmetrical sections (but without creating a completely flat load floor) and, when upright, can be set in two positions.
Interior updates
The cabin has also been revised. A 14” touchscreen is now standard (replacing the previous 12,3”), and the centre console has been lowered by 10 cm (it was too intrusive), creating a greater sense of space - with room for two phones to be charged at the same time.
These changes address one of the less appealing aspects of the 2022 car: the driver felt somewhat hemmed in between an overly wide door panel and an intrusive centre console, unlike most EVs, which are known for open, uncluttered cabins. Yet there is still no glovebox, which is very unusual.
There is room for improvement in material quality: most surfaces, even those you touch most often, are finished in hard, basic-looking plastic. It is a flaw seen in many other EVs, but one that should be addressed given its high price.
The seat upholstery gives an impression of quality, but it is a shame the seat bases are too short and that lateral support is somewhat limited.
How much does the Toyota bZ4X 2026 cost and when does it arrive?
Toyota has not yet announced exact launch dates, but has confirmed that the bZ4X 2026 will be available in several European markets by the end of this year. As for pricing in Portugal, there is still no indication.
The bZ4X currently on sale is priced from 47 440 euros. With the introduction of the lower-capacity battery (71,4 kWh vs 57,7 kWh), there should be scope to bring down the entry price.
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