Toyota bZ (formerly bZ4X)
The flagship compact SUV
I am a dyed in the wool Toyota fan. I’ve owned two Hiluxes, a Tundra, two 4Runners, and a supercharged MR2 and currently, I own a Mk3 Supra Turbo. Toyota has nothing to prove to me. You could imagine my excitement when I heard that they were entering the EV world with the Prius hybrid. I ended up buying two gen1 Insights based on their engineering, design and manual transmission.
So how is the Toyota EV offering for 2026? Let’s have a look:
Toyota bZ (formerly bZ4X)
Markets: North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, Southeast Asia
The bZ is Toyota’s cornerstone EV — the car the entire range is built around. The compact crossover originally debuted as the bZ4X back in 2023, but Toyota simplified the moniker and imbued the bZ with an all-new powertrain for 2026 that really takes the reins off the SUV.
Specifications
| Attribute | Detail |
| Platform | e-TNGA (dedicated BEV) |
| Battery | 74.7 kWh (standard on most trims; 57.7 kWh on entry FWD in Europe) |
| Charging | 150 kW DC fast charging (10–80% in ~30 min), 11 kW AC onboard, NACS port |
| Power | 221 hp (FWD) / 338 hp (AWD) |
| Price | MSRP: From ~$40,500 |
| 0–60 mph | 0–60 mph: ~4.8 seconds (AWD) |
| Range (est.) | Up to 314 miles EPA (FWD XLE Plus) / 285 miles AWD (North America); up to 354 miles WLTP (Europe, 73.1 kWh) |
| Screens | redesigned digital cluster, 14.5-inch touchscreen |
What we like
The key changes are with the electric powertrain. Power for common AWD configurations now peaks at 338 horsepower — a 50-percent increase over the outgoing model. Maximum range on front-drive versions is now 314 miles, up from 252 miles. The cabin has been dramatically overhauled too: the updated interior features a slimmer dashboard design, with color-adjustable accent lighting, a large 14-inch infotainment screen, and a new center console.
Meh…
Despite significant improvements in range and performance compared to its predecessor, it still may not be as efficient as some competitors.
Rivals
- Tesla Model Y — the most threatening competitor
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 — Very exciting in N guise, and as seen reviewed here on PIR, it’s a strong competitor.
- Volkswagen ID.4 — Getting better every day.
- Ford Mustang Mach – Excellent driver and good range.
Te bZ punches above its weight on price-to-power ratio, matching or beating rivals on horsepower while undercutting most on price. Where it still trails Tesla is in charging network convenience and software polish.
| Model | PowerPower (hp) | Rangemiles (EPA) | Starting price (USD$) |
| Toyota bZ AWD | 338 | 285 | $40 500 |
| Tesla Model Y RWD | 299 | 320 | $44 990 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD | 320 | 2 | $46 615 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 AWS | 295 | 255 | $44 895 |
| Ford Mustang Mach E AWD | 346 | 270 | $42 995 |
Verdict
Verdict: The bZ has gone from an also-ran to a genuine contender. Better range, far more power, and a smarter cabin make it worthy of serious consideration. The NACS port is a smart move, giving instant access to Tesla’s vast Supercharger network.
★★★★
